http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/121079.html
Winning streak is nothing to snort at
The Kings make it four in a row and close within two games of the final West playoff spot.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:16 am PST Friday, February 9, 2007
Mike Bibby picking his nails on the bench is commonplace, but this was different.
He stood on the Arco Arena floor with four minutes left in the fourth quarter Thursday night, yet another lead cut down to size and the Kings point guard handling the pressure with a self-manicure just seconds before the final stretch. So odd was the behavior that teammate Francisco García yelled to get his attention, as if to ensure Bibby was awake.
He was, as it turns out, as evidenced by two 20-footers that Bibby made soon thereafter to dispatch Chicago. And the Kings, somewhat surprisingly, are alert like they haven't been all season, winners of four in a row after their 86-77 victory over the Bulls put them within two games of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"We're following the same footsteps as last year, and we hope it's déjà vu," said Kevin Martin, who had 29 points on 9-for-16 shooting. "We weren't panicking, though."
Although they might have late in the fourth quarter, when Bibby turned his left ankle in the final minute and hobbled off the floor in pain. He said he will miss today's practice, receive treatment and reassess the injury.
No one in the Kings' locker room was getting picky, of course, as victories of any kind are welcome. After all, this is just the second time this season they have won four in a row, having never taken it any further. But the degree with which they had mastered the art of the close game -- regardless of the outcome -- was staggering.
Coming in, seven of the last eight games had been decided in the last two minutes. In truth, they hadn't felt carefree in the closing minutes since a 12-point victory over New York on Jan. 2. The lull, as Kings coach Eric Musselman has called those long scoring droughts and moments of mishap, had come to be expected.
This time, there were two, with the first one coming midway through the third quarter. A 17-4 Kings run seemed to convince the masses that they were on their way, opening a 54-39 lead after Bibby banked in a contact-filled 20-footer and his free throw. But the Bulls finished the quarter with a 19-6 run, with the Kings aiding Chicago with turnovers, a defensive three-second violation, a palming call and other assorted issues.
The second lull came midway through the fourth, again negating what seemed to be a blow of separation. A Martin jumper was a double whammy with Tyrus Thomas' collapse just seconds before on the other end, when the Chicago rookie lost his own slam dunk contest on a fast-break attempt when his ankle rolled. Ahead 74-63, the Kings allowed a 9-2 run before Bibby stopped the surge.
"I think the players are feeling good about where they are right now," said Musselman, coaching in his first game after a two-game suspension.
The Kings' season-long penchant for being pounded on the boards certainly was not going to change against the Bulls, what with Ben Wallace and ever-reliable veteran P.J. Brown roaming the paint. But they led 37-35 at halftime, trailing by 12 rebounds but ahead mostly because Martin had 13 points and the Bulls shot 30.4 percent in the first half.
Then again, Chicago would have shot 50 percent in the half if not for Ben Gordon's 0-for-8 showing. He continued his anti-Bulls effort, finishing 3 for 16 overall and 1 for 7 on three-pointers as Chicago shot 33.3 percent overall. The rebounding issue was a nonfactor despite Chicago's 56-44 advantage, mostly because the Bulls hit only 4 of 18 three-pointers.
"We're in the best place we've been all year as far as everybody trying to accomplish the same thing," Kings swingman John Salmons said. "Just trying to get to the playoffs."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Winning streak is nothing to snort at
The Kings make it four in a row and close within two games of the final West playoff spot.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:16 am PST Friday, February 9, 2007
Mike Bibby picking his nails on the bench is commonplace, but this was different.
He stood on the Arco Arena floor with four minutes left in the fourth quarter Thursday night, yet another lead cut down to size and the Kings point guard handling the pressure with a self-manicure just seconds before the final stretch. So odd was the behavior that teammate Francisco García yelled to get his attention, as if to ensure Bibby was awake.
He was, as it turns out, as evidenced by two 20-footers that Bibby made soon thereafter to dispatch Chicago. And the Kings, somewhat surprisingly, are alert like they haven't been all season, winners of four in a row after their 86-77 victory over the Bulls put them within two games of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"We're following the same footsteps as last year, and we hope it's déjà vu," said Kevin Martin, who had 29 points on 9-for-16 shooting. "We weren't panicking, though."
Although they might have late in the fourth quarter, when Bibby turned his left ankle in the final minute and hobbled off the floor in pain. He said he will miss today's practice, receive treatment and reassess the injury.
No one in the Kings' locker room was getting picky, of course, as victories of any kind are welcome. After all, this is just the second time this season they have won four in a row, having never taken it any further. But the degree with which they had mastered the art of the close game -- regardless of the outcome -- was staggering.
Coming in, seven of the last eight games had been decided in the last two minutes. In truth, they hadn't felt carefree in the closing minutes since a 12-point victory over New York on Jan. 2. The lull, as Kings coach Eric Musselman has called those long scoring droughts and moments of mishap, had come to be expected.
This time, there were two, with the first one coming midway through the third quarter. A 17-4 Kings run seemed to convince the masses that they were on their way, opening a 54-39 lead after Bibby banked in a contact-filled 20-footer and his free throw. But the Bulls finished the quarter with a 19-6 run, with the Kings aiding Chicago with turnovers, a defensive three-second violation, a palming call and other assorted issues.
The second lull came midway through the fourth, again negating what seemed to be a blow of separation. A Martin jumper was a double whammy with Tyrus Thomas' collapse just seconds before on the other end, when the Chicago rookie lost his own slam dunk contest on a fast-break attempt when his ankle rolled. Ahead 74-63, the Kings allowed a 9-2 run before Bibby stopped the surge.
"I think the players are feeling good about where they are right now," said Musselman, coaching in his first game after a two-game suspension.
The Kings' season-long penchant for being pounded on the boards certainly was not going to change against the Bulls, what with Ben Wallace and ever-reliable veteran P.J. Brown roaming the paint. But they led 37-35 at halftime, trailing by 12 rebounds but ahead mostly because Martin had 13 points and the Bulls shot 30.4 percent in the first half.
Then again, Chicago would have shot 50 percent in the half if not for Ben Gordon's 0-for-8 showing. He continued his anti-Bulls effort, finishing 3 for 16 overall and 1 for 7 on three-pointers as Chicago shot 33.3 percent overall. The rebounding issue was a nonfactor despite Chicago's 56-44 advantage, mostly because the Bulls hit only 4 of 18 three-pointers.
"We're in the best place we've been all year as far as everybody trying to accomplish the same thing," Kings swingman John Salmons said. "Just trying to get to the playoffs."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
