http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12691829p-13544463c.html
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It would be their seventh consecutive appearance, one of the NBA's longest streaks.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, April 8, 2005
PORTLAND, Ore. - When really analyzing this NBA season, one finds that either the other teams are a bunch of slugs, or the Kings have done a solid job of overcoming change and injuries to have a decent season. When they take the Rose Garden floor tonight to face the Portland Trail Blazers, the Kings (46-30) will do so with the NBA's seventh-best record.
Currently, it appears the Kings will make the playoffs and the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-35) will not.
If that occurs, and the Indiana Pacers make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, only they and the San Antonio Spurs - at eight straight berths - will have longer postseason streaks than the Kings' seven. That might not mean much to Johnny-come-lately spoiled Kings backers, but those who have been in it for decades should have a little more respect for the team's run.
That the Phoenix Suns have come out of nowhere to clinch the Pacific Division title is a surprise even to them. Entering this season, many league observers believed the Kings had the highest probability of any NBA team to win its division.
After all, the veteran squad was coming off its fourth straight seasons of 55 or more wins. It no longer had to deal with Shaquille O'Neal playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The path appeared clear for the Kings to race to the Pacific title, even if most observers felt they wouldn't stand a chance against San Antonio or Minnesota in a playoff series.
And there were those who also believed the Kings might be inferior to the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and even the Memphis Grizzlies or Houston Rockets. Taking it one step further, some observers believed the Kings might not even qualify for the playoffs.
But as Kings coach Rick Adelman continues to chant, "We have to make the playoffs first, we have to make the playoffs first," there are basketball fans in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Jersey and, yes, Portland, who will be the first to agree.
These postseason berths can't be purchased at the local store. Surely, the NBA's richest man, Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, would dig deep into his pockets to pick up one on his way through the 10-items-or-less line.
Now, his Trail Blazers (24-50) have the NBA's fifth-worst record and are on such a youth movement that veteran guard Nick Van Exel has decided to rest his sore knees for the remainder of the season. And Portland, which had its playoff streak ended at 21 seasons last season, will miss the postseason again.
(registration required)
It would be their seventh consecutive appearance, one of the NBA's longest streaks.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, April 8, 2005
PORTLAND, Ore. - When really analyzing this NBA season, one finds that either the other teams are a bunch of slugs, or the Kings have done a solid job of overcoming change and injuries to have a decent season. When they take the Rose Garden floor tonight to face the Portland Trail Blazers, the Kings (46-30) will do so with the NBA's seventh-best record.
Currently, it appears the Kings will make the playoffs and the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-35) will not.
If that occurs, and the Indiana Pacers make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, only they and the San Antonio Spurs - at eight straight berths - will have longer postseason streaks than the Kings' seven. That might not mean much to Johnny-come-lately spoiled Kings backers, but those who have been in it for decades should have a little more respect for the team's run.
That the Phoenix Suns have come out of nowhere to clinch the Pacific Division title is a surprise even to them. Entering this season, many league observers believed the Kings had the highest probability of any NBA team to win its division.
After all, the veteran squad was coming off its fourth straight seasons of 55 or more wins. It no longer had to deal with Shaquille O'Neal playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The path appeared clear for the Kings to race to the Pacific title, even if most observers felt they wouldn't stand a chance against San Antonio or Minnesota in a playoff series.
And there were those who also believed the Kings might be inferior to the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and even the Memphis Grizzlies or Houston Rockets. Taking it one step further, some observers believed the Kings might not even qualify for the playoffs.
But as Kings coach Rick Adelman continues to chant, "We have to make the playoffs first, we have to make the playoffs first," there are basketball fans in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Jersey and, yes, Portland, who will be the first to agree.
These postseason berths can't be purchased at the local store. Surely, the NBA's richest man, Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, would dig deep into his pockets to pick up one on his way through the 10-items-or-less line.
Now, his Trail Blazers (24-50) have the NBA's fifth-worst record and are on such a youth movement that veteran guard Nick Van Exel has decided to rest his sore knees for the remainder of the season. And Portland, which had its playoff streak ended at 21 seasons last season, will miss the postseason again.
