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Kings notes: Sonics hope Radmanovic steps forward
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, April 22, 2005
Peja Stojakovic isn't the only 6-foot-10 Serb in this NBA playoff series walking a little gingerly these days.
Seattle SuperSonics forward Vladimir Radmanovic went down March 16 with a stress fracture in his right fibula, leaving his teammates and coaches to let out a collective gasp and groan. He is hopeful for Game 1.
And like his fellow countryman, Radmanovic is critical to his team's success, a shooter from all distances. Seattle is 16-3 in games in which he has made three or more three-pointers. It is also 43-20 with him and 9-10 without him.
Sonics guard Ray Allen said "it would be lovely" to get the man they call "Vlade" back on the floor because Seattle could spread the floor, shoot like mad and cause all sorts of matchup concerns.
"They're just like Phoenix if he's playing," Kings coach Rick Adelman said of the Sonics. "You've got him spotting up, standing there hurting you. They have one big guy and four shooters, and they're hard to defend.
"He's a huge difference. That's what Phoenix does with Shawn Marion. That's why they were so good early."
Bobby in the mix - One day later, and Kings guard Bobby Jackson was reporting a good kind of sore for a change.
He logged 16 minutes - with 15 points - Wednesday night against Phoenix, his first duty in nearly four months, and he said Thursday after practice that he needed to get a little "burn" in the system.
"I'm trying to do two-a-days now, so I can get my legs and my wind back," Jackson said. "I was shocked with how I played. (Well), I wasn't too shocked."
K-Mart closed - Kevin Martin expected the news, and he has handled it with class.
The Kings' first-round draft pick isn't on the playoff roster, his season over before he arrived at the practice facility Thursday.
"I can't be upset because you've got to have class," Martin said. "I'm not bitter at all. I've learned a lot this year as a rookie.
"This is best for the team. We need Bobby Jackson out there, and we need Brad (Miller). I'm just a baby in this league. I know I can get better and that my time will come. "Someday, I'll look back and have a laugh about my rookie year, what I learned. I'll look back and say, 'I had hair!' " Martin said he was pleased with the close of his season. He scored 10 points in three of the Kings' final five games.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12767778p-13618909c.html[/font]
Kings notes: Sonics hope Radmanovic steps forward
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, April 22, 2005
Peja Stojakovic isn't the only 6-foot-10 Serb in this NBA playoff series walking a little gingerly these days.
Seattle SuperSonics forward Vladimir Radmanovic went down March 16 with a stress fracture in his right fibula, leaving his teammates and coaches to let out a collective gasp and groan. He is hopeful for Game 1.
And like his fellow countryman, Radmanovic is critical to his team's success, a shooter from all distances. Seattle is 16-3 in games in which he has made three or more three-pointers. It is also 43-20 with him and 9-10 without him.
Sonics guard Ray Allen said "it would be lovely" to get the man they call "Vlade" back on the floor because Seattle could spread the floor, shoot like mad and cause all sorts of matchup concerns.
"They're just like Phoenix if he's playing," Kings coach Rick Adelman said of the Sonics. "You've got him spotting up, standing there hurting you. They have one big guy and four shooters, and they're hard to defend.
"He's a huge difference. That's what Phoenix does with Shawn Marion. That's why they were so good early."
Bobby in the mix - One day later, and Kings guard Bobby Jackson was reporting a good kind of sore for a change.
He logged 16 minutes - with 15 points - Wednesday night against Phoenix, his first duty in nearly four months, and he said Thursday after practice that he needed to get a little "burn" in the system.
"I'm trying to do two-a-days now, so I can get my legs and my wind back," Jackson said. "I was shocked with how I played. (Well), I wasn't too shocked."
K-Mart closed - Kevin Martin expected the news, and he has handled it with class.
The Kings' first-round draft pick isn't on the playoff roster, his season over before he arrived at the practice facility Thursday.
"I can't be upset because you've got to have class," Martin said. "I'm not bitter at all. I've learned a lot this year as a rookie.
"This is best for the team. We need Bobby Jackson out there, and we need Brad (Miller). I'm just a baby in this league. I know I can get better and that my time will come. "Someday, I'll look back and have a laugh about my rookie year, what I learned. I'll look back and say, 'I had hair!' " Martin said he was pleased with the close of his season. He scored 10 points in three of the Kings' final five games.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12767778p-13618909c.html[/font]
