http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/116888.html
Musselman awaits discipline
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:33 am PST Thursday, February 1, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS -- The uncertainty over the likely suspension of Eric Musselman continued Wednesday, when he again coached the Kings as the NBA continued to contemplate his discipline for pleading no-contest to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
A suspension is a virtual automatic. Unclear is for how long and when, an indefinite wait that carried through all four games of this road trip since Musselman resolved the legal portion of his case last Thursday in Sacramento.
Penalties for all basketball-related incidents -- fights, extreme arguments with referees, etc. -- are by rule dispensed before a team plays its next game. There is no such timeline for off-court matters, with the NBA often waiting to read court documents and other relevant materials before ruling.
In the case of Charlotte Bobcats assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff, his two-game suspension without pay in November came nine days after he was sentenced by a North Carolina court for driving while impaired. A league spokesman, noting that situations can be different, cautioned against using the Bickerstaff penalty to draw a conclusion on what could await the Kings' coach -- and added that there is no timetable for a finding.
Musselman declined comment. He would not say which assistant would replace him in the event of a suspension.
Injury report -- Reserve power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim missed the game because of a sore right knee, an ailment that is not believed to be serious, at least long term. It was serious enough Wednesday because the Kings had to deal with Kevin Garnett.
Point guard Jason Hart was activated in Abdur-Rahim's place. Abdur-Rahim should be available Saturday against the Denver Nuggets at Arco Arena, the Kings said.
As if facing Garnett wasn't enough, it came as the third installment to the Kings' walk through a gantlet of big men that started Saturday against Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas and continued Monday against Pau Gasól and Memphis.
The results: Nowitzki 32 points and 11 rebounds; Gasól 34 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks; Garnett 18 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday.
"They all kind of add different dimensions, too," Musselman said. "Gasól and Garnett are such good passers, and Dirk stretches the defense out because of his perimeter shooting."
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.
Musselman awaits discipline
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:33 am PST Thursday, February 1, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS -- The uncertainty over the likely suspension of Eric Musselman continued Wednesday, when he again coached the Kings as the NBA continued to contemplate his discipline for pleading no-contest to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
A suspension is a virtual automatic. Unclear is for how long and when, an indefinite wait that carried through all four games of this road trip since Musselman resolved the legal portion of his case last Thursday in Sacramento.
Penalties for all basketball-related incidents -- fights, extreme arguments with referees, etc. -- are by rule dispensed before a team plays its next game. There is no such timeline for off-court matters, with the NBA often waiting to read court documents and other relevant materials before ruling.
In the case of Charlotte Bobcats assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff, his two-game suspension without pay in November came nine days after he was sentenced by a North Carolina court for driving while impaired. A league spokesman, noting that situations can be different, cautioned against using the Bickerstaff penalty to draw a conclusion on what could await the Kings' coach -- and added that there is no timetable for a finding.
Musselman declined comment. He would not say which assistant would replace him in the event of a suspension.
Injury report -- Reserve power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim missed the game because of a sore right knee, an ailment that is not believed to be serious, at least long term. It was serious enough Wednesday because the Kings had to deal with Kevin Garnett.
Point guard Jason Hart was activated in Abdur-Rahim's place. Abdur-Rahim should be available Saturday against the Denver Nuggets at Arco Arena, the Kings said.
As if facing Garnett wasn't enough, it came as the third installment to the Kings' walk through a gantlet of big men that started Saturday against Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas and continued Monday against Pau Gasól and Memphis.
The results: Nowitzki 32 points and 11 rebounds; Gasól 34 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks; Garnett 18 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday.
"They all kind of add different dimensions, too," Musselman said. "Gasól and Garnett are such good passers, and Dirk stretches the defense out because of his perimeter shooting."
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.