http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/484316.html
Whole new ballgame
Beno Udrih fills the void at point guard in his first game as Sacramento beats Minnesota.
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:22 am PST Sunday, November 11, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7
This was the new version of Kings basketball in every way, and not just because an announced crowd of 13,170 at Arco Arena marked the third consecutive non-sellout since the legendary streak was broken.
As the second quarter began, Beno Udrih and Spencer Hawes took the floor for the first time to rousing cheers, the intriguing new point guard and the 7-footer drafted 10th overall in June representing hope for the future or – at the very least – a new look for the team in transition.
And when Udrih meshed with center Brad Miller in the second half and helped close out a 100-93 win over Minnesota, the relief or – at the very least – the curiosity of what could become was apparent from the stands to the locker room.
"Getting Beno out there, with the experience he's had with the (San Antonio) Spurs, with a true point guard who can bring it up all the time, too, was great," Miller said of the fourth-year player who was traded from San Antonio to Minnesota on Oct. 27, waived on the same day and signed by the Kings on Nov. 1. "It makes life a lot easier for these other guys. ... He's obviously been in tougher games than anyone on this team, with that Finals experience (with San Antonio in 2005) and everything he's been through."
Udrih was signed to be the life preserver in light of the long-term absence of Mike Bibby, and he did plenty to save the Kings from losing to the still-winless Timberwolves in the final minutes. He and Miller traded favors in the end, with Miller's the last when he tipped in a missed Udrih jumper with 10 seconds left that put the Kings up 98-93 and sealed the win.
Udrih brought a spark to what had largely been a one-on-one-obsessed offense by scoring eight of his nine points in the second half and contributing two assists in 26 minutes. With 47 seconds left, he peeled off a Miller screen atop the key and sank a 20-footer for a 96-93 lead.
Udrih had found Miller with 1:08 remaining as well, the Kings center cutting and drawing the foul and hitting two free throws to put the Kings up 94-90. Miller – so badly missing the two-man game he and Bibby had played through the years – said he had an instant comfort level with Udrih.
"Not only can he shoot the basketball, but he penetrates and he's a pure point guard, so he understands how to get down into the depths of the defense," said Kings coach Reggie Theus, who added that he will keep Francisco García as the starting point guard.
For the second consecutive game, Miller was nothing short of super on the glass. He followed his 11-rebound outing against Cleveland on Friday by grabbing 16 rebounds (seven offensive) and scoring 12 points.
For the first time this season, Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin wasn't the one carrying the load early on as he had just five points at halftime on 2-for-6 shooting. He had acknowledged before the game that the workload had been heavy, as he entered trailing only Cleveland's LeBron James in minutes played at 41.6 per game. But Martin found a second wind in the third quarter, scoring 13 points of his game-high 29 points as the teams were tied 73-73 entering the fourth. Kings swingman John Salmons continued his consistent output, finishing with 19 points to bring his season average to 20.5 per game.
Hawes, whose debut was delayed when he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early October, had one layup in his six minutes on an Udrih assist.
"It felt like my first game when I first got out there, but you try to get the nerves out of your system as quickly as you can and just go about your job," said Hawes, who was greeted with much applause. "I definitely appreciated that coming in." And coming out with his first win.
"Morale-wise, there's a big difference between being 2-4 and 1-5," he said. "It's a big one for us, especially being at home in front of the fans before we go on the road."
About the writer: Call Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582. Read his blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
Whole new ballgame
Beno Udrih fills the void at point guard in his first game as Sacramento beats Minnesota.
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:22 am PST Sunday, November 11, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7
This was the new version of Kings basketball in every way, and not just because an announced crowd of 13,170 at Arco Arena marked the third consecutive non-sellout since the legendary streak was broken.
As the second quarter began, Beno Udrih and Spencer Hawes took the floor for the first time to rousing cheers, the intriguing new point guard and the 7-footer drafted 10th overall in June representing hope for the future or – at the very least – a new look for the team in transition.
And when Udrih meshed with center Brad Miller in the second half and helped close out a 100-93 win over Minnesota, the relief or – at the very least – the curiosity of what could become was apparent from the stands to the locker room.
"Getting Beno out there, with the experience he's had with the (San Antonio) Spurs, with a true point guard who can bring it up all the time, too, was great," Miller said of the fourth-year player who was traded from San Antonio to Minnesota on Oct. 27, waived on the same day and signed by the Kings on Nov. 1. "It makes life a lot easier for these other guys. ... He's obviously been in tougher games than anyone on this team, with that Finals experience (with San Antonio in 2005) and everything he's been through."
Udrih was signed to be the life preserver in light of the long-term absence of Mike Bibby, and he did plenty to save the Kings from losing to the still-winless Timberwolves in the final minutes. He and Miller traded favors in the end, with Miller's the last when he tipped in a missed Udrih jumper with 10 seconds left that put the Kings up 98-93 and sealed the win.
Udrih brought a spark to what had largely been a one-on-one-obsessed offense by scoring eight of his nine points in the second half and contributing two assists in 26 minutes. With 47 seconds left, he peeled off a Miller screen atop the key and sank a 20-footer for a 96-93 lead.
Udrih had found Miller with 1:08 remaining as well, the Kings center cutting and drawing the foul and hitting two free throws to put the Kings up 94-90. Miller – so badly missing the two-man game he and Bibby had played through the years – said he had an instant comfort level with Udrih.
"Not only can he shoot the basketball, but he penetrates and he's a pure point guard, so he understands how to get down into the depths of the defense," said Kings coach Reggie Theus, who added that he will keep Francisco García as the starting point guard.
For the second consecutive game, Miller was nothing short of super on the glass. He followed his 11-rebound outing against Cleveland on Friday by grabbing 16 rebounds (seven offensive) and scoring 12 points.
For the first time this season, Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin wasn't the one carrying the load early on as he had just five points at halftime on 2-for-6 shooting. He had acknowledged before the game that the workload had been heavy, as he entered trailing only Cleveland's LeBron James in minutes played at 41.6 per game. But Martin found a second wind in the third quarter, scoring 13 points of his game-high 29 points as the teams were tied 73-73 entering the fourth. Kings swingman John Salmons continued his consistent output, finishing with 19 points to bring his season average to 20.5 per game.
Hawes, whose debut was delayed when he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early October, had one layup in his six minutes on an Udrih assist.
"It felt like my first game when I first got out there, but you try to get the nerves out of your system as quickly as you can and just go about your job," said Hawes, who was greeted with much applause. "I definitely appreciated that coming in." And coming out with his first win.
"Morale-wise, there's a big difference between being 2-4 and 1-5," he said. "It's a big one for us, especially being at home in front of the fans before we go on the road."
About the writer: Call Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582. Read his blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
