Beat LA !!!
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Here is a good one from the last season in which Kings were great. On January 4th 2004 Kings beat Sonics 130-99 to improve to 23-8 for the season. Kings dominated the whole game and the score wasn’t even close to what it would have been if the garbage time was shorter than 15 minutes. 7 Kings were in double digits and Vlade was close too. Kings shot better than 58%, and 52% from “downtown” had 37 assists on 52 FGs. Soncis didn’t know what hit them but at least they didn’t suffer. Pedja lead the Kings with 24/5/5/3st, Brad had 16/11/1, DC had 14/5/8/3, Mike had 13/2/6, Vlade had 8/6/2 in 15 minutes. Bench scored 55 points lead by Bobby who had 21/5/7, FTM had 14/7/3 and Darius had 12/3.
The Sacramento Kings enjoyed their most lopsided win of the season as Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points in a 130-99 romp over the Seattle SuperSonics. Stojakovic made six 3-pointers for the Kings, who led virtually the entire game. The Kings posted a season high in points, eclipsing the 124 they scored against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 31.Sacramento's most one-sided win this season was a 116-90 triumph over Phoenix on December 23.
"I was just real pleased with our team coming out the way they did against that team, a dangerous offensive team," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We were really good at both ends of the court."
Stojakovic made 6-of-10 3-pointers, one shy of a career high. Overall, he was 9-of-17 from the field. "If I was the opposing team, I would just let him shoot because he misses when he is open," Sacramento forward Darius Songaila said. "However, when there is a guy in his face, he makes the hardest shots ever. All teams can try and do to stop him is grab him."
"(Jackson) was terrific," Adelman said. "He came in the game and he was running the floor. He was all over. Just look at his line - 21 points in 32 minutes, seven assists."
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Kings on another winning streak after a great performance against the Knicks despite the fact that Knicks still suck. The record is improved to still very mediocer and fairly useless 14-15 but it might be a start to something - probably a hunt for the 8th PO spot, first round KO and a 15th draft pick. Either way it is just nice to see better performances. Kings have also won the last 3 games at ARCO. All of it makes a good sign for the Thursday's game against the Lakers and right now that is the only thing that matters.
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Where are they now? Another installment here talking this time about #21 Vlade Divac at the right time considering that he played for both franchises. Vlade started out on the dark side, where he played until Kobe Bryant blackmailed the NBA. Then he went to the Hornets until signing with Kings where he played 6 unforgettable seasons before going back to the dark side where he did a great job of making sure that they miss playoffs. Now he is working as GP of Real Madrid trying to get that club back to euroleage.
Anyways couple days ago I watched a Serbian movie and there was Vlade. Vlade’s role lasted 20 seconds in which he was on a fishing boat playing a role of god. He had to learn one whole sentence. Vlade has always been very talented and skilled actor. Probably learned that while living in the “silicon city” in the beginnings of his long career.
Players and people like him are hard to find. His contributions went beyond all the stats and numbers. He was a synonym for “chemistry” and good atmosphere. Always putting his team and teammates first. If there is a “no ego” in this sport – it was him. His contributions off the court are well known. In one of his interviews that I read – he said that all them money he made from commercials throughout his career went to charity. When he left Sacramento the ground started to shake and eventually the whole house crumbled. And while we might never find out how old he really was – it was just a shame that he had to get that old.
Luck is something Vlade did not have too much in his career in terms of playing. He did win a lot with his national team but he was unlucky many times too. It started in 1986 when he “traveled” to help Yugoslavia lose to UdSSR in overtime after having a 9 point lead with 56 seconds to go. As a Laker he lost his only NBA finals (even though – Lakers losing can’t really be seen as bad luck in the big picture – ever). As I King – I painfully remember “an in and out“ shot that would have meant the series against the Jazz. Then there is that Horry’s three and many missed free throws in game 7. Finally he missed both FTs in the World Championship final with 4 seconds to go when the game was tied. Luckily, he didn’t lose that one in the end. Anyways, despite all of this and because all of this - Thanks for the memories Vlade – all of them.
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Before every game against Lakers – there is always that discussion about the “rivalry” or lack there of, how things changed, how this is just another game bla bla bal, yada, yada, yada. I don’t care. The front of their ugly jersey still indicates that they are from the silicon city where everything but silicon is fake. They still have the same coach who always found time to say “nice” things about the Kings and the respective city. Kobe is there too. Do You really need more reasons to at least dislike them a bit? Can You really forget everything ? Don’t You have Robert Horry show up in Your dream from time to time and turn it into nightmare ? Don’t You have an urge to punch something every time when You see Bavetta, Delaney and Berndhart officiate a game ? Just hang around on Thursday night. ARCO will tell You that it isn’t just another game. Atmosphere on this site will tell You that it isn’t just another game. Hopefully, Kings players will raise to the occasion this time and give us a reason for a short but a very sweet night. Maybe Kings fans living in the silicon city can tell us whether it is just another game for them ? Their whole weekend may depend on this game in terms of being pleasant or miserable. Can it really ever be just another game ?
