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http://www.nba.com/kings/features/Francisco_Garcia_JustStarting_082107.html
Francisco Garcia
Is Just Getting Started
By Andrew Nicholson
August 22, 2007
It's 32's time to shine.
Francisco Garcia gave us a preview of his dynamic talent in the last eight games of the 2006-07season. Since then, we have had to wait, anxiously looking forward to the 2007-08 season. That time has now dwindled to less than 45 days until the Kings and the rest of the NBA open Training Camp on October 1.
Cisco gave us another tease in Summer League, proving the last eight games of the season weren't just happenstance.
Garcia averaged 15.9 points per game in the last eight games, more than a block per game, shot 44 of 94 (46.8 percent) from the field, 11 of 29 (37.9 percent) from long range, 28 of 30 (93 percent) from the charity stripe, collected 5.6 boards and dropped 2.9 dimes. Compare those numbers to his entire 79 game average from the season - six points per game, 0.5 blocks, 42.9 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from long range, 83 percent from the line, 2.6 boards, and 1.1 assists. Its clear Cisco has just begun his accent in Sacramento.
In the two-game preview Cisco put on display for the Kings Summer League team, he averaged more than 20 points, 1.5 steals, three boards and 3.5 dimes. Cisco was the veteran leader in Summer League, just like he was for his Louisville Cardinals team that made it to the Final Four in 2005 - encouraging his teammates, explaining more efficient ways to get to the bucket and detailing a better way for his cohorts to guard the opponent.
"He plays hard," Kings second year guard, Quincy Douby said. "He plays every possession like it’s his last."
Passion, enthusiasm and determination sum up Cisco on the court. Off the court, he is one of the most well-liked guys on the Kings due to his engaging personality, great sense of humor and much enjoyed Dominican accent. There is nary a day at the Kings Practice facility or on the road, that his teammates aren't cracking up when Cisco is in the room.
Mike Bibby recently called Cisco his best friend on the team during the Q & A session at his Mike Bibby Fantasy Camp. Kevin Martin, Justin Williams and Douby also are very close with the Kings swingman who has a penchant for shooting contests after practice. "He has a good personality," Douby said smiling. "He’s funny , and easy to talk to. We can relate because we're from New York, both of our parents are from the Islands (Haiti and the Domincan Republic), so he’s really easy to get along with."
Cisco is mounting for a breakout season and it should come as no surprise. Three Kings player's whose game's compare to El Flaco's (bestowed upon him by his teammates, which means skinny in Spanish) made big strides in their third season.
Kevin Martin narrowly missed the 2006-07 NBA Most Improved Player Award by improving his per game averages enormously. While progressing in every statistical category, Kevin remarkably went from averaging 10.8 points per game in his sophomore NBA season to leading the Kings in scoring by near doubling his previous season's output. Kevin finished this past season averaging 20.2 points per game. Mike Bibby, with the Vancouver Grizzlies for his third season, advanced in nearly every major statistical category including dishing out a career-high 8.4 assists per game in 2000-01. Ron Artest, played his third year in both a Chicago Bulls and Indian Pacers uniform, but it didn’t slow down his breakout third season. Ron-Ron improved his points, rebounding, assists, and set a career-high with 2.6 steals per game during the 2001-02 season despite playing fewer minutes.
"I've been working on my all-around game - ball handling, shooting, just everything," Cisco said in preparation for 2007-08. "I'm trying to improve from last year. I'm just trying to get better. That's why I participated in Summer League, to see where I'm at and keep working on my game."
Though we still have six weeks to wait, Kings Assistant Coach Jason Hamm already has seen growth this summer in his game.
"He’s matured," Hamm said. "He doesn’t try to press things. He’s more in control when he’s handling the ball. So he is not always pressing for a shot of his own. He did a lot better job in Summer League just finding his teammates. He’s also doing a lot better shooting the ball off the dribble. He’s done a lot of work this summer shooting off the drive."
Already a gifted three-point shooter with a great ability to slash to the basket, Cisco's ability to shoot off the dribble will be a tremendous addition to his offensive game. Meanwhile, his quickness and length on defense will always be assets while his defensive understanding and game management continues to mature like his ever-present veteran mindset.
"I just want us to play hard," Cisco said calmly during Summer League, giving us an indication of his knack for nurturing his teammates. "Even if we lose, I just want us to go out there and play hard. I'm going to be behind everybody. We have a lot of guys who want to make it to the League and I'm going to help them out as much as I can."
