Rockmeister
All-Star
Kings' 0-3 start reveals much trouble
Kevin Martin is especially affected by Mike Bibby's and Ron Artest's absence.
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/472333.html
Last Updated 6:02 am PST Monday, November 5, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
If Ron Artest had been in the locker room, he could have offered a pep talk.
The Kings small forward would have had the perfect anecdote to help his hurting teammates, the one about how the same Dallas Mavericks who had just routed the Kings 123-102 Saturday night lost their first four games last season en route to a league-best 67 wins.
But neither Artest nor his wild optimism was there, barred because of his seven-game suspension. Nor was Mike Bibby, whose ill-timed thumb injury days before the regular season couldn't have stung as badly as the Kings' 0-3 trip in which they lost by an average of 17 points. And no one missed his teammates more than Kevin Martin, the Kings shooting guard who exited American Airlines Center with a weary look befitting this most bemusing start.
"It's been a different experience," said Martin, who averaged 25.3 points and hit 20 of 48 shots in the first three games. "We all three play off each other, because no team can try to take out one of us. If you take out one of us, then you've got two other weapons that will put points up on you in a hurry. But right now, they're both out, and you can see it.
"(Opponents are) just trying to not let me get in a rhythm, to put me on the line. Teams know I can score 10 points in two minutes, but they're stopping me from that. I've got to work. I score 20 now, and I feel like I had 40 because of how hard it is."
For him and everyone else.
The reality of the personnel losses left the Kings knowing three defeats to open the season was entirely possible. But they appeared out of contention by halftime of the losses in New Orleans and San Antonio, then wasted a solid offensive night in Dallas with a terrible defensive effort made worse by the fact the Mavericks were shooting at a near historic pace even when shots were contested.
And though Martin, Francisco García and John Salmons were productive on the trip, the early point of concern by far was the Kings' frontline. In three games, Mikki Moore, Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim combined to average just 8.6 points and eight rebounds and hit 8 of 26 shots. Center Brad Miller hit 15 of 32 shots but averaged just 4.3 rebounds while the Kings were outrebounded 125-96.
Miller said being short-handed has only made it harder to continue understanding the new coaching staff, with offensive and defensive schemes far from ingrained and the room for error smaller than ever.
"It's tough, but it's a process, trying to see how (coach Reggie Theus) wants to play, to get plays in, get schemes in," he said. "There's been a lot thrown at everybody so far this year early in the season, more than in the past when you'd run one play basically with (former Kings coach) Rick (Adelman). They're throwing a lot of things at us, and we're trying to get that figured out.
"It's hard getting your butts kicked so bad so early in the season. You start a new season, and everybody has a chance. ... And especially after having a subpar season last year, you want to get yourself back and reestablished. It's hard."
If only for one game, García appears to have become the new point guard after Orien Greene started the first two games. García scored 23 points against the Mavericks and, more importantly, had just one turnover in 40 minutes.
"Going with that lineup gives us an advantage size-wise on most (backcourts), but I was pleased," Theus said. "I had a talk with him before the game where I let him know that I needed him to push the ball, I needed him to play under control and not try to do too much, and I thought he stuck to the game plan."
Martin, meanwhile, has been forced into a role he rather would not have. During his first three seasons, he had become among the game's best at moving without the ball, scoring off screens and back cuts in the flow of the offense rather than forcing his shot attempts. Because of the circumstances, though, he must be more aggressive offensively.
"Now he's the guy, and he's learning that the game is different when you're the focal point of the team," Theus said. "(As a player) I was always in control of the defense. The defense went where I told them to go. That's the way I played, but he doesn't have that mentality yet because he's allowing the defense to short-cut his cuts. He may even learn it this year, but he has to accept the fact that he can't short-cut the offense.
"It's another growing experience for him. They're not talking about Ron or Mike in that (opposing) locker room. They're talking about you. And if they shut you down, they think they're stopping about half of our offense. And right now, that's about right."
