http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14222904p-15048173c.html
New Kings get their first taste of team's style
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 26, 2006
There were first impressions flying every which way at the Kings' practice facility Saturday.
Center Vitaly Potapenko, coming from Seattle, and former Portland small forward Sergei Monia joined the Kings for the first time since being traded to Sacramento on Thursday. On the flip side, the holdover Kings gave a nowhere-to-go-but-up effort in their first floor time with the newest Kings.
Coach Rick Adelman, who viewed this three-day stretch of practices before Monday's game against Portland as "building blocks" for the rest of the season, was disappointed by the second session.
"We could've got a lot more done than we did," Adelman said. "Hopefully tomorrow will be a lot better. The concentration and approach wasn't good, not what we need. ... We got things done, but it wasn't the level we needed to have it at."
As for the veteran Potapenko and rookie Monia, they could play at the highest level from here on out and still make minimal impact. The 6-foot-10 Potapenko, who is with his fourth team and spent the last three seasons in Seattle, will face the same problem as that of departed center Brian Skinner.
"I'm going to basically play Shareef (Abdur-Rahim) behind Kenny (Thomas) and Brad (Miller)," Adelman said. "(Abdur-Rahim) is going to get a lot of minutes."
In the NBA, Potapenko hasn't lived up to the reputation he established in college. For two seasons, the Ukrainian-born player attended Wright State, where he averaged 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds and twice made the All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference team. Potapenko was drafted 12th overall by Cleveland in the 1996 draft - ahead of Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakovic, Steve Nash and Jermaine O'Neal. But while Potapenko's professional production (6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds) has been less than spectacular, his physical presence could come in handy.
"Vitaly's a stronger, physical guy, and we don't have a lot of that at the center spot," Adelman said.
Potapenko agreed. "Around the league, there's always a need for big guys to play physical inside and guard the big guys," he said. "I'm trying to learn plays, fit in where I can and be ready."
Monia is the mystery in the deal, a 22-year-old who was drafted 23rd overall in 2004 but didn't play in the NBA until this season. Monia has seen both extremes of the league in his first five months: He started 15 games for Portland but also played for two weeks in the NBA Development League for the Fort Worth (Texas) Flyers. Partly because of a language barrier, even Monia couldn't figure out what he brings to the Kings.
"I don't know because, for the last two months, I didn't play," Monia said. "But for my career, this is a new step. Maybe I play more."
Monia's minutes also will be limited, Adelman said, but he will help shore up a small forward cache that wasn't quite deep enough. And although Monia - on contract through next season - might not make a splash now, Portland general manager John Nash said he eventually could flourish. Looking for a player of Skinner's ilk, Nash had to add Monia to the deal to match the salaries, per league parameters. Monia's lack of playing time, Nash said, came because of a logjam of small forward on the Trail Blazers' roster, not a lack of talent.
"(Monia) didn't get much opportunity with us," Nash said. "But he's got a strong body, can handle the ball reasonably well. Small forward is probably his natural position, but he has the ability to shoot from the perimeter, and he can put the ball on the floor as well."
Nash elaborated in an interview with the Oregonian.
"If there's anything I regret about it, that's what I regret - giving up on Monia," Nash said. "Certainly he didn't get an opportunity to play here, and I think he would have down the road."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
New Kings get their first taste of team's style
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 26, 2006
There were first impressions flying every which way at the Kings' practice facility Saturday.
Center Vitaly Potapenko, coming from Seattle, and former Portland small forward Sergei Monia joined the Kings for the first time since being traded to Sacramento on Thursday. On the flip side, the holdover Kings gave a nowhere-to-go-but-up effort in their first floor time with the newest Kings.
Coach Rick Adelman, who viewed this three-day stretch of practices before Monday's game against Portland as "building blocks" for the rest of the season, was disappointed by the second session.
"We could've got a lot more done than we did," Adelman said. "Hopefully tomorrow will be a lot better. The concentration and approach wasn't good, not what we need. ... We got things done, but it wasn't the level we needed to have it at."
As for the veteran Potapenko and rookie Monia, they could play at the highest level from here on out and still make minimal impact. The 6-foot-10 Potapenko, who is with his fourth team and spent the last three seasons in Seattle, will face the same problem as that of departed center Brian Skinner.
"I'm going to basically play Shareef (Abdur-Rahim) behind Kenny (Thomas) and Brad (Miller)," Adelman said. "(Abdur-Rahim) is going to get a lot of minutes."
In the NBA, Potapenko hasn't lived up to the reputation he established in college. For two seasons, the Ukrainian-born player attended Wright State, where he averaged 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds and twice made the All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference team. Potapenko was drafted 12th overall by Cleveland in the 1996 draft - ahead of Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakovic, Steve Nash and Jermaine O'Neal. But while Potapenko's professional production (6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds) has been less than spectacular, his physical presence could come in handy.
"Vitaly's a stronger, physical guy, and we don't have a lot of that at the center spot," Adelman said.
Potapenko agreed. "Around the league, there's always a need for big guys to play physical inside and guard the big guys," he said. "I'm trying to learn plays, fit in where I can and be ready."
Monia is the mystery in the deal, a 22-year-old who was drafted 23rd overall in 2004 but didn't play in the NBA until this season. Monia has seen both extremes of the league in his first five months: He started 15 games for Portland but also played for two weeks in the NBA Development League for the Fort Worth (Texas) Flyers. Partly because of a language barrier, even Monia couldn't figure out what he brings to the Kings.
"I don't know because, for the last two months, I didn't play," Monia said. "But for my career, this is a new step. Maybe I play more."
Monia's minutes also will be limited, Adelman said, but he will help shore up a small forward cache that wasn't quite deep enough. And although Monia - on contract through next season - might not make a splash now, Portland general manager John Nash said he eventually could flourish. Looking for a player of Skinner's ilk, Nash had to add Monia to the deal to match the salaries, per league parameters. Monia's lack of playing time, Nash said, came because of a logjam of small forward on the Trail Blazers' roster, not a lack of talent.
"(Monia) didn't get much opportunity with us," Nash said. "But he's got a strong body, can handle the ball reasonably well. Small forward is probably his natural position, but he has the ability to shoot from the perimeter, and he can put the ball on the floor as well."
Nash elaborated in an interview with the Oregonian.
"If there's anything I regret about it, that's what I regret - giving up on Monia," Nash said. "Certainly he didn't get an opportunity to play here, and I think he would have down the road."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
