Welcome, fellow Kings fans!
Once again I quote the immortal Grateful Dead: What a long strange trip it's been. This time I'm referring, of course, to the past 36 hours or so... I'm not going to recap it all here. Unless you've just awakened from a coma, you have to know what has gone on... AND if you have just awakened from a coma, you're probably not on the Internet reading a Kings message board.

The weather is overcast, cool but fairly dry up here today. This will hopefully give the dirt roads up here - and there are quite a few of them - at least a fighting chance to dry out just a little. There are already a number of people who cannot even get into their property and have taken to parking their cars with friends who have better paved road access. The color de jour up here is mud brown...
Here's what the Bee has to say about our matchup today:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14247531p-15065130c.html
Five keys for the Kings
1. Overcoming Artest void: The Kings can bemoan the loss of leader Ron Artest all they want; it's how they respond that's key now.
2. Slowing Parker: Somehow, the Kings have to find a way to derail Tony Parker, legally. Kevin Martin will get first dibs, but can he keep up?
3. Uncorking Miller: Brad Miller was in a snooze zone in Game 1, managing no assists and one rebound in his worst playoff outing ever. He has to show up.
4. Bang the boards: The Kings were badly beaten on the glass in Game 1, allowing 19 more rebounds. Some of it is sheer effort, or lack thereof.
5. Big-time Bibby: If there's a time for Mike Bibby to unleash one of his 40-point eruptions, it's now.
Five keys for the Spurs
1. Keep up the tempo: In Game 1, the Spurs played as perfect a half as one can remember in years. Can it continue?
2. Dusting off Duncan: Amazingly, the Spurs rolled with cornerstone Tim Duncan a relative nonfactor. Only a fool would believe that will continue.
3. More from Nazr: Nazr Mohammed had 18 points and eight rebounds and did a pretty good David Robinson imitation.
4. Bowen's impact: Bruce Bowen will likely be guarded by Bibby out of the gate. Fine. Let Bowen guard Bibby and see how that works.
5. Bench mobbing: Is it fair that the Spurs have this much clout off the bench with Nick Van Exel, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, Brent Barry and others?
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As always, we have our game discussion thread with a fantastic intro by our piksi. That's the place to go to share your game comments, feelings, etc. Please remember, however - this is a family-oriented board. Some comments just aren't appropriate.
In addition, there's the indubitable Mr. S£im's CHAT PARTY LIVE over at mIRC, server irc.bludgeon.org, channel #kingsfans. Things are a little more relaxed over there, but Slim will not hesitate to let you know if you've stepped over the line.
My house is filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread. I have coffee brewing (half decaf because I've been a little too caffeinated lately
) and I'll most likely have fritos and salsa to much on during the game.
I made a toilet paper roll holder voodoo doll but, unfortunately, it's already met with a somewhat unfortunate fate. My cat, Maxie, usually gets the empty roll holder. He figured this one was his, too. So he did what he usually does - he held it between his front paws and pretty much gutted it with his back ones. Then he dragged it away, much as his wild ancestors would have done to their slaughtered prey. He has a special hiding place under my bed and I'm sure by tomorrow the "prey" will be reduced to a few shredded pieces of thin cardboard. Perhaps that in and of itself is an omen...

Once again I quote the immortal Grateful Dead: What a long strange trip it's been. This time I'm referring, of course, to the past 36 hours or so... I'm not going to recap it all here. Unless you've just awakened from a coma, you have to know what has gone on... AND if you have just awakened from a coma, you're probably not on the Internet reading a Kings message board.

The weather is overcast, cool but fairly dry up here today. This will hopefully give the dirt roads up here - and there are quite a few of them - at least a fighting chance to dry out just a little. There are already a number of people who cannot even get into their property and have taken to parking their cars with friends who have better paved road access. The color de jour up here is mud brown...
Here's what the Bee has to say about our matchup today:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14247531p-15065130c.html
Five keys for the Kings
1. Overcoming Artest void: The Kings can bemoan the loss of leader Ron Artest all they want; it's how they respond that's key now.
2. Slowing Parker: Somehow, the Kings have to find a way to derail Tony Parker, legally. Kevin Martin will get first dibs, but can he keep up?
3. Uncorking Miller: Brad Miller was in a snooze zone in Game 1, managing no assists and one rebound in his worst playoff outing ever. He has to show up.
4. Bang the boards: The Kings were badly beaten on the glass in Game 1, allowing 19 more rebounds. Some of it is sheer effort, or lack thereof.
5. Big-time Bibby: If there's a time for Mike Bibby to unleash one of his 40-point eruptions, it's now.
Five keys for the Spurs
1. Keep up the tempo: In Game 1, the Spurs played as perfect a half as one can remember in years. Can it continue?
2. Dusting off Duncan: Amazingly, the Spurs rolled with cornerstone Tim Duncan a relative nonfactor. Only a fool would believe that will continue.
3. More from Nazr: Nazr Mohammed had 18 points and eight rebounds and did a pretty good David Robinson imitation.
4. Bowen's impact: Bruce Bowen will likely be guarded by Bibby out of the gate. Fine. Let Bowen guard Bibby and see how that works.
5. Bench mobbing: Is it fair that the Spurs have this much clout off the bench with Nick Van Exel, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, Brent Barry and others?
------------------------------------------------
As always, we have our game discussion thread with a fantastic intro by our piksi. That's the place to go to share your game comments, feelings, etc. Please remember, however - this is a family-oriented board. Some comments just aren't appropriate.
In addition, there's the indubitable Mr. S£im's CHAT PARTY LIVE over at mIRC, server irc.bludgeon.org, channel #kingsfans. Things are a little more relaxed over there, but Slim will not hesitate to let you know if you've stepped over the line.
My house is filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread. I have coffee brewing (half decaf because I've been a little too caffeinated lately

I made a toilet paper roll holder voodoo doll but, unfortunately, it's already met with a somewhat unfortunate fate. My cat, Maxie, usually gets the empty roll holder. He figured this one was his, too. So he did what he usually does - he held it between his front paws and pretty much gutted it with his back ones. Then he dragged it away, much as his wild ancestors would have done to their slaughtered prey. He has a special hiding place under my bed and I'm sure by tomorrow the "prey" will be reduced to a few shredded pieces of thin cardboard. Perhaps that in and of itself is an omen...
