http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13916630p-14754923c.html
Kings notes: Stojakovic will try to play through pain
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Peja Stojakovic stood at the free-throw line, dressed in his dark practice warm-ups with a white towel draped over his left shoulder.
With a black glove on his right (shooting) hand that looked fit for a NASCAR driver, he picked up a bounding basketball and gracefully sent it through the net.
A monumental event indeed.
After missing the last three games with a sprained hand, the Kings' small forward participated in his first practice and plans to take part in tonight's game against Charlotte at Arco Arena, with the intent of burying everything he sends the rim's way.
Nothing's higher on the to-do list, though, than keeping the hand from being re-injured again.
Such is the goal of the glove, which has half-fingers and is intended to provide some protection. Stojakovic, who initially suffered the injury against Milwaukee on Nov. 18 and had it re-injured two days later against Seattle, isn't sure whether he will wear the glove against the Bobcats.
As of Monday morning, he was still concerned the hand was broken. The pain, Stojakovic said, had persisted so much he began to wonder whether this was more than a sprain. Stojakovic, who had received an X-ray after the Seattle game, had a second X-ray Monday.
"I told (the doctors) that I've done sprained fingers before and never experienced this type of pain," Stojakovic said. "I thought there was something wrong, so I wanted to make sure. They said it was just a bad sprain on that part of the hand, and will take some time."
If all goes well for Stojakovic tonight he'll finish with his shot and his relative health intact. In his last six games before the injury, the Kings' leading scorer had averaged 24.1 points, hitting 45 of his last 89 shots and 21 of his last 45 three-pointers. He knows the Bobcats won't have as much sympathy as his teammates.
"The (Kings) guys were careful, but (the Bobcats) aren't going to think about it," Stojakovic said. "(The injury) might be there for another couple of weeks. I'm going to try and play through it and get used to it."
Starting to shine - Stojakovic's return means the temporary promotion of rookie Francisco García comes to an end. By all accounts, García did a fine job of filling in. He averaged 32.3 minutes, hitting 13 of 27 shots in his three games as a starter.
"He showed that he could play a different position, that he could handle the ball and sometimes take pressure off of (point guard) Mike (Bibby)," Stojakovic said.
García pulled back on his quick shooting trigger more often as a starter, moving more aggressively without the ball than he had coming off the bench. He said Stojakovic gave him the advice.
Among the words of wisdom: "Move without the ball," García said. "When they set a screen, draw my man to the screen and just go with the flow of the game."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said he wants both García and shooting guard Kevin Martin to become more consistent, producing no matter what their role is. Martin scored a career-high 18 points against New Jersey on Wednesday, then had one point in nearly 15 minutes against Toronto on Friday.
"Each of those guys has had their moments in certain games," Adelman said. "I thought Francisco played fine stepping in for Peja. Kevin had a good game, then fell off. Those guys have to start getting consistent for us. They're two main guys off the bench, and we've got to have it from them."
Quick as a Bobcat - Don't look now, but the expansion franchise has expanded its talent.
The second-year Bobcats are young and quick, precisely the combination that can give the Kings fits. Charlotte leads the league in steals, with an average of 11.6 per game that's trailed by Indiana's 8.5.
"They have qualities that give us trouble with their quickness, so you've got to be ready to play that game," Adelman said.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Stojakovic will try to play through pain
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Peja Stojakovic stood at the free-throw line, dressed in his dark practice warm-ups with a white towel draped over his left shoulder.
With a black glove on his right (shooting) hand that looked fit for a NASCAR driver, he picked up a bounding basketball and gracefully sent it through the net.
A monumental event indeed.
After missing the last three games with a sprained hand, the Kings' small forward participated in his first practice and plans to take part in tonight's game against Charlotte at Arco Arena, with the intent of burying everything he sends the rim's way.
Nothing's higher on the to-do list, though, than keeping the hand from being re-injured again.
Such is the goal of the glove, which has half-fingers and is intended to provide some protection. Stojakovic, who initially suffered the injury against Milwaukee on Nov. 18 and had it re-injured two days later against Seattle, isn't sure whether he will wear the glove against the Bobcats.
As of Monday morning, he was still concerned the hand was broken. The pain, Stojakovic said, had persisted so much he began to wonder whether this was more than a sprain. Stojakovic, who had received an X-ray after the Seattle game, had a second X-ray Monday.
"I told (the doctors) that I've done sprained fingers before and never experienced this type of pain," Stojakovic said. "I thought there was something wrong, so I wanted to make sure. They said it was just a bad sprain on that part of the hand, and will take some time."
If all goes well for Stojakovic tonight he'll finish with his shot and his relative health intact. In his last six games before the injury, the Kings' leading scorer had averaged 24.1 points, hitting 45 of his last 89 shots and 21 of his last 45 three-pointers. He knows the Bobcats won't have as much sympathy as his teammates.
"The (Kings) guys were careful, but (the Bobcats) aren't going to think about it," Stojakovic said. "(The injury) might be there for another couple of weeks. I'm going to try and play through it and get used to it."
Starting to shine - Stojakovic's return means the temporary promotion of rookie Francisco García comes to an end. By all accounts, García did a fine job of filling in. He averaged 32.3 minutes, hitting 13 of 27 shots in his three games as a starter.
"He showed that he could play a different position, that he could handle the ball and sometimes take pressure off of (point guard) Mike (Bibby)," Stojakovic said.
García pulled back on his quick shooting trigger more often as a starter, moving more aggressively without the ball than he had coming off the bench. He said Stojakovic gave him the advice.
Among the words of wisdom: "Move without the ball," García said. "When they set a screen, draw my man to the screen and just go with the flow of the game."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said he wants both García and shooting guard Kevin Martin to become more consistent, producing no matter what their role is. Martin scored a career-high 18 points against New Jersey on Wednesday, then had one point in nearly 15 minutes against Toronto on Friday.
"Each of those guys has had their moments in certain games," Adelman said. "I thought Francisco played fine stepping in for Peja. Kevin had a good game, then fell off. Those guys have to start getting consistent for us. They're two main guys off the bench, and we've got to have it from them."
Quick as a Bobcat - Don't look now, but the expansion franchise has expanded its talent.
The second-year Bobcats are young and quick, precisely the combination that can give the Kings fits. Charlotte leads the league in steals, with an average of 11.6 per game that's trailed by Indiana's 8.5.
"They have qualities that give us trouble with their quickness, so you've got to be ready to play that game," Adelman said.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
