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Kings Notes: Artest's shot slowly finds basket
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 1:10 am PDT Saturday, October 28, 2006
Technically, it is an improvement.
Ron Artest finished the exhibition season Friday shooting 40.2 percent from the field, this after hitting his shots at a 38.3 percent clip in 40 games last season with the Kings.
But if the small forward was looking to start his first full season in Sacramento on a more accurate note, to find his shot while being guarded by so many players during the exhibition season, it hasn't happened. Artest, a career 41.6 percent shooter, hit just 43 of 107 shots while leading the team in minutes (244). Artest has been even farther off the mark from beyond the arc, converting just 8 of 32 three-pointers.
Artest, whose 15.8-point average trails only Martin's 16.9, said he won't let his numbers slow him down.
"I don't pay that any mind," he said. "Even if I shoot 0 for 20, I'm going to shoot the next 50 shots. If I miss the next 50, I'm going to shoot the next thousand. It doesn't matter as long as I make shots when it counts."
Kings coach Eric Musselman said his use of Artest will change when the games count.
"He's done a good job for us," Musselman said. "We've put the ball in his hands a lot out on the floor. We'll probably post him up a little bit more than we have been in preseason. He shared a bulk of the ballhandling stuff. He's pretty banged up, and he hasn't complained. He's stiff, and his back hurts sometimes, and I give him a lot of credit for going through it."
Roster talk -- Just when Musselman had deemed the point guard spot the lone question mark among the starting five, he backtracked by also deeming the power forward spot open for contention.
"Kenny (Thomas) started the bulk of the games, but we'll see how (Shareef Abdur-Rahim) does," he said. "I guess that's the only other position. 'Reef' has played really good. He's continued to get better."
Abdur-Rahim started in place of Thomas, who was out with lower leg tendinitis and is day-to-day. Entering Friday, Abdur-Rahim averaged 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.1 minutes while shooting 51 percent. Thomas had averaged four points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.
Second-year point guard Ronnie Price, who is competing against veterans John Salmons and Jason Hart, earned the starting nod against Portland on Friday night. Musselman said the point guard position might rotate based on opponents and lineup mixtures.
"We'll see which combinations work and look who we play each night to see which guard might be the best matchup for us," he said.
The Kings had more starters take part than expected against the Trail Blazers. Center Brad Miller (pinky fracture) returned to action after two games out, and Martin played through a jammed toe that nearly kept him out.
Not his fault -- Artest again was involved in a suspension, but this time it wasn't his own.
With three seconds remaining in the first quarter Wednesday against Seattle, Artest crossed the lane and ran into the massive chest of Danny Fortson at KeyArena.
The SuperSonics' bruiser, who looks much bigger than his 260-pound listing, seemed to throw his body at the falling frame of the 260-pound Artest. The Kings forward had the look of the Roadrunner hitting a brick wall, with Seattle fans jeering in delight.
Fortson's flagrant one penalty was upgraded to flagrant two by the league Friday, meaning Fortson will miss Seattle's regular-season opener against Portland on Nov. 1 without pay.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Kings Notes: Artest's shot slowly finds basket
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 1:10 am PDT Saturday, October 28, 2006
Technically, it is an improvement.
Ron Artest finished the exhibition season Friday shooting 40.2 percent from the field, this after hitting his shots at a 38.3 percent clip in 40 games last season with the Kings.
But if the small forward was looking to start his first full season in Sacramento on a more accurate note, to find his shot while being guarded by so many players during the exhibition season, it hasn't happened. Artest, a career 41.6 percent shooter, hit just 43 of 107 shots while leading the team in minutes (244). Artest has been even farther off the mark from beyond the arc, converting just 8 of 32 three-pointers.
Artest, whose 15.8-point average trails only Martin's 16.9, said he won't let his numbers slow him down.
"I don't pay that any mind," he said. "Even if I shoot 0 for 20, I'm going to shoot the next 50 shots. If I miss the next 50, I'm going to shoot the next thousand. It doesn't matter as long as I make shots when it counts."
Kings coach Eric Musselman said his use of Artest will change when the games count.
"He's done a good job for us," Musselman said. "We've put the ball in his hands a lot out on the floor. We'll probably post him up a little bit more than we have been in preseason. He shared a bulk of the ballhandling stuff. He's pretty banged up, and he hasn't complained. He's stiff, and his back hurts sometimes, and I give him a lot of credit for going through it."
Roster talk -- Just when Musselman had deemed the point guard spot the lone question mark among the starting five, he backtracked by also deeming the power forward spot open for contention.
"Kenny (Thomas) started the bulk of the games, but we'll see how (Shareef Abdur-Rahim) does," he said. "I guess that's the only other position. 'Reef' has played really good. He's continued to get better."
Abdur-Rahim started in place of Thomas, who was out with lower leg tendinitis and is day-to-day. Entering Friday, Abdur-Rahim averaged 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.1 minutes while shooting 51 percent. Thomas had averaged four points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.
Second-year point guard Ronnie Price, who is competing against veterans John Salmons and Jason Hart, earned the starting nod against Portland on Friday night. Musselman said the point guard position might rotate based on opponents and lineup mixtures.
"We'll see which combinations work and look who we play each night to see which guard might be the best matchup for us," he said.
The Kings had more starters take part than expected against the Trail Blazers. Center Brad Miller (pinky fracture) returned to action after two games out, and Martin played through a jammed toe that nearly kept him out.
Not his fault -- Artest again was involved in a suspension, but this time it wasn't his own.
With three seconds remaining in the first quarter Wednesday against Seattle, Artest crossed the lane and ran into the massive chest of Danny Fortson at KeyArena.
The SuperSonics' bruiser, who looks much bigger than his 260-pound listing, seemed to throw his body at the falling frame of the 260-pound Artest. The Kings forward had the look of the Roadrunner hitting a brick wall, with Seattle fans jeering in delight.
Fortson's flagrant one penalty was upgraded to flagrant two by the league Friday, meaning Fortson will miss Seattle's regular-season opener against Portland on Nov. 1 without pay.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
