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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11598194p-12491030c.html
Kings, T-wolves will renew acquaintances
Western Conference semifinal foes last season, they could both use a win today.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, November 28, 2004
Anthony Peeler is no longer a King, so any talk of leftover hard feelings from his Twin Cities tussle with Kevin Garnett is moot.
Garnett, the star Minnesota forward, hasn't made any recent mention of artillery, either - the Uzis, M-16s, nines, silencers and such he spoke of before the Timberwolves' Game 7 victory over the Kings in last season's Western Conference semifinals.
And at tonight's reunion game, glow sticks will not be given to the Arco Arena crowd, a wise move since fans hurled them the way Peeler did elbows during Game 6 last May.
Kings coach Rick Adelman said this is an early test for his surging team to reapply for membership among the NBA's elite. Despite some early woes, Minnesota is a card-carrying member, but the Kings, winners of seven straight games, are being considered for renewal.
"They've got to be one of the favorites (to win it all)," Adelman said of the T-wolves. "I think they're definitely a team you know will be in the playoffs, be one of the tough teams, one of the elite teams. It's a big game for us."
Big after yet another close game, as the Kings' 109-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night was their sixth by nine points or fewer. And big because eight straight victories would be impressive and give Minnesota coach Flip Saunders one more reason to worry.
Although their 25-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday showed signs of a turnaround, the T-wolves, like the Kings, have faced an identity crisis in the early going. Of course, Garnett has still been his all-everything self, the MVP scoring 23.3 points per game and leading the league in rebounds (14.8).
"He's just so long and so quick," Kings center Brad Miller said. "And he always makes two or three moves before he shoots the ball, so you've got to be ready to adjust to it."
But Garnett is also the team leader in assists (6.4), speaking highly of himself and not so much of his supporting cast.
Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell have yet to be what they were a year ago - playmaking complements to the once-lonely "Big Ticket." Their scoring is down substantially: Cassell has reached 20 points just once and Sprewell three times. In Minnesota's 103-92 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday, the two combined for just 17 points, prompting Saunders to bench them for most of the fourth quarter.
"It's frustrating," the coach told the Minnesota press after the loss. "We're searching to find five guys that can play together, play with the same amount of energy, intensity and concentration level that it takes to compete."
A 106-102 loss to the depleted Indiana Pacers came two days later but not before an off-court incident gave Saunders more concern.
Center Michael Olowokandi, a 7-foot center from the University of the Pacific, was arrested by Indianapolis police at 3 a.m. Thanksgiving morning when he refused to leave a downtown nightclub. The police used a stun gun on Olowokandi twice before he was detained. The team suspended Olowokandi for the next two games, but he will play tonight.
The Kings aren't ready to deem the T-wolves their new rivals, but there is an opening for that position. Last week, numerous Kings removed the Shaq-less Lakers from the spot, and a budding rivalry with the Dallas Mavericks lost its luster after point guard Steve Nash joined the Phoenix Suns as a free agent.
However, Minnesota returns virtually unchanged, and Garnett and Co. are as tested as non-San Antonio teams come in the Western Conference.
"I wouldn't say there's a rivalry, nothing like between us and the Lakers (of old)," Kings forward Peja Stojakovic said. "We played (L.A.) for so many years, so it's different. Minnesota is another good team, with a long way to go (to be a rival)." Added Adelman: "Certainly, it has the starting of one, but I'll worry about getting (to the playoffs) first. It was one year."
Kings, T-wolves will renew acquaintances
Western Conference semifinal foes last season, they could both use a win today.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, November 28, 2004
Anthony Peeler is no longer a King, so any talk of leftover hard feelings from his Twin Cities tussle with Kevin Garnett is moot.
Garnett, the star Minnesota forward, hasn't made any recent mention of artillery, either - the Uzis, M-16s, nines, silencers and such he spoke of before the Timberwolves' Game 7 victory over the Kings in last season's Western Conference semifinals.
And at tonight's reunion game, glow sticks will not be given to the Arco Arena crowd, a wise move since fans hurled them the way Peeler did elbows during Game 6 last May.
Kings coach Rick Adelman said this is an early test for his surging team to reapply for membership among the NBA's elite. Despite some early woes, Minnesota is a card-carrying member, but the Kings, winners of seven straight games, are being considered for renewal.
"They've got to be one of the favorites (to win it all)," Adelman said of the T-wolves. "I think they're definitely a team you know will be in the playoffs, be one of the tough teams, one of the elite teams. It's a big game for us."
Big after yet another close game, as the Kings' 109-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night was their sixth by nine points or fewer. And big because eight straight victories would be impressive and give Minnesota coach Flip Saunders one more reason to worry.
Although their 25-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday showed signs of a turnaround, the T-wolves, like the Kings, have faced an identity crisis in the early going. Of course, Garnett has still been his all-everything self, the MVP scoring 23.3 points per game and leading the league in rebounds (14.8).
"He's just so long and so quick," Kings center Brad Miller said. "And he always makes two or three moves before he shoots the ball, so you've got to be ready to adjust to it."
But Garnett is also the team leader in assists (6.4), speaking highly of himself and not so much of his supporting cast.
Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell have yet to be what they were a year ago - playmaking complements to the once-lonely "Big Ticket." Their scoring is down substantially: Cassell has reached 20 points just once and Sprewell three times. In Minnesota's 103-92 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday, the two combined for just 17 points, prompting Saunders to bench them for most of the fourth quarter.
"It's frustrating," the coach told the Minnesota press after the loss. "We're searching to find five guys that can play together, play with the same amount of energy, intensity and concentration level that it takes to compete."
A 106-102 loss to the depleted Indiana Pacers came two days later but not before an off-court incident gave Saunders more concern.
Center Michael Olowokandi, a 7-foot center from the University of the Pacific, was arrested by Indianapolis police at 3 a.m. Thanksgiving morning when he refused to leave a downtown nightclub. The police used a stun gun on Olowokandi twice before he was detained. The team suspended Olowokandi for the next two games, but he will play tonight.
The Kings aren't ready to deem the T-wolves their new rivals, but there is an opening for that position. Last week, numerous Kings removed the Shaq-less Lakers from the spot, and a budding rivalry with the Dallas Mavericks lost its luster after point guard Steve Nash joined the Phoenix Suns as a free agent.
However, Minnesota returns virtually unchanged, and Garnett and Co. are as tested as non-San Antonio teams come in the Western Conference.
"I wouldn't say there's a rivalry, nothing like between us and the Lakers (of old)," Kings forward Peja Stojakovic said. "We played (L.A.) for so many years, so it's different. Minnesota is another good team, with a long way to go (to be a rival)." Added Adelman: "Certainly, it has the starting of one, but I'll worry about getting (to the playoffs) first. It was one year."