http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14132680p-14961604c.html
Kings notes: Recovery weighs on Abdur-Rahim
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, January 30, 2006
TORONTO - It left a bad taste in his mouth.
Not the broken jaw, and not even the 10 missed games that came as a result.
No, it was a sip of his wife's seafood that assaulted the taste buds of Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
"It just wasn't good," he said of the crushed-up cuisine.
More than one month later, Abdur-Rahim still is eating through a straw, his jaw still wired shut to heal the bone fracture suffered against Portland on Dec. 26. On the road, though, the final food preparation is in his hands. At every stop on the six-game trip that ended Sunday in Toronto, Abdur-Rahim had his trusty blender, ready to mix up the best and worst that room service had to offer.
But while his return is seven games old, Abdur-Rahim's new eating habits have kept him from being the same player of old.
As he has begun to exude NBA energy again, his weight loss has increased. He is now 15 pounds lighter, unable to body up on the block or play at full bore like before. He said it's much of the reason for his decreased production.
"I think I'm being productive, but I don't think I'm playing as well as I can play," said Abdur-Rahim, who expects to have the wires removed in less than two weeks. "My energy is down. My weight is down. It's tough."
Before the injury, Abdur-Rahim averaged 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 55 percent (174 of 316) from the floor as a starter. Before facing Toronto, he had averaged 20.8 minutes per game since returning in a reserve role, contributing 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds and hitting only 12 of 38 shots. Sunday, he made both his shots, scored seven points and grabbed one rebound in the Kings' 124-123 overtime loss to the Raptors.
All of which means Abdur-Rahim likely won't be returning to his starting role soon. In his place, Kenny Thomas, entering Sunday, had averaged 35.1 minutes, 13 points and 9.8 rebounds in his last 16 games as a starter, hitting 51.2 percent (85 of 166) of his shots. The Kings are 8-9 since Thomas has started. Abdur-Rahim said he isn't sure if the starting job will be his again.
"It's up to coach (Rick Adelman)," he said. "Different coaches in different situations have different policies. With some coaches, you don't lose your job to injuries. But some coaches go with what's going on at the time."
Hart out - Kings backup point guard Jason Hart missed Sunday's game because of a sprained left knee, suffered during practice Saturday. Hart will have the knee re-evaluated today in Sacramento.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Recovery weighs on Abdur-Rahim
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, January 30, 2006
TORONTO - It left a bad taste in his mouth.
Not the broken jaw, and not even the 10 missed games that came as a result.
No, it was a sip of his wife's seafood that assaulted the taste buds of Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
"It just wasn't good," he said of the crushed-up cuisine.
More than one month later, Abdur-Rahim still is eating through a straw, his jaw still wired shut to heal the bone fracture suffered against Portland on Dec. 26. On the road, though, the final food preparation is in his hands. At every stop on the six-game trip that ended Sunday in Toronto, Abdur-Rahim had his trusty blender, ready to mix up the best and worst that room service had to offer.
But while his return is seven games old, Abdur-Rahim's new eating habits have kept him from being the same player of old.
As he has begun to exude NBA energy again, his weight loss has increased. He is now 15 pounds lighter, unable to body up on the block or play at full bore like before. He said it's much of the reason for his decreased production.
"I think I'm being productive, but I don't think I'm playing as well as I can play," said Abdur-Rahim, who expects to have the wires removed in less than two weeks. "My energy is down. My weight is down. It's tough."
Before the injury, Abdur-Rahim averaged 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 55 percent (174 of 316) from the floor as a starter. Before facing Toronto, he had averaged 20.8 minutes per game since returning in a reserve role, contributing 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds and hitting only 12 of 38 shots. Sunday, he made both his shots, scored seven points and grabbed one rebound in the Kings' 124-123 overtime loss to the Raptors.
All of which means Abdur-Rahim likely won't be returning to his starting role soon. In his place, Kenny Thomas, entering Sunday, had averaged 35.1 minutes, 13 points and 9.8 rebounds in his last 16 games as a starter, hitting 51.2 percent (85 of 166) of his shots. The Kings are 8-9 since Thomas has started. Abdur-Rahim said he isn't sure if the starting job will be his again.
"It's up to coach (Rick Adelman)," he said. "Different coaches in different situations have different policies. With some coaches, you don't lose your job to injuries. But some coaches go with what's going on at the time."
Hart out - Kings backup point guard Jason Hart missed Sunday's game because of a sprained left knee, suffered during practice Saturday. Hart will have the knee re-evaluated today in Sacramento.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
