http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14229411p-15052548c.html
Kings notes: Mavericks employ an all-around attack
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, March 12, 2006
In a meeting today of franchises that know each other well, the Dallas Mavericks continue to seek the top seed in the Western Conference playoff scramble.
The Kings? No greed here. They'll take any seed they can get their hands on. For now, they sit a half-game behind New Orleans for the eighth and final spot, surging at home and in general while the Hornets are sagging and slipping down the ladder.
And in sizing up Dallas, Kings coach Rick Adelman sees the same tendencies from the teams he encountered in some of those past spirited playoff duels. One new wrinkle is the Mavericks have become a better defensive outfit this season under firebrand coach Avery Johnson.
"They're very versatile with a ton of guys who can play, and they can play big or small," Adelman said. "They're still a handful. They're better defensively, and they're athletic and quick and aggressive."
No admittance - At the end of Saturday's workouts, assistant coaches Pete Carril and Elston Turner talked about how nice it would be to walk some 25 yards from the practice facility to Arco Arena and catch some of the Northern California high school basketball championships.
Only one problem: NBA coaches and executives no longer are allowed to observe high school players, a trickle-down effect from the collective bargaining agreement that stipulates high school players cannot make the draft leap directly into the NBA.
Carril, the former Princeton coach, recalled recruiting Frank Allocco, now the coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, when Allocco was a high school star in New Jersey. Allocco went to Notre Dame, "but he runs the Princeton offense at De La Salle now," Carril said with a smile.
More NBA and preps - Though current NBA execs aren't allowed in high school gyms, former ones are. Garry St. Jean, the one-time Kings coach and Warriors front-office man, provided some color commentary for KHTK 1140 on the Division I boys title game between De La Salle and Tokay of Lodi.
Smooth recoveries - Guards Bonzi Wells and Francisco García are coming along nicely. That's pretty much the injury update for the only two Kings who are laboring to any degree.
Wells missed 30 games with a groin injury and has been strong in his return, though he pulled himself out Friday night against Memphis when his calves tightened up. He'll play tonight. García said he's still not quite ready, his ankle sprain still tender, though he expects "to be back in a few days."
Meeting of old chums - Mike Bibby and Jason Terry relish playing against each other. They led the Arizona Wildcats to the 1997 NCAA championship, and both are in the midst of their best NBA seasons.
Bibby said he's pleased his friend has played so well in Dallas, with which Terry is averaging 17.1 points. It's not a career high, but he's winning more than he ever has.
"You have to be put in the right situation to shine," Bibby said. "When I was in Vancouver (early in my career), people forgot who I was. I came here, and people remembered."
Bulk and bigs - Remember when the Kings were strictly a jump-shooting team? Now with Wells and Ron Artest in the mix, the Kings can at times pound away inside, leaving Bibby as the only shooter on the floor.
"I make fun of Ron about that," Bibby said. "We have, like, four power forwards and me out there."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Mavericks employ an all-around attack
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, March 12, 2006
In a meeting today of franchises that know each other well, the Dallas Mavericks continue to seek the top seed in the Western Conference playoff scramble.
The Kings? No greed here. They'll take any seed they can get their hands on. For now, they sit a half-game behind New Orleans for the eighth and final spot, surging at home and in general while the Hornets are sagging and slipping down the ladder.
And in sizing up Dallas, Kings coach Rick Adelman sees the same tendencies from the teams he encountered in some of those past spirited playoff duels. One new wrinkle is the Mavericks have become a better defensive outfit this season under firebrand coach Avery Johnson.
"They're very versatile with a ton of guys who can play, and they can play big or small," Adelman said. "They're still a handful. They're better defensively, and they're athletic and quick and aggressive."
No admittance - At the end of Saturday's workouts, assistant coaches Pete Carril and Elston Turner talked about how nice it would be to walk some 25 yards from the practice facility to Arco Arena and catch some of the Northern California high school basketball championships.
Only one problem: NBA coaches and executives no longer are allowed to observe high school players, a trickle-down effect from the collective bargaining agreement that stipulates high school players cannot make the draft leap directly into the NBA.
Carril, the former Princeton coach, recalled recruiting Frank Allocco, now the coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, when Allocco was a high school star in New Jersey. Allocco went to Notre Dame, "but he runs the Princeton offense at De La Salle now," Carril said with a smile.
More NBA and preps - Though current NBA execs aren't allowed in high school gyms, former ones are. Garry St. Jean, the one-time Kings coach and Warriors front-office man, provided some color commentary for KHTK 1140 on the Division I boys title game between De La Salle and Tokay of Lodi.
Smooth recoveries - Guards Bonzi Wells and Francisco García are coming along nicely. That's pretty much the injury update for the only two Kings who are laboring to any degree.
Wells missed 30 games with a groin injury and has been strong in his return, though he pulled himself out Friday night against Memphis when his calves tightened up. He'll play tonight. García said he's still not quite ready, his ankle sprain still tender, though he expects "to be back in a few days."
Meeting of old chums - Mike Bibby and Jason Terry relish playing against each other. They led the Arizona Wildcats to the 1997 NCAA championship, and both are in the midst of their best NBA seasons.
Bibby said he's pleased his friend has played so well in Dallas, with which Terry is averaging 17.1 points. It's not a career high, but he's winning more than he ever has.
"You have to be put in the right situation to shine," Bibby said. "When I was in Vancouver (early in my career), people forgot who I was. I came here, and people remembered."
Bulk and bigs - Remember when the Kings were strictly a jump-shooting team? Now with Wells and Ron Artest in the mix, the Kings can at times pound away inside, leaving Bibby as the only shooter on the floor.
"I make fun of Ron about that," Bibby said. "We have, like, four power forwards and me out there."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
