This sucks I was hoping to have Pedja play the first game.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12767781p-13618909c.html
Kings coach Rick Adelman would love to tell everyone how he will use Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller in Saturday night's Western Conference playoff opener against the Seattle SuperSonics.
However, that means Adelman would have to know. Thursday afternoon, he said that wasn't the case.
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The coach spoke of both players as if they were unlikely to play Saturday. Stojakovic's strained left groin will be put to a test in practice today before the team flies to Seattle.
Miller, who is coming back from a fractured left fibula, has gradually upgraded his activity. Adelman said the 7-footer certainly wants to play Saturday, but it's more likely Miller would be available for Game 3 on April 29.
Miller, Stojakovic, Mike Bibby (sprained left ankle) and Brian Skinner (sprained right foot) sat out Thursday's scrimmage, Adelman said. The coach expects Bibby and Skinner to be ready.
"It's a headache," Adelman said of the uncertainty surrounding his two All-Stars' availability. "It's frustrating. Even when you get Miller back, then it's a case of how do you use him."
Adelman said he was enthused by watching Miller's oncourt workout. The team submitted its playoff roster Thursday, and Miller and Stojakovic were on it. Kevin Martin and Erik Daniels, both rookies, were taken off the active list.
Miller last played Feb. 27.
"If (Miller) goes along without any problems and keeps getting better, he could probably play in Game 3," Adelman said. "He's got to get out here and go through some drills. He's certainly out of shape because he couldn't run while he was hurt. But he really moved pretty well. I was pleasantly surprised to see how he moved (Thursday) without any pain."
Stojakovic said Wednesday night he didn't want to re-injure his strained groin by rushing back, or worse, injuring it more severely so as to jeopardize his postseason availability.
Stojakovic sounded as if he knew giving his groin a few more days of rest by missing Game 1 would guarantee his availability for the rest of the series and playoffs, that would be his choice of action. Stojakovic said he ran on the treadmill Wednesday and went through some shooting drills, but he didn't truly test the injury.
Stojakovic's absence, or even a return with tentative movement, is troublesome because the Sonics often feature 6-foot-10 small forward Rashard Lewis.
Lewis, who also has been slowed by a sore right foot, is a versatile scorer. He averaged 21.7 points in three games against the Kings. His ability to punish defenders on the perimeter, as well as the post, makes him a tough guard.
Adelman said if Stojakovic is unable to play, he'd likely use 6-7 Kenny Thomas and 6-7 Corliss Williamson against Lewis.
The Sonics, Adelman said, also have played Lewis at power forward and used a three-guard attack featuring Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen and Antonio Daniels or Ronald "Flip" Murray.
"In some ways," Adelman said, "without those guys practicing we were able to try some things offensively to get (Thomas) familiar with what we're trying to do. (Lewis) with (Thomas, Williamson or Darius Songaila) will step out on the floor and catch (the ball) and isolate. And he's really quick."
Adelman said the first game will become a tremendous learning tool. Since the Chris Webber trade, the Kings have only played the Sonics once. And Seattle was without Lewis in that 122-101 Kings' victory April 5 at Arco Arena.
"It's going to be an interesting playoff series," Adelman said, "and I think I'm going with who I think can help us at that particular time. After the first couple of games, I think we'll have a pretty good idea of can Kenny guard Lewis? Can he play the small forward? "Everything is brand new to us. I'm kind of leaving (things) open. You could see Eddie (House) out there with Bobby (Jackson) if Bobby is playing Allen and Eddie is playing the point guard
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12767781p-13618909c.html
Kings coach Rick Adelman would love to tell everyone how he will use Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller in Saturday night's Western Conference playoff opener against the Seattle SuperSonics.
However, that means Adelman would have to know. Thursday afternoon, he said that wasn't the case.
OAS_AD('Button20');
Miller, who is coming back from a fractured left fibula, has gradually upgraded his activity. Adelman said the 7-footer certainly wants to play Saturday, but it's more likely Miller would be available for Game 3 on April 29.
Miller, Stojakovic, Mike Bibby (sprained left ankle) and Brian Skinner (sprained right foot) sat out Thursday's scrimmage, Adelman said. The coach expects Bibby and Skinner to be ready.
"It's a headache," Adelman said of the uncertainty surrounding his two All-Stars' availability. "It's frustrating. Even when you get Miller back, then it's a case of how do you use him."
Adelman said he was enthused by watching Miller's oncourt workout. The team submitted its playoff roster Thursday, and Miller and Stojakovic were on it. Kevin Martin and Erik Daniels, both rookies, were taken off the active list.
Miller last played Feb. 27.
"If (Miller) goes along without any problems and keeps getting better, he could probably play in Game 3," Adelman said. "He's got to get out here and go through some drills. He's certainly out of shape because he couldn't run while he was hurt. But he really moved pretty well. I was pleasantly surprised to see how he moved (Thursday) without any pain."
Stojakovic said Wednesday night he didn't want to re-injure his strained groin by rushing back, or worse, injuring it more severely so as to jeopardize his postseason availability.
Stojakovic sounded as if he knew giving his groin a few more days of rest by missing Game 1 would guarantee his availability for the rest of the series and playoffs, that would be his choice of action. Stojakovic said he ran on the treadmill Wednesday and went through some shooting drills, but he didn't truly test the injury.
Stojakovic's absence, or even a return with tentative movement, is troublesome because the Sonics often feature 6-foot-10 small forward Rashard Lewis.
Lewis, who also has been slowed by a sore right foot, is a versatile scorer. He averaged 21.7 points in three games against the Kings. His ability to punish defenders on the perimeter, as well as the post, makes him a tough guard.
Adelman said if Stojakovic is unable to play, he'd likely use 6-7 Kenny Thomas and 6-7 Corliss Williamson against Lewis.
The Sonics, Adelman said, also have played Lewis at power forward and used a three-guard attack featuring Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen and Antonio Daniels or Ronald "Flip" Murray.
"In some ways," Adelman said, "without those guys practicing we were able to try some things offensively to get (Thomas) familiar with what we're trying to do. (Lewis) with (Thomas, Williamson or Darius Songaila) will step out on the floor and catch (the ball) and isolate. And he's really quick."
Adelman said the first game will become a tremendous learning tool. Since the Chris Webber trade, the Kings have only played the Sonics once. And Seattle was without Lewis in that 122-101 Kings' victory April 5 at Arco Arena.
"It's going to be an interesting playoff series," Adelman said, "and I think I'm going with who I think can help us at that particular time. After the first couple of games, I think we'll have a pretty good idea of can Kenny guard Lewis? Can he play the small forward? "Everything is brand new to us. I'm kind of leaving (things) open. You could see Eddie (House) out there with Bobby (Jackson) if Bobby is playing Allen and Eddie is playing the point guard
