TDOS: Top 13 Playoff Games and Moments - #1

[Purple Reign]

To reiterate what I said on yesterday, I undrestand that the sentiment is that our favorite moments and favorite games are the one's that we win. But I believe that favorite playoff moments and games trancends wins and losses. It's the moments that are sports comparable to watershed events in that you will always remember where you were, how you felt when you witnessed them. After I post #1 I will post some honorable mentions, that will allow us to continue down memory lane during THDOS. H stands for Hot .

With that said, the #1 greatest moment/game in the Maloof era is.....

LA Lakers 112, Sacramento 106 OT
Gm 7, 2002 Western Conference Finals
June 2, 2002
Arco Arena, Sacramento

Don't you remember where you were on this day?

The Sacramento Kings entered Arco Arena on this day with great confidence in their team, and great anticipation that home court advantage would prevail in the final game of one the greatest playoff series in NBA History. The Lakers never had been challenged like this. They were a second away from a 3-1 deficit until Robert Horry won Game Four with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Even after winning Game Six, they came here knowing that no Lakers team had ever won a Game Seven on the road.


It took a combined 65 points and 33 rebounds from Shaq and Kobe and a combined 14 missed free throws and 2 of 20 from the three and late game bricks from Peja Stojakovic and Doug Christie from the Kings for the Lakers to secure a 112-106 OT thriller. Down the stretch, the experience and playoff poise of the Lakers was too much to match.

The Lakers trailed in the final minute of regulation and with less than two minutes to go in overtime. O'Neal tied it, 108-108, on a baseline jumper with 1:51 left, then added a pair of clutch free throws 27 seconds later that marked the beginning of the end for the Kings.

In the final 90 seconds, Sacramento missed three shots and committed two turnovers as Los Angeles dug in on defense. Meanwhile, Derek Fisher and Bryant each made a pair of free throws, allowing the Lakers finally to relax. "It shows our character, to fight through adversity," Kobe Bryant said. "When we were down, nobody hung their head, that's what impressed me the most."

The first Game Seven overtime in conference finals history had a bitter ending for the Kings, who battled all season to claim the home-court advantage for this situation. They became the first team in 20 years to lose a seventh game of the conference finals on its home floor.

"I can't say enough about how proud I am of this group and the way they approached this series and the games," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "I guess our time has to come at another time."

Looking back, the Kings will regret their poor shooting from both lines. They made a Shaq-like 16-of-30 free throws and sank just 2-of-20 3-pointers. Here are the grisley numbers:
3M 3AT FTM FTA
Mike Bibby 1 5 6 8
Doug Christie 0 3 0 1
Vlade Divac 0 0 5 10
Hedo Turkoglu 1 2 1 4
Chris Webber 0 1 2 4
Bobby Jackson 0 3 0 0
Scot Pollard 0 0 0 1
Peja Stojakovic 0 6 2 2
Total 2 20 16 30

But those misses did not hurt as much as the missing experience in games like this. "We were in control of the game the whole game," Kings forward Chris Webber said. "Even when they had a six- or seven-point lead, I just felt like we had a really good game."

"It hurts, it really hurts big," Sacramento guard Mike Bibby said. "(But) we have many more years of this to come. We should have closed it out when we could, but we have many more years of this."

Bibby and Webber again were sensational. Bibby scored 29 points, 14 of them coming in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime. Webber was smothered by double-teams but still had 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. "They are they champions and they are the best team until somebody takes that away from them," Webber admitted. "They accomplished what they wanted."

Webber opened overtime with a jumper but was overpowered by O'Neal for an inside hoop. Bibby got free for a layup off an inbounds pass, but Fisher tied it again with a pair from the line. Again, Bibby delivered, sticking a jumper for a 106-104 lead with 2:17 left.

After O'Neal's go-ahead free throws, Bibby missed a jumper and O'Neal missed a dunk. But Hedo Turkoglu rushed a pass to Webber into traffic that was broken up and grabbed by the Lakers with 48 seconds to go.

O'Neal missed a jump hook, giving the Kings yet another chance. But Doug Christie capped a terrible game by failing to draw rim on a wide-open 3-pointer, setting up Fisher's free throws with 14 seconds remaining. Bryant added two more after Webber missed a 3-pointer.

With that said, because of the atmosphere, the festivities and the magnitude of the moment, this game will go down as the greatest game in Kings history. We all left the arena or from in front of our television set knowing that the Sacramento kings for three hours was on the biggest stage in the world, going toe to toe with Goliath, only to fall victim to free throws and open 3 pointers. What a bitter pill to swallow.

 

[VF21]

And I STILL can't watch the tape.

It was a great ride that year, but much like jumping from an airplane, it wasn't the fall. It was the sudden stop at the end...

 

[Prophetess]

thanks for these PR

 

[Sac.Kings]

Sad times...

 

[nbrans]

And here I thought #1 was going to be acquiring Mateen Cleaves.


