http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/102370.html
Kings notes: Numbers don't reflect team's big makeover
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C5
What better time than the new year to peek at the year that has passed.
By box scores alone, you'd almost never know the Kings made wholesale changes. Despite a new coach and five new players, the product was -- statistically speaking -- very much the same through 28 games as it was last season.
From offensive production (99 points per game last season to 100.3 entering Tuesday) to points allowed (99.4 last season to 100 this season), little has changed. The largest difference is in the records, 11-17 a year ago and 13-15 before the Kings faced New York.
Coach Eric Musselman said he's not one for New Year's resolutions, but he'd surely like to see how good his offense could be if it wasn't ranked last in the league in three-point shooting (31 percent).
"We've done a much better job of getting to the foul line than they did in the past and a much better job getting to the glass," Musselman said. "Once our shot's falling, I think our offensive productivity will grow even more."
New York media minute -- Had Ron Artest been traded to the Kings one day earlier last season, his introduction would have made for the perfect media storm. The New York City native would have played his first game with the Kings against the Knicks. As it was, his debut was two nights later in Boston on Jan. 27, 2006.
The country's largest media market finally caught up with Artest on Tuesday, when he provided ample material.
Asked about his boyhood dream of playing for the Knicks, he said, "Eight years (in his career), and people are still bringing this up. I need to come out with a talking about 'Ron Artest should have been a Knick.' People would probably buy them."
Artest talked at length about his knee problems. He said both knees are "still sore at times" and that a collision with Philadelphia's Kevin Ollie on Dec. 27 only worsened matters.
"The first knee injury wasn't bad, but the second time, we played against the Sixers, and Kevin Ollie ran into my knee in the second quarter and started a whole new injury," said Artest, who missed two games because of the first injury.
A magnetic resonance imaging exam Dec. 26 was negative, according to the team's training staff. Artest, however, said the test showed cause for concern.
"I don't know the terminologies," he said, "but there were a few things that I've got to monitor."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Numbers don't reflect team's big makeover
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C5
What better time than the new year to peek at the year that has passed.
By box scores alone, you'd almost never know the Kings made wholesale changes. Despite a new coach and five new players, the product was -- statistically speaking -- very much the same through 28 games as it was last season.
From offensive production (99 points per game last season to 100.3 entering Tuesday) to points allowed (99.4 last season to 100 this season), little has changed. The largest difference is in the records, 11-17 a year ago and 13-15 before the Kings faced New York.
Coach Eric Musselman said he's not one for New Year's resolutions, but he'd surely like to see how good his offense could be if it wasn't ranked last in the league in three-point shooting (31 percent).
"We've done a much better job of getting to the foul line than they did in the past and a much better job getting to the glass," Musselman said. "Once our shot's falling, I think our offensive productivity will grow even more."
New York media minute -- Had Ron Artest been traded to the Kings one day earlier last season, his introduction would have made for the perfect media storm. The New York City native would have played his first game with the Kings against the Knicks. As it was, his debut was two nights later in Boston on Jan. 27, 2006.
The country's largest media market finally caught up with Artest on Tuesday, when he provided ample material.
Asked about his boyhood dream of playing for the Knicks, he said, "Eight years (in his career), and people are still bringing this up. I need to come out with a talking about 'Ron Artest should have been a Knick.' People would probably buy them."
Artest talked at length about his knee problems. He said both knees are "still sore at times" and that a collision with Philadelphia's Kevin Ollie on Dec. 27 only worsened matters.
"The first knee injury wasn't bad, but the second time, we played against the Sixers, and Kevin Ollie ran into my knee in the second quarter and started a whole new injury," said Artest, who missed two games because of the first injury.
A magnetic resonance imaging exam Dec. 26 was negative, according to the team's training staff. Artest, however, said the test showed cause for concern.
"I don't know the terminologies," he said, "but there were a few things that I've got to monitor."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
