http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14250411p-15067144c.html
Just think
As series grows dramatic, ponder these five questions
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Let's talk subplots.
The primary storyline, after all, gave itself away Sunday, when the Kings' blowout of the Spurs evened their series at 2-2 and set up a best-of-three sprint to answer the musical question, "What happens when a No. 8 seed forgets it's supposed to lose in the first round?"
What happens is some genuine intrigue surrounding tonight's Game 5 in San Antonio - and enough other questions to keep the peripheral conversations at a steady hum as well.
1. So how much is this going to cost the Maloofs?
More than they may want to spend, actually, because Bonzi Wells' price is rising with each of his breakout performances before national audiences.
The Spurs don't have an answer for Wells, as coach Gregg Popovich said before Game 4 and reiterated in the wake of Wells' 25-point, 17-rebound domination Sunday. As Popovich put it, "He's been a one-man wrecking crew."
And that ka-ching you hear in the background is the sonic foreshadowing of Wells' bank balance. The swingman, arguably the Kings' most consistent player all season when healthy, already is making $8 million this season. He'll hit free agency as the hottest player at his position on the open market.
Wells' agent, William Phillips, has made it clear he'll chase the dollar in free agency (helloooo, Charlotte). His last contract was for four years and $30 million.
Sacramento has the recruiting edge because it can exceed other teams' offers for a player, Wells, already on its roster. But the Maloofs will have to decide how much they're willing to commit to Wells, whose best work is coming during a contract-drive year - and how much of their recent success they would be willing to risk by letting Wells go and giving Kevin Martin the starting job.
2. Is Manu haunted, or is Ron-Ron the devil?
Popovich says Manu Ginobili's incredible shrinking act in Game 4 (three points on four shots in 24 minutes) was due to a heavy dose of Ron Artest defending him, nothing else. But Ginobili admitted that his turnover at the end of Game 3, which led to Martin's dramatic fast-break layup to win the game for the Kings, rattled around in his head far too long and affected his play.
Either way, this series may yet turn on the Artest-Ginobili factor. In the three games in which Artest has played heavy minutes guarding Ginobili, the Spurs' quick-score specialist has averaged seven points. In the game Artest sat out because of suspension, Ginobili exploded for 32.
"He's a great player," Artest said. "He might not be as publicized as a LeBron James or a Kobe Bryant, but I play him as if he's like Kobe or Michael Jordan, you know? He's so talented and so athletic, you have to give 100 percent every minute of the game or he'll scorch you."
As good as Tony Parker is, the absence of Ginobili's points from the guard position is felt all over the floor. If Artest and his teammates lock up Ginobili again tonight, they will have taken away one of the approaches that worked for San Antonio throughout its 63-victory regular season: Give Manu the ball and let him go score with it.
3. Wait: Is this spring 2000?
Kings fans probably hope not. But the parallels are eerie.
That 1999-2000 Kings playoff team finished with a 44-38 record, the same as this bunch. That team dropped its first two playoff games to the Lakers on the road, then came home and scored a close victory (99-91) and an easier one (101-88) over L.A. Alas, the road woes kicked in again in the decisive Game 5 at Staples Center, where the Lakers enjoyed a 113-86 laugher to close out the first-round series.
This team is playing a best-of-seven set, and it's with the Spurs, not the Lakers. It also went 11-11 on the road after the Artest trade versus 3-16 before it. But the playoff principle for a low seed remains the same: Win on the road or perish.
"It (San Antonio) is obviously a tough place to play," center Brad Miller said. "That's why you want the seed - so you get the home-court advantage. But we've played well down there, minus Game 1, so if we can carry over the last couple of games ... "
Beyond the brutal Game 1 beating, the Kings' games at the AT&T Center this season resulted in a one-point loss, a 10-point victory and that Game 2 overtime defeat (aka the Brent Barry Shot).
And for those Kings-philes in the audience: That 2000 Sacramento playoff team was two seasons - and three key personnel moves - away from the Western Conference finals. It would add Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson the next season, then trade Jason Williams for Mike Bibby before the '01-02 campaign to the WCF.
4. Shouldn't this be Shareef's moment?
Only if he can make it so. After waiting roughly seven lifetimes to reach a playoff series, Shareef Abdur-Rahim could use another opportunity to leave his mark.
Abdur-Rahim was brilliant in Game 2, scoring 27 points in Artest's absence. But he walked away in agony after missing an open jump shot to win the game at the end of regulation, on the Kings' final possession after Barry's three-pointer caromed around and dropped through to tie the score.
Since then, Abdur-Rahim has kept a relatively low profile, scoring a combined eight points in the Kings' two home victories. If there's any justice, the man who played 26,816 regular-season minutes before appearing in an NBA playoff game will find a way to matter in his first taste of the "second season."
5. Will Duncan break out or break apart?
Early in the series, Tim Duncan looked like a shell of the player he once was, moving tentatively and lacking the explosiveness he had before suffering plantar fasciitis in his foot. It was fun while it lasted.
In two games at Arco, Duncan was a different beast. With the Kings electing to stay on Ginobili and Tony Parker and leave him in single coverage, Duncan recorded 46 points and 20 rebounds in the two games, albeit defeats both.
On the other hand, Duncan has been unable to stop Wells and Artest on drives to the hoop, and the two-time MVP says it's still the defense that is killing the Spurs.
"We've done a pretty good job of contesting open shots in this series, but it seems like Bonzi continues to get open and continues to get to the rack," Duncan said. "We are going to have to find a way to really contain these guys."
About the writer: The Bee's Mark Kreidler can be reached at (916) 321-1149 or mkreidler@sacbee.com.
