On March 21st 2002 Kings trashed Nuggets 118 - 82 to improve to 49-18 for the season. The game wasn't as close as the score indicates. Kings were lead by Hedo Turkoglu who had 31/9/10, Webber had 20/6/5/2, Mike and Doug had 11 pts each. Vlade had 7/10/7/4st. Bobby had 17 and GW had 10 of the bench. Every Kings player who played scored - even Chucky Brown. Mateen did not get to play.
"Everybody always tried to compare Peja and I, but we are two different players," Turkoglu said. "He is a good scorer, and today I really tried to do the same thing. I try to do the same thing as a starter I do coming off the bench. Peja was missing, so I had to step it up."
"I am pleased with the way the game went. I was a little concerned with how many people we were going to have left," Sacramento coach Rick Adelman said. " I think Doug is going to be OK. We have no idea if (Stojakovic) is going to play. All I know is we're not going to push him. We can't afford to lose him for an extended period of time."
This game was yet another example of how easy was to play this game when You were on the team with Chris and Vlade.
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Kings 33 - 33 still 7th in the West - despite whatever is writen on NBA.com or elsewhere. It is a virtual tie with a tiebreaker on our side. We might slip into the 8th in an hour or so, depending on wheather Celtics are going to start playing like they did yesterday in Indiana. We are currently on the 2 games losing streak after droping both road games. 13 games home winning streak is still intact. Schedule is getting harder with a key game coming up on Wednesday night in LA.
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Everyone is focusing on Wednesday. Seattle game seams to be just a game before the Lakers game. Hopefull, Kings are thinking differently. Is is not as easy as it is on the paper. From personal experience - I know how hard it is to not think about the next game when is as big as the one we will have on Wednesday. It is not about underestimating an opponent. That won't happen. Players always say - they only focus on the next game. We all know that it is a BS. All they think about are Lakers.
The problem is the intensity. You have to bring it. If You think ahead - just for a moment - You will pay. Opponents such as Sonics got nothing to lose. No pressure - they can just "let it fly." If we don't bring it - we will be in trouble. Lakers will come soon enough. Let's first take care of Sonics. i just hope that the players and the coaching stuff are going to be able to take it one game at the time.
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Another thing that is very dangerous is false sense of security. We have become way to confortable with where we are and we are actually thinking about the 6th spot and first round etc... That usually goes wrong. This team is not as stable as we would like. There is no "x" next to our name on the standings. We still did not secure anything. We have proven that we are capable to losing to anyone on the road. We will have some tough games at home. Nothing is given. Forget the 6th spot. You lose 3 games and You go from 7 to 9 in a hurry. We are good enought to make it unless Finley shows up. We just have to be very careful.
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We are a .500 team. Maybe a little better but not much. We have identical home and road record (just reversed). We have no backup PG and the main PG is more a SG with a tendency of a volume shooter. Might not be by choice. It might be due to lack of alternatives - but it is what it is. We have one center who is alergic to rebounding. We have no backup. We don;t have enough shooting anymore. We do have a low post presence but we don't use it enough. The team has potential but it will need changes. It is understandable that the expectations increased after we suffered so much from November to February. At this moment we might be expecting too much.
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it is funny how some of You after all this yeasr have hard time understanding how RA operates. Stop wasting time discussing his decisions. Nothing will change. Let me refresh Your memmory. If choice given between 7man and 9man rotation - it will be a 7man rotation any day and twice on Sunday. When we were the deepest team we had 8 man rotation. RA will play main guys big minutes and we will pay for it from time to time but we will also benifit from it. RA will go with what works and won't change it unless there is no choice. He will not bench experienced player for missing shots or playing bad. He doesn't "do" rookies/young players if there is a choice. If he has to make a choice between a veteran vs. young player - the young player will sit. He is a offense oriented coach. If You can't play in his offense - Your defense won't get You playing time (Skinner). There have been exceptions over almost 8 years but 99% of time - You can take this to the bank. If You are at this point still shocked about some of his decisions - You need check Yourself out.