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Here is a good one from the last season in which Kings were great. On January 4th 2004 Kings beat Sonics 130-99 to improve to 23-8 for the season. Kings dominated the whole game and the score wasn’t even close to what it would have been if the garbage time was shorter than 15 minutes. 7 Kings were in double digits and Vlade was close too. Kings shot better than 58%, and 52% from “downtown” had 37 assists on 52 FGs. Soncis didn’t know what hit them but at least they didn’t suffer. Pedja lead the Kings with 24/5/5/3st, Brad had 16/11/1, DC had 14/5/8/3, Mike had 13/2/6, Vlade had 8/6/2 in 15 minutes. Bench scored 55 points lead by Bobby who had 21/5/7, FTM had 14/7/3 and Darius had 12/3.
The Sacramento Kings enjoyed their most lopsided win of the season as Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points in a 130-99 romp over the Seattle SuperSonics. Stojakovic made six 3-pointers for the Kings, who led virtually the entire game. The Kings posted a season high in points, eclipsing the 124 they scored against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 31.Sacramento's most one-sided win this season was a 116-90 triumph over Phoenix on December 23.
"I was just real pleased with our team coming out the way they did against that team, a dangerous offensive team," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We were really good at both ends of the court."
Stojakovic made 6-of-10 3-pointers, one shy of a career high. Overall, he was 9-of-17 from the field. "If I was the opposing team, I would just let him shoot because he misses when he is open," Sacramento forward Darius Songaila said. "However, when there is a guy in his face, he makes the hardest shots ever. All teams can try and do to stop him is grab him."
"(Jackson) was terrific," Adelman said. "He came in the game and he was running the floor. He was all over. Just look at his line - 21 points in 32 minutes, seven assists."
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Kings on another winning streak after a great performance against the Knicks despite the fact that Knicks still suck. The record is improved to still very mediocer and fairly useless 14-15 but it might be a start to something - probably a hunt for the 8th PO spot, first round KO and a 15th draft pick. Either way it is just nice to see better performances. Kings have also won the last 3 games at ARCO. All of it makes a good sign for the Thursday's game against the Lakers and right now that is the only thing that matters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Where are they now? Another installment here talking this time about #21 Vlade Divac at the right time considering that he played for both franchises. Vlade started out on the dark side, where he played until Kobe Bryant blackmailed the NBA. Then he went to the Hornets until signing with Kings where he played 6 unforgettable seasons before going back to the dark side where he did a great job of making sure that they miss playoffs. Now he is working as GP of Real Madrid trying to get that club back to euroleage.
Anyways couple days ago I watched a Serbian movie and there was Vlade. Vlade’s role lasted 20 seconds in which he was on a fishing boat playing a role of god. He had to learn one whole sentence. Vlade has always been very talented and skilled actor. Probably learned that while living in the “silicon city” in the beginnings of his long career.
Players and people like him are hard to find. His contributions went beyond all the stats and numbers. He was a synonym for “chemistry” and good atmosphere. Always putting his team and teammates first. If there is a “no ego” in this sport – it was him. His contributions off the court are well known. In one of his interviews that I read – he said that all them money he made from commercials throughout his career went to charity. When he left Sacramento the ground started to shake and eventually the whole house crumbled. And while we might never find out how old he really was – it was just a shame that he had to get that old.
Luck is something Vlade did not have too much in his career in terms of playing. He did win a lot with his national team but he was unlucky many times too. It started in 1986 when he “traveled” to help Yugoslavia lose to UdSSR in overtime after having a 9 point lead with 56 seconds to go. As a Laker he lost his only NBA finals (even though – Lakers losing can’t really be seen as bad luck in the big picture – ever). As I King – I painfully remember “an in and out“ shot that would have meant the series against the Jazz. Then there is that Horry’s three and many missed free throws in game 7. Finally he missed both FTs in the World Championship final with 4 seconds to go when the game was tied. Luckily, he didn’t lose that one in the end. Anyways, despite all of this and because all of this - Thanks for the memories Vlade – all of them.
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Before every game against Lakers – there is always that discussion about the “rivalry” or lack there of, how things changed, how this is just another game bla bla bal, yada, yada, yada. I don’t care. The front of their ugly jersey still indicates that they are from the silicon city where everything but silicon is fake. They still have the same coach who always found time to say “nice” things about the Kings and the respective city. Kobe is there too. Do You really need more reasons to at least dislike them a bit? Can You really forget everything ? Don’t You have Robert Horry show up in Your dream from time to time and turn it into nightmare ? Don’t You have an urge to punch something every time when You see Bavetta, Delaney and Berndhart officiate a game ? Just hang around on Thursday night. ARCO will tell You that it isn’t just another game. Atmosphere on this site will tell You that it isn’t just another game. Hopefully, Kings players will raise to the occasion this time and give us a reason for a short but a very sweet night. Maybe Kings fans living in the silicon city can tell us whether it is just another game for them ? Their whole weekend may depend on this game in terms of being pleasant or miserable. Can it really ever be just another game ?
