http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13830643p-14671296c.html
Kings rookie Francisco García was talking to a reporter about the sprained right ankle he suffered Sunday night during the Kings' road victory over the Phoenix Suns. García was saying his ankle felt much better than he thought it would when he first injured it.
"I tried to get up at first, and I couldn't put any weight on it," he said of the wrapped ankle. "But it's OK. It feels a lot better. I'll be all right."
That was before García had to endure the harassment of veterans Brian Skinner and Corliss Williamson while he sat on the sideline after Monday's practice dribbling a ball underneath his legs.
"Look at this soft rookie over here," Williamson said. "How long are you going to be out, rook? A week?"
García said: "No, no. Maybe a couple of days and I'll be ready to play."
The reporter tried to intercede on the rookie's behalf and received a caustic look from Williamson.
"He is a rookie," said Williamson, before informing the reporter that as a result of that novice status García is something lower than an earthworm's belly button.
Skinner slid into a seat nearby and began to question the rookie's toughness.
"Well, you're going to have to practice a couple of days before you come back to play," Skinner said to García.
Once again, the reporter tried to help out the rookie and point out that the ankle seemed to obviously be swelling on the outside that bulged through the Ace bandage.
"Naw," Skinner said. "That's just padding they put there to make it look good for the media."
Of course, Skinner and Williamson know that harassing a rookie is part of the menu on almost every level of professional sports.
Becoming a member of the team, García is learning, involves dealing with as much grief as veterans can inflict. After all, mental toughness is part of growth, isn't it?
What break?
The Kings have been one of the league's highest-scoring teams for years, but scoring on the fast break often has been more than they can manage.
The NBA is distributing a set of statistical categories, including points-in-the-paint per game and percentage of total points, fast-break points, second-chance points and points-off-turnovers.
At this early juncture, only Atlanta (the only other team yet to play at home) is scoring (five fast-break points per game) fewer than the Kings (six).
Kings rookie Francisco García was talking to a reporter about the sprained right ankle he suffered Sunday night during the Kings' road victory over the Phoenix Suns. García was saying his ankle felt much better than he thought it would when he first injured it.
"I tried to get up at first, and I couldn't put any weight on it," he said of the wrapped ankle. "But it's OK. It feels a lot better. I'll be all right."
That was before García had to endure the harassment of veterans Brian Skinner and Corliss Williamson while he sat on the sideline after Monday's practice dribbling a ball underneath his legs.
"Look at this soft rookie over here," Williamson said. "How long are you going to be out, rook? A week?"
García said: "No, no. Maybe a couple of days and I'll be ready to play."
The reporter tried to intercede on the rookie's behalf and received a caustic look from Williamson.
"He is a rookie," said Williamson, before informing the reporter that as a result of that novice status García is something lower than an earthworm's belly button.
Skinner slid into a seat nearby and began to question the rookie's toughness.
"Well, you're going to have to practice a couple of days before you come back to play," Skinner said to García.
Once again, the reporter tried to help out the rookie and point out that the ankle seemed to obviously be swelling on the outside that bulged through the Ace bandage.
"Naw," Skinner said. "That's just padding they put there to make it look good for the media."
Of course, Skinner and Williamson know that harassing a rookie is part of the menu on almost every level of professional sports.
Becoming a member of the team, García is learning, involves dealing with as much grief as veterans can inflict. After all, mental toughness is part of growth, isn't it?
What break?
The Kings have been one of the league's highest-scoring teams for years, but scoring on the fast break often has been more than they can manage.
The NBA is distributing a set of statistical categories, including points-in-the-paint per game and percentage of total points, fast-break points, second-chance points and points-off-turnovers.
At this early juncture, only Atlanta (the only other team yet to play at home) is scoring (five fast-break points per game) fewer than the Kings (six).