Good work, Purple Reign

 

[Amanjoy]

Now it's time to bury the hatchett and just move on. Only 3 players that played in that game still play on the Kings and Lakers...Mike Bibby and Kobe Bryant and Devean George respectively.

The Kings are at a crossroads era in their history under the leadership of Artest and Coach Muss, and the Lakers are trying to regain their greatness with Kobe, Lamar, and the recent addition of Radmonovic. I think the epic past of these two teams can add fuel and history to this rivalry, but reflecting on it too much can be harmful for Kings fans and pointless for Laker fans.

It's a bittersweet moment in Kings history, but something that Kings fans (myself included) need to try and move on from and look ahead to the future because if we do look ahead, I can say the future looks pretty bright (even if Bonzi isn't coming back).

 

[Ryan]

GAME 4 Kings vs. Suns 2001 - First Time we got out of the first round. (honorable mention)

 

[Amanjoy]

I think now we should countown the greates playoff moments instead of games. There have been some great moments in some rather dull games! Remember Game 2 of that series betweeen the Kings and Suns when CWebb slipped the ball behind the back of Tsakalidas and then kicked it out to DC for a wide-open 3! The game was a blowout, but I'll never forget that play!

 

[Viking]

Man 2002 was a crappy year. For me at least.

Pepsi blue, that Sheryl Crow song, and our grand disappointment.

Blech. I wouldn't mind erasing that year from my memory completely.

At least we got Vanilla Coke that year but that isn't much of a consolation.

 

[uolj]

Good job on writing all these up. Here's the summary:

1. Game 7, 2002 Western Conference Finals
   Los Angeles 112, Sacramento 106 OT
   
   
2. Game 4, 2002 Western Conference Finals
   Los Angeles 100, Sacramento 99
   
   
3. Game 5, 2002 Western Conference Finals
   Sacramento 92, Los Angeles 91
   
   
4. Game 3, 2006 Western Conference 1st Round
   Sacramento 94, San Antonio 93
   
   
5. Game 2, 1999 Western Conference 1st Round
   Sacramento 101, Utah 90
   
   
6. Game 4, 2002 Western Conference 2nd Round
   Sacramento 115, Dallas 113
   
   
7. Game 6, 2002 Western Conference Finals
   Los Angeles 106, Sacramento 102
   
   
8. Game 5, 1999 Western Conference 1st Round
   Utah 99, Sacramento 92
   
   
9. Game 6, 2004 Western Conference 2nd Round
   Sacramento 104, Minnesota 87
   
   
10. Game 3, 2003 Western Conference 2nd Round
    Dallas 141, Sacramento 137, 2OT
    
    
11. Game 5, 2004 Western Conference 1st Round
    Sacramento 119, Dallas 118
    
    
12. Game 3, 2004 Western Conference 2nd Round
    Minnesota 114, Sacramento 113 OT
    
    
13. Game 7, 2004 Western Conference 2nd Round
    Minnesota 83, Sacramento 80

------------------------------------------------------


My major beef is that Game 2, 2003 Western Conference 2nd Round is not even on your list, when I think it has to be in the top 5. My top 5 would be:

1. Game 7, 2002 Western Conference Finals - That close to championship.
2. Game 2, 2003 Western Conference 2nd Round - End of Kings run as true title contenders/favorites.
3. Game 4, 2002 Western Conference Finals - Heartbreaking moment probably also prevented Kings from winning it all.
4. Game 5, 2002 Western Conference Finals - Best "good" Kings moment.
5. Game 5, 1999 Western Conference 1st Round - Vlade hook inches from sealing a great upset - performance started the Kings rise.

 

[VF21]

My major beef is that Game 2, 2003 Western Conference 2nd Round is not even on your list, when I think it has to be in the top 5.

Agreed. I actually thought that would be the #1.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

I was at Game 7 and I can honestly say that I have never in my life experienced anything like that. From the moment we pulled into ARCO that Sunday afternoon to the final horn, the place was literally electric and a feeling was in the air that I never could have imagined. I have been to a lot of sporting events and experienced a lot, but this one, in terms of electricty, enthusiasm, etc, tops them all. The building was so hot due to all of the energy and the people and talking with my dad who was seated next to me was more like yelling...it was so loud. I remember when the Kings pulled ahead by 12 I think at the start of the third period everyone in our section was delirious and putting arms around people they didn't know existed a day before. With that said, it is also the most disappointing and gut wrenching thing I have been involved with. However, I came away with a great sense of unity from the fans and more of a hunger to see this franchise win a title.

 

[JJ22L]

Ya- that was definately tough. I was on the couch watching it with all my college buddies...needless to say..i drank that night.

On a happier note- at least we weren't up 2-0 in the NBA finals and blew the next 4- that ALWAYS makes me feel good when i am down... i hate the mavs

 

[Amanjoy]

Agreed. I actually thought that would be the #1.

