Power Rankings: Kings can prove they're not pushovers
By Tony Mejia
SportsLine.com Staff Writer
Tell Tony your opinion!
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] Updated Feb. 22 [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] Man up, Sacramento. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] The Kings have been banged up, that's true. Peja Stojakovic has had a bum hamstring and Chris Webber has been putting a lot of pressure on his knee. A couple of calls have gone against them, as did opposing coaches when selecting the West All-Stars.
[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica] No doubt, the going is tough. Sounds like the perfect time to prove the tough get going, no? Not that we're saying the Kings lack toughness. In actuality, we liked Geoff Petrie's move to send his best defensive player, model teammate Doug Christie, to Orlando for the steadily explosive Cuttino Mobley. They decided to play to their strengths. That's fine, smart even, in the new up-tempo, Shaq-less West. [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] But if you're going that route to try and stay among the elite, you can't get out-slugged by improved-yet-inexperienced Chicago and you can't muster 85 points against New Jersey. Not if you expect to hang out West. Not if you put your chips in the run-and-gun basket. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] Coming out of the break, the Kings have a single game at home against Atlanta before a truly evil road swing starting Thursday. Six cities in nine days. Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte, Orlando and Miami. East Coast swings aren't supposed to be that grueling. Seems even the schedule makers are against them. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] So, what are you going to do, Sacramento? Lay down? That's what most expect. Here's your opportunity to prove you're not a pack of Mr. Softees. A split of this trip would leave the Kings in solid shape, on course to compete for home court in the first round.
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[font=Arial, Helvetica] The consequences of a full implosion? How do you like the sound of a fight with the Lakers and Wolves for the West's final two playoff spots?
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[font=Arial, Helvetica]http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/8219286
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By Tony Mejia
SportsLine.com Staff Writer
Tell Tony your opinion!
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] Updated Feb. 22 [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] Man up, Sacramento. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] The Kings have been banged up, that's true. Peja Stojakovic has had a bum hamstring and Chris Webber has been putting a lot of pressure on his knee. A couple of calls have gone against them, as did opposing coaches when selecting the West All-Stars.
[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica] No doubt, the going is tough. Sounds like the perfect time to prove the tough get going, no? Not that we're saying the Kings lack toughness. In actuality, we liked Geoff Petrie's move to send his best defensive player, model teammate Doug Christie, to Orlando for the steadily explosive Cuttino Mobley. They decided to play to their strengths. That's fine, smart even, in the new up-tempo, Shaq-less West. [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] But if you're going that route to try and stay among the elite, you can't get out-slugged by improved-yet-inexperienced Chicago and you can't muster 85 points against New Jersey. Not if you expect to hang out West. Not if you put your chips in the run-and-gun basket. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] Coming out of the break, the Kings have a single game at home against Atlanta before a truly evil road swing starting Thursday. Six cities in nine days. Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte, Orlando and Miami. East Coast swings aren't supposed to be that grueling. Seems even the schedule makers are against them. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] So, what are you going to do, Sacramento? Lay down? That's what most expect. Here's your opportunity to prove you're not a pack of Mr. Softees. A split of this trip would leave the Kings in solid shape, on course to compete for home court in the first round.
[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica] The consequences of a full implosion? How do you like the sound of a fight with the Lakers and Wolves for the West's final two playoff spots?
[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/8219286
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