KingKong
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A sharp-shooting win
The Kings prevail in up-tempo fashion
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, November 16, 2006
To hear the stories, you'd think Eric Musselman and Mike Fratello held practices without hoops.
No need when defense is the focal point, as was the case before and after Musselman left Memphis to take over as Kings coach. But when Musselman faced the mentor who he spent the past two seasons working under, his new squad and his old one showed a side neither wanted to see from the other.
The shooters were sharp, the post players powerful, the display heavy on offense in an old-fashioned Kings-style game they parlayed into a 115-111 win Wednesday night at Arco Arena.
Kings point guard Mike Bibby, who continues to play through a sore right shooting wrist, had a season-high 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting.
Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin, who was hot early but scored just seven points in the second and third quarters, had eight of his 24 points in the fourth, including a three-pointer with 5:09 remaining that sparked an 8-2 Kings' run. Fill-in Kings center Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 21 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. The Kings shot 50 percent (44 of 88) from the field, while the Grizzlies shot 52.7 percent (39 of 74).
"Maybe we wanted to show we could score tonight, to get back to the Kings' way and run up and down the floor," Musselman said. "It was a game for the fans. It was a pleasure to watch if you like up-and-down basketball."
Musselman and Fratello don't. But the Kings and their improved defense could do nothing to slow Memphis point guard Chucky Atkins, who scored all of his 27 points in the second half on 10-of-11 shooting. They couldn't cool reserve point guard Damon Stoudamire, either, as the veteran had 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
"We didn't give ourselves a chance and we didn't do a very good job on Mike in the second half," Fratello said. "Mike hit four or five big shots down the stretch, and it wasn't that we lost our focus. They made shots and still got back in transition."
And in the end, Musselman's time in Memphis paid off in more ways than past experience. With the Kings up 111-106 and Mike Miller inbounding the ball with 15 seconds remaining, Musselman was in his ear, letting his former player know that he knew what inbound play was coming.
Seconds later, Miller couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, officials calling a five-second violation and Miller shaking his head.
Seconds earlier, Martin -- whose streak of 39 consecutive free throws had been broken in the first quarter -- had hit two attempts to build the five-point lead. Martin finished with career highs in three-pointers (five) assists (six). Bibby completed the scoring with four free throws.
Fratello and his team entered with a limp, their 1-5 start not helping the case of their coach who's in the final year of his contract and seated squarely on the hot seat. He pulled a style change on Musselman, with his guards driving and kicking to perimeter shooters who saw far less resistance than Ron Artest would have liked.
"Our offense was great, but the defense has got to be there," Artest said. "We didn't contest shots we should've contested."
Artest was nowhere to be seen at the tip, with back spasms bothering him shortly before the game. Kings swingman Francisco García started in his place, but Artest finally joined the action midway through the first quarter.
It was the first time since Feb. 17, 2004, Artest had come off the bench.
Today's game
Kings outlook
The fancy statistic of holding opponents to 42 percent shooting and below wasn't necessary Wednesday night, when the Kings and Memphis both had hot-shooting nights. But while the Grizzlies are hardly a potent foe, the Kings ran their winning streak to four games. Kings point guard Mike Bibby continues to play well despite the pain of his right shooting wrist. Small forward Ron Artest overcame back spasms to have his most accurate shooting night of the season.
Kings probable starters
10 Mike Bibby PG
23 Kevin Martin SG
93 Ron Artest SF
9 Kenny Thomas PF
3 Shareef Abdur-Rahim C
Warriors outlook
Don Nelson is back, and the NBA all-time coaching leader in wins has the Warriors to a respectable start. The Warriors' season, as it's been said thousands of times, once again hinges on the health of guard Baron Davis.
In that category, Nelson would welcome a running replay of Tuesday's win over Toronto. Davis logged 45 minutes, scoring 22 points and dishing out 12 assists in the 110-99 victory. Nelson said he wasn't sure if Davis wanted to play heavy minutes, but he simply didn't feel comfortable without his star on the floor.
Warriors probable starters
5 Baron Davis PG
8 Monta Ellis SG
23 Jason Richardson SF
2 Mickael Pietrus PF
15 Andris Biedrins C
Key matchup
Shareef Abdur-Rahim vs. Andris Biedrins: The 6-foot-11 Warriors third-year big man from Latvia has been impressing early, as he did with a 5-of-5 shooting night against the Raptors. Abdur-Rahim is coming off a quality game of his own, too.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/78113.html
The Kings prevail in up-tempo fashion
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, November 16, 2006
To hear the stories, you'd think Eric Musselman and Mike Fratello held practices without hoops.
