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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12681255p-13534248c.html
Arco game report: Peja plays admirable defense on Allen
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Maybe it takes one to know one.
Peja Stojakovic can humble even the best defenders when he gets rolling, so when the Kings forward had to check Seattle's Ray Allen on Tuesday night, he rolled up his sleeves in a sleeveless sport and went to work.
With Cuttino Mobley picking up three first-half fouls, Kings coach Rick Adelman had Stojakovic stick with the prolific SuperSonics guard during the third quarter. Although Allen scored 23 points, only seven came after halftime.
"He's a tough cover," Stojakovic said of Allen. "They're setting good screens for him. Some of them are illegal, but they're setting them, so you have to go through them."
Chip off the old 'Nique
Another decade, another Wilkins.
Undrafted rookie Damien Wilkins, the son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins and the nephew of former NBA great Dominique Wilkins, has recently started in place of hobbled Seattle All-Star Rashard Lewis at forward. Wilkins scored 20 points Tuesday, including a 'Nique-like dunk.
More Dominique
Craig Ehlo is one of many who can't understand how Dominique Wilkins didn't make the Hall of Fame this week.
"Horrible, absolutely doesn't make any sense," said Ehlo, a Sonics color analyst who played against and alongside Wilkins, one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. "As far as I'm concerned, Dominique was up there with anyone during his era, Jordan, Bird ... "
In Williams' corner
Greg Ostertag isn't a North Carolina fan by any means, but the Kings reserve center was pulling for Roy Williams during Monday night's national championship game against Illinois.
Ostertag played for Williams at Kansas in the early 1990s.
"I'm glad he won it," said Ostertag, who added that Williams started to go gray on top because of him.
Et cetera
Kings guard Bobby Jackson, reduced to 24 games this season because of a torn ligament in his left wrist, can shoot without a brace. His return is still uncertain.
* This is how Mobley reacted after an explanation by referee Derek Richardson on a non-call: He hugged Richardson's head.
KING FOR A DAY
PEJA STOJAKOVIC -
The Kings forward has found his shooting rhythm again, hitting 5 of 6 three-pointers, scoring 24 points and posting a career-high-tying seven assists.
QUESTION POSED
CAN THE KINGS CONTINUE TO PLAY INSPIRED BALL AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR DURING THE STRETCH DRIVE?
If they don't want to slip to the No. 7 or 8 seed in the West, they had better. The Kings have been erratic lately, blowing a team out, then being routed, then repeating the cycle. Now the schedule provides a golden chance to piece together the first three-game winning streak since the Chris Webber trade. The Kings face bottom feeders Portland and the Lakers (twice) before closing the regular season against Phoenix, Utah and Phoenix again. The energy of Maurice Evans and Brian Skinner alone should be contagious for the Kings.
BIG NUMBER
36 - Kings assists, a season high and 23 more than Seattle.
SOUND BITE
"I listened to you guys."
Arco game report: Peja plays admirable defense on Allen
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Maybe it takes one to know one.
Peja Stojakovic can humble even the best defenders when he gets rolling, so when the Kings forward had to check Seattle's Ray Allen on Tuesday night, he rolled up his sleeves in a sleeveless sport and went to work.
With Cuttino Mobley picking up three first-half fouls, Kings coach Rick Adelman had Stojakovic stick with the prolific SuperSonics guard during the third quarter. Although Allen scored 23 points, only seven came after halftime.
"He's a tough cover," Stojakovic said of Allen. "They're setting good screens for him. Some of them are illegal, but they're setting them, so you have to go through them."
Chip off the old 'Nique
Another decade, another Wilkins.
Undrafted rookie Damien Wilkins, the son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins and the nephew of former NBA great Dominique Wilkins, has recently started in place of hobbled Seattle All-Star Rashard Lewis at forward. Wilkins scored 20 points Tuesday, including a 'Nique-like dunk.
More Dominique
Craig Ehlo is one of many who can't understand how Dominique Wilkins didn't make the Hall of Fame this week.
"Horrible, absolutely doesn't make any sense," said Ehlo, a Sonics color analyst who played against and alongside Wilkins, one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. "As far as I'm concerned, Dominique was up there with anyone during his era, Jordan, Bird ... "
In Williams' corner
Greg Ostertag isn't a North Carolina fan by any means, but the Kings reserve center was pulling for Roy Williams during Monday night's national championship game against Illinois.
Ostertag played for Williams at Kansas in the early 1990s.
"I'm glad he won it," said Ostertag, who added that Williams started to go gray on top because of him.
Et cetera
Kings guard Bobby Jackson, reduced to 24 games this season because of a torn ligament in his left wrist, can shoot without a brace. His return is still uncertain.
* This is how Mobley reacted after an explanation by referee Derek Richardson on a non-call: He hugged Richardson's head.
KING FOR A DAY
PEJA STOJAKOVIC -
The Kings forward has found his shooting rhythm again, hitting 5 of 6 three-pointers, scoring 24 points and posting a career-high-tying seven assists.
QUESTION POSED
CAN THE KINGS CONTINUE TO PLAY INSPIRED BALL AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR DURING THE STRETCH DRIVE?
If they don't want to slip to the No. 7 or 8 seed in the West, they had better. The Kings have been erratic lately, blowing a team out, then being routed, then repeating the cycle. Now the schedule provides a golden chance to piece together the first three-game winning streak since the Chris Webber trade. The Kings face bottom feeders Portland and the Lakers (twice) before closing the regular season against Phoenix, Utah and Phoenix again. The energy of Maurice Evans and Brian Skinner alone should be contagious for the Kings.
BIG NUMBER
36 - Kings assists, a season high and 23 more than Seattle.
SOUND BITE
"I listened to you guys."
Kings forward Peja Stojakovic, to media who had wondered why he wasn't shooting more three-pointers