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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12615165p-13469199c.html
Thomas is full of confidence awaiting Mavs
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, March 24, 2005
Kings forward Kenny Thomas, like all athletes, believes his team is going to win every game it plays but is prevented from saying so because he's not supposed to feed the opposition bulletin board material.
Oh, well.
Thomas is the new permanent starter at power forward for the Kings, who'll meet All-Star Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks tonight at Arco Arena in the final regular-season meeting between the teams.
Call it braggadocio, confidence or merely the knowledge the Kings have nothing to lose with defeats in their first three games this season against the Mavs, Thomas said his team will end Dallas' four-game regular-season winning streak over the Kings.
"That's going to change (tonight)," Thomas said Wednesday afternoon after a light workout at the team's practice facility. "I think we're going to win every game. I'm probably going to guard Dirk, and I think if we limit their transition game, we'll be OK. They are like us because they like to push the ball up the court."
However, that streak really has nothing to do with these Kings. For that matter, neither does the 4-1 first-round playoff victory the Kings posted over the Mavs last April. Only Mike Bibby, Darius Songaila and Peja Stojakovic are left from the Kings team that faced the Mavs in the 2004 Western Conference playoff series.
Kings coach Rick Adelman said Wednesday he expected to regain the services of center Brian Skinner, who missed Tuesday night's victory over the Portland Trail Blazers with thumb sprains on each hand.
Adelman said Songaila, whose night ended with a second-quarter fall to the court on a blocked shot by Portland's Joel Przybilla, likely would play against the Mavs .
"Darius is really sore, but his (right) elbow is OK," the coach said. "It didn't swell. His back is sore, but I think by (tonight) he'll be able to go.
"Everybody is OK, and hopefully we'll have everybody."
In itself, that's a minor victory for Adelman, whose team still likely will be without starting center Brad Miller and sixth man Bobby Jackson for the remainder of the regular season.
Adelman said he's looking ahead to bringing Songaila and Corliss Williamson as a forward tandem off the bench.
"I like Darius and Corliss playing together," said the coach, who with 700 career victories is seven games behind No. 14 John MacLeod on the all-time NBA coaching list. "They are both comfortable with the ball at the high post. Both of them can shoot and pass and handle the ball." Meanwhile, the Mavericks, who played Wednesday night at Golden State, will not be bringing much sympathy with them and new coach Avery Johnson. They will be without center Erick Dampier (stress fracture, right foot) and explosive swingman Jerry Stackhouse (strained right groin).
Thomas is full of confidence awaiting Mavs
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, March 24, 2005
Kings forward Kenny Thomas, like all athletes, believes his team is going to win every game it plays but is prevented from saying so because he's not supposed to feed the opposition bulletin board material.
Oh, well.
Thomas is the new permanent starter at power forward for the Kings, who'll meet All-Star Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks tonight at Arco Arena in the final regular-season meeting between the teams.
Call it braggadocio, confidence or merely the knowledge the Kings have nothing to lose with defeats in their first three games this season against the Mavs, Thomas said his team will end Dallas' four-game regular-season winning streak over the Kings.
"That's going to change (tonight)," Thomas said Wednesday afternoon after a light workout at the team's practice facility. "I think we're going to win every game. I'm probably going to guard Dirk, and I think if we limit their transition game, we'll be OK. They are like us because they like to push the ball up the court."
However, that streak really has nothing to do with these Kings. For that matter, neither does the 4-1 first-round playoff victory the Kings posted over the Mavs last April. Only Mike Bibby, Darius Songaila and Peja Stojakovic are left from the Kings team that faced the Mavs in the 2004 Western Conference playoff series.
Kings coach Rick Adelman said Wednesday he expected to regain the services of center Brian Skinner, who missed Tuesday night's victory over the Portland Trail Blazers with thumb sprains on each hand.
Adelman said Songaila, whose night ended with a second-quarter fall to the court on a blocked shot by Portland's Joel Przybilla, likely would play against the Mavs .
"Darius is really sore, but his (right) elbow is OK," the coach said. "It didn't swell. His back is sore, but I think by (tonight) he'll be able to go.
"Everybody is OK, and hopefully we'll have everybody."
In itself, that's a minor victory for Adelman, whose team still likely will be without starting center Brad Miller and sixth man Bobby Jackson for the remainder of the regular season.
Adelman said he's looking ahead to bringing Songaila and Corliss Williamson as a forward tandem off the bench.
"I like Darius and Corliss playing together," said the coach, who with 700 career victories is seven games behind No. 14 John MacLeod on the all-time NBA coaching list. "They are both comfortable with the ball at the high post. Both of them can shoot and pass and handle the ball." Meanwhile, the Mavericks, who played Wednesday night at Golden State, will not be bringing much sympathy with them and new coach Avery Johnson. They will be without center Erick Dampier (stress fracture, right foot) and explosive swingman Jerry Stackhouse (strained right groin).
