http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/140268.html
Kings stay in hunt for playoff berth
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:22 am PDT Monday, March 19, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Put aside for a moment the visions of the Dallas Mavericks running roughshod over their first-round playoff opponent and the debate about the benefits of the lottery vs. being punished in the postseason.
Getting to the second season still matters for most, whether it's the Kings or another fringe squad still jockeying for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Kings' victory at Orlando on Saturday kept them in the conversation, with today's game at Atlanta as easy as they come in terms of staying in playoff talk.
The Kings have beaten the Hawks seven consecutive times and three in a row in Atlanta, which is more than they can say for most other opponents left on their schedule. But their weeks ahead are not any worse than those of their competition, as there are late-season challenges to be had by all.
In what you could deem the Not So Amazing Race or the Sacrificial Lamb Sweepstakes, here's how the final stretch looks for the five teams, the Kings included, that either are in eighth place in the West or within two and a half games of the final playoff spot. The breakdown is in order of standings.
"Tough" games are categorized as games against teams with a record at least 10 games above .500, and the "Battle of the Not-That-Bads" are games in the final two weeks between teams competing for the eighth spot.
Golden State Warriors - Record: 32-36.
What they've done lately: Proving once again that Baron Davis holds the key to the city that hasn't hosted a playoff series since 1994, the Warriors' point guard hit jumper with 2.7 seconds left Saturday at Seattle to give Golden State its sixth victory in seven games. The Warriors have won all five games in which Davis has played since he came back from knee surgery. And considering they've won four of their past five games against Dallas, there actually might be some intrigue if they win the final spot.
The final stretch: Seven home games and seven road games for the team that's 8-26 away from Oracle Arena. Nine come against plus-.500 teams, with seven tough games against San Antonio (two), Utah (two), Phoenix, Dallas and Washington.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 13 at Kings; April 15 vs. Minnesota.
Los Angeles Clippers - Record: 30-36
What they've done lately: The season-ending injury to point guard Shaun Livingston was a major blow to an already struggling team. Entering Sunday, the Clippers had lost six of nine games since the third-year player went down Feb. 26. Former Kings reserve Jason Hart has been starting in Livingston's place since March 9. The Clippers had their first victory with Hart running the show Friday at Charlotte.
The final stretch: Eight home games and eight road games left for the team that's 9-24 away from Staples Center. Nine games come against plus-.500 teams, with six tough games against Chicago, Utah, Washington, Houston, Dallas and Phoenix.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 10 at New Orleans; April 15 vs. Kings; April 18 vs. New Orleans.
New Orleans Hornets - Records: 29-37
What they've done lately: Reigning Rookie of the Year Chris Paul is limping to the finish and hoping to earn his first postseason appearance for all his pain. The point guard was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot Friday, yet averaged 20.5 points and eight assists against New York (Friday) and Washington (Saturday). Nonetheless, New Orleans has lost seven of its past eight games.
The final stretch: Nine home games and seven on the road bodes well for a team that's 19-13 in home games. Seven games come against plus-.500 teams, with tough five games against Houston (twice), Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 7 at Minnesota; April 16 at Kings; April 18 at Clippers.
Kings - Record: 29-37
What they've done lately: A recent five-game losing streak ended all the momentum built by winning five of their previous six games. Yet the victory at Orlando on Saturday put smiles on their faces again. Everything, from the offseason standing of coach Eric Musselman to the franchise's streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances to the quality of the June draft pick, appears on the line.
The final stretch: Nine home games and seven away is as good as it gets among this bunch. Nine games are against winning teams, with tough six games against Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Utah and Phoenix (twice).
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 13 vs. Golden State; April 15 at Clippers; April 16 vs. New Orleans.
Minnesota Timberwolves - Record: 28-37
What they've done lately: Since winning three of four games in mid-February, the T-wolves have lost 10 of 13 games and infuriated Kevin Garnett in the process. The franchise star might be out of the playoff picture for the third consecutive season since Minnesota was the top seed in 2003-04. If so, let the trade rumors commence about the "Big Ticket."
