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Kings triumph in exhibition finale
Brad Miller returns as Sacramento defeats a listless Portland squad.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:04 am PDT Saturday, October 28, 2006
In what could become a league-wide trend this season, the Kings wanted to send a basket of goodies to the schedule makers who pitted them against Portland at the opportune time Friday night.
What better way to finish the exhibition season than against the squad that has increased its moral fiber while lowering its talent pool? Subtract Zach Randolph and Darius Miles from the not-so-potent Trail Blazers mix, and the Kings had themselves a feel-good 84-78 finale at Arco Arena.
They finished with a 5-3 record by returning to the as-advertised portion of Kings basketball, that defense-first campaign that seemed to kick off mere seconds after Rick Adelman left town in May and the search for Sacramento's secretary of defense began.
That coach, of course, was eventually deemed Eric Musselman, whose squad held Portland to a 40.3 percent shooting clip that was -- funny thing -- a shade higher than the Kings' 37.5. But if there was anything to be drawn from the lighthearted affair, it was the sight of Kings center Brad Miller running the floor as if chasing someone who stole his monster truck.
The 7-footer, who was justifiably maligned for his defense much of last season, returned from a one-game absence (finger fracture) and showed a new sort of spirit on both ends. The Kings were without two starters, as point guard Mike Bibby (right thumb) remained out, and forward Kenny Thomas did not play because of tendinitis in his lower left leg. He is day-to-day.
"I wanted to get going, full steam ahead," said Miller, who scored 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting and had eight rebounds in 35 minutes. "They've been talking about a lack of defense around here for a lot of years, and when you see the whole team buying into it, it really makes you want to step up and work even harder at it.
"Offense would be great to get tuned up, but I was just trying to provide some energy on the other end."
There was no energy crisis early, when shooting guard Kevin Martin put together one of the more dominant stretches of his young career. He nearly sat out, having jammed his left big toe in Thursday's practice.
Nonetheless, four converted free throws led to a 25-foot fadeaway three-pointer and an alley-oop layup off a Ronnie Price assist in the first four minutes, and Martin wasn't done yet. He hit two more threes and a 23-footer when the first-quarter clock struck 3:51. After one quarter, Martin had scored 17 of his 26 total points, and the Kings led 27-18.
Despite Martin's cooling period (he missed nine in a row after hitting his first five shots, and went 7 for 18 overall), he ended the exhibition season just as he had in July in the Las Vegas Summer League, providing the production Musselman and his staff requested.
"He had a great preseason," said Musselman of Martin, who led the team in exhibition scoring with 16.9 points per game. "He did everything we asked."
There was little progress in relation to the point guard problem. Price started and had his quietest game yet, with little noise behind him. Price, who averaged 9.9 points in the first seven exhibition games, went scoreless in 26 minutes and had two assists.
Veteran Jason Hart had five points and two assists in 22 minutes, while John Salmons had eight points and one assist in 28 minutes.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Kings triumph in exhibition finale
Brad Miller returns as Sacramento defeats a listless Portland squad.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:04 am PDT Saturday, October 28, 2006
In what could become a league-wide trend this season, the Kings wanted to send a basket of goodies to the schedule makers who pitted them against Portland at the opportune time Friday night.
What better way to finish the exhibition season than against the squad that has increased its moral fiber while lowering its talent pool? Subtract Zach Randolph and Darius Miles from the not-so-potent Trail Blazers mix, and the Kings had themselves a feel-good 84-78 finale at Arco Arena.
They finished with a 5-3 record by returning to the as-advertised portion of Kings basketball, that defense-first campaign that seemed to kick off mere seconds after Rick Adelman left town in May and the search for Sacramento's secretary of defense began.
That coach, of course, was eventually deemed Eric Musselman, whose squad held Portland to a 40.3 percent shooting clip that was -- funny thing -- a shade higher than the Kings' 37.5. But if there was anything to be drawn from the lighthearted affair, it was the sight of Kings center Brad Miller running the floor as if chasing someone who stole his monster truck.
The 7-footer, who was justifiably maligned for his defense much of last season, returned from a one-game absence (finger fracture) and showed a new sort of spirit on both ends. The Kings were without two starters, as point guard Mike Bibby (right thumb) remained out, and forward Kenny Thomas did not play because of tendinitis in his lower left leg. He is day-to-day.
"I wanted to get going, full steam ahead," said Miller, who scored 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting and had eight rebounds in 35 minutes. "They've been talking about a lack of defense around here for a lot of years, and when you see the whole team buying into it, it really makes you want to step up and work even harder at it.
"Offense would be great to get tuned up, but I was just trying to provide some energy on the other end."
There was no energy crisis early, when shooting guard Kevin Martin put together one of the more dominant stretches of his young career. He nearly sat out, having jammed his left big toe in Thursday's practice.
Nonetheless, four converted free throws led to a 25-foot fadeaway three-pointer and an alley-oop layup off a Ronnie Price assist in the first four minutes, and Martin wasn't done yet. He hit two more threes and a 23-footer when the first-quarter clock struck 3:51. After one quarter, Martin had scored 17 of his 26 total points, and the Kings led 27-18.
Despite Martin's cooling period (he missed nine in a row after hitting his first five shots, and went 7 for 18 overall), he ended the exhibition season just as he had in July in the Las Vegas Summer League, providing the production Musselman and his staff requested.
"He had a great preseason," said Musselman of Martin, who led the team in exhibition scoring with 16.9 points per game. "He did everything we asked."
There was little progress in relation to the point guard problem. Price started and had his quietest game yet, with little noise behind him. Price, who averaged 9.9 points in the first seven exhibition games, went scoreless in 26 minutes and had two assists.
Veteran Jason Hart had five points and two assists in 22 minutes, while John Salmons had eight points and one assist in 28 minutes.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
