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Pep is back in Kings' step
Their recent rise has contributed to a happier locker room
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, March 8, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
The infamous shower curtain hung still, serving as a barrier between the media on the court and the Kings in their locker room at the team's practice facility Wednesday.
But the quiet broke when Kevin Martin barreled through, with Francisco García not far behind and the culprit of either a shove or a good, old-fashioned chasing.
Laughs were had. The mood was light. What a difference 11 days makes.
Winners of five of six games and legitimate playoff contenders, the Kings kept their mini-streak going straight through the Ron Artest saga and maintained a mood that has been on the rise. As recently as Feb. 23, they had lost five of six games and fallen eight games below .500.
"I think our team, over the last three weeks, has been having fun on bus rides to and from games, on the airplanes and in the locker room," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "I just think the whole atmosphere ... "
He paused. "When you win games, that helps."
In a number of ways. Artest's arrest Monday on suspicion of domestic violence seemed to have little impact on his teammates, who likely will be without Artest for some time. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, who excused Artest indefinitely Monday, said Wednesday there was "no change in status" for his small forward. Although the Placer County Sheriff's Department released a portion of the victim's 911 call and an arrest report, Petrie said the Kings organization continues to gather more facts.
"We're still researching, collecting information," Petrie said. "We're talking to his legal counsel, waiting on some of these things (to be released by the county). Even with the 911 call, they didn't release the entire thing yet. ...
We just don't know enough."
As for the matters of the basketball court, the Kings' bench was making games easier even before Artest was gone. In the five most recent wins, the bench has averaged 31.4 points, with either young guns García and Ronnie Price producing or veterans Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Corliss Williamson providing scoring down low.
The lone loss came in Philadelphia, where a combined 68 minutes from the Kings' reserves resulted in just 10 points (Abdur-Rahim had six). As Musselman has said recently, the bench players appear to be more comfortable with their roles.
"Defensively, when we have that second unit in, we go to that press," Musselman said. "Offensively, when that second unit stays is when we run our open passing game. And they feel good in those roles right now. They kind of evolved in it."
More important, the players agree.
"It's up to everybody as a unit to step up," said Price, who has averaged 11.1 minutes in the past 10 games after playing a combined 41 minutes in the previous 29 games. "Coach showed some faith in us to get out there and make some things happen, and it's been going our way. It's been fun."
Albeit tiring. Off-days have been a rarity since the All-Star break, with the Kings logging eight games in 14 days before facing the Pacers on Tuesday.
Three starters rested Wednesday, as Mike Bibby had a sore ankle from turning it late against Indiana, Brad Miller stayed off his left foot that still has swollen tissue, and Kevin Martin gave his knees and weary body a welcome break. All three are expected to play tonight against San Antonio.
Miller, who spent much of the practice on a cardiovascular machine, said the roles lately have been more clearly defined.
"We're finally getting an idea of who's going to play with who, and what everybody's roles are," he said. "You can see (the young players) developing a little bit more. It's been fun, and a little more exciting. ... Obviously, something's working."
The Kings have averaged 108.2 points in the past six games, and their streak of eight consecutive games tallying 20-plus assists is the season's longest.
"We're definitely moving the ball a lot better," Musselman said. "The ball is getting us shots rather than an individual player getting us shots. When the ball moves and you get other people easy shots, it makes the game easier."
With no shortage of hard times otherwise.
"It looks to me like a bunch of guys who rediscovered each other," Petrie said.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/134628.html
Their recent rise has contributed to a happier locker room
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, March 8, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
The infamous shower curtain hung still, serving as a barrier between the media on the court and the Kings in their locker room at the team's practice facility Wednesday.
But the quiet broke when Kevin Martin barreled through, with Francisco García not far behind and the culprit of either a shove or a good, old-fashioned chasing.
Laughs were had. The mood was light. What a difference 11 days makes.
Winners of five of six games and legitimate playoff contenders, the Kings kept their mini-streak going straight through the Ron Artest saga and maintained a mood that has been on the rise. As recently as Feb. 23, they had lost five of six games and fallen eight games below .500.
"I think our team, over the last three weeks, has been having fun on bus rides to and from games, on the airplanes and in the locker room," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "I just think the whole atmosphere ... "
He paused. "When you win games, that helps."
In a number of ways. Artest's arrest Monday on suspicion of domestic violence seemed to have little impact on his teammates, who likely will be without Artest for some time. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, who excused Artest indefinitely Monday, said Wednesday there was "no change in status" for his small forward. Although the Placer County Sheriff's Department released a portion of the victim's 911 call and an arrest report, Petrie said the Kings organization continues to gather more facts.
"We're still researching, collecting information," Petrie said. "We're talking to his legal counsel, waiting on some of these things (to be released by the county). Even with the 911 call, they didn't release the entire thing yet. ...
We just don't know enough."
As for the matters of the basketball court, the Kings' bench was making games easier even before Artest was gone. In the five most recent wins, the bench has averaged 31.4 points, with either young guns García and Ronnie Price producing or veterans Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Corliss Williamson providing scoring down low.
The lone loss came in Philadelphia, where a combined 68 minutes from the Kings' reserves resulted in just 10 points (Abdur-Rahim had six). As Musselman has said recently, the bench players appear to be more comfortable with their roles.
"Defensively, when we have that second unit in, we go to that press," Musselman said. "Offensively, when that second unit stays is when we run our open passing game. And they feel good in those roles right now. They kind of evolved in it."
More important, the players agree.
"It's up to everybody as a unit to step up," said Price, who has averaged 11.1 minutes in the past 10 games after playing a combined 41 minutes in the previous 29 games. "Coach showed some faith in us to get out there and make some things happen, and it's been going our way. It's been fun."
Albeit tiring. Off-days have been a rarity since the All-Star break, with the Kings logging eight games in 14 days before facing the Pacers on Tuesday.
Three starters rested Wednesday, as Mike Bibby had a sore ankle from turning it late against Indiana, Brad Miller stayed off his left foot that still has swollen tissue, and Kevin Martin gave his knees and weary body a welcome break. All three are expected to play tonight against San Antonio.
Miller, who spent much of the practice on a cardiovascular machine, said the roles lately have been more clearly defined.
"We're finally getting an idea of who's going to play with who, and what everybody's roles are," he said. "You can see (the young players) developing a little bit more. It's been fun, and a little more exciting. ... Obviously, something's working."
The Kings have averaged 108.2 points in the past six games, and their streak of eight consecutive games tallying 20-plus assists is the season's longest.
"We're definitely moving the ball a lot better," Musselman said. "The ball is getting us shots rather than an individual player getting us shots. When the ball moves and you get other people easy shots, it makes the game easier."
With no shortage of hard times otherwise.
"It looks to me like a bunch of guys who rediscovered each other," Petrie said.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/134628.html
