Kings v. Lakers tonight!!!

[Jack_Dawson]

I'm jacked. I can't believe they haven't faced each other all season. GO SACTOWN.

:bounce:

[Stevendsmith]

1. Yes, Go Kings!

Steve Smith
Sacramento

[CrownPrinceBandar]

10. Go Kings! ABL!!!

Deep down I'm a Mavs fan (duh!), but the Kings are my solid # 2. Is C Webb back? No wait, he's out all season, right? I miss Scottie Pollard, but Vlade is solid.

ABL = "anyone but the Lakers"

[Jack_Dawson]

12. ABL - LOL

[lazarus]

2. Ah, the Lakers

Rick Fox, Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone.

Best damned Injured List in the history of the NBA.

:evilgrin:

[Jack_Dawson]

3. Don't EVEN play the injuries card

C-Webb out all season, Peja out in the playoffs. Bibby out half of last year. Don't get me started.

[frylock]

4. yes.. it should be evenly matched..

see you in May, when it counts.

[Jack_Dawson]

5. Lakers can't flip the switch

They tried last year and got rolled by the Spurs. But it'll be fun to see...

[Elad]

7. I have to admit

That watching Tim Duncan in the West Finals last year was some of the most beautiful play I've seen since Michael Jordan. Watching him isolate on Shaq every trip up the floor, everyone else just getting out of the way, and everytime he put on a new move and just made Shaq look like a rookie - it was FUN to watch.

I think Sacramento could face Minnesota in the West Finals this year - THAT would be a series to remember.

[lazarus]

8. Thanks, Elad

It was a thing of beauty. He put himself in the pantheon of all-time greats, I believe.

I'm hoping we can get our new guys acclimated this year. That 19-1 run we just had was scary good, but a bit early for us. We're used to playing .850 ball, but after the All-Star break, not before. :evilgrin:

What I'd be worried about in Minnesota is getting the guys off the injured list and screwing up that great chemistry.

[Elad]

9. Szczerbiak coming back has the potential

to screw up some chemistry. He's always struck me as kind of a selfish player. However, if he can accept his role as the 3rd or even 4th option, rather than the 2nd option, Minnesota will be virtually unstoppable in my opinion. Hudson will accept whatever role he's given, and brings tons of energy off the bench.

[lazarus]

Kandi-man's an issue

I think he was a huge mistake. Although there really wasn't much out there, at that point.

Big men are getting rarer and rarer. Time for the scouts to really start scouring overseas, because they're just not that good here in the States for some reason.

BTW, what sort of mojo did y'all put on Rasho the other night? He's been playing great, the Wolves come to town, and suddenly he's 32 minutes and 3 points? Yikes!

[lazarus]

11. check the avatar, Jack

I'm not a Laker fan by any stretch of the imagination.

Serious question. Would the Kings be better off having a player they could count on for 80 games a season, even if he wasn't CWebb? I mean, what if CWebb isn't able to come back until 10 games before the playoffs? What's that going to do to your chemistry?

[Jack_Dawson]

13. Webb'll be fine

This happens every year. When he comes back he'll stink up the joint for about two weeks until the team gels. I ain't worried.

[lazarus]

14. That's the problem

Hope the 2 weeks isn't the first round, is all I'm saying.

I'd love, just once, to have a playoffs where every single team 1-8, is stone healthy. No tweaked ankles, no bad backs, nothing. Straight up healthy. That was the best thing, imo, about that so-called "asterisk" season of '99. It was so short nobody had time to get banged up, all the teams were at full strength.

In the meantime, we all get to laugh at the Lakers. :evilgrin: Although I can't figure out how the bloody hell they beat Denver to death the other night. That was just weird. Kinda like Atlanta beating the Spurs. Any given night, ya know?

[Bread and Roses]

6. Go Kings!!!

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[IronLionZion]

15. Go Sacramento!!!

[lazarus]

16. Final thought on the Kings

Miller was an AWESOME pickup for you guys. His performance is, for me, the biggest surprise of the year. And a perfect example of how bad a coach Isaiah Thomas is. He had THAT on his team, and they couldn't win? Holy crap!

Oh, and thanks for Hedo. :-)

[Jack_Dawson]

17. You are welcome for Hedo

Hedo is cool and a mad talent. We were just too deep to get him minutes. Geoff Petrie is a witch.

