Football
Associated Press 18y

Adelman starts Shareef Abdur-Rahim over Kenny Thomas at power forward

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After the first two games of the
regular season, there should be little argument about Sacramento
Kings coach Rick Adelman's choice of starting Shareef Abdur-Rahim
over Kenny Thomas at power forward.

One of the biggest questions in the preseason was which forward
would begin on the bench. It turned out to be Thomas.

"Both are good players, and we actually have three good players
(Corliss Williamson is the third) at power forward," Adelman said.
"I told Kenny we would be judging it as we continue playing. But I
think this is the best way to go right now. Shareef gives us a
presence inside to start the game."

Abdur-Rahim, a free agent who signed with Sacramento this
summer, has played well in the first two games. He scored 14 points
and had eight rebounds in the lopsided season-opening loss to New
Orleans, and followed with 17 points and nine rebounds a night
later against Houston.

"I have been a starter for a long time, that's how I prepared
myself coming into this season," said Abdur-Rahim, who preferred
to avoid the subject in the preseason.

It's been a struggle for Thomas, who came to Sacramento in a
midseason trade for Chris Webber a year ago. In 36 combined minutes
over the first two games, Thomas has eight points and 10 rebounds.

"I'm a professional athlete and I'm here to do a job," Thomas
said. "He (Adelman) told me I would probably be the first player
off the bench each game. I'll just go out and keep on doing what
I've always done, rebound, play defense and shoot when I get a good
look."

Thomas has struggled and isn't alone among the bench players.
The Kings' reserves have shot a combined 10-of-37 in the two games
and contributed only 31 points. The Houston bench, led by ex-King
Jon Barry's 24 points, outscored Sacramento 37-14 in the 98-89
victory.

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^STARTING SLOW:@ Opening the season with consecutive losses and
facing a difficult road game Sunday in Phoenix, the Kings could
match last year's 0-3 beginning.

Coach Rick Adelman says he's not shocked by the slow start.

"We've definitely struggled so far," Adelman said. "It's not
that unusual when you have players that haven't been playing that
long together."

The Sacramento roster has five new players and three more spent
less than a half season with the Kings a year ago. Typically one of
the NBA's most productive highest-scoring teams, the Kings shot 31
percent and lost 93-67 to the Hornets and couldn't reach 90 points
against the Rockets.

It was the first time the Kings have not scored 90 or more
points in consecutive games since early in the 2000 season.

"We're still trying to figure out each other," Peja Stojakovic
said. "We need to learn how to play with each other. It's going to
be an interesting season because of that."

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^MEMORABLE EVENING:@ Although the Kings opener was a forgettable
one for anyone associated with the team, sitting courtside as a
television announcer, Jerry Reynolds was impressed by the NBA's
debut in Oklahoma City, the temporary home this year for New
Orleans.

The game drew 19,123 fans. Treating it somewhat like a football
game, the parking lot was loaded with tailgaters. Reynolds said
when the Kings played their first game in Sacramento in 1985 after
moving from Kansas City, there was a similar feeling.

"This crowd was almost Kings-like," said Reynolds, an
assistant coach with the 1985-86 Kings. "They know this puts them
in the big leagues. It reminds me of when the Kings came to
Sacramento. It's the only other place that has reminded me of
that."

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^NOTES:@ In the first two games, Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic
have shot a combined 26 percent and scored only 41 points. A year
ago, the two combined for just under 40 points a game. ... Bonzi
Wells had 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds against Houston.
He also committed seven turnovers. ... After a 2-4 start last year,
the Kings won 11 of 12 games. ... Sacramento has made only 4-of-24
3-point attempts.

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