http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/153769.html
Rookie proves himself in post
Justin Williams records his second double double in a row in a loss to the Spurs.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:17 am PDT Thursday, April 12, 2007
SAN ANTONIO -- Justin Williams went down, and every eyebrow on the Kings' bench went up.
He soared for the late fourth-quarter rebound and hobbled after the landing, pulling up lame because of a leg cramp but looking far more injured at the time.
The Kings' players, coaches and trainers looked on in concern as if it were Chris Webber hitting the floor in the 2003 Western Conference semifinals. And that, in its own interesting way, might have been Williams' official welcoming moment.
The Kings' 109-100 loss to San Antonio at the AT&T Center on Wednesday night began drenched in the past and ended with nothing but promise for the future. Williams not only posted his second consecutive double double but seemed to represent the reality that is a roster with more than its share of serviceable youth.
Williams, strange as it sounds, brought impact above any of his teammates, forcing the sizzling Spurs to worry their playoff-bound selves with his presence on the glass and changing shots in the paint as if this were Keon Clark redux. Williams left the game after his third foul with the Kings up 84-82 early in the fourth quarter and returned nearly six minutes later with the Spurs up 96-89.
Second-year swingman Francisco García started for the second consecutive game and posted his second season high in a row in scoring (22), hitting 8 of 16 from the field and showing once again that he can handle a heavier load. Williams finished with 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes, his only transgression no different from most of his NBA colleagues in his inability to stop Tim Duncan.
The Spurs forward scored 13 of his 26 points in a fourth quarter in which San Antonio pulled away after trailing 80-79 entering the fourth quarter.
"Duncan had a great game, was 11 of 14 (shooting), and he's won MVPs, but so did a guy named Justin Williams," Kings coach Eric Musselman said.
The player who spent much of this season in the minor leagues of Bismarck, N.D., appears to be turning into a major piece of what's to come. Past the part of going from training camp casualty to NBA Development League player back to the Kings, there is the indisputable evidence that Williams' rebounds-per-48-minutes average now stands at 17.7 per game. This, of course, is a too-little, too-late revelation for a team that is better only than Golden State in terms of rebounding differential.
"We have found out that Justin Williams can rebound at this level, and that's a good thing for our organization going forward," Musselman said.
For Williams, though, it's simply more momentum for an offseason of free agency in which he plans to play for the Kings' July summer-league team in Las Vegas with the hopes of a contract bringing him back.
"Just wanted to show it wasn't a fluke and just keep getting better," Williams said.
Looking ahead kept the Kings from looking back on last season's playoffs, those memories of the first-round series against the Spurs that now marks the eighth and final berth of an impressive postseason streak. The Spurs' usual suspects were at it again, with Michael Finley's 19 points and key bench contributions from Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry burying the Kings.
There were the familiar Kings faces, too, but Ron Artest was in a suit because his left hamstring was sore, and Brad Miller lasted just nine minutes before his left foot flared up again. Kevin Martin played despite a respiratory infection and struggled in scoring just 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting.
"The way we played shows character of the guys on the team," point guard Ronnie Price said. "Guys are going to keep playing and playing hard. It's fun. Not fun to lose, but fun to see that spirit." And ponder the future.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Rookie proves himself in post
Justin Williams records his second double double in a row in a loss to the Spurs.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:17 am PDT Thursday, April 12, 2007
SAN ANTONIO -- Justin Williams went down, and every eyebrow on the Kings' bench went up.
He soared for the late fourth-quarter rebound and hobbled after the landing, pulling up lame because of a leg cramp but looking far more injured at the time.
The Kings' players, coaches and trainers looked on in concern as if it were Chris Webber hitting the floor in the 2003 Western Conference semifinals. And that, in its own interesting way, might have been Williams' official welcoming moment.
The Kings' 109-100 loss to San Antonio at the AT&T Center on Wednesday night began drenched in the past and ended with nothing but promise for the future. Williams not only posted his second consecutive double double but seemed to represent the reality that is a roster with more than its share of serviceable youth.
Williams, strange as it sounds, brought impact above any of his teammates, forcing the sizzling Spurs to worry their playoff-bound selves with his presence on the glass and changing shots in the paint as if this were Keon Clark redux. Williams left the game after his third foul with the Kings up 84-82 early in the fourth quarter and returned nearly six minutes later with the Spurs up 96-89.
Second-year swingman Francisco García started for the second consecutive game and posted his second season high in a row in scoring (22), hitting 8 of 16 from the field and showing once again that he can handle a heavier load. Williams finished with 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes, his only transgression no different from most of his NBA colleagues in his inability to stop Tim Duncan.
The Spurs forward scored 13 of his 26 points in a fourth quarter in which San Antonio pulled away after trailing 80-79 entering the fourth quarter.
"Duncan had a great game, was 11 of 14 (shooting), and he's won MVPs, but so did a guy named Justin Williams," Kings coach Eric Musselman said.
The player who spent much of this season in the minor leagues of Bismarck, N.D., appears to be turning into a major piece of what's to come. Past the part of going from training camp casualty to NBA Development League player back to the Kings, there is the indisputable evidence that Williams' rebounds-per-48-minutes average now stands at 17.7 per game. This, of course, is a too-little, too-late revelation for a team that is better only than Golden State in terms of rebounding differential.
"We have found out that Justin Williams can rebound at this level, and that's a good thing for our organization going forward," Musselman said.
For Williams, though, it's simply more momentum for an offseason of free agency in which he plans to play for the Kings' July summer-league team in Las Vegas with the hopes of a contract bringing him back.
"Just wanted to show it wasn't a fluke and just keep getting better," Williams said.
Looking ahead kept the Kings from looking back on last season's playoffs, those memories of the first-round series against the Spurs that now marks the eighth and final berth of an impressive postseason streak. The Spurs' usual suspects were at it again, with Michael Finley's 19 points and key bench contributions from Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry burying the Kings.
There were the familiar Kings faces, too, but Ron Artest was in a suit because his left hamstring was sore, and Brad Miller lasted just nine minutes before his left foot flared up again. Kevin Martin played despite a respiratory infection and struggled in scoring just 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting.
"The way we played shows character of the guys on the team," point guard Ronnie Price said. "Guys are going to keep playing and playing hard. It's fun. Not fun to lose, but fun to see that spirit." And ponder the future.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
The boy can flat out play.
