http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14245679p-15063784c.html
Shootout with Spurs
For the Kings' youngest players, the playoffs just became even bigger
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, April 20, 2006
Ronnie Price stood on the brink, his shirt off and his eyes on the gathering that surrounded Shareef Abdur-Rahim inside the Kings' locker room Sunday.
In his 10th season, the first-year Kings forward had finally found his way onto a winning team, and the media masses who had just watched the clinching of a playoff berth wanted to climb inside the mind of a player who had gone 743 games without playing in the postseason.
Price, the rookie who will have played in 29 games before his first postseason, peered with joy and appreciation.
"That's nice," said Price, the Utah Valley State product who spent much of last July wondering if he would receive an invitation to Kings training camp. "I didn't really know (that Abdur-Rahim was No. 2 all-time and first among active players in games without a postseason appearance). It's a big deal for him, and I'm happy for him."
And, of course, for himself.
The Kings have no shortage of young players who will get their first taste of the postseason, which begins Saturday against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. For the rookies - Price and swingman Francisco García - it is the first exposure of any kind. For second-year shooting guard Kevin Martin, it is a chance to finally forget the pain that came in his rookie season, when his disappointing play led to his exclusion from the playoff roster.
There is, as Abdur-Rahim will soon know and point guard Mike Bibby already does, no time like the first. By the time Bibby was traded from the Vancouver Grizzlies, he had spent his first three seasons side by side with Abdur-Rahim in Vancouver, playing in 215 games without going to the playoffs. Bibby's streak was broken after he was traded to Sacramento in June 2001. His first playoff assignment was to face off with a legend from Utah.
"I went up against one of the greats, too, so it really was pretty tough going against (John) Stockton," said Bibby, who led the Kings past the Jazz and all the way to Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in the spring of 2002. "It was fun, a whole different look than the regular season. It'll be a different experience for them, and we'll see how they play in situations like that."
What it won't be, to be sure, is an inconsequential question. Confidence will be a major factor with the Kings' 24-and-under crew. And the one who needs it the least may have the most.
Price's self-confidence is as high as his status on the Kings' list of future plans, but he has logged a grand total of 150 minutes and will likely play only a minor part in the first round. With Martin, the purplish bruise on his right leg that kept him out of five games has finally faded with his struggles, as he's averaged 14.3 points on 15-for-27 shooting in the past three games. The more pressing concern lies with García.
García admitted Wednesday that he's not feeling like himself, not playing with the same emotion that typified his torrid pre-March surge. He's not about to give in to the rookie frustrations, either. Martin is as useful a reference as any, wearing similar shoes a year ago. And he has willing veterans on hand to help him work through the trying times, too. After practice Wednesday, García battled on the floor with Ron Artest until they were the last two players in sight.
"Everybody's talking about how (the playoffs) are like a different season, so I just want to get there," García said.
And to help once he arrives.
García's March 1 ankle injury suffered at Cleveland not only kept him out of nine games but was the beginning of a downslide. Coach Rick Adelman has redistributed the role of Bibby's backup to Jason Hart, while García has averaged just 7.6 minutes, scored nine points and hit 2 of 10 shots in the past nine games.
"It's my fault," García said. "I'm supposed to be ready and be (passionate) like that all the time, no matter how I'm playing or how many minutes I play. It's something I've got to work on, to stay positive."
Adelman said he's positive of one thing: His playoff rotation is far from set, and anyone ready to shine in his playoff debut is more than welcome.
"I may play nine (players)," Adelman said. "It changes as the series moves on, how (the opponent is) playing against us, how we're playing. There is no concrete way of saying, 'This is how we're going to play.' "
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Shootout with Spurs
For the Kings' youngest players, the playoffs just became even bigger
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, April 20, 2006
Ronnie Price stood on the brink, his shirt off and his eyes on the gathering that surrounded Shareef Abdur-Rahim inside the Kings' locker room Sunday.
In his 10th season, the first-year Kings forward had finally found his way onto a winning team, and the media masses who had just watched the clinching of a playoff berth wanted to climb inside the mind of a player who had gone 743 games without playing in the postseason.
Price, the rookie who will have played in 29 games before his first postseason, peered with joy and appreciation.
"That's nice," said Price, the Utah Valley State product who spent much of last July wondering if he would receive an invitation to Kings training camp. "I didn't really know (that Abdur-Rahim was No. 2 all-time and first among active players in games without a postseason appearance). It's a big deal for him, and I'm happy for him."
And, of course, for himself.
The Kings have no shortage of young players who will get their first taste of the postseason, which begins Saturday against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. For the rookies - Price and swingman Francisco García - it is the first exposure of any kind. For second-year shooting guard Kevin Martin, it is a chance to finally forget the pain that came in his rookie season, when his disappointing play led to his exclusion from the playoff roster.
There is, as Abdur-Rahim will soon know and point guard Mike Bibby already does, no time like the first. By the time Bibby was traded from the Vancouver Grizzlies, he had spent his first three seasons side by side with Abdur-Rahim in Vancouver, playing in 215 games without going to the playoffs. Bibby's streak was broken after he was traded to Sacramento in June 2001. His first playoff assignment was to face off with a legend from Utah.
"I went up against one of the greats, too, so it really was pretty tough going against (John) Stockton," said Bibby, who led the Kings past the Jazz and all the way to Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in the spring of 2002. "It was fun, a whole different look than the regular season. It'll be a different experience for them, and we'll see how they play in situations like that."
What it won't be, to be sure, is an inconsequential question. Confidence will be a major factor with the Kings' 24-and-under crew. And the one who needs it the least may have the most.
Price's self-confidence is as high as his status on the Kings' list of future plans, but he has logged a grand total of 150 minutes and will likely play only a minor part in the first round. With Martin, the purplish bruise on his right leg that kept him out of five games has finally faded with his struggles, as he's averaged 14.3 points on 15-for-27 shooting in the past three games. The more pressing concern lies with García.
García admitted Wednesday that he's not feeling like himself, not playing with the same emotion that typified his torrid pre-March surge. He's not about to give in to the rookie frustrations, either. Martin is as useful a reference as any, wearing similar shoes a year ago. And he has willing veterans on hand to help him work through the trying times, too. After practice Wednesday, García battled on the floor with Ron Artest until they were the last two players in sight.
"Everybody's talking about how (the playoffs) are like a different season, so I just want to get there," García said.
And to help once he arrives.
García's March 1 ankle injury suffered at Cleveland not only kept him out of nine games but was the beginning of a downslide. Coach Rick Adelman has redistributed the role of Bibby's backup to Jason Hart, while García has averaged just 7.6 minutes, scored nine points and hit 2 of 10 shots in the past nine games.
"It's my fault," García said. "I'm supposed to be ready and be (passionate) like that all the time, no matter how I'm playing or how many minutes I play. It's something I've got to work on, to stay positive."
Adelman said he's positive of one thing: His playoff rotation is far from set, and anyone ready to shine in his playoff debut is more than welcome.
"I may play nine (players)," Adelman said. "It changes as the series moves on, how (the opponent is) playing against us, how we're playing. There is no concrete way of saying, 'This is how we're going to play.' "
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
