polandprzem
04-28-2006, 03:51 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA042806.4D.BKNkings.artest.1441a14c.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nobody had to tell Ron Artest how to spend his night of suspension on Saturday, when the Sacramento Kings' gifted, but occasionally troubled, small forward was left behind at the team's downtown San Antonio hotel as his teammates departed for the AT&T Center:
Take a pregame walk. Return to room before tipoff time. Order some room service. Tune the TV to the game.
"It wasn't like the first time," said Artest, suspended by the NBA for the final 73 games of the 2004-05 season and inactive for 25 games this season — in effect another suspension — imposed by the Indiana Pacers.
Kings coach Rick Adelman made it a point Thursday to tell Artest what he wants from him in Game3 of the playoff series. His message: Trust your teammates, and keep the ball moving.
How Artest plays in his return to the Kings provides an extra dose of intrigue to the game. Artest spoke at length Thursday, the first time since the league suspended him for throwing an elbow to Manu Ginobili's head in Game1. He said he is eager to play again but no more so than for any other playoff game. He said he took to heart Adelman's advice. He said he knows his defense is what is important in Game3.
Artest again will match up against Ginobili, who torched Artest's teammates for 32 points in Game2.
Can he keep Ginobili from having another such game?
"I'm not sure," he said. "He played great (in Game2). He was real aggressive. He really played like a champ."
Adelman understands that his team's ability to avoid an 3-0 deficit in the best-of-7 series isn't tied strictly to Artest's return. He is happy to have him back but won't hesitate to sit him if the Kings' offense stagnates again after a Game2 breakout. Adelman wants the Kings to keep pushing the pace.
"I think our big guys can run," Adelman said. "If they run, we've got to push the ball. Whoever gets it, whether it's Mike (Bibby) or Ron, they've got to push it up to see if we can take advantage of it."
Artest figures to help most on defense, including defending the 3-point line.
"The big guys playing (Tim) Duncan were doing their job for most of (Game2)," Artest said." Now, we've got to get the perimeters doing their job, me and Bonzi (Wells) hustling a little bit more, which we are going to do in Game3. And I've got to rebound better. I only had two rebounds in Game1. Kevin Martin came in and had eight rebounds. That just proves to me I've got to get in there and rebound."
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nobody had to tell Ron Artest how to spend his night of suspension on Saturday, when the Sacramento Kings' gifted, but occasionally troubled, small forward was left behind at the team's downtown San Antonio hotel as his teammates departed for the AT&T Center:
Take a pregame walk. Return to room before tipoff time. Order some room service. Tune the TV to the game.
"It wasn't like the first time," said Artest, suspended by the NBA for the final 73 games of the 2004-05 season and inactive for 25 games this season — in effect another suspension — imposed by the Indiana Pacers.
Kings coach Rick Adelman made it a point Thursday to tell Artest what he wants from him in Game3 of the playoff series. His message: Trust your teammates, and keep the ball moving.
How Artest plays in his return to the Kings provides an extra dose of intrigue to the game. Artest spoke at length Thursday, the first time since the league suspended him for throwing an elbow to Manu Ginobili's head in Game1. He said he is eager to play again but no more so than for any other playoff game. He said he took to heart Adelman's advice. He said he knows his defense is what is important in Game3.
Artest again will match up against Ginobili, who torched Artest's teammates for 32 points in Game2.
Can he keep Ginobili from having another such game?
"I'm not sure," he said. "He played great (in Game2). He was real aggressive. He really played like a champ."
Adelman understands that his team's ability to avoid an 3-0 deficit in the best-of-7 series isn't tied strictly to Artest's return. He is happy to have him back but won't hesitate to sit him if the Kings' offense stagnates again after a Game2 breakout. Adelman wants the Kings to keep pushing the pace.
"I think our big guys can run," Adelman said. "If they run, we've got to push the ball. Whoever gets it, whether it's Mike (Bibby) or Ron, they've got to push it up to see if we can take advantage of it."
Artest figures to help most on defense, including defending the 3-point line.
"The big guys playing (Tim) Duncan were doing their job for most of (Game2)," Artest said." Now, we've got to get the perimeters doing their job, me and Bonzi (Wells) hustling a little bit more, which we are going to do in Game3. And I've got to rebound better. I only had two rebounds in Game1. Kevin Martin came in and had eight rebounds. That just proves to me I've got to get in there and rebound."