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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12620478p-13474391c.html
Arco game report: Peja just getting started, they hope
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, March 25, 2005
Peja Stojakovic left Arco Arena, fresh off a one-man torching of the Dallas Mavericks with no plans to sleep for a while.
He took with him some green caffeine in the form of a bottle of Mountain Dew, explaining that with a baby at home and being a night owl by nature, "I'm up anyway."
He was certainly "on" against a foe he knows well.
Stojakovic registered a season-high 38 points in a glimpse of the Peja of old. And yes, everyone associated with the Kings is hoping the forward maintains the momentum, that he keeps creating space and opportunities, that his teammates look for him in this give-and-take deal.
"I've been inconsistent," Stojakovic said. "I knew I was struggling. I couldn't sit home and cry about it.
"Tonight, the basket felt like a swimming pool."
Said Kings coach Rick Adelman: "He looked so much like Peja from last year, except maybe for the 45-footer. That (showed) a little more confidence than I thought he had."
The long shot Adelman was joking about was more in the 30-foot range, and it was the only bad shot Stojakovic took on a 9-for-13 night.
Flagrantly speaking
Dirk Nowitzki was called for a flagrant foul when he hammered Kenny Thomas in the first half, a blow that left the Kings forward sprawled on the floor.Nowitzki didn't agree with the call, nor did the Dallas forward think that Thomas deserved the flagrant foul that was called on him in the second half.
"It was a joke," Nowitzki said of his call. "I even hit the ball a little bit. Just because he falls hard doesn't make it a flagrant foul. Obviously, the flagrant called on him was a joke, too."
For his part, Thomas said the foul he absorbed was flagrant and the one he issued was not.
Et cetera
Had Dallas prevailed, the Mavericks would have become the first Western Conference team to sweep the Kings since Phoenix and Portland pulled the 4-0 feat in 1999-2000."I thought we beat them last time here, to tell you the truth," Adelman cracked about the noncall goaltending against Erick Dampier that allowed Dallas to hold on at Arco last month.
KING FOR A DAY
PEJA STOJAKOVIC
The shooting forward was aggressive on the boards early and hot from start to finish from the field, making 6 of 8 three-point attempts and finishing with a season-high 38 points. He also led the Kings with nine rebounds.
BIG NUMBER
1-
Blocked shots for Dallas in Thursday's loss, a season low
SOUND BITE
"Tonight the basket felt like a swimming pool."
- Kings forward Peja Stojakovic on his shooting
QUESTION POSED
CAN THE KINGS STRING TOGETHER A WINNING STREAK AGAINST TEAMS BOUND FOR THE PLAYOFFS TO HOLD ONTO THE NO. 5 SEED?
Denver looms Saturday, having gone 20-5 since George Karl took over as coach, and the Nuggets present the sort of athleticism that often gives the Kings fits. Monday, it's Allen Iverson and some guy named Webber that come to Arco in what is sure to be an emotional showdown before a trip to Detroit, a team the Kings clobbered March 6. More hot shooting by Peja Stojakovic is paramount, particularly on nights when Mike Bibby and/or Cuttino Mobley are struggling.
Arco game report: Peja just getting started, they hope
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, March 25, 2005
Peja Stojakovic left Arco Arena, fresh off a one-man torching of the Dallas Mavericks with no plans to sleep for a while.
He took with him some green caffeine in the form of a bottle of Mountain Dew, explaining that with a baby at home and being a night owl by nature, "I'm up anyway."
He was certainly "on" against a foe he knows well.
Stojakovic registered a season-high 38 points in a glimpse of the Peja of old. And yes, everyone associated with the Kings is hoping the forward maintains the momentum, that he keeps creating space and opportunities, that his teammates look for him in this give-and-take deal.
"I've been inconsistent," Stojakovic said. "I knew I was struggling. I couldn't sit home and cry about it.
"Tonight, the basket felt like a swimming pool."
Said Kings coach Rick Adelman: "He looked so much like Peja from last year, except maybe for the 45-footer. That (showed) a little more confidence than I thought he had."
The long shot Adelman was joking about was more in the 30-foot range, and it was the only bad shot Stojakovic took on a 9-for-13 night.
Flagrantly speaking
Dirk Nowitzki was called for a flagrant foul when he hammered Kenny Thomas in the first half, a blow that left the Kings forward sprawled on the floor.Nowitzki didn't agree with the call, nor did the Dallas forward think that Thomas deserved the flagrant foul that was called on him in the second half.
"It was a joke," Nowitzki said of his call. "I even hit the ball a little bit. Just because he falls hard doesn't make it a flagrant foul. Obviously, the flagrant called on him was a joke, too."
For his part, Thomas said the foul he absorbed was flagrant and the one he issued was not.
Et cetera
Had Dallas prevailed, the Mavericks would have become the first Western Conference team to sweep the Kings since Phoenix and Portland pulled the 4-0 feat in 1999-2000."I thought we beat them last time here, to tell you the truth," Adelman cracked about the noncall goaltending against Erick Dampier that allowed Dallas to hold on at Arco last month.
KING FOR A DAY
PEJA STOJAKOVIC
The shooting forward was aggressive on the boards early and hot from start to finish from the field, making 6 of 8 three-point attempts and finishing with a season-high 38 points. He also led the Kings with nine rebounds.
BIG NUMBER
1-
Blocked shots for Dallas in Thursday's loss, a season low
SOUND BITE
"Tonight the basket felt like a swimming pool."
- Kings forward Peja Stojakovic on his shooting
QUESTION POSED
CAN THE KINGS STRING TOGETHER A WINNING STREAK AGAINST TEAMS BOUND FOR THE PLAYOFFS TO HOLD ONTO THE NO. 5 SEED?
Denver looms Saturday, having gone 20-5 since George Karl took over as coach, and the Nuggets present the sort of athleticism that often gives the Kings fits. Monday, it's Allen Iverson and some guy named Webber that come to Arco in what is sure to be an emotional showdown before a trip to Detroit, a team the Kings clobbered March 6. More hot shooting by Peja Stojakovic is paramount, particularly on nights when Mike Bibby and/or Cuttino Mobley are struggling.
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