http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14155244p-14983321c.html
Kings up next
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 5, 2006
Kings (19-27) vs. Jazz (23-24)
Kings update
Status: Hurting, again. The Kings thought they were ready to showcase a healthy unit in a mad scramble to reach .500, only to announce Brad Miller would miss up to three games with a fractured right thumb. The center hopes to return as soon as Tuesday at home against the Memphis Grizzlies. On Friday, the latest ouch was even more painful, with Ron Artest missing the late stages of an agonizing loss to Utah with a hip pointer. At the very least, he'll be sore for a few days. All of this means the Kings have to dig deep into the bench - again.
Trend: Even with a healthy Artest commanding attention in the paint, the Kings dearly need Mike Bibby to shoot well. As long as he's on this roster, that will ring true. The Kings are 1-13 when Bibby shoots 40 percent or worse, a total that includes his 4 for 16 clunker Friday when the Kings saw a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead turn into an 89-79 defeat with the Kings missing all 20 field-goal attempts in the fourth. Even with the injuries, recent momentum favors the Kings, who have downed the Jazz four out of five meetings at Arco.
Injury report: Ron Artest, hip pointer, day-to-day; Brad Miller, thumb, day-to-day.
Jazz update
Status: The Jazz has turned a recent slump into back-to-back victories, over Denver and the Kings. What's more, the last time Utah came to Arco, it did so minus a lot of talent, including Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring and Gordan Giricek due to injuries. The Kings delivered a 119-83 shelling, the largest margin of defeat in the 144-game series history between the franchises. On Friday, Kirilenko sparkled, including a blocked shot of Artest and scoring 14 of his 24 in the fourth. He also had 11 rebounds. Unheralded guard Milt Palacio had 19 points, most of them on easy-access drives to the basket. Greg Ostertag had eight of his 10 rebounds in the fourth quarter, and every TV monitor should be on high alert today as he obliterated one Friday in a fit of frustration.
Trend: This club never quits. It's a Jerry Sloan trademark since his arrival 19 seasons ago. If there's no Artest to bother and chase Kirilenko, the Russian star could take over again. While the Kings lounge in last place in the Pacific Division, the Jazz is nipping at the Denver Nuggets' heels, running in second place in the Northwest. Someday, the team could even bring back Carlos Boozer, who hasn't played in a year due to injuries.
Injury report: Carlos Boozer, hamstring, week-to-week; Giricek, Achilles' tendinitis, out.
LINEUPS
Kings
10 Mike Bibby PG
23 Kevin Martin SG
32 Francisco García SF
9 Kenny Thomas PF
3 Shareef Abdur-Rahim C
Jazz
25 Keith McLeod PG
15 Matt Harpring SG
47 Andrei Kirilenko SF
13 Mehmet Okur PF
31 Jarron Collins C
Best matchup: García vs. Kirilenko - If Artest can't go, or even if he's slowed to a virtual crawl, García might have to check Kirilenko, which is one tough task on either end of the floor. Kirilenko is explosive and long, a superb shot-blocker who can attack the basket and draw fouls. García loves to fire up three-pointers, but it might be wise to attack, forcing Kirilenko to guard him.http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6474
Kings up next
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 5, 2006
Kings (19-27) vs. Jazz (23-24)
Kings update
Status: Hurting, again. The Kings thought they were ready to showcase a healthy unit in a mad scramble to reach .500, only to announce Brad Miller would miss up to three games with a fractured right thumb. The center hopes to return as soon as Tuesday at home against the Memphis Grizzlies. On Friday, the latest ouch was even more painful, with Ron Artest missing the late stages of an agonizing loss to Utah with a hip pointer. At the very least, he'll be sore for a few days. All of this means the Kings have to dig deep into the bench - again.
Trend: Even with a healthy Artest commanding attention in the paint, the Kings dearly need Mike Bibby to shoot well. As long as he's on this roster, that will ring true. The Kings are 1-13 when Bibby shoots 40 percent or worse, a total that includes his 4 for 16 clunker Friday when the Kings saw a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead turn into an 89-79 defeat with the Kings missing all 20 field-goal attempts in the fourth. Even with the injuries, recent momentum favors the Kings, who have downed the Jazz four out of five meetings at Arco.
Injury report: Ron Artest, hip pointer, day-to-day; Brad Miller, thumb, day-to-day.
Jazz update
Status: The Jazz has turned a recent slump into back-to-back victories, over Denver and the Kings. What's more, the last time Utah came to Arco, it did so minus a lot of talent, including Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring and Gordan Giricek due to injuries. The Kings delivered a 119-83 shelling, the largest margin of defeat in the 144-game series history between the franchises. On Friday, Kirilenko sparkled, including a blocked shot of Artest and scoring 14 of his 24 in the fourth. He also had 11 rebounds. Unheralded guard Milt Palacio had 19 points, most of them on easy-access drives to the basket. Greg Ostertag had eight of his 10 rebounds in the fourth quarter, and every TV monitor should be on high alert today as he obliterated one Friday in a fit of frustration.
Trend: This club never quits. It's a Jerry Sloan trademark since his arrival 19 seasons ago. If there's no Artest to bother and chase Kirilenko, the Russian star could take over again. While the Kings lounge in last place in the Pacific Division, the Jazz is nipping at the Denver Nuggets' heels, running in second place in the Northwest. Someday, the team could even bring back Carlos Boozer, who hasn't played in a year due to injuries.
Injury report: Carlos Boozer, hamstring, week-to-week; Giricek, Achilles' tendinitis, out.
LINEUPS
Kings
10 Mike Bibby PG
23 Kevin Martin SG
32 Francisco García SF
9 Kenny Thomas PF
3 Shareef Abdur-Rahim C
Jazz
25 Keith McLeod PG
15 Matt Harpring SG
47 Andrei Kirilenko SF
13 Mehmet Okur PF
31 Jarron Collins C
Best matchup: García vs. Kirilenko - If Artest can't go, or even if he's slowed to a virtual crawl, García might have to check Kirilenko, which is one tough task on either end of the floor. Kirilenko is explosive and long, a superb shot-blocker who can attack the basket and draw fouls. García loves to fire up three-pointers, but it might be wise to attack, forcing Kirilenko to guard him.http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6474
