http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14164725p-14992514c.html
Kings notes: Jackson receives a warm hello
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Bobby Jackson was back in familiar territory Tuesday, so much so that he even woke up in his old bed.
The former Kings guard reported having the "best night of sleep since I was traded" after sacking out in his Granite Bay home Monday night after his Memphis Grizzlies flew into town. And the ovation he received when he was introduced in the second period? Moving, Jackson said. Then he nearly left Kings fans used to applauding No. 24 to bemoan his very existence.
Before the game, Kings guard and good pal Mike Bibby said Jackson was Sacramento's version of Vinnie Johnson - "the Microwave," as he was called during his prolific scoring days off the bench for the Detroit Pistons. Jackson sizzled in his 24 minutes off the bench for Memphis, scoring a game-high 24 points, 22 in the second half, and offering some crab-like dances down the floor when he pulled his team back into it.
And typical Jackson, he was candid later, saying of his five-minute first half, "I was ticked off to be sitting on the bench in the first half, but that is the coach's decision. When I get on the floor, I try to make things happen." Before the tip, Jackson teased his former coach, Rick Adelman, that he wanted to hitch a ride back with the club to Sacramento after the teams meet again Feb. 15 in Memphis, before the All-Star break, to which Adelman responded, as he later recounted, "I told him, 'We'll see how you do tonight.' He almost cost himself the ride with those shots he made."
Jackson also talked about how he's still adjusting to his role in Memphis, the structured offense where seemingly every play goes through coach Mike Fratello, to going back to the bench in place of recently acquired Chucky Atkins after starting earlier.
Jackson received words of encouragement from Kings assistant coach Pete Carril before warmups, reminding that Jackson coming off the bench is similar to his role in Sacramento: a complement and instant energy.
Jackson also conceded that he was being "selfish" for letting his demotion to the bench become a factor in how he played, adding, simply, "We just need to start winning again."
Minus the Miller
In the first meeting between the teams on Jan. 10, Mike Miller recorded a triple double off the bench in a 99-85 Grizzlies victory. He would have needed seven overtimes or a fouled-out Ron Artest to come near that achievement again. He managed three points, five assists and two rebounds, with Artest often hawking him.
Boilermaker duo
When Brad Miller and Brian Cardinal were college teammates at Purdue, they beat the chewing tobacco out of each other in practice. Now they're crashing as foes, only Miller is quick to point out there's only one flopper of the two, suggesting the referees gave Cardinal too much credit for flops Tuesday, with Miller being hit with the fouls.
"Obviously they never watched Purdue basketball," Miller cracked. "Cardinal is the best flopper, and Shane Battier as well. We know (Battier) at Duke. He was just more publicly (recognized) than Cardinal, but he's definitely right up there."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Jackson receives a warm hello
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Bobby Jackson was back in familiar territory Tuesday, so much so that he even woke up in his old bed.
The former Kings guard reported having the "best night of sleep since I was traded" after sacking out in his Granite Bay home Monday night after his Memphis Grizzlies flew into town. And the ovation he received when he was introduced in the second period? Moving, Jackson said. Then he nearly left Kings fans used to applauding No. 24 to bemoan his very existence.
Before the game, Kings guard and good pal Mike Bibby said Jackson was Sacramento's version of Vinnie Johnson - "the Microwave," as he was called during his prolific scoring days off the bench for the Detroit Pistons. Jackson sizzled in his 24 minutes off the bench for Memphis, scoring a game-high 24 points, 22 in the second half, and offering some crab-like dances down the floor when he pulled his team back into it.
And typical Jackson, he was candid later, saying of his five-minute first half, "I was ticked off to be sitting on the bench in the first half, but that is the coach's decision. When I get on the floor, I try to make things happen." Before the tip, Jackson teased his former coach, Rick Adelman, that he wanted to hitch a ride back with the club to Sacramento after the teams meet again Feb. 15 in Memphis, before the All-Star break, to which Adelman responded, as he later recounted, "I told him, 'We'll see how you do tonight.' He almost cost himself the ride with those shots he made."
Jackson also talked about how he's still adjusting to his role in Memphis, the structured offense where seemingly every play goes through coach Mike Fratello, to going back to the bench in place of recently acquired Chucky Atkins after starting earlier.
Jackson received words of encouragement from Kings assistant coach Pete Carril before warmups, reminding that Jackson coming off the bench is similar to his role in Sacramento: a complement and instant energy.
Jackson also conceded that he was being "selfish" for letting his demotion to the bench become a factor in how he played, adding, simply, "We just need to start winning again."
Minus the Miller
In the first meeting between the teams on Jan. 10, Mike Miller recorded a triple double off the bench in a 99-85 Grizzlies victory. He would have needed seven overtimes or a fouled-out Ron Artest to come near that achievement again. He managed three points, five assists and two rebounds, with Artest often hawking him.
Boilermaker duo
When Brad Miller and Brian Cardinal were college teammates at Purdue, they beat the chewing tobacco out of each other in practice. Now they're crashing as foes, only Miller is quick to point out there's only one flopper of the two, suggesting the referees gave Cardinal too much credit for flops Tuesday, with Miller being hit with the fouls.
"Obviously they never watched Purdue basketball," Miller cracked. "Cardinal is the best flopper, and Shane Battier as well. We know (Battier) at Duke. He was just more publicly (recognized) than Cardinal, but he's definitely right up there."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.