About the writer:
* Call The Bee's Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582.
Kevin Martin is especially affected by Mike Bibby's and Ron Artest's absence.
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/472333.html
Last Updated 6:02 am PST Monday, November 5, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
If Ron Artest had been in the locker room, he could have offered a pep talk.
The Kings small forward would have had the perfect anecdote to help his hurting teammates, the one about how the same Dallas Mavericks who had just routed the Kings 123-102 Saturday night lost their first four games last season en route to a league-best 67 wins.
But neither Artest nor his wild optimism was there, barred because of his seven-game suspension. Nor was Mike Bibby, whose ill-timed thumb injury days before the regular season couldn't have stung as badly as the Kings' 0-3 trip in which they lost by an average of 17 points. And no one missed his teammates more than Kevin Martin, the Kings shooting guard who exited American Airlines Center with a weary look befitting this most bemusing start.
"It's been a different experience," said Martin, who averaged 25.3 points and hit 20 of 48 shots in the first three games. "We all three play off each other, because no team can try to take out one of us. If you take out one of us, then you've got two other weapons that will put points up on you in a hurry. But right now, they're both out, and you can see it.
"(Opponents are) just trying to not let me get in a rhythm, to put me on the line. Teams know I can score 10 points in two minutes, but they're stopping me from that. I've got to work. I score 20 now, and I feel like I had 40 because of how hard it is."
For him and everyone else.
The reality of the personnel losses left the Kings knowing three defeats to open the season was entirely possible. But they appeared out of contention by halftime of the losses in New Orleans and San Antonio, then wasted a solid offensive night in Dallas with a terrible defensive effort made worse by the fact the Mavericks were shooting at a near historic pace even when shots were contested.
And though Martin, Francisco García and John Salmons were productive on the trip, the early point of concern by far was the Kings' frontline. In three games, Mikki Moore, Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim combined to average just 8.6 points and eight rebounds and hit 8 of 26 shots. Center Brad Miller hit 15 of 32 shots but averaged just 4.3 rebounds while the Kings were outrebounded 125-96.
Miller said being short-handed has only made it harder to continue understanding the new coaching staff, with offensive and defensive schemes far from ingrained and the room for error smaller than ever.
"It's tough, but it's a process, trying to see how (coach Reggie Theus) wants to play, to get plays in, get schemes in," he said. "There's been a lot thrown at everybody so far this year early in the season, more than in the past when you'd run one play basically with (former Kings coach) Rick (Adelman). They're throwing a lot of things at us, and we're trying to get that figured out.
"It's hard getting your butts kicked so bad so early in the season. You start a new season, and everybody has a chance. ... And especially after having a subpar season last year, you want to get yourself back and reestablished. It's hard."
If only for one game, García appears to have become the new point guard after Orien Greene started the first two games. García scored 23 points against the Mavericks and, more importantly, had just one turnover in 40 minutes.
"Going with that lineup gives us an advantage size-wise on most (backcourts), but I was pleased," Theus said. "I had a talk with him before the game where I let him know that I needed him to push the ball, I needed him to play under control and not try to do too much, and I thought he stuck to the game plan."
Martin, meanwhile, has been forced into a role he rather would not have. During his first three seasons, he had become among the game's best at moving without the ball, scoring off screens and back cuts in the flow of the offense rather than forcing his shot attempts. Because of the circumstances, though, he must be more aggressive offensively.
"Now he's the guy, and he's learning that the game is different when you're the focal point of the team," Theus said. "(As a player) I was always in control of the defense. The defense went where I told them to go. That's the way I played, but he doesn't have that mentality yet because he's allowing the defense to short-cut his cuts. He may even learn it this year, but he has to accept the fact that he can't short-cut the offense.
"It's another growing experience for him. They're not talking about Ron or Mike in that (opposing) locker room. They're talking about you. And if they shut you down, they think they're stopping about half of our offense. And right now, that's about right."
About the writer:
* Call The Bee's Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582.
