http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14003366p-14836427c.html
Kings notes: Latest slump has nothing to do with pinky
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Peja Stojakovic's pinky is fine, healed and pain-free in a development that would seem to be a positive one for the Kings small forward.
Except that he's not shooting well again. And a healthy hand means one more explanation is off the list, with Stojakovic continuing to search for the stroke that has come and gone so many times this season.
This time, the slump is four games old. He is shooting 18 for 51 (35.2 percent) overall and averaging 12.5 points in that span, and the Kings have lost three of those games.
In Monday's overtime loss to Charlotte, Stojakovic - who missed three games in late November with a sprained pinky - scored 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting, including 1 of 5 on three-pointers.
"I've been struggling," said Stojakovic, who averaged 21.5 points per game before the injury. "There's nothing I can do about it but keep trying to get better. I feel good about the hand. We've got six games at home now out of seven."
Arco's friendly confines could help, but the issues don't end there. He wouldn't mind if the trade rumors disappeared with his struggles.
Within the past two weeks, the free-agent-to-be has heard he's headed via trade to Indiana, where forward Ron Artest said he wanted out. The latest rumor came Monday from the Rocky Mountain News, which reported that the Denver Nuggets are exploring ways to bring Stojakovic to Colorado. Should he remain with the Kings until season's end, he is expected to be the cream of the free-agent crop in the offseason.
"I don't think about (the trade speculation)," Stojakovic said, shrugging his shoulders. "I hear that, but it's nothing that I can control. Why would I let something affect me that is something I cannot control? You hear it, obviously, but it's something that comes and goes.
"Obviously, I think about it. It's not that I don't think about it. I'm a basketball player. I'm a professional player, and I play for the Kings right now. And whatever happens happens. It's not in my hands. I feel good (about being in Sacramento), but it's nothing in my hands."
Three strikes - Just as Stojakovic isn't shooting as he's used to, neither are the Kings.
Especially from long range.
With just 127 three-pointers made, they're on pace to finish with 417 for the season. The projected total would be their lowest in a full regular season since the 1997-98 season, when the Kings were 27-55 and finished with 283 from beyond the arc.
The Kings made 522 last season, 601 in 2003-04, and 491 in 2002-03.
Stojakovic isn't to blame. He has made 54 of 127 threes, on pace with last season's total and at a 42.5 percent clip.
The ride continues - There was a time when they were consistent, the up-and-down ride came to an end and the Kings looked the same every night.
During their five-game losing streak.
Otherwise, inconsistent efforts have been the norm, a trend that has been wearing on Kings players for some time.
Their 1-3 road trip was the latest example, as the Kings turned in strong efforts against Minnesota and San Antonio, but not against Detroit and Charlotte.
"It's almost like we're teasing ourselves," forward Corliss Williamson said. "You see glimpses of how this team can play, and then we always seem to have setbacks. We have to find a way to string together five, six, seven wins, something like that.
"That's the type of streak we need to have. Not just win three, lose three. ... That's not going to work."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Latest slump has nothing to do with pinky
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Peja Stojakovic's pinky is fine, healed and pain-free in a development that would seem to be a positive one for the Kings small forward.
Except that he's not shooting well again. And a healthy hand means one more explanation is off the list, with Stojakovic continuing to search for the stroke that has come and gone so many times this season.
This time, the slump is four games old. He is shooting 18 for 51 (35.2 percent) overall and averaging 12.5 points in that span, and the Kings have lost three of those games.
In Monday's overtime loss to Charlotte, Stojakovic - who missed three games in late November with a sprained pinky - scored 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting, including 1 of 5 on three-pointers.
"I've been struggling," said Stojakovic, who averaged 21.5 points per game before the injury. "There's nothing I can do about it but keep trying to get better. I feel good about the hand. We've got six games at home now out of seven."
Arco's friendly confines could help, but the issues don't end there. He wouldn't mind if the trade rumors disappeared with his struggles.
Within the past two weeks, the free-agent-to-be has heard he's headed via trade to Indiana, where forward Ron Artest said he wanted out. The latest rumor came Monday from the Rocky Mountain News, which reported that the Denver Nuggets are exploring ways to bring Stojakovic to Colorado. Should he remain with the Kings until season's end, he is expected to be the cream of the free-agent crop in the offseason.
"I don't think about (the trade speculation)," Stojakovic said, shrugging his shoulders. "I hear that, but it's nothing that I can control. Why would I let something affect me that is something I cannot control? You hear it, obviously, but it's something that comes and goes.
"Obviously, I think about it. It's not that I don't think about it. I'm a basketball player. I'm a professional player, and I play for the Kings right now. And whatever happens happens. It's not in my hands. I feel good (about being in Sacramento), but it's nothing in my hands."
Three strikes - Just as Stojakovic isn't shooting as he's used to, neither are the Kings.
Especially from long range.
With just 127 three-pointers made, they're on pace to finish with 417 for the season. The projected total would be their lowest in a full regular season since the 1997-98 season, when the Kings were 27-55 and finished with 283 from beyond the arc.
The Kings made 522 last season, 601 in 2003-04, and 491 in 2002-03.
Stojakovic isn't to blame. He has made 54 of 127 threes, on pace with last season's total and at a 42.5 percent clip.
The ride continues - There was a time when they were consistent, the up-and-down ride came to an end and the Kings looked the same every night.
During their five-game losing streak.
Otherwise, inconsistent efforts have been the norm, a trend that has been wearing on Kings players for some time.
Their 1-3 road trip was the latest example, as the Kings turned in strong efforts against Minnesota and San Antonio, but not against Detroit and Charlotte.
"It's almost like we're teasing ourselves," forward Corliss Williamson said. "You see glimpses of how this team can play, and then we always seem to have setbacks. We have to find a way to string together five, six, seven wins, something like that.
"That's the type of streak we need to have. Not just win three, lose three. ... That's not going to work."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