No need when defense is the focal point, as was the case before and after Musselman left Memphis to take over as Kings coach. But when Musselman faced the mentor who he spent the past two seasons working under, his new squad and his old one showed a side neither wanted to see from the other.
The shooters were sharp, the post players powerful, the display heavy on offense in an old-fashioned Kings-style game they parlayed into a 115-111 win Wednesday night at Arco Arena.
Kings point guard Mike Bibby, who continues to play through a sore right shooting wrist, had a season-high 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting.
Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin, who was hot early but scored just seven points in the second and third quarters, had eight of his 24 points in the fourth, including a three-pointer with 5:09 remaining that sparked an 8-2 Kings' run. Fill-in Kings center Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 21 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. The Kings shot 50 percent (44 of 88) from the field, while the Grizzlies shot 52.7 percent (39 of 74).
"Maybe we wanted to show we could score tonight, to get back to the Kings' way and run up and down the floor," Musselman said. "It was a game for the fans. It was a pleasure to watch if you like up-and-down basketball."
Musselman and Fratello don't. But the Kings and their improved defense could do nothing to slow Memphis point guard Chucky Atkins, who scored all of his 27 points in the second half on 10-of-11 shooting. They couldn't cool reserve point guard Damon Stoudamire, either, as the veteran had 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
"We didn't give ourselves a chance and we didn't do a very good job on Mike in the second half," Fratello said. "Mike hit four or five big shots down the stretch, and it wasn't that we lost our focus. They made shots and still got back in transition."
And in the end, Musselman's time in Memphis paid off in more ways than past experience. With the Kings up 111-106 and Mike Miller inbounding the ball with 15 seconds remaining, Musselman was in his ear, letting his former player know that he knew what inbound play was coming.
Seconds later, Miller couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, officials calling a five-second violation and Miller shaking his head.
Seconds earlier, Martin -- whose streak of 39 consecutive free throws had been broken in the first quarter -- had hit two attempts to build the five-point lead. Martin finished with career highs in three-pointers (five) assists (six). Bibby completed the scoring with four free throws.
Fratello and his team entered with a limp, their 1-5 start not helping the case of their coach who's in the final year of his contract and seated squarely on the hot seat. He pulled a style change on Musselman, with his guards driving and kicking to perimeter shooters who saw far less resistance than Ron Artest would have liked.
"Our offense was great, but the defense has got to be there," Artest said. "We didn't contest shots we should've contested."
Artest was nowhere to be seen at the tip, with back spasms bothering him shortly before the game. Kings swingman Francisco García started in his place, but Artest finally joined the action midway through the first quarter.
It was the first time since Feb. 17, 2004, Artest had come off the bench.
Today's game
Kings outlook
The fancy statistic of holding opponents to 42 percent shooting and below wasn't necessary Wednesday night, when the Kings and Memphis both had hot-shooting nights. But while the Grizzlies are hardly a potent foe, the Kings ran their winning streak to four games. Kings point guard Mike Bibby continues to play well despite the pain of his right shooting wrist. Small forward Ron Artest overcame back spasms to have his most accurate shooting night of the season.
Kings probable starters
10 Mike Bibby PG
23 Kevin Martin SG
93 Ron Artest SF
9 Kenny Thomas PF
3 Shareef Abdur-Rahim C
Warriors outlook
Don Nelson is back, and the NBA all-time coaching leader in wins has the Warriors to a respectable start. The Warriors' season, as it's been said thousands of times, once again hinges on the health of guard Baron Davis.
In that category, Nelson would welcome a running replay of Tuesday's win over Toronto. Davis logged 45 minutes, scoring 22 points and dishing out 12 assists in the 110-99 victory. Nelson said he wasn't sure if Davis wanted to play heavy minutes, but he simply didn't feel comfortable without his star on the floor.
Warriors probable starters
5 Baron Davis PG
8 Monta Ellis SG
23 Jason Richardson SF
2 Mickael Pietrus PF
15 Andris Biedrins C
Key matchup
Shareef Abdur-Rahim vs. Andris Biedrins: The 6-foot-11 Warriors third-year big man from Latvia has been impressing early, as he did with a 5-of-5 shooting night against the Raptors. Abdur-Rahim is coming off a quality game of his own, too.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/78113.html