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Another thing has been constant over the last 7-8 years. For some reason - Kings are the best team to play when You are on a long losing streak. Even when we were great - we were losing such games. Wolves were on a 7 game losing streak and sure enough we were in the wrong place at the wrong time again. Hard to explain. Other teams in such situation don't try to offer the "lifeline." they would step on the head and help the opponent drown. Not Kings - no sir. We were always good at giving some "community service." No killer instinct whatsoever.
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It is award time. McCants won the TDM award mostly due to lack of alternatives. 11/1/1/1 is not a big deal but it was enough to shine in a game that was as bad as the one from Sunday.
LW - VC award goes to the Sacramento Kings. Very easy decision. 42% from the field. 3-17 from "downtown" 28 turnovers and a big fat "L" against a team that is about 10 games below .500 and was on a 7 games losing streak. Let's just hope that Kings don't defend this title very often.
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It was a brutal game on Sunday and yet again Kings outsucked wolwes when it mattered the most. Kings copeated very hard in the turnover column. At the end Bibby beat everyone but it was close. We almost defended. Brad almost had a rebound in the first half. Better luck next time. Kevin Garnet found the worst possible moment to gave a great game.
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Sonics are next and Kings betetr take them seriously. Is they start hitting their shots - they can beat anyone. No they are not any good but neither were Wolves. Looks like DFF will spare us his presence which is a great news for Kings trainers and the ARCO inventory. kings need to get out with 100% intensity and they have to play for 48 minuteswe do that - we will make it 14 straight.
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Mike - 0.5 A/TO ratio from the last game won't get it done. He is the last shooter that we have left but he is also the closest to a PG that we have left. Needs to focus on other things including "defense" (such a dirty word)
Ron - pills still working although his performances aren't as good as they were a week ago. More post up and less threes please !
SAR - is he going to the post season or not '
Bonzi - most of his rebounds come from missed layups - by him. Most of his steels come after turnovers - that he made. Come on Bonzi!
Brad - The rebounding alergy is getting worse. At leadt he is blocking some shots.
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Cisco - come on kid - we are "dying"
Kevin - making other teammates looking bad - we can't have that - can we ?
KT - he was due for a bad game just to remind us who he is and who he isn't.
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The rest - is going to disnyland.
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RA - don't let them relax now !
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Sonics suck. Allen and Lewis are good but the rest is brutal. DFF is injured and so is Collison. TDM award is going to Petro or Swift. LW-VC award is going to Damien Willkins. DFF has already has honorary LW-VC award which is easy to recognize by letter "F" between his intials.
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Go Celtics !!!
"Everybody always tried to compare Peja and I, but we are two different players," Turkoglu said. "He is a good scorer, and today I really tried to do the same thing. I try to do the same thing as a starter I do coming off the bench. Peja was missing, so I had to step it up."
"I am pleased with the way the game went. I was a little concerned with how many people we were going to have left," Sacramento coach Rick Adelman said. " I think Doug is going to be OK. We have no idea if (Stojakovic) is going to play. All I know is we're not going to push him. We can't afford to lose him for an extended period of time."
This game was yet another example of how easy was to play this game when You were on the team with Chris and Vlade.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kings 33 - 33 still 7th in the West - despite whatever is writen on NBA.com or elsewhere. It is a virtual tie with a tiebreaker on our side. We might slip into the 8th in an hour or so, depending on wheather Celtics are going to start playing like they did yesterday in Indiana. We are currently on the 2 games losing streak after droping both road games. 13 games home winning streak is still intact. Schedule is getting harder with a key game coming up on Wednesday night in LA.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone is focusing on Wednesday. Seattle game seams to be just a game before the Lakers game. Hopefull, Kings are thinking differently. Is is not as easy as it is on the paper. From personal experience - I know how hard it is to not think about the next game when is as big as the one we will have on Wednesday. It is not about underestimating an opponent. That won't happen. Players always say - they only focus on the next game. We all know that it is a BS. All they think about are Lakers.
