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Kings' sense of urgency emerges
Coach Eric Musselman shakes up his rotation to try to spark his team.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:27 am PST Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Ron Artest and John Salmons couldn't help but enjoy the show.
The Kings running was new enough, but running over an opponent was even newer still. And in a blowout over Golden State on Saturday night, it came mostly with the Kings' starting small forward and sixth man smiling and cavorting on the bench while rookie Quincy Douby played a starring role and little-used second-year swingman Francisco García logged a season-high 34 minutes.
The deeper meaning, though, was that coach Eric Musselman showed he is officially in gear-shifting mode, willing to try anything with his rotation as long as he believes it can produce victories. It was a message that already had been delivered to the team behind closed doors, where Musselman told his players during their stretch of nine losses in 11 games that changes were coming.
"He told the team that we've got to win, and if what we're doing isn't working, then we've got to find another route," said second-year point guard Ronnie Price, whose minutes have become nearly nonexistent since Douby became part of the rotation four games ago. "We're still a team, and we've got to support each other and focus on one goal: winning games."
It's a novel idea given the current climate. A victory tonight over New York would give the Kings four wins in five tries. It also would give them a chance to reach .500 by Thursday and muster some momentum by the time a stretch begins Jan. 12 in which they play nine of 12 games on the road. And Price isn't the only one buying in.
Artest said he wasn't upset or surprised that he played a season-low 12 minutes against the Warriors. He was pulled with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter and the Kings trailing 22-16. With Garcia showcasing his versatile, energetic style in his place, Artest watched as the Kings exploded and led 74-43 at halftime.
"It's cool," said Artest, who missed all four of his shots against Golden State. "I didn't really have a take on that. I was just happy to see Quincy Douby. I was hoping he'd go for 40 (points)."
Artest, who was frustrated earlier this season about not being the team's top offensive option, said he's learning to accept a supporting role on that end.
"It's a different make of a team," he said. "In Indiana, I was a go-to guy. (Pacers coach Rick Carlisle) called a lot of plays for me, but it's all right. You just go with the make of the team. (Former Kings coach Rick) Adelman went to me quite often, but now it's more movement. You get adjusted to it, so it's not a problem."
Artest, who is most effective scoring in the post, even said he would be willing to play power forward if Musselman wanted to go small with him in the lineup.
"I've really got nothing to be upset about," he said. "You make a lot of money, and you play. I've got a couple more years left (before) a contract is coming up."
Musselman said the Warriors game was an extreme example of rotation changes. Some minutes were freed because of the absence of forward Kenny Thomas, who was ill but is expected to play tonight. And others were available because Artest sat, which Musselman said is by no means the beginning of a trend.
"You can't play 12 guys," Musselman said. "(But) we need to figure out a good blend, a good mix. And that's what this part of the year is for a new staff and for a new rookie who's just now coming into his own."
Said Garcia, who has averaged just 14.4 minutes this season: "We've just got to go out there and win games however we can."
It's the new message that has become the method.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
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WHAT ???
I'm a HUGE fan of Ron artest, since his Chicago's days but he is driving me nuts !
To me he's the best perimeter defender in the history of the league. And i take so much pleasure watching him play that it is even more painfull to see him doing stupid things.
I Know he's RonRon but it's suprising for him to say that Carlisle was calling a lot of calls for him ! I remember him saying " when coach doesn't call a play for me for the whole quarter there is a problem"
Besides he has to explain me how he could be a go to guy with Jermaine O'neal on his team and now he can't ...
Kings' sense of urgency emerges
Coach Eric Musselman shakes up his rotation to try to spark his team.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:27 am PST Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Ron Artest and John Salmons couldn't help but enjoy the show.
The Kings running was new enough, but running over an opponent was even newer still. And in a blowout over Golden State on Saturday night, it came mostly with the Kings' starting small forward and sixth man smiling and cavorting on the bench while rookie Quincy Douby played a starring role and little-used second-year swingman Francisco García logged a season-high 34 minutes.
The deeper meaning, though, was that coach Eric Musselman showed he is officially in gear-shifting mode, willing to try anything with his rotation as long as he believes it can produce victories. It was a message that already had been delivered to the team behind closed doors, where Musselman told his players during their stretch of nine losses in 11 games that changes were coming.
"He told the team that we've got to win, and if what we're doing isn't working, then we've got to find another route," said second-year point guard Ronnie Price, whose minutes have become nearly nonexistent since Douby became part of the rotation four games ago. "We're still a team, and we've got to support each other and focus on one goal: winning games."
It's a novel idea given the current climate. A victory tonight over New York would give the Kings four wins in five tries. It also would give them a chance to reach .500 by Thursday and muster some momentum by the time a stretch begins Jan. 12 in which they play nine of 12 games on the road. And Price isn't the only one buying in.
Artest said he wasn't upset or surprised that he played a season-low 12 minutes against the Warriors. He was pulled with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter and the Kings trailing 22-16. With Garcia showcasing his versatile, energetic style in his place, Artest watched as the Kings exploded and led 74-43 at halftime.
"It's cool," said Artest, who missed all four of his shots against Golden State. "I didn't really have a take on that. I was just happy to see Quincy Douby. I was hoping he'd go for 40 (points)."
Artest, who was frustrated earlier this season about not being the team's top offensive option, said he's learning to accept a supporting role on that end.
"It's a different make of a team," he said. "In Indiana, I was a go-to guy. (Pacers coach Rick Carlisle) called a lot of plays for me, but it's all right. You just go with the make of the team. (Former Kings coach Rick) Adelman went to me quite often, but now it's more movement. You get adjusted to it, so it's not a problem."
Artest, who is most effective scoring in the post, even said he would be willing to play power forward if Musselman wanted to go small with him in the lineup.
"I've really got nothing to be upset about," he said. "You make a lot of money, and you play. I've got a couple more years left (before) a contract is coming up."
Musselman said the Warriors game was an extreme example of rotation changes. Some minutes were freed because of the absence of forward Kenny Thomas, who was ill but is expected to play tonight. And others were available because Artest sat, which Musselman said is by no means the beginning of a trend.
"You can't play 12 guys," Musselman said. "(But) we need to figure out a good blend, a good mix. And that's what this part of the year is for a new staff and for a new rookie who's just now coming into his own."
Said Garcia, who has averaged just 14.4 minutes this season: "We've just got to go out there and win games however we can."
It's the new message that has become the method.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ???
I'm a HUGE fan of Ron artest, since his Chicago's days but he is driving me nuts !
To me he's the best perimeter defender in the history of the league. And i take so much pleasure watching him play that it is even more painfull to see him doing stupid things.
I Know he's RonRon but it's suprising for him to say that Carlisle was calling a lot of calls for him ! I remember him saying " when coach doesn't call a play for me for the whole quarter there is a problem"
Besides he has to explain me how he could be a go to guy with Jermaine O'neal on his team and now he can't ...
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