http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14241741p-15061139c.html
Marty Mac's World: Maybe the pressure won't cook these Kings
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Think about it! There have been times over the past few years when a Kings fan had legitimate concerns about the hearts of some of their key performers.
Did you believe there was no fear, no anxiety in the hearts of Peja Stojakovic or Doug Christie or Vlade Divac with the ball in their hands and a shot to be made? Christie, to his credit, but maybe not to that of his hoop IQ, told us he was scared to death in a clutch situation against the Lakers in playoffs.
(I believe in honesty, but if I'm hoopin', that fear would have to go right into the coffin, baby.)
But when the game was on the line, I had no problem with Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Bobby Jackson, Jimmy Jackson or Hedo Turkoglu taking that clutch shot.
In my mind, they were not going to miss because they were scared, or because the mind was scattered at the proposition of missing.
Now, anyone can miss a shot at any time, but there are those players in whom we have more belief than others.
The late Ethel McNeal, aka Mom, always chided me about not giving a damn. However, that's a quality I want in a clutch player.
Check out that Kings starting lineup right now and see if there is a heart you question. Bibby obviously cares. He has taken and made so many big shots, there shouldn't be a thought. In fact, just during regular-season games when the Kings have an offensive lull, Bibby is the one looking to drop a jumper.
Bonzi Wells? Well, anybody who has gone through life named Gawen Deangelo (Wilbert must have been out of the question) has had enough fights to know there's no future in being scared.
Ron Artest? We've already seen this guy wants to take any and every big shot.
So far, fear is what others have around Ron-Ron, not the other way around.
Kenny Thomas? Hmmm, here's a question mark for me, and it's just a gut feeling that could be as wrong as it could be right.
Brad Miller? This kid is borderline certifiable, so I can't see him failing because of fear or anxiety.
The guy who always has scared me is Rick Adelman. If ever there was a guy wound too tight at times, it's the coach. Maybe one of his assistants can put an arm around him with the Kings up 22 and 3 1/2 minutes to go and sit his butt down after he puts the subs back into the game.
I've never been sure if he notices his team feeds into that visible anxiety. Maybe sometimes even gets, uh, perturbed by it.
Corliss Williamson is the only other one on the roster who is pressure-proven. He has a championship ring that says so. Jason Hart played well in the playoffs with San Antonio in 2004, and I don't feel him being a guy who'll be scared by the moment, anyway. That goes for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kevin Martin and Francisco García, but because they have no postseason experience, the proof is in the pudding. And the pudding still is in the box.
Give Kemp a look
If I'm Geoff Petrie for a day, I'm bringing in, talking to or at least looking at Shawn Kemp. Surely the Kings' president has done due diligence, but finding a talent without having to give up any - and possibly not having to break the bank to get him - is what Sacramento needs. Who knows? He could be Keon Clark.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
Marty Mac's World: Maybe the pressure won't cook these Kings
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Think about it! There have been times over the past few years when a Kings fan had legitimate concerns about the hearts of some of their key performers.
Did you believe there was no fear, no anxiety in the hearts of Peja Stojakovic or Doug Christie or Vlade Divac with the ball in their hands and a shot to be made? Christie, to his credit, but maybe not to that of his hoop IQ, told us he was scared to death in a clutch situation against the Lakers in playoffs.
(I believe in honesty, but if I'm hoopin', that fear would have to go right into the coffin, baby.)
But when the game was on the line, I had no problem with Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Bobby Jackson, Jimmy Jackson or Hedo Turkoglu taking that clutch shot.
In my mind, they were not going to miss because they were scared, or because the mind was scattered at the proposition of missing.
Now, anyone can miss a shot at any time, but there are those players in whom we have more belief than others.
The late Ethel McNeal, aka Mom, always chided me about not giving a damn. However, that's a quality I want in a clutch player.
Check out that Kings starting lineup right now and see if there is a heart you question. Bibby obviously cares. He has taken and made so many big shots, there shouldn't be a thought. In fact, just during regular-season games when the Kings have an offensive lull, Bibby is the one looking to drop a jumper.
Bonzi Wells? Well, anybody who has gone through life named Gawen Deangelo (Wilbert must have been out of the question) has had enough fights to know there's no future in being scared.
Ron Artest? We've already seen this guy wants to take any and every big shot.
So far, fear is what others have around Ron-Ron, not the other way around.
Kenny Thomas? Hmmm, here's a question mark for me, and it's just a gut feeling that could be as wrong as it could be right.
Brad Miller? This kid is borderline certifiable, so I can't see him failing because of fear or anxiety.
The guy who always has scared me is Rick Adelman. If ever there was a guy wound too tight at times, it's the coach. Maybe one of his assistants can put an arm around him with the Kings up 22 and 3 1/2 minutes to go and sit his butt down after he puts the subs back into the game.
I've never been sure if he notices his team feeds into that visible anxiety. Maybe sometimes even gets, uh, perturbed by it.
Corliss Williamson is the only other one on the roster who is pressure-proven. He has a championship ring that says so. Jason Hart played well in the playoffs with San Antonio in 2004, and I don't feel him being a guy who'll be scared by the moment, anyway. That goes for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kevin Martin and Francisco García, but because they have no postseason experience, the proof is in the pudding. And the pudding still is in the box.
Give Kemp a look
If I'm Geoff Petrie for a day, I'm bringing in, talking to or at least looking at Shawn Kemp. Surely the Kings' president has done due diligence, but finding a talent without having to give up any - and possibly not having to break the bank to get him - is what Sacramento needs. Who knows? He could be Keon Clark.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
And that's a recommendation?!? 
).
