Elise10
Starter
Ailene Voisin: Now that he starts, no stopping him
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1
Some people will do just about anything for attention. Absorb an opponent's inadvertent elbow to the forehead. Hobble off to the locker room for stitches. Leave deposits of sweat and blood out there on the court. And need we mention, play the most consistent basketball of the season?
No, even before Troy Murphy landed his best shot - an inadverent blow delivered long after the outcome had been decided at Arco Arena Tuesday night - Kenny Thomas had forced his way back into the camera angles. More importantly, the soft-spoken veteran with the wide-eyed pose, the player who stares as if in perpetual pout, very quietly has rebounded his way back into the starting five.
He has been really, really good.
He has been too good to ignore anymore.
Capitalizing on opportunities presented by injuries to Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells, Thomas has emerged as the Kings' most prolific rebounder, and as is becoming increasingly apparent, his particular skills are providing a nice frontcourt balance to the dynamic, dominant presence of Ron Artest. Good luck dislodging him now. Come to think of it, no one is. Any potential controversy has been snuffed out by the people in charge, and by the people involved.
"I don't see any reason to change," Rick Adelman said after his Kings had emerged with an important victory over the abysmal-shooting Golden State Warriors. Making Adelman's decision easier is the fact that Abdur-Rahim, still regaining his strength after having his jaw wired, is saying all the right things, through teeth that are no longer clenched.
No grousing. No playing the victim. He just wants to win. He just wants to play ... whenever.
"Whatever coach decides," Abdur-Rahim said late Tuesday. "If that means coming off the bench, I'll be productive. Right now our focus is to win games."
Particularly since the acquisition of Artest, the Kings' best prospects for victory seem to occur with the more versatile Thomas among the starters. As he demonstrated against the Warriors, his long limbs and lively, agile frame suggesting someone much taller than his listed 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, he aggressively pursues rebounds, shoots selectively and occasionally, and can surprise with instinctive, textbook passes. "Kenny does all the little things," offered Mike Bibby.
"I can't remember him taking a lot of bad shots. He does all the stuff that role players do."
Certainly more so as a starter than a sub. The statistics alone illustrate the classic, one-sided duel of the Thomases: In 27 games since relinquishing his starting job to Abdur-Rahim prior to the regular-season, the not-so-good Kenny averaged 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists, while succeeding on 43 percent of his field-goal attempts. In 27 outings alongside the players whose names are announced during introductions (that would be No. 93), he is averaging 12.5 points, 10 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and shooting 50 percent.
"This is a great opportunity for me," said Thomas, after collecting 13 boards to go with three assists ... and five stitches. "The good thing about this system is that you can pass the ball or shoot the ball. If I'm not open, I'm not going to take the shot. But I'm going to rebound. That's a given. Right now, I'm over that (starting or subbing). We've got games to win."
Gone are the days when the Kings were carefree and casual, and pranced effortlessly into the playoffs, which is why Tuesday's victory was about much more than Northern California bragging rights.
Entering the always significant post All-Star stretch, in fact, neither the Kings nor the slumping Warriors reside among the playoff chosen.
Watching the Warriors play is like feasting on a steady diet of appetizers; the main course is never served. Observing the Kings - at least since the acquisition of Artest - is more similar to dining on a full-course meal. On their best nights, the passing and movement is exceptional, the rebounding adequate, the effort unwavering, and though the offense can be erratic, the defense remains capable of dictating the outcome. Even at their worst (see road loss at Memphis), they play inspired enough to remain in contention.
"I think they're moving forward," observed Warriors assistant John MacLeod. "Just looking at Ron (Artest), he is big and strong. ... And of course, he's a strong defender. I think this changes their team for the better."
So does the other major development, the one involving the other Kings forward. Thomas, the starter, is an upgrade over Thomas, the sub. Can't ignore him any longer, certainly not of late.
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1
Some people will do just about anything for attention. Absorb an opponent's inadvertent elbow to the forehead. Hobble off to the locker room for stitches. Leave deposits of sweat and blood out there on the court. And need we mention, play the most consistent basketball of the season?
No, even before Troy Murphy landed his best shot - an inadverent blow delivered long after the outcome had been decided at Arco Arena Tuesday night - Kenny Thomas had forced his way back into the camera angles. More importantly, the soft-spoken veteran with the wide-eyed pose, the player who stares as if in perpetual pout, very quietly has rebounded his way back into the starting five.
He has been really, really good.
He has been too good to ignore anymore.
Capitalizing on opportunities presented by injuries to Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells, Thomas has emerged as the Kings' most prolific rebounder, and as is becoming increasingly apparent, his particular skills are providing a nice frontcourt balance to the dynamic, dominant presence of Ron Artest. Good luck dislodging him now. Come to think of it, no one is. Any potential controversy has been snuffed out by the people in charge, and by the people involved.
"I don't see any reason to change," Rick Adelman said after his Kings had emerged with an important victory over the abysmal-shooting Golden State Warriors. Making Adelman's decision easier is the fact that Abdur-Rahim, still regaining his strength after having his jaw wired, is saying all the right things, through teeth that are no longer clenched.
No grousing. No playing the victim. He just wants to win. He just wants to play ... whenever.
"Whatever coach decides," Abdur-Rahim said late Tuesday. "If that means coming off the bench, I'll be productive. Right now our focus is to win games."
Particularly since the acquisition of Artest, the Kings' best prospects for victory seem to occur with the more versatile Thomas among the starters. As he demonstrated against the Warriors, his long limbs and lively, agile frame suggesting someone much taller than his listed 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, he aggressively pursues rebounds, shoots selectively and occasionally, and can surprise with instinctive, textbook passes. "Kenny does all the little things," offered Mike Bibby.
"I can't remember him taking a lot of bad shots. He does all the stuff that role players do."
Certainly more so as a starter than a sub. The statistics alone illustrate the classic, one-sided duel of the Thomases: In 27 games since relinquishing his starting job to Abdur-Rahim prior to the regular-season, the not-so-good Kenny averaged 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists, while succeeding on 43 percent of his field-goal attempts. In 27 outings alongside the players whose names are announced during introductions (that would be No. 93), he is averaging 12.5 points, 10 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and shooting 50 percent.
"This is a great opportunity for me," said Thomas, after collecting 13 boards to go with three assists ... and five stitches. "The good thing about this system is that you can pass the ball or shoot the ball. If I'm not open, I'm not going to take the shot. But I'm going to rebound. That's a given. Right now, I'm over that (starting or subbing). We've got games to win."
Gone are the days when the Kings were carefree and casual, and pranced effortlessly into the playoffs, which is why Tuesday's victory was about much more than Northern California bragging rights.
Entering the always significant post All-Star stretch, in fact, neither the Kings nor the slumping Warriors reside among the playoff chosen.
Watching the Warriors play is like feasting on a steady diet of appetizers; the main course is never served. Observing the Kings - at least since the acquisition of Artest - is more similar to dining on a full-course meal. On their best nights, the passing and movement is exceptional, the rebounding adequate, the effort unwavering, and though the offense can be erratic, the defense remains capable of dictating the outcome. Even at their worst (see road loss at Memphis), they play inspired enough to remain in contention.
"I think they're moving forward," observed Warriors assistant John MacLeod. "Just looking at Ron (Artest), he is big and strong. ... And of course, he's a strong defender. I think this changes their team for the better."
So does the other major development, the one involving the other Kings forward. Thomas, the starter, is an upgrade over Thomas, the sub. Can't ignore him any longer, certainly not of late.
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