Just think
As series grows dramatic, ponder these five questions
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Let's talk subplots.
The primary storyline, after all, gave itself away Sunday, when the Kings' blowout of the Spurs evened their series at 2-2 and set up a best-of-three sprint to answer the musical question, "What happens when a No. 8 seed forgets it's supposed to lose in the first round?"
What happens is some genuine intrigue surrounding tonight's Game 5 in San Antonio - and enough other questions to keep the peripheral conversations at a steady hum as well.
1. So how much is this going to cost the Maloofs?
More than they may want to spend, actually, because Bonzi Wells' price is rising with each of his breakout performances before national audiences.
The Spurs don't have an answer for Wells, as coach Gregg Popovich said before Game 4 and reiterated in the wake of Wells' 25-point, 17-rebound domination Sunday. As Popovich put it, "He's been a one-man wrecking crew."
And that ka-ching you hear in the background is the sonic foreshadowing of Wells' bank balance. The swingman, arguably the Kings' most consistent player all season when healthy, already is making $8 million this season. He'll hit free agency as the hottest player at his position on the open market.
Wells' agent, William Phillips, has made it clear he'll chase the dollar in free agency (helloooo, Charlotte). His last contract was for four years and $30 million.
Sacramento has the recruiting edge because it can exceed other teams' offers for a player, Wells, already on its roster. But the Maloofs will have to decide how much they're willing to commit to Wells, whose best work is coming during a contract-drive year - and how much of their recent success they would be willing to risk by letting Wells go and giving Kevin Martin the starting job.
2. Is Manu haunted, or is Ron-Ron the devil?
Popovich says Manu Ginobili's incredible shrinking act in Game 4 (three points on four shots in 24 minutes) was due to a heavy dose of Ron Artest defending him, nothing else. But Ginobili admitted that his turnover at the end of Game 3, which led to Martin's dramatic fast-break layup to win the game for the Kings, rattled around in his head far too long and affected his play.
Either way, this series may yet turn on the Artest-Ginobili factor. In the three games in which Artest has played heavy minutes guarding Ginobili, the Spurs' quick-score specialist has averaged seven points. In the game Artest sat out because of suspension, Ginobili exploded for 32.
"He's a great player," Artest said. "He might not be as publicized as a LeBron James or a Kobe Bryant, but I play him as if he's like Kobe or Michael Jordan, you know? He's so talented and so athletic, you have to give 100 percent every minute of the game or he'll scorch you."
As good as Tony Parker is, the absence of Ginobili's points from the guard position is felt all over the floor. If Artest and his teammates lock up Ginobili again tonight, they will have taken away one of the approaches that worked for San Antonio throughout its 63-victory regular season: Give Manu the ball and let him go score with it.
3. Wait: Is this spring 2000?
Kings fans probably hope not. But the parallels are eerie.
That 1999-2000 Kings playoff team finished with a 44-38 record, the same as this bunch. That team dropped its first two playoff games to the Lakers on the road, then came home and scored a close victory (99-91) and an easier one (101-88) over L.A. Alas, the road woes kicked in again in the decisive Game 5 at Staples Center, where the Lakers enjoyed a 113-86 laugher to close out the first-round series.
This team is playing a best-of-seven set, and it's with the Spurs, not the Lakers. It also went 11-11 on the road after the Artest trade versus 3-16 before it. But the playoff principle for a low seed remains the same: Win on the road or perish.
"It (San Antonio) is obviously a tough place to play," center Brad Miller said. "That's why you want the seed - so you get the home-court advantage. But we've played well down there, minus Game 1, so if we can carry over the last couple of games ... "
Beyond the brutal Game 1 beating, the Kings' games at the AT&T Center this season resulted in a one-point loss, a 10-point victory and that Game 2 overtime defeat (aka the Brent Barry Shot).
And for those Kings-philes in the audience: That 2000 Sacramento playoff team was two seasons - and three key personnel moves - away from the Western Conference finals. It would add Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson the next season, then trade Jason Williams for Mike Bibby before the '01-02 campaign to the WCF.
4. Shouldn't this be Shareef's moment?
Only if he can make it so. After waiting roughly seven lifetimes to reach a playoff series, Shareef Abdur-Rahim could use another opportunity to leave his mark.
Abdur-Rahim was brilliant in Game 2, scoring 27 points in Artest's absence. But he walked away in agony after missing an open jump shot to win the game at the end of regulation, on the Kings' final possession after Barry's three-pointer caromed around and dropped through to tie the score.
Since then, Abdur-Rahim has kept a relatively low profile, scoring a combined eight points in the Kings' two home victories. If there's any justice, the man who played 26,816 regular-season minutes before appearing in an NBA playoff game will find a way to matter in his first taste of the "second season."
5. Will Duncan break out or break apart?
Early in the series, Tim Duncan looked like a shell of the player he once was, moving tentatively and lacking the explosiveness he had before suffering plantar fasciitis in his foot. It was fun while it lasted.
In two games at Arco, Duncan was a different beast. With the Kings electing to stay on Ginobili and Tony Parker and leave him in single coverage, Duncan recorded 46 points and 20 rebounds in the two games, albeit defeats both.
On the other hand, Duncan has been unable to stop Wells and Artest on drives to the hoop, and the two-time MVP says it's still the defense that is killing the Spurs.
"We've done a pretty good job of contesting open shots in this series, but it seems like Bonzi continues to get open and continues to get to the rack," Duncan said. "We are going to have to find a way to really contain these guys."
About the writer: The Bee's Mark Kreidler can be reached at (916) 321-1149 or mkreidler@sacbee.com.