[lazarus]

18. Isn't it amazing

how a few teams like the Kings and the Spurs can be so damned deep and still play within the cap, and so many teams out there just plain and simple suck?

BTW, I'm convinced Popovich is a Jedi Master. He gets Hedo and Mercer for Danny Ferry, who promptly retires and comes back to work in our front office. A few weeks ago, he's trying to work a trade for a vet point guard. Then Thomas takes over NY, works that huge trade with Phoenix, Phoenix waives Charley Ward, who we promptly pick up for the prorated vet's minimum.

Scary. "These are not the free agents you are looking for." Heh.

[Jack_Dawson]

22. The Eastern Conference is Unwatchable

Since Michael left, it's brutal. The talent disparity between the two conferences is mindboggling.

[lazarus]

26. must admit, though

The Pacers are looking good since they got rid of Isaiah Thomas. That man should never, ever be allowed near a basketball organisation. I'm convinced the Knicks ownership has a death wish or something.

But, yeah, the rest of the East is unwatchable.

Did you see the realignment for next year? I swear, I am predicting an expansion team to win the new Southeastern Division.

Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Washington, Charlotte. They could win it, and make the playoffs, with a 30 win season. Miami, the best team of the 4 that exist right now, is on pace to win 31 this year. :eyes:

[CivilRightsNow]

28. Hedo.. ugh..

Im so glad Sac traded him. I once had to push his drunk ass off of the 17 year old sister of my best friend. I always thought he was a selfish player, but meeting him in person was like the wild and crazy guys from SNL all rolled into one. Im a huge fan of every other Kings player, but Bibby is my favorite. We used to eat at the spaghetti factory quite a bit and we saw Bibby on several occasions hanging out with his boys. They even joined us for a birthday celebration one time. I love the fact that he could go to a plethora of higher class places in Sac, but he made regular nights at Spaghetti factory to have a meal with good friends. I've also met Bobby at Tunnel 21, chatting him up got us into the VIP area where Thunderburke and Peja were hanging out. I think Peja has the longest eyelashes out of any man Ive ever met! All the Kings are just super nice guys... and they're cuties to boot ;) Growl...

One of these days Im going to meet C Webb and smoke a j. You know he smokes.. I mean, look at his eyes when he is in the zone.. It's on my things to do before I die list.

Sac will definately whomp LA tonite, although it will be a shallow victory considering that the lakers are bringing in a scrub from the Lowgators to stand in for kobe for a 10 day contract and Medvedenko will be the best thing they have to offer.

But I always love to see LA lose, it's second best to seeing the Kings win.. so tonite will be a good night, both rolled into one.

Second favorite team is Minnesota. I adore Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassel, they have fantastic smiles and great attitudes. I even like Mark Madsen now that he is on the Twolves.. he's got alot of heart even if he does run like Corky from Life Goes on. I'd love to see them make it to the Western Conference finals to play the Kings. It would be an amazing series.

;)

There is no way LA is making it past the first round, if they even make the series. I dont give a crap if their injured list is clear. They arent team players, just a bunch of egos.. that era is over.

[lazarus]

30. You know what I love?

As a Spurs fan, I really respect the Kings and the Wolves. I have no respect for the Lakers. None.

If KG wins MVP, I can live with it. I think Duncan made a major statement the other night, even though we lost, but either guy could win, and I could live with KG as MVP, because there's some class and respect there.

Heck, Indiana has class. We had a tight game the other night, and it ended with class.

I like it when there's a good healthy rivalry with a franchise you respect. That's what's missing with LA. Nobody respects or likes them, because they're a bunch of punks.

I even like Horry now that he's with us. Great pickup. I can't believe it, he's actually from my hometown, little Andalusia, AL, population 10,000. Imagine that.

Yeah, the Lakers are over. Done. I won't be surprised when Shaq retires, which could be anytime now.

[CivilRightsNow]

32. I do have to say...

The other night when Parker missed that 3, I was thinking that the Spurs were out of their friggin minds for not having Horry somewhere out on the arc. This is what Horry does, makes clutch 3 pointers. Hell, the Lakers only played him during playoffs ;) -- Okay, maybe that is a slight exaggeration.. but you get where Im going with this. Horry still has some time left in him and I think he could be great if actually played.

