sacbee: as training camp nears, kings questions abound

#1
As training camp nears, Kings questions abound



By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, October 1, 2004


There were just a couple of days remaining in September and Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie was asked about his team's future.



Would the Kings once again be one of the NBA's best and a legitimate title contender?

It was a pertinent question on the eve of today's media day and Saturday's start of two-a-day workouts. The Kings host the Golden State Warriors in their first exhibition game Oct. 10. The next day, they'll leave for exhibitions against the Houston Rockets in Shanghai and Beijing, China.

After an eight-game exhibition season, the real season begins Nov. 2 in Dallas against the new-look Mavericks.



"Talk to me in April," Petrie said. "It's a long season, and a lot can happen."

Petrie knows better than most how things can change unexpectedly. Just look at what happened in the off-season.

All-Star small forward Peja Stojakovic said he wanted to be traded. Do-it-all shooting guard Doug Christie rested his sore left foot much of the summer only to find he was still hurt. Now, one electronic treatment later, another month or so of rest might put him back on the court.

So Petrie knows the 19 guys who walk into the practice facility to join coach Rick Adelman and his staff in preparation for the 2004-05 season have many challenges - clear and veiled - to overcome before the tale of the season is written.

Petrie and the Kings' staff will monitor the addition of veteran center Greg Ostertag, looking at whether he can deliver the blocked shots, screens and offensive rebounds that departed veteran center Vlade Divac provided.

They will assess the play of rookie guards Kevin Martin, the first-round pick, and second-round pick Ricky Minard as well as that of free-agent small forward David Bluthenthal.

And Petrie will want to see how Stojakovic handles his situation and how his teammates deal with it.

Petrie said he does not plan any dissertations on Stojakovic.

"I talked to him a little over a week ago," Petrie said of his sweet-shooting small forward. "I'm going to talk to him and not about him."

There will be no trades, Petrie said of Stojakovic.

"He's still here, right?" he said.

There are leftover questions, too, most pertaining to health.

Is Chris Webber's knee healed enough to regain his status as one of the league's most-talented big men? Will he be up to the self-imposed challenge he made this summer of being tougher and leading the team?

Is Bobby Jackson ready to bring the fire and fury with which he attacks the game when healthy and regain the ability to play nightly and in the playoffs?

Adelman will see if the free agents - swingman Matt Barnes, center Adam Parada, guard Maurice Evans, small forward Erik Daniels and guard Tony Bland - can play well enough to make a legitimate run at one of the few remaining roster spots.

"I think we have a chance to be pretty good," Petrie said. "We have had times in the past couple of years where we ran at 100 miles per hour and most other teams were at 80. "And there were times when we wished we could have pushed it up to 110 miles per hour, but it didn't happen."

-----------------------------
 
M

Markezi

Guest
#3
McNeal's "leftover questions" are about as relevant and important as a Larry King interview. Hey, at least he's consistent in his softball, superficial, Kozish takes...

How about:
-How will the Kings adjust to the loss of Vlade, team leader both on and off the court, and readjust to nearly polar opposite, Ostertag? Especially if Webber's injury forces him to miss his usual 30-40 games this season?
-How will the Kings chemistry deal with Webber's edict that this is now "his team" on the heals of his dressing down Peja after the playoff loss to the Wolves without taking any responsibility on himself, and Peja, #3 scorer in the NBA, demanding (still) to be traded?
-How will Miller (All-Star the past two years) and Webber adjust to one another on the court, ultimately the first time they'll have to play significant minutes together due to injuries at the end of the season?
-How badly will the Kings defense, one of the worst in 2003-2004, decline even further should Christie's injury be worse than has been reported (ask Peja and Sczerbiak how long it takes to heal...)?
-How likely will Petrie be attempting to make significant trades prior to the deadline should the Kings suffer (as has been our history) debilitating injuries or are struggling to play .500 ball?

There are a LOT of "ifs" leading into this preseason. As Petrie says, let's talk in April (although by then it will also be too late!).
 
#4
"Anwar Fergueson...Someone get this kid to Hometown buffet" :D

" Greg Ostertag....Block shots, rebound, set picks and the job is done"...Sounds about right

"Darius Songaila...If he can improve on rookie year, that'll be cooler than cool" Only from Marty Mac :)

" Peja Stojakovic....Can he deal with the mental aspects of playing here"....He better!

"Chris Webber...Says he's going at everyone in NBA. Ok, we're watching"...Indeed we are.