http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14164724p-14992506c.html
Thumbs up for Miller
He goes on a late scoring barrage after the Grizzlies' pawing infuriates him.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Back before Brad Miller and Brian Cardinal were NBA long shots turned highly paid pros, they were teammates at Purdue.
The daily routine involved plenty of banging between the big men during practice, with no screen too hard and all matters of scratching, clawing and bruising expected.
"Coach (Gene) Keady would always say, 'Do I need to get the boxing gloves?' " Miller said. "He had a pair of boxing gloves he used to keep in his office. We should have used those at least three times tonight."
Instead, the Kings' center played the part of heavyweight champion, delivering the knockout blow Tuesday in a 104-96 win over Memphis and offering theatrics normally reserved for Arco Arena's WWE events.
Miller - who had missed the last three games after fracturing his right thumb against Toronto on Jan. 29 - returned to an unsympathetic opponent. In true honor of their mascot, the Grizzlies swiped at his injured shooting digit all night, with Miller grimacing for much of the game. But when Cardinal hit it for the last time with 4:30 left - and a Kings lead that was once 19 points down to three - Miller exploded by scoring 12 straight points for the Kings, pushing the lead out of reach while taunting Memphis' bench.
With 1:03 left, Miller buried a three-pointer over Cardinal's outstretched arm, then gave himself a double karate chop to the groin while glaring at the Grizzlies' bench, which had been yapping his way. Miller - who scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and had 10 rebounds - hit another three-pointer over Cardinal 30 seconds later, then made his way down the courtside line high-fiving fans and team owner Gavin Maloof.
Aside from sparking the win, Miller was glad to avenge the pain caused by the player he had helped recruit to Purdue.
"My recruit kept smacking my thumb, and it kind of got me (ticked) off," said Miller, whose streak began just after he received a technical foul for elbowing Cardinal. "It just kind of brought out a different aspect of me."
And of all people, it was no surprise that Ron Artest was a fan of Miller's fiery side. The Kings' small forward played his second straight game with a right hip pointer, laboring for much of the night and more than willing to watch Miller take the reins.
"He carried us with his energy," said Artest, who had 18 points on 8-for-21 shooting. "He was fired up. That's what's great about him. He's always fired up. He's not scared of nobody."
Artest endorsed Miller's kung fu move after his first three-pointer as well.
"I loved it," he said. "I mean, it was cool. I love taunting. They need to apply that in a game. Legalize it. Legalize taunting."
Lost in Miller's late surge was the highlight-filled return of Bobby Jackson, the favorite of fans, teammates and coaches alike who spent the last five seasons with the Kings.
Jackson - who was traded to Memphis in July for Bonzi Wells - scored 22 of his team-high 24 points in the second half, looking as if he would single-handedly break the Kings' five-game winning streak at home. He scored 13 points in less than five minutes in the fourth, imitating Mike Bibby's celebratory crab walk upcourt after one three-pointer and dancing and spinning his way back downcourt after another. His outburst cut an 11-point Kings lead in the fourth to four points with 1:20 left.
"It was great to get back, but I would rather get the win," said Jackson, who was given a loud standing ovation when he first entered the game late in the first quarter. "I wanted to come out and play well and make the game interesting."
No one did that better than shooting guard Kevin Martin, whose 22 points improved the Kings to 8-1 when he scores 20-plus points. Forward Kenny Thomas had 15 points and nine rebounds.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Thumbs up for Miller
He goes on a late scoring barrage after the Grizzlies' pawing infuriates him.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Back before Brad Miller and Brian Cardinal were NBA long shots turned highly paid pros, they were teammates at Purdue.
The daily routine involved plenty of banging between the big men during practice, with no screen too hard and all matters of scratching, clawing and bruising expected.
"Coach (Gene) Keady would always say, 'Do I need to get the boxing gloves?' " Miller said. "He had a pair of boxing gloves he used to keep in his office. We should have used those at least three times tonight."
Instead, the Kings' center played the part of heavyweight champion, delivering the knockout blow Tuesday in a 104-96 win over Memphis and offering theatrics normally reserved for Arco Arena's WWE events.
Miller - who had missed the last three games after fracturing his right thumb against Toronto on Jan. 29 - returned to an unsympathetic opponent. In true honor of their mascot, the Grizzlies swiped at his injured shooting digit all night, with Miller grimacing for much of the game. But when Cardinal hit it for the last time with 4:30 left - and a Kings lead that was once 19 points down to three - Miller exploded by scoring 12 straight points for the Kings, pushing the lead out of reach while taunting Memphis' bench.
With 1:03 left, Miller buried a three-pointer over Cardinal's outstretched arm, then gave himself a double karate chop to the groin while glaring at the Grizzlies' bench, which had been yapping his way. Miller - who scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and had 10 rebounds - hit another three-pointer over Cardinal 30 seconds later, then made his way down the courtside line high-fiving fans and team owner Gavin Maloof.
Aside from sparking the win, Miller was glad to avenge the pain caused by the player he had helped recruit to Purdue.
"My recruit kept smacking my thumb, and it kind of got me (ticked) off," said Miller, whose streak began just after he received a technical foul for elbowing Cardinal. "It just kind of brought out a different aspect of me."
And of all people, it was no surprise that Ron Artest was a fan of Miller's fiery side. The Kings' small forward played his second straight game with a right hip pointer, laboring for much of the night and more than willing to watch Miller take the reins.
"He carried us with his energy," said Artest, who had 18 points on 8-for-21 shooting. "He was fired up. That's what's great about him. He's always fired up. He's not scared of nobody."
Artest endorsed Miller's kung fu move after his first three-pointer as well.
"I loved it," he said. "I mean, it was cool. I love taunting. They need to apply that in a game. Legalize it. Legalize taunting."
Lost in Miller's late surge was the highlight-filled return of Bobby Jackson, the favorite of fans, teammates and coaches alike who spent the last five seasons with the Kings.
Jackson - who was traded to Memphis in July for Bonzi Wells - scored 22 of his team-high 24 points in the second half, looking as if he would single-handedly break the Kings' five-game winning streak at home. He scored 13 points in less than five minutes in the fourth, imitating Mike Bibby's celebratory crab walk upcourt after one three-pointer and dancing and spinning his way back downcourt after another. His outburst cut an 11-point Kings lead in the fourth to four points with 1:20 left.
"It was great to get back, but I would rather get the win," said Jackson, who was given a loud standing ovation when he first entered the game late in the first quarter. "I wanted to come out and play well and make the game interesting."
No one did that better than shooting guard Kevin Martin, whose 22 points improved the Kings to 8-1 when he scores 20-plus points. Forward Kenny Thomas had 15 points and nine rebounds.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
