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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11889349p-12776192c.html
Kings notes: Miller won't use injury to explain offensive slip
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Brad Miller hadn't seen anything this grisly since, oh, one of his backwoods hunts resulted in a downed beast.
Miller, an enthusiastic hunter when he isn't playing center for the Kings, wasn't in the wilderness when he went down this time. He received a gash to his shin last week against the Miami Heat, requiring 15 stitches, and he's still gimpy.
Although he had a game-high 13 rebounds Sunday against the Golden State Warriors, Miller wasn't much of a factor on offense. He attempted just five field goals and scored six points, leaving Kings coach Rick Adelman to implore him to shoot more.
Miller's shin was bandaged and tender, understandable considering the wound went to the bone. Running up and down a hardwood surface isn't helping the healing process.
"I'm just not playing very well right now," the two-time All-Star said. "I'm just trying to do other things, trying to get my confidence back up there by driving to the hole and getting rebounds."
Miller said the time off Monday and Tuesday can only help heal his weary teammates, who were 2-3 on their last homestand. They lost back-to-back home games for just the second time in four years.
"I've never taken two days off after two home losses since I was (playing) in Chicago," Miller said. "It's a new experience for me. Hopefully, we just have to clear our heads and refocus and regroup."
Miller included.
"I think it's more in my head than anything," he said of playing hesitantly with his shin injury. "It's been a little sore the last couple of days, but that's what happens when you have an open gash like that. I've got to get past that. I've played through a lot worse things than that, so that's not an excuse."
More hurting - You think the Kings have injury problems?
Utah, the Kings' opponent Friday in Salt Lake City, started fast this season and has since sputtered amid a flurry of injuries. The Jazz have had players miss a combined 92 games this season, none more significant than forward Andrei Kirilenko, who has a sprained right knee.
The athletic and versatile Kirilenko has missed 14 games, and the Jazz dearly misses his scoring and shot-blocking.
A reunion visit - You can imagine better places to spend New Year's Eve than Salt Lake City, but that's where the Kings will be.
It also marks Kings reserve center Greg Ostertag's first return to Delta Center.
Ostertag played nine seasons with Utah, drawing mixed reviews. There always seemed to be a place for Ostertag in Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's doghouse - "whenever something went wrong, Jerry came looking for me," Ostertag said. The two men remained close, however, with one image as proof.
Ostertag gave his former coach a teary bearhug this summer at the funeral of Sloan's wife, Bobbye, who died of pancreatic cancer. And Jazz fans lightened up the boos for Ostertag after he donated a kidney to help save the life of his sister, Amy Hall, two years ago.
Kings notes: Miller won't use injury to explain offensive slip
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Brad Miller hadn't seen anything this grisly since, oh, one of his backwoods hunts resulted in a downed beast.
Miller, an enthusiastic hunter when he isn't playing center for the Kings, wasn't in the wilderness when he went down this time. He received a gash to his shin last week against the Miami Heat, requiring 15 stitches, and he's still gimpy.
Although he had a game-high 13 rebounds Sunday against the Golden State Warriors, Miller wasn't much of a factor on offense. He attempted just five field goals and scored six points, leaving Kings coach Rick Adelman to implore him to shoot more.
Miller's shin was bandaged and tender, understandable considering the wound went to the bone. Running up and down a hardwood surface isn't helping the healing process.
"I'm just not playing very well right now," the two-time All-Star said. "I'm just trying to do other things, trying to get my confidence back up there by driving to the hole and getting rebounds."
Miller said the time off Monday and Tuesday can only help heal his weary teammates, who were 2-3 on their last homestand. They lost back-to-back home games for just the second time in four years.
"I've never taken two days off after two home losses since I was (playing) in Chicago," Miller said. "It's a new experience for me. Hopefully, we just have to clear our heads and refocus and regroup."
Miller included.
"I think it's more in my head than anything," he said of playing hesitantly with his shin injury. "It's been a little sore the last couple of days, but that's what happens when you have an open gash like that. I've got to get past that. I've played through a lot worse things than that, so that's not an excuse."
More hurting - You think the Kings have injury problems?
Utah, the Kings' opponent Friday in Salt Lake City, started fast this season and has since sputtered amid a flurry of injuries. The Jazz have had players miss a combined 92 games this season, none more significant than forward Andrei Kirilenko, who has a sprained right knee.
The athletic and versatile Kirilenko has missed 14 games, and the Jazz dearly misses his scoring and shot-blocking.
A reunion visit - You can imagine better places to spend New Year's Eve than Salt Lake City, but that's where the Kings will be.
It also marks Kings reserve center Greg Ostertag's first return to Delta Center.
Ostertag played nine seasons with Utah, drawing mixed reviews. There always seemed to be a place for Ostertag in Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's doghouse - "whenever something went wrong, Jerry came looking for me," Ostertag said. The two men remained close, however, with one image as proof.
Ostertag gave his former coach a teary bearhug this summer at the funeral of Sloan's wife, Bobbye, who died of pancreatic cancer. And Jazz fans lightened up the boos for Ostertag after he donated a kidney to help save the life of his sister, Amy Hall, two years ago.
i wonder what kind reaction he gets. 