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Bibby is under greater pressure
His expanded role and gimpy knee make him a target for opponents.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, March 30, 2005
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Mike Bibby might be the player most affected by the altered Kings roster.
Not only has the point guard inherited by default the roles of team leader and orchestrator, he also has received the increased attention of opposing defenses.
Bibby knows tonight's foes, the Detroit Pistons, likely will follow that same approach at The Palace of Auburn Hills as the Kings begin an important two-game road trip.
Teams have decided the best way to defeat the Kings is to swarm Bibby, especially in pick-and-roll situations, and make someone else beat them. And Bibby, who just two months ago was a major beneficiary of the passing skills and shot-making talents of Chris Webber and Brad Miller, now often finds himself working exceptionally hard to receive open looks.
Compounding the issue is a glut of minutes and a sore knee that have Bibby receiving more treatment from the Kings' medical staff.
"Yeah, my knee has been sore," said Bibby, who has played fewer than 40 minutes in just three of the 18 games since Webber was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers. "But I'm OK."
OK, yes. Considering the number of pivotal shots Bibby has hit despite that sore knee and heightened defensive pressure, many would say OK is an understated description.
But Bibby prides himself on being one of the NBA's better shooters, and during those aforementioned 18 games, he has made 50 percent of his shots in just three games and 45 percent in only four. That's in part because many of the open looks he received in the past as a result of the Kings' on-court chemistry have disappeared with the newly reconstructed team.
The Kings of recent years knew each other's tendencies and had been on the court with each other enough during stressful situations that their play was almost instinctive.
"We're still learning about ourselves, and it's coming," starting power forward Kenny Thomas said. "But it takes time."
Thomas has been the primary replacement for Webber and Miller as Bibby's partner in the pick-and-roll or the pick-and-pop that often results in a wide-open 15-foot jump shot. Or when defenses scramble to get to the open big man, one more pass can find an even better shot on the other side of the floor.
"Teams definitely are coming at me harder," Bibby said. "They are trying to take the ball out of my hands, and I'm not going to be selfish and try to force up shots."
Bibby has had at least eight assists in 11 of the past 18 games, and overall, the Kings have continued to score at the NBA's second-highest rate.
That they have been able to do it with Bibby, the team's leading scorer, struggling to make shots speaks to the depth of scoring talents the Kings possess and the coaching staff's ability to maximize their skills.
Depending upon the results of upcoming road games against Detroit tonight and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, as well as a home game Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Kings could be in position next week to clinch a playoff berth.
Five more wins would give the Kings 49. If Minnesota, which is currently ninth in the Western Conference, wins the remainder of its regular-season games, it can only finish with 48 victories. After the Kings clinch a playoff berth, Adelman could decide to decrease Bibby's minutes, giving him some rest and his sore knee some relief.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12644820p-13498429c.html
His expanded role and gimpy knee make him a target for opponents.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, March 30, 2005
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Mike Bibby might be the player most affected by the altered Kings roster.
Not only has the point guard inherited by default the roles of team leader and orchestrator, he also has received the increased attention of opposing defenses.
Bibby knows tonight's foes, the Detroit Pistons, likely will follow that same approach at The Palace of Auburn Hills as the Kings begin an important two-game road trip.
Teams have decided the best way to defeat the Kings is to swarm Bibby, especially in pick-and-roll situations, and make someone else beat them. And Bibby, who just two months ago was a major beneficiary of the passing skills and shot-making talents of Chris Webber and Brad Miller, now often finds himself working exceptionally hard to receive open looks.
Compounding the issue is a glut of minutes and a sore knee that have Bibby receiving more treatment from the Kings' medical staff.
"Yeah, my knee has been sore," said Bibby, who has played fewer than 40 minutes in just three of the 18 games since Webber was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers. "But I'm OK."
OK, yes. Considering the number of pivotal shots Bibby has hit despite that sore knee and heightened defensive pressure, many would say OK is an understated description.
But Bibby prides himself on being one of the NBA's better shooters, and during those aforementioned 18 games, he has made 50 percent of his shots in just three games and 45 percent in only four. That's in part because many of the open looks he received in the past as a result of the Kings' on-court chemistry have disappeared with the newly reconstructed team.
The Kings of recent years knew each other's tendencies and had been on the court with each other enough during stressful situations that their play was almost instinctive.
"We're still learning about ourselves, and it's coming," starting power forward Kenny Thomas said. "But it takes time."
Thomas has been the primary replacement for Webber and Miller as Bibby's partner in the pick-and-roll or the pick-and-pop that often results in a wide-open 15-foot jump shot. Or when defenses scramble to get to the open big man, one more pass can find an even better shot on the other side of the floor.
"Teams definitely are coming at me harder," Bibby said. "They are trying to take the ball out of my hands, and I'm not going to be selfish and try to force up shots."
Bibby has had at least eight assists in 11 of the past 18 games, and overall, the Kings have continued to score at the NBA's second-highest rate.
That they have been able to do it with Bibby, the team's leading scorer, struggling to make shots speaks to the depth of scoring talents the Kings possess and the coaching staff's ability to maximize their skills.
Depending upon the results of upcoming road games against Detroit tonight and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, as well as a home game Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Kings could be in position next week to clinch a playoff berth.
Five more wins would give the Kings 49. If Minnesota, which is currently ninth in the Western Conference, wins the remainder of its regular-season games, it can only finish with 48 victories. After the Kings clinch a playoff berth, Adelman could decide to decrease Bibby's minutes, giving him some rest and his sore knee some relief.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12644820p-13498429c.html
