Twix
Starter
Ailene Voisin: Man of steal comes to rescue
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 29, 2006
Mike Bibby has heard about it throughout his Kings career, heard it on the streets, on the airwaves, in the locker room, in the huddle. His defense lags behind his offense. His defense is too meek to matter. His latest transgression was only days ago - a mere game ago - when he left Brent Barry open for the latest three-pointer to kill the Kings.
But say it again, and again.
Bibby stole the ball ... Bibby stole the ball ... Bibby stole the ball.
Bibby stole the ball from Manu Ginobili, struck back at the San Antonio Spurs, somehow whipped a pass ahead to a streaking Kevin Martin, who somehow hung in the air long enough to elude Tim Duncan's outstretched arms, and somehow breathed life back into the Kings' postseason.
No, this one is a keeper, a real stunner, both because of the timing, and because of the source.
These were the Kings, the team that never prevails in these postseason encounters, and this was Mike Bibby. The usual plot goes something like this: The Kings compete hard but invariably falter in the closing minutes, inevitably fail to get that one crucial rebound, fail to make that one, critical defensive play.
"I know what people say," Bibby said later, as he walked down the hallway, "but I can't worry about that. I just knew that we needed to get a steal, and that we needed to score a basket after Michael Finley hit that shot."
He made the spectacular sound easy, made it sound like he does this all the time. He followed Rick Adelman's script to perfection, watched the crafty Spurs guard drive against Brad Miller, saw the Kings' burly center step up and in the way, then reached out and swatted the ball loose. He thinks he used two hands, but wasn't sure. He thinks he sensed Martin's streaking presence more than actually saw it.
"I can play defense," he insisted with that half-laugh of his. "On that play, I had to get in there and get the steal. I wasn't sure I had enough time to make it downcourt myself, so Kevin getting out there ... that was huge."
Miller stepping up, Bibby stealing the ball, Martin finishing the break.
The Kings winning with defense.
The Kings, on the other side for a change.
No one converted the threes to beat them this time, not Robert Horry, not Brent Barry, not even Finley, the former Dallas Maverick gunner whose launch from the top of the key with 41 seconds remaining seemed about to become the latest in an endless list of big shots and fatal blows.
Bibby, of course, wasn't around to endure John Stockton's series-swinging jumper in 1999, but he remembers Horry's stunning three in 2002, and there was no hiding from the ending in Game 2 of this series in San Antonio. Admittedly, he had left Barry alone in the right corner, didn't "hug" the shooter as he had been told to do. He heard all about it, both day and night, and even in his dreams. "Nightmares," he insisted.
Regarded as the Kings' best playoff performer, he was no better or worse than his teammates in the series opener at San Antonio, but was the prime culprit in Game 2. In a completely uncharacteristic performance, the longest-tenured King made a series of poor decisions, most significantly, blowing the coverage on Barry's crippling three.
"I left him," Bibby reiterated. "I got picked (by Duncan), but I already lost him. That was my fault."
Yet for reasons that even he can't quite explain, he kept turning back to the videotape, especially that three by Barry, the one that bounced up, dropped in, sent the Kings down to an 0-2 deficit.
But Friday night? Same old plot line? Same old loud, raucous scene?
Same old story, except for the ending.
If the decibel level inside Arco was more subdued than usual prior to the tipoff, it didn't take long for the building to begin rocking. The Kings swayed and listed, gained large leads, and with Duncan providing another masterful performance, especially in the low block, they trailed in the final minute, were within seconds of going down 0-3 and probably within 48 minutes of a sweep.
But Bibby said no, said not again, not this time.
Bibby stole the ball, saved the day.
Who expected that?
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 29, 2006
Mike Bibby has heard about it throughout his Kings career, heard it on the streets, on the airwaves, in the locker room, in the huddle. His defense lags behind his offense. His defense is too meek to matter. His latest transgression was only days ago - a mere game ago - when he left Brent Barry open for the latest three-pointer to kill the Kings.
But say it again, and again.
Bibby stole the ball ... Bibby stole the ball ... Bibby stole the ball.
Bibby stole the ball from Manu Ginobili, struck back at the San Antonio Spurs, somehow whipped a pass ahead to a streaking Kevin Martin, who somehow hung in the air long enough to elude Tim Duncan's outstretched arms, and somehow breathed life back into the Kings' postseason.
No, this one is a keeper, a real stunner, both because of the timing, and because of the source.
These were the Kings, the team that never prevails in these postseason encounters, and this was Mike Bibby. The usual plot goes something like this: The Kings compete hard but invariably falter in the closing minutes, inevitably fail to get that one crucial rebound, fail to make that one, critical defensive play.
"I know what people say," Bibby said later, as he walked down the hallway, "but I can't worry about that. I just knew that we needed to get a steal, and that we needed to score a basket after Michael Finley hit that shot."
He made the spectacular sound easy, made it sound like he does this all the time. He followed Rick Adelman's script to perfection, watched the crafty Spurs guard drive against Brad Miller, saw the Kings' burly center step up and in the way, then reached out and swatted the ball loose. He thinks he used two hands, but wasn't sure. He thinks he sensed Martin's streaking presence more than actually saw it.
"I can play defense," he insisted with that half-laugh of his. "On that play, I had to get in there and get the steal. I wasn't sure I had enough time to make it downcourt myself, so Kevin getting out there ... that was huge."
Miller stepping up, Bibby stealing the ball, Martin finishing the break.
The Kings winning with defense.
The Kings, on the other side for a change.
No one converted the threes to beat them this time, not Robert Horry, not Brent Barry, not even Finley, the former Dallas Maverick gunner whose launch from the top of the key with 41 seconds remaining seemed about to become the latest in an endless list of big shots and fatal blows.
Bibby, of course, wasn't around to endure John Stockton's series-swinging jumper in 1999, but he remembers Horry's stunning three in 2002, and there was no hiding from the ending in Game 2 of this series in San Antonio. Admittedly, he had left Barry alone in the right corner, didn't "hug" the shooter as he had been told to do. He heard all about it, both day and night, and even in his dreams. "Nightmares," he insisted.
Regarded as the Kings' best playoff performer, he was no better or worse than his teammates in the series opener at San Antonio, but was the prime culprit in Game 2. In a completely uncharacteristic performance, the longest-tenured King made a series of poor decisions, most significantly, blowing the coverage on Barry's crippling three.
"I left him," Bibby reiterated. "I got picked (by Duncan), but I already lost him. That was my fault."
Yet for reasons that even he can't quite explain, he kept turning back to the videotape, especially that three by Barry, the one that bounced up, dropped in, sent the Kings down to an 0-2 deficit.
But Friday night? Same old plot line? Same old loud, raucous scene?
Same old story, except for the ending.
If the decibel level inside Arco was more subdued than usual prior to the tipoff, it didn't take long for the building to begin rocking. The Kings swayed and listed, gained large leads, and with Duncan providing another masterful performance, especially in the low block, they trailed in the final minute, were within seconds of going down 0-3 and probably within 48 minutes of a sweep.
But Bibby said no, said not again, not this time.
Bibby stole the ball, saved the day.
Who expected that?
About the writer:
- Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/voisin
There was no getting around Mike blew his assignment in game 2, his defense has been suspect over the years....but like he has always done....he came thru in the clutch! Just when everybody wrote him off...he comes up with the play of the game, that steal was a play that can turn his/OUR series around. YES, Bonzi was great, Ron was a MONSTER, Kevin will go down in history with that last play...but like always thru the years, Mike was ICECOLD when we needed it the most......great night! 