"That's me," Cisco continued, embracing his fervor for leading. "I like doing that. The guys listen to me. When we're out there (on the court) we're going to go to work."
http://www.nba.com/kings/features/Francisco_Garcia_JustStarting_082107.html
Francisco Garcia
Is Just Getting Started
By Andrew Nicholson
August 22, 2007
It's 32's time to shine.
Francisco Garcia gave us a preview of his dynamic talent in the last eight games of the 2006-07season. Since then, we have had to wait, anxiously looking forward to the 2007-08 season. That time has now dwindled to less than 45 days until the Kings and the rest of the NBA open Training Camp on October 1.
Cisco gave us another tease in Summer League, proving the last eight games of the season weren't just happenstance.
Garcia averaged 15.9 points per game in the last eight games, more than a block per game, shot 44 of 94 (46.8 percent) from the field, 11 of 29 (37.9 percent) from long range, 28 of 30 (93 percent) from the charity stripe, collected 5.6 boards and dropped 2.9 dimes. Compare those numbers to his entire 79 game average from the season - six points per game, 0.5 blocks, 42.9 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from long range, 83 percent from the line, 2.6 boards, and 1.1 assists. Its clear Cisco has just begun his accent in Sacramento.
In the two-game preview Cisco put on display for the Kings Summer League team, he averaged more than 20 points, 1.5 steals, three boards and 3.5 dimes. Cisco was the veteran leader in Summer League, just like he was for his Louisville Cardinals team that made it to the Final Four in 2005 - encouraging his teammates, explaining more efficient ways to get to the bucket and detailing a better way for his cohorts to guard the opponent.
"He plays hard," Kings second year guard, Quincy Douby said. "He plays every possession like it’s his last."
Passion, enthusiasm and determination sum up Cisco on the court. Off the court, he is one of the most well-liked guys on the Kings due to his engaging personality, great sense of humor and much enjoyed Dominican accent. There is nary a day at the Kings Practice facility or on the road, that his teammates aren't cracking up when Cisco is in the room.
Mike Bibby recently called Cisco his best friend on the team during the Q & A session at his Mike Bibby Fantasy Camp. Kevin Martin, Justin Williams and Douby also are very close with the Kings swingman who has a penchant for shooting contests after practice. "He has a good personality," Douby said smiling. "He’s funny , and easy to talk to. We can relate because we're from New York, both of our parents are from the Islands (Haiti and the Domincan Republic), so he’s really easy to get along with."
Cisco is mounting for a breakout season and it should come as no surprise. Three Kings player's whose game's compare to El Flaco's (bestowed upon him by his teammates, which means skinny in Spanish) made big strides in their third season.
Kevin Martin narrowly missed the 2006-07 NBA Most Improved Player Award by improving his per game averages enormously. While progressing in every statistical category, Kevin remarkably went from averaging 10.8 points per game in his sophomore NBA season to leading the Kings in scoring by near doubling his previous season's output. Kevin finished this past season averaging 20.2 points per game. Mike Bibby, with the Vancouver Grizzlies for his third season, advanced in nearly every major statistical category including dishing out a career-high 8.4 assists per game in 2000-01. Ron Artest, played his third year in both a Chicago Bulls and Indian Pacers uniform, but it didn’t slow down his breakout third season. Ron-Ron improved his points, rebounding, assists, and set a career-high with 2.6 steals per game during the 2001-02 season despite playing fewer minutes.
"I've been working on my all-around game - ball handling, shooting, just everything," Cisco said in preparation for 2007-08. "I'm trying to improve from last year. I'm just trying to get better. That's why I participated in Summer League, to see where I'm at and keep working on my game."
Though we still have six weeks to wait, Kings Assistant Coach Jason Hamm already has seen growth this summer in his game.
"He’s matured," Hamm said. "He doesn’t try to press things. He’s more in control when he’s handling the ball. So he is not always pressing for a shot of his own. He did a lot better job in Summer League just finding his teammates. He’s also doing a lot better shooting the ball off the dribble. He’s done a lot of work this summer shooting off the drive."
Already a gifted three-point shooter with a great ability to slash to the basket, Cisco's ability to shoot off the dribble will be a tremendous addition to his offensive game. Meanwhile, his quickness and length on defense will always be assets while his defensive understanding and game management continues to mature like his ever-present veteran mindset.
"I just want us to play hard," Cisco said calmly during Summer League, giving us an indication of his knack for nurturing his teammates. "Even if we lose, I just want us to go out there and play hard. I'm going to be behind everybody. We have a lot of guys who want to make it to the League and I'm going to help them out as much as I can."
"That's me," Cisco continued, embracing his fervor for leading. "I like doing that. The guys listen to me. When we're out there (on the court) we're going to go to work."
