http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14275680p-15085249c.html
By Sam Amick
LAS VEGAS -- He was a short, blond, ball of fire, the intensity pouring onto the court where he wasn't allowed to go.
He barked at new draft pick Quincy Douby to pick up his defense -- "challenge his handle!" -- and petitioned the officials for fair calls. He agonized over every play, releasing the tension with deep breaths and the incessant chomping of chewing gum.
But this was not new coach Eric Musselman frenetically guiding the Kings on Thursday at summer league in Las Vegas. It was Scott Brooks, Musselman's lead assistant who will guide the first three of the league's five games.
Such is the standard protocol of this desert display, where 16 teams will be showcasing second-tier talent, and you can't take the learning curve fast enough.
Or maybe you can.
In what is seen by team executives and coaches as the first evaluating grounds for young talent in the context of their NBA club, the familiar Kings' names looked as jittery as the roster hopefuls in the Kings' 90-83 win over Minnesota.
Third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin did as he should, scoring 20 points in his typical fast-paced fashion. But the true veteran of the group -- small forward Ron Artest -- was a no-show, likely delaying his summer league debut until the third game on Sunday. Despite some critics of Artest's decision, Musselman said he was behind it. Artest also played in summer league in Minnesota last season while with Indiana.
"I think it's great for him," Musselman said. "A lot of people forget that it wasn't too long ago that Magic Johnson, Byron Scott and those guys used to play in the (Los Angeles) summer league all the time.
"That's how they stayed in shape. They played ball all summer. I think if a veteran wants to play like Ron, it's good."
By the time Artest takes the floor, the youngsters should be warmed up. Second-year point guard Ronnie Price, who hopes to be playing a backup point-guard role of some significance come October, rushed matters early but recovered to score 13 points.
Douby, the Rutgers product and renowned sharpshooter, replaced Price with 5:47 left in the first quarter. He looked confident and capable while running the point, but it took him five shots to finally find the basket.
His three-pointer from the right wing late in the third quarter bounced up and in, the first of three from beyond the arc as he scored all 12 of his points in the second half.
"That's a shooter's roll, you know," Douby said of his first basket with the Kings. "That felt good, and then once I hit that, they started to drop. I'm just playing ball, trying to get a feel for things."
Second-year swingman Francisco García -- who has added tone and some muscle to his 6-foot-9 frame -- had just six points on 2-of-8 shooting. Louis Amundson played like he was at home because, well, he practically was.
The former UNLV forward scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Kings.
The finish, though, is was what put a smile on Brooks' face, as the Kings came back from a 16-point first-half deficit for the win. They did so by finally making the stops Brooks and his staff were calling for, at times using full-court pressure to that end.
"We definitely want to play aggressive defense, be disruptive on the defensive end, cause turnovers," said Brooks, a former lead assistant at Denver and 10-year NBA veteran as a player.
There was no end to the Kings' youth movement. Their coaching staff -- which was six strong with Musselman sitting in the stands with president of baskeball operations Geoff Petrie -- all look young enough to take the court.
By Sam Amick
LAS VEGAS -- He was a short, blond, ball of fire, the intensity pouring onto the court where he wasn't allowed to go.
He barked at new draft pick Quincy Douby to pick up his defense -- "challenge his handle!" -- and petitioned the officials for fair calls. He agonized over every play, releasing the tension with deep breaths and the incessant chomping of chewing gum.
But this was not new coach Eric Musselman frenetically guiding the Kings on Thursday at summer league in Las Vegas. It was Scott Brooks, Musselman's lead assistant who will guide the first three of the league's five games.
Such is the standard protocol of this desert display, where 16 teams will be showcasing second-tier talent, and you can't take the learning curve fast enough.
Or maybe you can.
In what is seen by team executives and coaches as the first evaluating grounds for young talent in the context of their NBA club, the familiar Kings' names looked as jittery as the roster hopefuls in the Kings' 90-83 win over Minnesota.
Third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin did as he should, scoring 20 points in his typical fast-paced fashion. But the true veteran of the group -- small forward Ron Artest -- was a no-show, likely delaying his summer league debut until the third game on Sunday. Despite some critics of Artest's decision, Musselman said he was behind it. Artest also played in summer league in Minnesota last season while with Indiana.
"I think it's great for him," Musselman said. "A lot of people forget that it wasn't too long ago that Magic Johnson, Byron Scott and those guys used to play in the (Los Angeles) summer league all the time.
"That's how they stayed in shape. They played ball all summer. I think if a veteran wants to play like Ron, it's good."
By the time Artest takes the floor, the youngsters should be warmed up. Second-year point guard Ronnie Price, who hopes to be playing a backup point-guard role of some significance come October, rushed matters early but recovered to score 13 points.
Douby, the Rutgers product and renowned sharpshooter, replaced Price with 5:47 left in the first quarter. He looked confident and capable while running the point, but it took him five shots to finally find the basket.
His three-pointer from the right wing late in the third quarter bounced up and in, the first of three from beyond the arc as he scored all 12 of his points in the second half.
"That's a shooter's roll, you know," Douby said of his first basket with the Kings. "That felt good, and then once I hit that, they started to drop. I'm just playing ball, trying to get a feel for things."
Second-year swingman Francisco García -- who has added tone and some muscle to his 6-foot-9 frame -- had just six points on 2-of-8 shooting. Louis Amundson played like he was at home because, well, he practically was.
The former UNLV forward scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Kings.
The finish, though, is was what put a smile on Brooks' face, as the Kings came back from a 16-point first-half deficit for the win. They did so by finally making the stops Brooks and his staff were calling for, at times using full-court pressure to that end.
"We definitely want to play aggressive defense, be disruptive on the defensive end, cause turnovers," said Brooks, a former lead assistant at Denver and 10-year NBA veteran as a player.
There was no end to the Kings' youth movement. Their coaching staff -- which was six strong with Musselman sitting in the stands with president of baskeball operations Geoff Petrie -- all look young enough to take the court.
.