I think the Spurs are a great team, but no matter how much people love Duncan, Ive just never gotten that excited about him. I like Ginobli alot and Tony Parker is going to mature into a fantastic solid player once he gets past injury and streakiness. I dont know why I dont get warm and fuzzy about Duncan.. I think it has to do with thinking C Webb and Vlado are the best Centers since.... well, ever ;) But Kevin Garnett just is so friggin athletic, we call him Gumby.. he officially wrestled the title from Gerald Wallace who gets above the hoop like nobody Ive ever seen before. Not to mention Garnett's smile. I'm really hoping he gets MVP this year, atleast at this juncture... he just seems to really bring alot of class to the game.

[lazarus]

33. The key to Duncan

Is that he's so quiet and cool. Don't think of him as Pete Sampras. Think of him as Bjorn Borg. George Gervin. The Iceman.

He's not a center. Heck, he's not really a power forward. He's just a power player. He's like nothing we've ever seen before, just like KG. Totally different player than KG, of course.

But he's a subtle player. He doesn't yell, he doesn't scream. You have to watch TD close. The other night, when he he played the Wolves, did you realise he had 30+ points and 20+ rebounds? That he had a double double in the first quarter just about?

His only weakness, and it's a biggie, is his free throw shooting. Heck, Wilt had that. :D

I dunno why we had Parker shooting, that was crazy. Should have been Horry. That's why we signed him. We're basically paying him 3 million dollars to hit 3 pointers at the end of games.

But Duncan is cursed with a quiet persona, I think. If he just yelled more, had a bit more flair. :shrug:

This is why I get so fed up with the NBA having gone to the superstar model of advertising with Michael in the 90s. Advertise the teams, and folks will watch.

The announcers spent the entire year last year saying the Spurs and the East were boring, and then were shocked the ratings were bad for the Spurs/Nets. D'oh! So everybody missed one of the finest Finals performances every by a big man.

[CivilRightsNow]

34. I suspected that had something to do with it...

I even find myself yelling at my own team to get some friggin animation. When Cassell, Spreewell and KG get pumped up it really changes the whole viewing experience. Often times, I think that if the Kings had some of that, we'd stop blowing 20 pt leads in the 3rd quarter. It usually works out okay, but it's friggin maddening. Along with Adelman's musical chairs substitutions. Stop taking Peja out of the game when he is on fire, damnit! Let the starters play through it! They make the big bucks for a reason. Given, he seems to have come to that conclusion in the last few weeks, but the beginning of the season almost drove me batty.

Bobby's an animated player.. and Vlade.. well, he's the best actor in the league, doesnt mean I love him any less... I just acknowledge that as he gets older, he has to use other assets ;) Miller is bringing a little of that back to Sac, and when Bibby gets a bit more confident that he got his groove back I'm looking forward to seeing the lion face again ;) But mostly, I just want to see more smiles. That is why Chris Webber is so key. He controls the emotion on the court. There is just something about the man that says.. Hey, this is a game, and yeah.. we need to do our damnedest to win, but lets do it with some finesse and style and celebrate the little victories.

I do have to admit, I didnt watch the Nets/Spurs playoffs. I was just too upset after CWebb got hurt. I really think that they would have taken the Mavs.. we were just plagued by injury. Now, with the NBA league pass, Im gonna have to give Tim some time to grow on me. We moved from Sac to Dallas a few months back and there is no way in hell Im rooting for them, but I do need a Texas team to be proud of. Dallas lost any hope of me liking them when they traded Van Exel. And Dirk has the personality of an SS guard... and Don Nelson.. arg.

And the Rockets..well, they are the rockets. Nuff said.

[lazarus]

39. One thing with the Spurs

Remember that everything flows from the Defense, so you're not going to see a lot of 109-98 games. :D

Get used to 88-72 games. And get used to not having the announcers know how to explain what's happening. But when you see the Spurs' opponents start to rack up a bunch of 24-second clock violations, or start taking wild shots right at the buzzer, you'll realise it's the defense.

That's one problem with the NBA. Defense is obvious in baseball and football. But in basketball, it just looks like bad shooting, unless you blocked a shot into the cheap seats.

But it does exciting when Tony and Manu get flying out there. We do run on occasion. That's why Pop has white hair.

[Jack_Dawson]

35. C-Webb called my brother a few months back

Long story...but he and my brother are boyz now. At least that's what he likes to believe. I still have the message, it's classic.

