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Kings notes: Forward Taylor beats injuries, will play tonight
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Maurice Taylor, at long last, is ready to be Maurice Taylor.
Since he signed a one-year deal as a free agent early in Kings training camp, the power forward mostly has been relegated to a stationary bike and light drills because of a troublesome calf and hamstring. With sound legs, Taylor scrimmaged for the first time Monday. He will make his Kings debut tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers at UNLV.
"It's been awhile," Taylor said of any action beyond jogging. "I'm excited. It's frustrating to come to a new team and you're hurt. You want to show what you can do.
"I feel like I fit in pretty well here."
Taylor primarily was brought in to provide depth at center behind Brad Miller. Others vying for that role include 7-foot-2 journeyman Loren Woods, free-agent rookie Justin Williams and 10-year veteran Vitaly Potapenko. All are defensive players. Taylor is a scorer -- he has an 11.2 career average -- who doesn't feel undersized in the post at 6-9.
"When I was in Houston, I would play the '5' when Yao Ming came out," Taylor said. "Most centers are more like power forwards now. There's only a few true centers left in Yao and Shaq."
Starting blocks -- Kings coach Eric Musselman didn't publicly announce tonight's starters, though he has indicated it will be status quo that's "subject to change." Thursday, the starting unit of Mike Bibby, Miller, Kevin Martin, Kenny Thomas and Ron Artest opened each half with a 9-0 run in throttling Dallas 111-90.
The only wrinkle might be if Shareef Abdur-Rahim or John Salmons gets the nod in place of Thomas and Martin, respectively.
"More than likely, it'll be (the starters from Thursday) because of the results in Dallas," Musselman said. "There's probably no reason to change."
Louis' UNLV return -- Louis Amundson knows Vegas as well as anyone. The UNLV campus, at least.
The 6-9 forward is an undrafted long shot vying for a roster spot. He was a shot blocker and rebounder for UNLV, from which he graduated cum laude. He averaged 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Kings in the Las Vegas Summer League.
"I know those rims, and I know the dead spots on the floor," Amundson said of the UNLV setting.
Amundson said he has had a good camp and feels as if he's in a good position to make the roster.
"I try not to think about it too much," he said. "I'm confident."
Tidying up -- Musselman said the Kings were plenty active in practice Monday. But like any coach, Musselman said there is much work to be done.
"We need to clean up our execution," he said. "Getting into our sets quickly. Getting into our spots as soon as possible. Clean passes. Knowing our defensive rotations. We'll get better."
Impacted scheduling -- The exhibition slate now starts to resemble an NBA season. The Kings had four days between the Dallas game and tonight.
After today, there is a six-game stretch in nine days, including two back-to-backs, but the Kings will remain in the West. They start Thursday in Phoenix, then play at home Friday against Utah. They face New Orleans/Oklahoma City on Sunday in Reno.
Hitting the tables -- You bring NBA millionaires into Las Vegas, and you expect some high rollers, including at the Palms, owned by the Maloof family.
Taylor, a blackjack fan, said he visits Vegas three times a summer. "Anyone looking for me, I'll be at the tables in the Palms," Taylor said. "(As for an employee discount), I'm always looking for discounts and freebies. That's how the rich stay richer."
Added Martin as the Kings were about to board the team bus to the airport: "They're about to give us our per diem. I think the Maloofs set that up. Give us a per diem, and then we walk into their casino and give it right back."
And Bibby: "At the Palms, I might play. (The Maloofs) hit me big. They're trying to get their salary back."
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/40592.html
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Maurice Taylor, at long last, is ready to be Maurice Taylor.
Since he signed a one-year deal as a free agent early in Kings training camp, the power forward mostly has been relegated to a stationary bike and light drills because of a troublesome calf and hamstring. With sound legs, Taylor scrimmaged for the first time Monday. He will make his Kings debut tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers at UNLV.
"It's been awhile," Taylor said of any action beyond jogging. "I'm excited. It's frustrating to come to a new team and you're hurt. You want to show what you can do.
"I feel like I fit in pretty well here."
Taylor primarily was brought in to provide depth at center behind Brad Miller. Others vying for that role include 7-foot-2 journeyman Loren Woods, free-agent rookie Justin Williams and 10-year veteran Vitaly Potapenko. All are defensive players. Taylor is a scorer -- he has an 11.2 career average -- who doesn't feel undersized in the post at 6-9.
"When I was in Houston, I would play the '5' when Yao Ming came out," Taylor said. "Most centers are more like power forwards now. There's only a few true centers left in Yao and Shaq."
Starting blocks -- Kings coach Eric Musselman didn't publicly announce tonight's starters, though he has indicated it will be status quo that's "subject to change." Thursday, the starting unit of Mike Bibby, Miller, Kevin Martin, Kenny Thomas and Ron Artest opened each half with a 9-0 run in throttling Dallas 111-90.
The only wrinkle might be if Shareef Abdur-Rahim or John Salmons gets the nod in place of Thomas and Martin, respectively.
"More than likely, it'll be (the starters from Thursday) because of the results in Dallas," Musselman said. "There's probably no reason to change."
Louis' UNLV return -- Louis Amundson knows Vegas as well as anyone. The UNLV campus, at least.
The 6-9 forward is an undrafted long shot vying for a roster spot. He was a shot blocker and rebounder for UNLV, from which he graduated cum laude. He averaged 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Kings in the Las Vegas Summer League.
"I know those rims, and I know the dead spots on the floor," Amundson said of the UNLV setting.
Amundson said he has had a good camp and feels as if he's in a good position to make the roster.
"I try not to think about it too much," he said. "I'm confident."
Tidying up -- Musselman said the Kings were plenty active in practice Monday. But like any coach, Musselman said there is much work to be done.
"We need to clean up our execution," he said. "Getting into our sets quickly. Getting into our spots as soon as possible. Clean passes. Knowing our defensive rotations. We'll get better."
Impacted scheduling -- The exhibition slate now starts to resemble an NBA season. The Kings had four days between the Dallas game and tonight.
After today, there is a six-game stretch in nine days, including two back-to-backs, but the Kings will remain in the West. They start Thursday in Phoenix, then play at home Friday against Utah. They face New Orleans/Oklahoma City on Sunday in Reno.
Hitting the tables -- You bring NBA millionaires into Las Vegas, and you expect some high rollers, including at the Palms, owned by the Maloof family.
Taylor, a blackjack fan, said he visits Vegas three times a summer. "Anyone looking for me, I'll be at the tables in the Palms," Taylor said. "(As for an employee discount), I'm always looking for discounts and freebies. That's how the rich stay richer."
Added Martin as the Kings were about to board the team bus to the airport: "They're about to give us our per diem. I think the Maloofs set that up. Give us a per diem, and then we walk into their casino and give it right back."
And Bibby: "At the Palms, I might play. (The Maloofs) hit me big. They're trying to get their salary back."
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/40592.html
I know wrong forum...now let's beat those LA Kobies!!! 
