http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14250415p-15067141c.html
Marty Mac's World: Bibby's table-setting skills don't get due
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Kings guard Mike Bibby shot 6 of 11 from the field in the first half of Sunday's Game 4 and went 0 for 6 during the second half.
Bibby didn't all of a sudden lose his shooting stroke, but he did bang his right elbow at some point and said it hurt him throughout the second half.
It's something to watch in tonight's Game 5.
However, Bibby did orchestrate the Kings' offense nicely and continued to get the ball to his teammates in the right places at the right time. Because the Kings' offense often has taken the ball out of the point guard's hands and allows others (i.e., Brad Miller, Ron Artest) to handle, Bibby's playmaking skills usually take a back seat to his shooting ability.
The man can run the show with best of the league's point guards.
Mavs say, 'Go Kings'
The Kings arguably have the world's best and loyal fans with an NBA-high 312 consecutive sellouts at Arco Arena. And now, their bandwagon has a few more freeloaders, albeit temporary ones, in the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs, who finished a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, can rest and prepare for the winner of the Kings-Spurs. The winner of that series, if concluded in six games, would finish the first-round series Friday and then start the Western Conference semifinal series Sunday.
If that were the Kings, it would entail flying back to Dallas from Sacramento on Saturday and playing the Mavericks the next day. Although it might make some sense for the Mavs to prefer playing the Kings instead of the defending champions, Dallas might want to be careful what it asks for. See the Phoenix Suns, who wanted to play the Los Angeles Lakers instead of the Kings in the first round.
Artest appeals suspension
The suspension of Artest, the Kings' small forward, from last week's Game 2 for making contact with San Antonio's Manu Ginobili in Game 1 has been appealed to the league. Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, said Monday his client lost $72,000 because of the suspension, not to mention not being able to play in Game 2.
Artest was given a personal foul, but not a flagrant foul during the game.
In the NBA's Official Rule Book under Rule No. 12 - Fouls and Penalties, Section V, (k.) it states a technical foul, unsportsmanlike act or flagrant foul calls for a participant to be ejected. A player, coach or trainer may be ejected for: 1) An elbow foul that makes contact shoulder level or below; 2) Any unsportsmanlike contact where a technical foul is assessed; and 3) A flagrant foul where unnecessary and/or excessive contact occurs.
There is an exception that a player must be ejected for a punching foul, fighting foul or an elbow foul that makes contact above the shoulder.
Moreover, in the NBA Officials Media Guide, a passage reads: "Officials have been instructed to eject a player who throws a punch, whether or not it connects, or an elbow which makes contact above shoulder level. If elbow contact is shoulder level or below, it shall be left to the discretion of the official as to whether the player is ejected. Even if a punch or an elbow goes undetected by the officials during the game, but is detected during a review of a videotape, that player will be penalized."
It has been reported that Artest landed an elbow to Ginobili's head, but clearly contact was made by his left forearm. That eventual distinction could determine if Artest's game-day pay deduction is minimized. The appeal is expected to be reviewed this summer, Stevens said.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
Marty Mac's World: Bibby's table-setting skills don't get due
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Kings guard Mike Bibby shot 6 of 11 from the field in the first half of Sunday's Game 4 and went 0 for 6 during the second half.
Bibby didn't all of a sudden lose his shooting stroke, but he did bang his right elbow at some point and said it hurt him throughout the second half.
It's something to watch in tonight's Game 5.
However, Bibby did orchestrate the Kings' offense nicely and continued to get the ball to his teammates in the right places at the right time. Because the Kings' offense often has taken the ball out of the point guard's hands and allows others (i.e., Brad Miller, Ron Artest) to handle, Bibby's playmaking skills usually take a back seat to his shooting ability.
The man can run the show with best of the league's point guards.
Mavs say, 'Go Kings'
The Kings arguably have the world's best and loyal fans with an NBA-high 312 consecutive sellouts at Arco Arena. And now, their bandwagon has a few more freeloaders, albeit temporary ones, in the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs, who finished a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, can rest and prepare for the winner of the Kings-Spurs. The winner of that series, if concluded in six games, would finish the first-round series Friday and then start the Western Conference semifinal series Sunday.
If that were the Kings, it would entail flying back to Dallas from Sacramento on Saturday and playing the Mavericks the next day. Although it might make some sense for the Mavs to prefer playing the Kings instead of the defending champions, Dallas might want to be careful what it asks for. See the Phoenix Suns, who wanted to play the Los Angeles Lakers instead of the Kings in the first round.
Artest appeals suspension
The suspension of Artest, the Kings' small forward, from last week's Game 2 for making contact with San Antonio's Manu Ginobili in Game 1 has been appealed to the league. Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, said Monday his client lost $72,000 because of the suspension, not to mention not being able to play in Game 2.
Artest was given a personal foul, but not a flagrant foul during the game.
In the NBA's Official Rule Book under Rule No. 12 - Fouls and Penalties, Section V, (k.) it states a technical foul, unsportsmanlike act or flagrant foul calls for a participant to be ejected. A player, coach or trainer may be ejected for: 1) An elbow foul that makes contact shoulder level or below; 2) Any unsportsmanlike contact where a technical foul is assessed; and 3) A flagrant foul where unnecessary and/or excessive contact occurs.
There is an exception that a player must be ejected for a punching foul, fighting foul or an elbow foul that makes contact above the shoulder.
Moreover, in the NBA Officials Media Guide, a passage reads: "Officials have been instructed to eject a player who throws a punch, whether or not it connects, or an elbow which makes contact above shoulder level. If elbow contact is shoulder level or below, it shall be left to the discretion of the official as to whether the player is ejected. Even if a punch or an elbow goes undetected by the officials during the game, but is detected during a review of a videotape, that player will be penalized."
It has been reported that Artest landed an elbow to Ginobili's head, but clearly contact was made by his left forearm. That eventual distinction could determine if Artest's game-day pay deduction is minimized. The appeal is expected to be reviewed this summer, Stevens said.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