[shanti]

49. booooo!

i live here in sac too, but i'm a lakers fan TO THE BONE since 1970~!

[salin]

19. I NEVER thought I would say this...

Go Lakers! *cough sputter cough*

(salin, a Pacers fan)

[lazarus]

20. Salin!

We got us a game tonight, too, you know. Televised, I do believe.

[salin]

23. Its on late.... (we are now on east coast time)

and I need by beauty sleep... in order to go ATTEND the IU homegame tomorrow afternoon. So I will just have to read about the game...

Btw, Sacramento is looking pretty good - all this without Webber...

[lazarus]

27. Late?

It's on at 4:00 here. Basketball shouldn't be on at 4 in the afternoon. That's just not right.

[salin]

29. Guess I got it wrong as I glanced

at game times - thought it was 10:30 pm (7:30 your time)...

[lazarus]

31. Nope, it's in Indy

remember, the Spurs are a Central time team. So when we play, it's never a late game for you. :D

[salin]

36. lol - we are talking about opposite games

my bad. Yes the Indy game is early.

[Jack_Dawson]

21. OMG that must hurt

You poor chap. Pimping the LAKERS? Rooting for GOLIATH over DAVID? Well...your call. Thanks for Miller, btw.

[salin]

24. it hurt... but think of it this way

right now... suddenly... the lakers are no longer Goliath. Says something about the Kings - and without Webber, no less.

Btw, for whatever it is worth, this Hoosier Bball fan (college hoops first and forever... then the NBA)... might where a chap - but isn't one ;-)

[longhorndem]

25. GO SAC

I agree the Lakers are going down Shaq or no Shaq!!

[nini]

37. typical Kings fan.... WHEN you guys win a title.. then talk all you want.

until then - go ahead and gloat if you beat a team with 3 All Star starters on the injured list and Horris Grant gone. BIG accomplishment there.

Last year is over. Malone and Payton are with the Lakers now.. not the same season at all.

You guys should have taken it last year. Yep, Webber got hurt - but guess what?? You probably lost your chance.. Hurts don't it?



I'm going to put my flame retardant suit on now :-)

[Jack_Dawson]

38. Waaaaahhhhh

I do not think you want to play the injuries card w/ a Kings fan.

:cry:

[CivilRightsNow]

43. No sh#t!

Id like to see a team that has had more injuries then the Kings.

Cry me a friggin river. Keep grasping on to the past. Malone is a friggin relic and Payton and Kobe sure dont seem to play nice. Basketball is a team sport.

Maybe the Lakers should start playing tennis.

[nini]

51. I acknowledged the King's injury issue last year.

I also believe because of that they didn't win the title last year. IF the Kings had been healthy they would have taken the whole thing as they were the best team last year.

But, they weren't healthy and it slipped away and I believe that golden opportunity slipped away.

I think (if they can stay healthy) the Lakers are the team to beat. With the big boys out they stink right now.. So, yes to Lazurus - you need a strong bench. If they starters don't come back in time for playoffs I don't expect them to win. I expect San Antonio to repeat.

[lazarus]

42. But the thing is

You signed Malone and Payton so you would have enough superstars to be able to absorb injuries.

Gotta have a bench, ya know.

[Jack_Dawson]

44. Let's not forget Game 6, 2002

at Staples Center. Where the NBA instructed the refs to hijack the game to ensure a ratings-breaking Game 7. I'm STILL pissed about it...

[nini]

50. kinda like when Bibby didn't get called for a foul against Kobe..

at the end of game 5 - I know how you feel :evilgrin:

[slack]

40. Kings and Mavs are the reason

why I bought pay-tv (in germany). The only way to see NBA-Basketball here. Tonight I'am watching at 4.30 a.m. :)
I love this game.

[Jack_Dawson]

41. No SHIT?

THAT IS IMPRESSIVE, Slack! Are you in the military or just some random German dude?

[slack]

46. some random German dude

;)
go kings.

[lazarus]

45. Great game so far between the Pacers and Spurs

slow start, Spurs outscore the Pacers 40-9 to finish the half.

[salin]

47. and the Pacers pull it off

I watched for a couple of minutes in the third quarter - back and forth lead changes... nice outcome for the Pacers.

(now... go Lakers!)

[shanti]

48. go lakers!!!

course, my lakes are crippled, so it won't even be a fair fight:-(