http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14242774p-15061803c.html
It could come down to end
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, April 13, 2006
It's rare territory for the Kings these days, scrambling for their very playoff lives and a fan base at the edge of its seats ready to celebrate or kick a levee.
In each of coach Rick Adelman's previous seven seasons with the Kings, Sacramento has made the postseason with plenty of breathing room to spare.
Generally, the Kings were jockeying for higher seeds as opposed to now, when they'll take any berth they can get their mitts on.
As it stands, the Kings sit at No. 8, with the footing as tenuous as thin ice and the magic number to clinch still at two.
The last time the Kings were in a similar plight was 10 seasons ago, when the Kings of Mitch Richmond, Walt Williams, Brian Grant and Corliss Williamson secured the eighth and final playoff spot with a 39-43 record.
Fight to the finish
A closer look at the teams vying for the West's final postseason berths
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Record: 42-37.
Western Conference standing: seventh.
Record in last 10 games: 7-3.
Remaining schedule: vs. Portland, Friday; vs. Phoenix, Sunday; vs. New Orleans, Wednesday.
Bottom line: The Lakers can only fault themselves if they blow it from here, as they're the first team in 35 seasons to have its final five games at home, though Phoenix has beaten the Lakers nine straight.
X-factor: Dare we say Kwame Brown? Much-maligned for not playing like an overall No. 1 pick, he has elevated his game of late.
Projection: A 2-1 finish, joy again in Lakers land after missing the postseason last season. They will get Phoenix in Round 1.
KINGS
Record: 41-38.
Western Conference standing: eighth, one game behind Lakers.
Record in last 10 games: 6-4.
Remaining schedule: at Denver, Saturday; vs. New Orleans, Sunday; vs. Seattle, Tuesday.
Bottom line: It's right there on the buffet table for the Kings to seize and conquer, though no game is a breather, particularly in the thin air of Colorado and a back-to-back with the desperate Hornets.
X-factor: Has anyone seen Kenny Thomas' game? He had no points and three rebounds in 15 minutes against Phoenix, and he'll need to rebound and run the floor to help out from here.
Projection: A 2-1 finish, relief as the No. 8 seed, a temporary pause on the doom-and-despair mode of fans and some heavyweight from Texas in Round 1.
UTAH JAZZ
Record: 39-39 .
Western Conference standing: Ninth, 1 1/2 games behind the Kings.
Record in last 10 games: 7-3.
Remaining schedule: At New Orleans, Friday; at Dallas, Sunday; at San Antonio, Monday; vs. Golden State, Wednesday.
Bottom line: Brutal. The only "easy" contest is the final one, and it may be too late by then. At the very least, the Jazz may disrupt top-seeding honors for the Mavericks and/or Spurs.
X-factor: Carlos Boozer. Out for so long the league forgot about him, he has been solid since his return. He'll have to play like an MVP to give his team any fighting chance.
Projection: A 1-3 finish, another lottery ball and the sudden question of whether Jerry Sloan returns as coach.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Record: 38-40.
Western Conference standing: 10th, one game behind Utah.
Record in last 10 games: 6-4.
Remaining schedule: vs. Utah, Friday; at Kings, Sunday; at Phoenix, Monday; at Lakers, Wednesday.
Bottom line: A year after going 18-64 and months after Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets are to be applauded for still sticking around. But it's one savage ride from here with an unbeaten run likely needed to earn it.
X-factor: Chris Paul. Already a lock for Rookie of the Year, can he possibly do any more for the franchise than what he already has achieved? At the very least, he'll look to tire out some playoff foes.
Projection: A 1-3 finish, some semi-satisfaction that it came down to the end and a chance to boost the roster with a lottery pick.
It could come down to end
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, April 13, 2006
It's rare territory for the Kings these days, scrambling for their very playoff lives and a fan base at the edge of its seats ready to celebrate or kick a levee.
In each of coach Rick Adelman's previous seven seasons with the Kings, Sacramento has made the postseason with plenty of breathing room to spare.
Generally, the Kings were jockeying for higher seeds as opposed to now, when they'll take any berth they can get their mitts on.
As it stands, the Kings sit at No. 8, with the footing as tenuous as thin ice and the magic number to clinch still at two.
The last time the Kings were in a similar plight was 10 seasons ago, when the Kings of Mitch Richmond, Walt Williams, Brian Grant and Corliss Williamson secured the eighth and final playoff spot with a 39-43 record.
Fight to the finish
A closer look at the teams vying for the West's final postseason berths
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Record: 42-37.
Western Conference standing: seventh.
Record in last 10 games: 7-3.
Remaining schedule: vs. Portland, Friday; vs. Phoenix, Sunday; vs. New Orleans, Wednesday.
Bottom line: The Lakers can only fault themselves if they blow it from here, as they're the first team in 35 seasons to have its final five games at home, though Phoenix has beaten the Lakers nine straight.
X-factor: Dare we say Kwame Brown? Much-maligned for not playing like an overall No. 1 pick, he has elevated his game of late.
Projection: A 2-1 finish, joy again in Lakers land after missing the postseason last season. They will get Phoenix in Round 1.
KINGS
Record: 41-38.
Western Conference standing: eighth, one game behind Lakers.
Record in last 10 games: 6-4.
Remaining schedule: at Denver, Saturday; vs. New Orleans, Sunday; vs. Seattle, Tuesday.
Bottom line: It's right there on the buffet table for the Kings to seize and conquer, though no game is a breather, particularly in the thin air of Colorado and a back-to-back with the desperate Hornets.
X-factor: Has anyone seen Kenny Thomas' game? He had no points and three rebounds in 15 minutes against Phoenix, and he'll need to rebound and run the floor to help out from here.
Projection: A 2-1 finish, relief as the No. 8 seed, a temporary pause on the doom-and-despair mode of fans and some heavyweight from Texas in Round 1.
UTAH JAZZ
Record: 39-39 .
Western Conference standing: Ninth, 1 1/2 games behind the Kings.
Record in last 10 games: 7-3.
Remaining schedule: At New Orleans, Friday; at Dallas, Sunday; at San Antonio, Monday; vs. Golden State, Wednesday.
Bottom line: Brutal. The only "easy" contest is the final one, and it may be too late by then. At the very least, the Jazz may disrupt top-seeding honors for the Mavericks and/or Spurs.
X-factor: Carlos Boozer. Out for so long the league forgot about him, he has been solid since his return. He'll have to play like an MVP to give his team any fighting chance.
Projection: A 1-3 finish, another lottery ball and the sudden question of whether Jerry Sloan returns as coach.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Record: 38-40.
Western Conference standing: 10th, one game behind Utah.
Record in last 10 games: 6-4.
Remaining schedule: vs. Utah, Friday; at Kings, Sunday; at Phoenix, Monday; at Lakers, Wednesday.
Bottom line: A year after going 18-64 and months after Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets are to be applauded for still sticking around. But it's one savage ride from here with an unbeaten run likely needed to earn it.
X-factor: Chris Paul. Already a lock for Rookie of the Year, can he possibly do any more for the franchise than what he already has achieved? At the very least, he'll look to tire out some playoff foes.
Projection: A 1-3 finish, some semi-satisfaction that it came down to the end and a chance to boost the roster with a lottery pick.
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