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Ailene Voisin: Kings draw their strength from Wells
By Ailene Voisin
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 1, 2006
The crooning began with just under nine minutes remaining, with the Kings pounding away at the defending world champs, the deficit expanding, the outcome inevitable.
Bon-ZI! Bon-ZI! Bon-ZI!
The crowd demanded more, more from Bonzi Wells, more of what Bonzi Wells has brought to the (gulp) mean streets of Sacramento.
All those rebounds. All those drives. All that attitude.
The Kings have become the rash that refuses to go away.
The Kings are right there, right back in this best-of-seven series against the deep and talented, and suddenly discombobulated San Antonio Spurs. Eliminate that fatal defensive lapse on Brent Barry in the right corner in Game 2? Rewind that tape all over again, only this time, with Mike Bibby defending against the crippling three-pointer? Isn't it fair to suggest that the Kings would have a bit of an edge by now?
Scratch that. They already do.
This entire transformation began with the Jan. 25 arrival of Ron Artest, of course. Before the small forward arrived and began getting under people's skin - into their bodies as well as their heads - this was a franchise living in the past, caught in transition between the days of the pretty passes and that first sweet kiss of success.
"I wouldn't exactly say that the Kings were soft," said Wells Sunday. "They just didn't play much defense. When Ron got here, he told everybody we needed to more aggressive. And while I'm not the best defender in the world, I can be aggressive."
No, while the sentiment around here remains the same - purple still reigns in these parts - - things have definitely changed. These Kings can score, even prefer to play at a faster clip, but they no longer defend quietly into the night. They throw fewer pretty passes and deliver more punches. They at least try to emulate legitimate contenders, among them these very Spurs. They reach for long rebounds, stretch for loose balls, embrace a physical, aggressive defense that, on some nights, tires Tim Duncan and leaves the crafty Manu Ginobili sitting on the bench, staring into the stands, searching for his irrepressible game.
In the game that establishes the Kings as a reasonable threat to the Spurs, with the pivotal Game 5 set for San Antonio, Brad Miller emerged from his offense funk and stroked jumpers, creating opportunities for teammates underneath.
Mike Bibby stroked threes and attacked the basket, absorbed his usual number of hits. Kevin Martin contributed yet another in his growing list of spectacular moves, this time splitting two defenders on a nifty drive. Kenny Thomas bodied the taller Duncan. Artest was all over the place, his presence everywhere that mattered, as usual.
But it was the other Kings veteran with the turbulent past, the 6-foot-5 Wells, whose relentlessness set the mood and stole the night. There was Bonzi, who had missed a pair of two crucial free throws in the Game 2 loss in San Antonio, doing it all except converting his free throws.
He scored 25 points on a variety of offerings, among them powerful one-handed dunks, smooth baseline reverses, soft jumpers from the sides, even a rare three-pointer. He overpowered one Spur after another, often outworking his opponents for his 17 rebounds, including the board that led to the putback with 8:55 to go. The one where he leaped for the ball, and scored while being fouled. That was the rebound that characterized these Kings, during so much of this series.
Suddenly, there was a different kind of name-calling directed his way.
"Look where I came from, and how hard people have been on me, said Wells, "it just feels great to be part of something special. I'm going to go out there and lay it on the line for 48 minutes. Getting hurt with a groin injury (for 10 games during the regular season) was hard on me mentally. But I'm glad the organization was patient with me. Now that I've gotten a chance to get back, I'm just happy with where I'm at."
The series is back to the beginning, reduced to a best-of-three. The Spurs still possess the homecourt advantage, are still favored to win. But no one pushes the Kings around anymore. Things have changed.
Link
By Ailene Voisin
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 1, 2006
The crooning began with just under nine minutes remaining, with the Kings pounding away at the defending world champs, the deficit expanding, the outcome inevitable.
Bon-ZI! Bon-ZI! Bon-ZI!
The crowd demanded more, more from Bonzi Wells, more of what Bonzi Wells has brought to the (gulp) mean streets of Sacramento.
All those rebounds. All those drives. All that attitude.
The Kings have become the rash that refuses to go away.
The Kings are right there, right back in this best-of-seven series against the deep and talented, and suddenly discombobulated San Antonio Spurs. Eliminate that fatal defensive lapse on Brent Barry in the right corner in Game 2? Rewind that tape all over again, only this time, with Mike Bibby defending against the crippling three-pointer? Isn't it fair to suggest that the Kings would have a bit of an edge by now?
Scratch that. They already do.
This entire transformation began with the Jan. 25 arrival of Ron Artest, of course. Before the small forward arrived and began getting under people's skin - into their bodies as well as their heads - this was a franchise living in the past, caught in transition between the days of the pretty passes and that first sweet kiss of success.
"I wouldn't exactly say that the Kings were soft," said Wells Sunday. "They just didn't play much defense. When Ron got here, he told everybody we needed to more aggressive. And while I'm not the best defender in the world, I can be aggressive."
No, while the sentiment around here remains the same - purple still reigns in these parts - - things have definitely changed. These Kings can score, even prefer to play at a faster clip, but they no longer defend quietly into the night. They throw fewer pretty passes and deliver more punches. They at least try to emulate legitimate contenders, among them these very Spurs. They reach for long rebounds, stretch for loose balls, embrace a physical, aggressive defense that, on some nights, tires Tim Duncan and leaves the crafty Manu Ginobili sitting on the bench, staring into the stands, searching for his irrepressible game.
In the game that establishes the Kings as a reasonable threat to the Spurs, with the pivotal Game 5 set for San Antonio, Brad Miller emerged from his offense funk and stroked jumpers, creating opportunities for teammates underneath.
Mike Bibby stroked threes and attacked the basket, absorbed his usual number of hits. Kevin Martin contributed yet another in his growing list of spectacular moves, this time splitting two defenders on a nifty drive. Kenny Thomas bodied the taller Duncan. Artest was all over the place, his presence everywhere that mattered, as usual.
But it was the other Kings veteran with the turbulent past, the 6-foot-5 Wells, whose relentlessness set the mood and stole the night. There was Bonzi, who had missed a pair of two crucial free throws in the Game 2 loss in San Antonio, doing it all except converting his free throws.
He scored 25 points on a variety of offerings, among them powerful one-handed dunks, smooth baseline reverses, soft jumpers from the sides, even a rare three-pointer. He overpowered one Spur after another, often outworking his opponents for his 17 rebounds, including the board that led to the putback with 8:55 to go. The one where he leaped for the ball, and scored while being fouled. That was the rebound that characterized these Kings, during so much of this series.
Suddenly, there was a different kind of name-calling directed his way.
"Look where I came from, and how hard people have been on me, said Wells, "it just feels great to be part of something special. I'm going to go out there and lay it on the line for 48 minutes. Getting hurt with a groin injury (for 10 games during the regular season) was hard on me mentally. But I'm glad the organization was patient with me. Now that I've gotten a chance to get back, I'm just happy with where I'm at."
The series is back to the beginning, reduced to a best-of-three. The Spurs still possess the homecourt advantage, are still favored to win. But no one pushes the Kings around anymore. Things have changed.
Link