The problem is the intensity. You have to bring it. If You think ahead - just for a moment - You will pay. Opponents such as Sonics got nothing to lose. No pressure - they can just "let it fly." If we don't bring it - we will be in trouble. Lakers will come soon enough. Let's first take care of Sonics. i just hope that the players and the coaching stuff are going to be able to take it one game at the time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Another thing that is very dangerous is false sense of security. We have become way to confortable with where we are and we are actually thinking about the 6th spot and first round etc... That usually goes wrong. This team is not as stable as we would like. There is no "x" next to our name on the standings. We still did not secure anything. We have proven that we are capable to losing to anyone on the road. We will have some tough games at home. Nothing is given. Forget the 6th spot. You lose 3 games and You go from 7 to 9 in a hurry. We are good enought to make it unless Finley shows up. We just have to be very careful.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
We are a .500 team. Maybe a little better but not much. We have identical home and road record (just reversed). We have no backup PG and the main PG is more a SG with a tendency of a volume shooter. Might not be by choice. It might be due to lack of alternatives - but it is what it is. We have one center who is alergic to rebounding. We have no backup. We don;t have enough shooting anymore. We do have a low post presence but we don't use it enough. The team has potential but it will need changes. It is understandable that the expectations increased after we suffered so much from November to February. At this moment we might be expecting too much.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
it is funny how some of You after all this yeasr have hard time understanding how RA operates. Stop wasting time discussing his decisions. Nothing will change. Let me refresh Your memmory. If choice given between 7man and 9man rotation - it will be a 7man rotation any day and twice on Sunday. When we were the deepest team we had 8 man rotation. RA will play main guys big minutes and we will pay for it from time to time but we will also benifit from it. RA will go with what works and won't change it unless there is no choice. He will not bench experienced player for missing shots or playing bad. He doesn't "do" rookies/young players if there is a choice. If he has to make a choice between a veteran vs. young player - the young player will sit. He is a offense oriented coach. If You can't play in his offense - Your defense won't get You playing time (Skinner). There have been exceptions over almost 8 years but 99% of time - You can take this to the bank. If You are at this point still shocked about some of his decisions - You need check Yourself out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another thing has been constant over the last 7-8 years. For some reason - Kings are the best team to play when You are on a long losing streak. Even when we were great - we were losing such games. Wolves were on a 7 game losing streak and sure enough we were in the wrong place at the wrong time again. Hard to explain. Other teams in such situation don't try to offer the "lifeline." they would step on the head and help the opponent drown. Not Kings - no sir. We were always good at giving some "community service." No killer instinct whatsoever.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It is award time. McCants won the TDM award mostly due to lack of alternatives. 11/1/1/1 is not a big deal but it was enough to shine in a game that was as bad as the one from Sunday.
LW - VC award goes to the Sacramento Kings. Very easy decision. 42% from the field. 3-17 from "downtown" 28 turnovers and a big fat "L" against a team that is about 10 games below .500 and was on a 7 games losing streak. Let's just hope that Kings don't defend this title very often.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a brutal game on Sunday and yet again Kings outsucked wolwes when it mattered the most. Kings copeated very hard in the turnover column. At the end Bibby beat everyone but it was close. We almost defended. Brad almost had a rebound in the first half. Better luck next time. Kevin Garnet found the worst possible moment to gave a great game.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sonics are next and Kings betetr take them seriously. Is they start hitting their shots - they can beat anyone. No they are not any good but neither were Wolves. Looks like DFF will spare us his presence which is a great news for Kings trainers and the ARCO inventory. kings need to get out with 100% intensity and they have to play for 48 minuteswe do that - we will make it 14 straight.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike - 0.5 A/TO ratio from the last game won't get it done. He is the last shooter that we have left but he is also the closest to a PG that we have left. Needs to focus on other things including "defense" (such a dirty word)
Ron - pills still working although his performances aren't as good as they were a week ago. More post up and less threes please !
SAR - is he going to the post season or not '
Bonzi - most of his rebounds come from missed layups - by him. Most of his steels come after turnovers - that he made. Come on Bonzi!
Brad - The rebounding alergy is getting worse. At leadt he is blocking some shots.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco - come on kid - we are "dying"
Kevin - making other teammates looking bad - we can't have that - can we ?
KT - he was due for a bad game just to remind us who he is and who he isn't.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The rest - is going to disnyland.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RA - don't let them relax now !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sonics suck. Allen and Lewis are good but the rest is brutal. DFF is injured and so is Collison. TDM award is going to Petro or Swift. LW-VC award is going to Damien Willkins. DFF has already has honorary LW-VC award which is easy to recognize by letter "F" between his intials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go Celtics !!!