The final stretch: Eight home games and nine away games left for the team that's 9-23 away from Target Center. Eight come against winning teams, with tough five games against Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Utah and Cleveland.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 7 vs. New Orleans; April 15 at Golden State.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Kings stay in hunt for playoff berth
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:22 am PDT Monday, March 19, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Put aside for a moment the visions of the Dallas Mavericks running roughshod over their first-round playoff opponent and the debate about the benefits of the lottery vs. being punished in the postseason.
Getting to the second season still matters for most, whether it's the Kings or another fringe squad still jockeying for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Kings' victory at Orlando on Saturday kept them in the conversation, with today's game at Atlanta as easy as they come in terms of staying in playoff talk.
The Kings have beaten the Hawks seven consecutive times and three in a row in Atlanta, which is more than they can say for most other opponents left on their schedule. But their weeks ahead are not any worse than those of their competition, as there are late-season challenges to be had by all.
In what you could deem the Not So Amazing Race or the Sacrificial Lamb Sweepstakes, here's how the final stretch looks for the five teams, the Kings included, that either are in eighth place in the West or within two and a half games of the final playoff spot. The breakdown is in order of standings.
"Tough" games are categorized as games against teams with a record at least 10 games above .500, and the "Battle of the Not-That-Bads" are games in the final two weeks between teams competing for the eighth spot.
Golden State Warriors - Record: 32-36.
What they've done lately: Proving once again that Baron Davis holds the key to the city that hasn't hosted a playoff series since 1994, the Warriors' point guard hit jumper with 2.7 seconds left Saturday at Seattle to give Golden State its sixth victory in seven games. The Warriors have won all five games in which Davis has played since he came back from knee surgery. And considering they've won four of their past five games against Dallas, there actually might be some intrigue if they win the final spot.
The final stretch: Seven home games and seven road games for the team that's 8-26 away from Oracle Arena. Nine come against plus-.500 teams, with seven tough games against San Antonio (two), Utah (two), Phoenix, Dallas and Washington.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 13 at Kings; April 15 vs. Minnesota.
Los Angeles Clippers - Record: 30-36
What they've done lately: The season-ending injury to point guard Shaun Livingston was a major blow to an already struggling team. Entering Sunday, the Clippers had lost six of nine games since the third-year player went down Feb. 26. Former Kings reserve Jason Hart has been starting in Livingston's place since March 9. The Clippers had their first victory with Hart running the show Friday at Charlotte.
The final stretch: Eight home games and eight road games left for the team that's 9-24 away from Staples Center. Nine games come against plus-.500 teams, with six tough games against Chicago, Utah, Washington, Houston, Dallas and Phoenix.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 10 at New Orleans; April 15 vs. Kings; April 18 vs. New Orleans.
New Orleans Hornets - Records: 29-37
What they've done lately: Reigning Rookie of the Year Chris Paul is limping to the finish and hoping to earn his first postseason appearance for all his pain. The point guard was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot Friday, yet averaged 20.5 points and eight assists against New York (Friday) and Washington (Saturday). Nonetheless, New Orleans has lost seven of its past eight games.
The final stretch: Nine home games and seven on the road bodes well for a team that's 19-13 in home games. Seven games come against plus-.500 teams, with tough five games against Houston (twice), Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 7 at Minnesota; April 16 at Kings; April 18 at Clippers.
Kings - Record: 29-37
What they've done lately: A recent five-game losing streak ended all the momentum built by winning five of their previous six games. Yet the victory at Orlando on Saturday put smiles on their faces again. Everything, from the offseason standing of coach Eric Musselman to the franchise's streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances to the quality of the June draft pick, appears on the line.
The final stretch: Nine home games and seven away is as good as it gets among this bunch. Nine games are against winning teams, with tough six games against Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Utah and Phoenix (twice).
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 13 vs. Golden State; April 15 at Clippers; April 16 vs. New Orleans.
Minnesota Timberwolves - Record: 28-37
What they've done lately: Since winning three of four games in mid-February, the T-wolves have lost 10 of 13 games and infuriated Kevin Garnett in the process. The franchise star might be out of the playoff picture for the third consecutive season since Minnesota was the top seed in 2003-04. If so, let the trade rumors commence about the "Big Ticket."
The final stretch: Eight home games and nine away games left for the team that's 9-23 away from Target Center. Eight come against winning teams, with tough five games against Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Utah and Cleveland.
Battle of the Not-That-Bads: April 7 vs. New Orleans; April 15 at Golden State.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
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