http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/11878203p-12765107c.html
Kings Notes: Being an NBA head coach was no goal to Carril
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, December 27, 2004
Pete Carril gave it five minutes of thought.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Twenty years ago when he was coaching at Princeton, Carril was approached by an NBA team president (he won't reveal which team) about moving to the pros. Carril said he was flattered but not interested.
He talked about it Sunday before the Kings' game against Golden State and rookie NBA coach Mike Montgomery, who was a college coach for 26 years before taking the perilous plunge into the pros.
"I told them to deal with the coach they already had," said Carril, a Kings assistant. "I don't know why they called me. I guess he saw us play a few games. But I never thought about leaving. I always felt I belonged at Princeton. I was very happy there. I was never one to notice what someone else had or was making."
Plus, Carril said before chatting with Montgomery, he relished the chance to teach the game at the college level. He has been on the Kings' staff for eight seasons out of loyalty to Geoff Petrie, a former Princeton player.
"And the NBA head coach is like being in the infantry," said Carril, a Civil War buff. "The assistants bring in the supplies, and the head coach gets shot at."
J-Rich to the rescue - Jason Richardson, who signed a $70 million contract before the season, has heard plenty of criticism for not exactly living up to the deal.
Sunday, he earned some of his keep, scoring 26 points, all in the second half.
"I knew I had to come out and do a little more because I wasn't giving it enough," Richardson said. "I hit a couple of shots and got my rhythm back."
Said Montgomery: "He was a zombie in the first half, so he had only one place to go but up. He looked real tired. I think he flew home to Detroit for one day, and that's pretty tough. He was starting to feel it. He's that kind of a player. He's a 'feel' player."
Montgomery said his team looked like 12 zombies early.
"We look like you do after you don't practice," he said. "I said, 'You guys look like you ate cold turkey.' "
Savoring Arco - Wins are scarce for Arco Arena visitors - the Kings are 179-41 at home since 1999 - so triumphant foes tend to enjoy it.
"Whenever you get a win here, it's special because they're one of the best teams in the NBA on the home court," Warriors guard Speedy Claxton said. "We got up on them in the fourth quarter, and I think it kind of shocked them."
Blockless - The Warriors went without a blocked shot for the first time all season, and that was especially hard for Adonal Foyle.
The Warriors reserve center remains one rejection shy of Joe Barry Carroll's career team mark of 837 blocked shots, though official statistics for blocked shots didn't start until 1973-74, when Nate Thurmond was entering his 11th and final season with the Warriors.
Part of the ratings - Golden State's Derek Fisher was planted in front of his TV on Saturday, glued to the drama that was Kobe vs. Shaq, Lakers vs. Heat.
"Yeah, I watched," the former Lakers point guard said. "I think everybody did. It was a great game. Kobe played well, and so did Shaq. I think the NBA got exactly what it wanted - great ratings."
Like father, like son - He looks just like dad, from the facial expressions to the flat-top.
Greg Ostertag's son Cody, a fifth-grader, soaked up his all-access pass, sitting in his pop's locker room seat, then making some post moves before the game. And Cody was sure to have his sleeveless muscle shirt autographed by members of the Kings, all of whom he high-fived after quarter breaks. Fighting traffic - Some members of the Warriors arrived late to Arco, prompting a hasty team meeting 40 minutes before tipoff to go over team strategy. Some players took the team bus and others decided to drive, creeping along for some two hours in holiday traffic.
Kings Notes: Being an NBA head coach was no goal to Carril
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, December 27, 2004
Pete Carril gave it five minutes of thought.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Twenty years ago when he was coaching at Princeton, Carril was approached by an NBA team president (he won't reveal which team) about moving to the pros. Carril said he was flattered but not interested.
He talked about it Sunday before the Kings' game against Golden State and rookie NBA coach Mike Montgomery, who was a college coach for 26 years before taking the perilous plunge into the pros.
"I told them to deal with the coach they already had," said Carril, a Kings assistant. "I don't know why they called me. I guess he saw us play a few games. But I never thought about leaving. I always felt I belonged at Princeton. I was very happy there. I was never one to notice what someone else had or was making."
Plus, Carril said before chatting with Montgomery, he relished the chance to teach the game at the college level. He has been on the Kings' staff for eight seasons out of loyalty to Geoff Petrie, a former Princeton player.
"And the NBA head coach is like being in the infantry," said Carril, a Civil War buff. "The assistants bring in the supplies, and the head coach gets shot at."
J-Rich to the rescue - Jason Richardson, who signed a $70 million contract before the season, has heard plenty of criticism for not exactly living up to the deal.
Sunday, he earned some of his keep, scoring 26 points, all in the second half.
"I knew I had to come out and do a little more because I wasn't giving it enough," Richardson said. "I hit a couple of shots and got my rhythm back."
Said Montgomery: "He was a zombie in the first half, so he had only one place to go but up. He looked real tired. I think he flew home to Detroit for one day, and that's pretty tough. He was starting to feel it. He's that kind of a player. He's a 'feel' player."
Montgomery said his team looked like 12 zombies early.
"We look like you do after you don't practice," he said. "I said, 'You guys look like you ate cold turkey.' "
Savoring Arco - Wins are scarce for Arco Arena visitors - the Kings are 179-41 at home since 1999 - so triumphant foes tend to enjoy it.
"Whenever you get a win here, it's special because they're one of the best teams in the NBA on the home court," Warriors guard Speedy Claxton said. "We got up on them in the fourth quarter, and I think it kind of shocked them."
Blockless - The Warriors went without a blocked shot for the first time all season, and that was especially hard for Adonal Foyle.
The Warriors reserve center remains one rejection shy of Joe Barry Carroll's career team mark of 837 blocked shots, though official statistics for blocked shots didn't start until 1973-74, when Nate Thurmond was entering his 11th and final season with the Warriors.
Part of the ratings - Golden State's Derek Fisher was planted in front of his TV on Saturday, glued to the drama that was Kobe vs. Shaq, Lakers vs. Heat.
"Yeah, I watched," the former Lakers point guard said. "I think everybody did. It was a great game. Kobe played well, and so did Shaq. I think the NBA got exactly what it wanted - great ratings."
Like father, like son - He looks just like dad, from the facial expressions to the flat-top.
Greg Ostertag's son Cody, a fifth-grader, soaked up his all-access pass, sitting in his pop's locker room seat, then making some post moves before the game. And Cody was sure to have his sleeveless muscle shirt autographed by members of the Kings, all of whom he high-fived after quarter breaks. Fighting traffic - Some members of the Warriors arrived late to Arco, prompting a hasty team meeting 40 minutes before tipoff to go over team strategy. Some players took the team bus and others decided to drive, creeping along for some two hours in holiday traffic.
