http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14120862p-14949958c.html
The Kings' reputation has already changed
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, January 27, 2006
NEW YORK - As Rick Adelman was pointing out, the title of basketball "expert" is a loosely used term.
The Kings coach shared his opinion in New York City, surrounded by a gang of reporters in the media epicenter of the universe.
But Greg Anthony qualifies more than most, having played in the NBA for 11 seasons before becoming an ESPN analyst.
After Sacramento and Indiana sealed the deal that made Peja Stojakovic a Pacer and Ron Artest a King, Anthony gave his view.
"You can't call them soft anymore," he said of the Kings.
Not to take anyone away from the "Can Artest keep his cool?" debates, but his addition on the floor may have single-handedly put an end to the Kings' long-standing reputation as the cream puffs of the NBA. The Kings, as common perception went, were soft, offensive-oriented, defensive disasters. Now that's changing.
Asked if Artest was the best man-on-man defender in the league, Adelman stated the obvious.
"He's going to be the best on our team - if you've been watching us," he said, laughing.
For most of Adelman's eight seasons in Sacramento, he has been the lightning rod of so many criticizing the Kings' defense, even when management pursued so many offensive-oriented players. Much of the criticism, Adelman said, has been unfair, none more so than any that surrounded the 2002-03 team that lost to Dallas in the Western Conference semifinals and finished with the lowest opponents' shooting percentage and three-point percentage in the NBA.
But as so many trades have overhauled the roster, it's been all downhill since. Last season, the Kings finished 26th in the league in points allowed, giving up an average of 101.6 per game. This season, they are 23rd, allowing 100.2 points per game.
"People want to talk about (defense), but I don't see a whole lot of coaches who are renowned for playing defense who are given a team that doesn't defend very good," Adelman said. "And suddenly, you're going to teach them how? I thought (New York Knicks coach) Larry Brown was a genius of defense with Detroit, but it isn't working (in New York) right now. Nothing against him, but that's a fact. You have to have people who have the talent to do that."
Artest fits the profile.
"A guy can make a difference," Adelman said. "I think it can happen. I had a good defensive team in Portland, a great athletic team. When Buck Williams came in (in 1989), it changed our whole team. He had a presence about him. We'll see (about Artest)."
And after so much drama, Artest finally joined the Kings on Thursday in New York. Soon after, the Kings flew to Boston, where Artest was to have his first in-person meeting with team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, either late Thursday or this morning.
Artest is scheduled to play against the Celtics tonight, but his debut could be delayed if Stojakovic doesn't join the Pacers today as well. The Pacers planned to send a private plane to pick up Stojakovic today, taking him to the Pacers' home game against Cleveland this evening. Stojakovic won't play until Tuesday at Washington.
At some point, however, Artest will be on the floor with the Kings, playing defense and providing plenty of offensive punch. Brad Miller is curious to see the scoring side of Artest, who averaged 18.3 points per game in his last full season (2003-04).
"He was all defense when we played, and I saw the progression of how much he works on his game," said Miller, who played with Artest in Chicago and was traded with him to Indiana in February of 2002. "He works unbelievably hard, one of the hardest (working players) I've seen."
Reserve center Brian Skinner said Artest's true impact won't be known for some time.
"You're adding a different variable to the equation, and you're going to get a different answer," Skinner said. "It could be the right answer. It could be the wrong answer. You've got to plug it in, and see how everything works out."
Two games past the halfway point of the season, the Kings find themselves right back where they began: eager to see how the new pieces mesh.
"Everything can look really good on paper, but if you have a team that it's hard to play with each other, that's not so good," Adelman said. "That's why I'm not jumping on a bandwagon, either way. I'm going to look at the situation day by day, and see what we have to do to become a better team."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
The Kings' reputation has already changed
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, January 27, 2006
NEW YORK - As Rick Adelman was pointing out, the title of basketball "expert" is a loosely used term.
The Kings coach shared his opinion in New York City, surrounded by a gang of reporters in the media epicenter of the universe.
But Greg Anthony qualifies more than most, having played in the NBA for 11 seasons before becoming an ESPN analyst.
After Sacramento and Indiana sealed the deal that made Peja Stojakovic a Pacer and Ron Artest a King, Anthony gave his view.
"You can't call them soft anymore," he said of the Kings.
Not to take anyone away from the "Can Artest keep his cool?" debates, but his addition on the floor may have single-handedly put an end to the Kings' long-standing reputation as the cream puffs of the NBA. The Kings, as common perception went, were soft, offensive-oriented, defensive disasters. Now that's changing.
Asked if Artest was the best man-on-man defender in the league, Adelman stated the obvious.
"He's going to be the best on our team - if you've been watching us," he said, laughing.
For most of Adelman's eight seasons in Sacramento, he has been the lightning rod of so many criticizing the Kings' defense, even when management pursued so many offensive-oriented players. Much of the criticism, Adelman said, has been unfair, none more so than any that surrounded the 2002-03 team that lost to Dallas in the Western Conference semifinals and finished with the lowest opponents' shooting percentage and three-point percentage in the NBA.
But as so many trades have overhauled the roster, it's been all downhill since. Last season, the Kings finished 26th in the league in points allowed, giving up an average of 101.6 per game. This season, they are 23rd, allowing 100.2 points per game.
"People want to talk about (defense), but I don't see a whole lot of coaches who are renowned for playing defense who are given a team that doesn't defend very good," Adelman said. "And suddenly, you're going to teach them how? I thought (New York Knicks coach) Larry Brown was a genius of defense with Detroit, but it isn't working (in New York) right now. Nothing against him, but that's a fact. You have to have people who have the talent to do that."
Artest fits the profile.
"A guy can make a difference," Adelman said. "I think it can happen. I had a good defensive team in Portland, a great athletic team. When Buck Williams came in (in 1989), it changed our whole team. He had a presence about him. We'll see (about Artest)."
And after so much drama, Artest finally joined the Kings on Thursday in New York. Soon after, the Kings flew to Boston, where Artest was to have his first in-person meeting with team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, either late Thursday or this morning.
Artest is scheduled to play against the Celtics tonight, but his debut could be delayed if Stojakovic doesn't join the Pacers today as well. The Pacers planned to send a private plane to pick up Stojakovic today, taking him to the Pacers' home game against Cleveland this evening. Stojakovic won't play until Tuesday at Washington.
At some point, however, Artest will be on the floor with the Kings, playing defense and providing plenty of offensive punch. Brad Miller is curious to see the scoring side of Artest, who averaged 18.3 points per game in his last full season (2003-04).
"He was all defense when we played, and I saw the progression of how much he works on his game," said Miller, who played with Artest in Chicago and was traded with him to Indiana in February of 2002. "He works unbelievably hard, one of the hardest (working players) I've seen."
Reserve center Brian Skinner said Artest's true impact won't be known for some time.
"You're adding a different variable to the equation, and you're going to get a different answer," Skinner said. "It could be the right answer. It could be the wrong answer. You've got to plug it in, and see how everything works out."
Two games past the halfway point of the season, the Kings find themselves right back where they began: eager to see how the new pieces mesh.
"Everything can look really good on paper, but if you have a team that it's hard to play with each other, that's not so good," Adelman said. "That's why I'm not jumping on a bandwagon, either way. I'm going to look at the situation day by day, and see what we have to do to become a better team."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
hmm originally it was supposed to be 3-4 weeks and I believe it has been over that at this point. Iono I guess no word means a lot longer I presume...
