Starting again, Thomas has his best game of the season
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Kenny Thomas sat at his locker in Toronto on Jan. 17, proclaiming his patience after he'd been replaced in the starting lineup 11 days before.
"I just have to be professional," the Kings forward said then. "You never know what can happen. Be professional and go in there, and that's what I've been doing."
High points are a relative reality for the Kings these days, but Thomas found himself in an elevated state of being Wednesday night at Arco Arena. As the Kings won for the third time in four games, 114-106 over Milwaukee, the seven-year veteran who was given his job back Monday had his finest outing of the season with 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting and nine rebounds.
Kings coach Eric Musselman even deemed it as such, with Thomas the only one disagreeing on the notion.
"He rebounded the ball for us, did a great job of finding open areas off guys' penetration," Musselman said. "Every shot he took was a quality shot, and he gave us a great energy."
Thomas never has been shy about sharing his stance on the starting vs. subbing debate, claiming he simply can't be comfortable coming off the bench. But his numbers as a starter this season had done nothing to support the argument.
His offensive game -- that once-respected mid-range jump shot and an occasional post move -- had disappeared with his role in the offense, as Thomas reached double digits in scoring just seven times in 30 starts. Rebounding and defense, Musselman had said, were to be Thomas' primary focuses. But Thomas had reached double digits on the boards just seven times as a starter.
His offense against the Bucks was a byproduct of the rare ball movement and quality passing down low, as five of Thomas' baskets came on layups and dunks to go with two hook shots.
Thomas, who has been patient for reasons both professional and political, admitted the season has been "very trying and difficult for me."
"Brad (Miller) found me tonight, and Mike (Bibby) found me tonight," Thomas said. "I'm just going to keep trying to be accurate and hit shots when I get the opportunity to score. ... Everybody needs a rhythm. Nobody's perfect. We are human, and I got in a rhythm."
Which, after all, is the team's goal. Musselman is hoping the root of the rhythm problem is energy. There was a lack of leg power on the recent four-game road trip, never more so than in the loss at Detroit in which the Kings languished. A repeat act on the upcoming four-game trip might doom -- or severely damage -- whatever dwindling playoff hopes still exist.
Thus, Musselman said he is giving his players a rare day off today, as they travel to New Orleans in hopes that the rest pays off.
"We've still got a long ways to go," swingman John Salmons said. "This will be a good test for us, but I think it's up to the individual to come out every day and play hard. Effort is energy enough."
The Kings had a relative breeze with the injury-depleted Bucks, who have lost 10 of 11 games and were without sharpshooter Michael Redd, forward Charlie Villanueva and point guard Mo Williams. Sacramento led 31-15 less than nine minutes into play, as Kevin Martin hit his first four shots and scored 10 of his 18 points in the first quarter.
Ron Artest finished what Martin started by scoring 36 points on 15-for-23 shooting. Artest had 18 points in the fourth quarter, in which Milwaukee never came closer than 104-97.
Miller had 14 points, seven rebounds and a season-high eight assists, and the Kings' nine turnovers tied their third-fewest this season.
Point guard Earl Boykins led the Bucks with a career-high 36 points.
The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/113340.html
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Kenny Thomas sat at his locker in Toronto on Jan. 17, proclaiming his patience after he'd been replaced in the starting lineup 11 days before.
"I just have to be professional," the Kings forward said then. "You never know what can happen. Be professional and go in there, and that's what I've been doing."
High points are a relative reality for the Kings these days, but Thomas found himself in an elevated state of being Wednesday night at Arco Arena. As the Kings won for the third time in four games, 114-106 over Milwaukee, the seven-year veteran who was given his job back Monday had his finest outing of the season with 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting and nine rebounds.
Kings coach Eric Musselman even deemed it as such, with Thomas the only one disagreeing on the notion.
"He rebounded the ball for us, did a great job of finding open areas off guys' penetration," Musselman said. "Every shot he took was a quality shot, and he gave us a great energy."
Thomas never has been shy about sharing his stance on the starting vs. subbing debate, claiming he simply can't be comfortable coming off the bench. But his numbers as a starter this season had done nothing to support the argument.
His offensive game -- that once-respected mid-range jump shot and an occasional post move -- had disappeared with his role in the offense, as Thomas reached double digits in scoring just seven times in 30 starts. Rebounding and defense, Musselman had said, were to be Thomas' primary focuses. But Thomas had reached double digits on the boards just seven times as a starter.
His offense against the Bucks was a byproduct of the rare ball movement and quality passing down low, as five of Thomas' baskets came on layups and dunks to go with two hook shots.
Thomas, who has been patient for reasons both professional and political, admitted the season has been "very trying and difficult for me."
"Brad (Miller) found me tonight, and Mike (Bibby) found me tonight," Thomas said. "I'm just going to keep trying to be accurate and hit shots when I get the opportunity to score. ... Everybody needs a rhythm. Nobody's perfect. We are human, and I got in a rhythm."
Which, after all, is the team's goal. Musselman is hoping the root of the rhythm problem is energy. There was a lack of leg power on the recent four-game road trip, never more so than in the loss at Detroit in which the Kings languished. A repeat act on the upcoming four-game trip might doom -- or severely damage -- whatever dwindling playoff hopes still exist.
Thus, Musselman said he is giving his players a rare day off today, as they travel to New Orleans in hopes that the rest pays off.
"We've still got a long ways to go," swingman John Salmons said. "This will be a good test for us, but I think it's up to the individual to come out every day and play hard. Effort is energy enough."
The Kings had a relative breeze with the injury-depleted Bucks, who have lost 10 of 11 games and were without sharpshooter Michael Redd, forward Charlie Villanueva and point guard Mo Williams. Sacramento led 31-15 less than nine minutes into play, as Kevin Martin hit his first four shots and scored 10 of his 18 points in the first quarter.
Ron Artest finished what Martin started by scoring 36 points on 15-for-23 shooting. Artest had 18 points in the fourth quarter, in which Milwaukee never came closer than 104-97.
Miller had 14 points, seven rebounds and a season-high eight assists, and the Kings' nine turnovers tied their third-fewest this season.
Point guard Earl Boykins led the Bucks with a career-high 36 points.
The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/113340.html
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