http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/38242.html
Let the preseason fight for a spot begin in earnest
Four starters are certain, but there are questions at power forward and how deep the rotation will go.
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 12, 2006
Now for some real games.
Training camp has morphed from a rigorous session of cram-session conditioning drills, schemes and sets into the fun stuff.
It's also high anxiety time for Kings roster hopefuls and those looking to secure spots in the rotation. Coach Eric Musselman said that since there will be a scoreboard used today in the preseason opener in Dallas, he'll play to win. But that doesn't mean playing the starters a full 48 minutes. It means the coach will have one eye on his evolving team and the other on the score.
"The starters are going to get a certain amount of minutes to keep them going along in a rhythm," Musselman said. "But this game should be very meaningful for guys trying to make the roster, and it should be extremely meaningful for guys trying to earn their spot in the rotation.
"For those guys, (tonight) is a high, high priority. The outcome of the game and the big scheme of things is not a huge deal. The outcome for certain players is."
The four certain starters against Dallas are Brad Miller at center, Ron Artest at small forward and Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin in the backcourt. After that, Musselman will decide to start either Kenny Thomas or Shareef Abdur-Rahim at power forward with both to see significant time. Others in the main rotation include swingmen John Salmons and Francisco García and first-round pick Quincy Douby, a combo guard.
Those looking for rotation minutes include veteran frontcourt players Corliss Williamson and Loren Woods and guard Jason Hart. Second-year man Ronnie Price is competing with Hart for backup point guard minutes. Roster hopefuls who have impressed in camp include undrafted rookie free agent frontcourt players Louis Amundson and Justin Williams.
Thomas, an eight-year veteran, said it's important for the young players to play hard but to also play smart.
"Rookies trying to do too much, that's very common," he said. "They sometimes try to score when they're not supposed to. A guy like Justin just needs to come in and play hard. Play hard and establish yourself. If it's not here where he plays, the coaches would give him a good reference."
Musselman said he spoke privately with Miller and Bibby about how much they'll play tonight. Both should play 20-something minutes.
"I asked them point-blank," said Musselman, who has made it a point to talk to players individually on a regular basis. "I don't need to ask Ron. I already know the answer."
Artest would like to play the entire game, of course, given his competitive soul. The Kings know what he can do. It's the depth behind him that will be telling, be it Williamson, García or Salmons -- or perhaps Amundson.
The Kings have 18 players, but that doesn't mean 18 will play. Or even 15.
"We did an entire scripted, minutes-played for the game," Musselman said. "We're still in full evaluation. It's hard to play (14 or more in a game). You get past 12, and it gets really difficult. This isn't CYO. It's a business. We'll play the guys that need to play and play the guys we're still trying to evaluate."
Musselman said the team strength at this point has been hustle and shooting, though it's a very young shooting team outside of Bibby and Artest. He said the Kings' most daunting challenge is rebounding. Artest is a stopper, but he isn't an elite rebounder (he only had one in a full scrimmage under game conditions at Arco Arena on Sunday). The leading rebounders were the pups -- Williams with eight and Amundson with six.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
Let the preseason fight for a spot begin in earnest
Four starters are certain, but there are questions at power forward and how deep the rotation will go.
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 12, 2006
Now for some real games.
Training camp has morphed from a rigorous session of cram-session conditioning drills, schemes and sets into the fun stuff.
It's also high anxiety time for Kings roster hopefuls and those looking to secure spots in the rotation. Coach Eric Musselman said that since there will be a scoreboard used today in the preseason opener in Dallas, he'll play to win. But that doesn't mean playing the starters a full 48 minutes. It means the coach will have one eye on his evolving team and the other on the score.
"The starters are going to get a certain amount of minutes to keep them going along in a rhythm," Musselman said. "But this game should be very meaningful for guys trying to make the roster, and it should be extremely meaningful for guys trying to earn their spot in the rotation.
"For those guys, (tonight) is a high, high priority. The outcome of the game and the big scheme of things is not a huge deal. The outcome for certain players is."
The four certain starters against Dallas are Brad Miller at center, Ron Artest at small forward and Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin in the backcourt. After that, Musselman will decide to start either Kenny Thomas or Shareef Abdur-Rahim at power forward with both to see significant time. Others in the main rotation include swingmen John Salmons and Francisco García and first-round pick Quincy Douby, a combo guard.
Those looking for rotation minutes include veteran frontcourt players Corliss Williamson and Loren Woods and guard Jason Hart. Second-year man Ronnie Price is competing with Hart for backup point guard minutes. Roster hopefuls who have impressed in camp include undrafted rookie free agent frontcourt players Louis Amundson and Justin Williams.
Thomas, an eight-year veteran, said it's important for the young players to play hard but to also play smart.
"Rookies trying to do too much, that's very common," he said. "They sometimes try to score when they're not supposed to. A guy like Justin just needs to come in and play hard. Play hard and establish yourself. If it's not here where he plays, the coaches would give him a good reference."
Musselman said he spoke privately with Miller and Bibby about how much they'll play tonight. Both should play 20-something minutes.
"I asked them point-blank," said Musselman, who has made it a point to talk to players individually on a regular basis. "I don't need to ask Ron. I already know the answer."
Artest would like to play the entire game, of course, given his competitive soul. The Kings know what he can do. It's the depth behind him that will be telling, be it Williamson, García or Salmons -- or perhaps Amundson.
The Kings have 18 players, but that doesn't mean 18 will play. Or even 15.
"We did an entire scripted, minutes-played for the game," Musselman said. "We're still in full evaluation. It's hard to play (14 or more in a game). You get past 12, and it gets really difficult. This isn't CYO. It's a business. We'll play the guys that need to play and play the guys we're still trying to evaluate."
Musselman said the team strength at this point has been hustle and shooting, though it's a very young shooting team outside of Bibby and Artest. He said the Kings' most daunting challenge is rebounding. Artest is a stopper, but he isn't an elite rebounder (he only had one in a full scrimmage under game conditions at Arco Arena on Sunday). The leading rebounders were the pups -- Williams with eight and Amundson with six.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