Of all the images and sounds that haunt me the most about the Kings near-misses in the postseason, the image of Webber being carted off the floor and hearing Grant Napear say "Uh-oh...Webber is down and he is hurt bad..." is the one that stings more than anything.

The Horry shot hurt, but at that moment, I still thought the Kings could win the series and the title. It hurts more now because of the final result, and what it ended up meaning to the Lakers.

However, the moment I saw CWebb in that tunnel and heard the overall sense of worry and desparation in the voices of Grant, Jerry, and the G-Man, my heart stopped for a second and I literally felt like I was in a very bad and cruel dream!

Although we were down in that game by a lot, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that the Kings were gonna win that series and the championship. As Bibby brought the ball down the floor, I still had that confidence. As Webber slipped backdoor for the lob, I still knew it. But the second he fell and didn't get up, those thoughts left me faster than it took Nash to fast break and score at the other end. All that hopes and dreams I had going into that season took a 180 degree turn in a period of 2 seconds! Amazing and almost frightening how that happens!

I'm going to stop dwelling on it. It hurts too much! Time to move on!

 

[Amanjoy]

On a happier note- at least we weren't up 2-0 in the NBA finals and blew the next 4- that ALWAYS makes me feel good when i am down... i hate the mavs [/quote]


Good call! I hate the Mavs too! At least we can say that one player didn't beat us when we had our shot!

 

[Amanjoy]

Man 2002 was a crappy year. For me at least.

Pepsi blue, that Sheryl Crow song, and our grand disappointment.

Blech. I wouldn't mind erasing that year from my memory completely.

At least we got Vanilla Coke that year but that isn't much of a consolation.

2002 was a crappy year. It was the year I graduated high school and had to face the real world. I broke up with my grilfriend that I had been together with for a year and a half. I got bad grades my first semester at college, and froze my butt off in the bitter cold of Idaho.

Oh yeah....I didn't mention the fact that the Kings blew it in 7 to the Lakers, the Giants blew it in 7 to the Angels, the Niners had a great year only to get pummled by the Bucs, and the other bay area teams, the Raiders and A's also blew it in the postseason despite winning their divisions and being favored to win! Man, NorCal Sports fans had it rough that year!!!

 

[moradi420]

how come people keep talking about vladamir radmonovic likes he the lakers savior. ive heard three people say things like "aside from kobe, lamar, and vlade, the lakers youngster will need improvement"....

Gimme a break, vlade probably wont even start for the lakers, sure hell log a lot of minutes, but only cause la lacks outside shooting. i dont think vlade can be grouped with kobe and lamar... just my opinion

 

[Purple Reign]

Honaorable Mention List

In Chronilogical order....

Kings 84, Jazz 81
Game 3 1999 Western Conference 1st Round
5/12/99
"Jazz on the Brink of Elimination"


This is the first game back at Arco after the game 2 win in Salt Lake. Sacramento's Vlade Divac blew kisses to the crowd after a 3-pointer. Teammate Jason Williams mugged for the cameras after a flashy assist. And the upstart Sacramento Kings pushed Utah to the brink of elimination.
Divac, his left eyebrow stitched and bandaged, hit two key shots in the final 47 seconds of overtime as the Kings defeated the Jazz 84-81 Wednesday night to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-5 first-round playoff series.



Jazz 90, Kings 89
Game 4, 1999 Western Conference 1st Round
5/14/99
"The John Stockton Shot"

Nothing like a little adversity to motivate John Stockton, Karl Malone and the not-yet-over-the-hill Utah Jazz. Stockton hit a 23-foot jumper with seven-tenths of a second remaining as the Jazz stayed alive in the NBA playoffs with a 90-89 victory over the Sacramento Kings in a scrappy game Friday night.

The Kings led 44-43 at halftime, and Webber got his fourth foul just 37 seconds into the third quarter. And then a series that has been brutally physical became even more chippy, with Stockton and Sacramento's Corliss Williamson slapping each other and Malone and Divac jawing at each other. Minutes later, Divac and Utah's Greg Ostertag picked up technicals for excessive roughness, and Utah's Jeff Hornacek and coach Jerry Sloan got technicals for barking at officials.


Kings 101, Lakers 88
Game 4, 2000 Western Conference 1st Round
5/2/00
"Kings on the verge of NBA History"


The Los Angeles Lakers were beaten by a bunch of reserves named Jon, Tony and Predrag, and the NBA's best team this season suddenly was one loss from first-round playoff elimination. Jon Barry had 17 points, Tony Delk had 12 and Predrag Stojakovic 11 as the Sacramento backups outscored the Lakers' reserves 42-8.



Kings 116, Suns 90
Game 2 2001 Western Conference 1st Round
4/25/01
"A Chris Webber Move for the Ages"

A 22 point second quarter deficit got worse in the third quarter as Phoenix appeared to give up and the deficit grew to 32 points.

Doug Christie converted an alley-oop pass from Williams and a 22-footer off a feed from Webber, who rotated the ball around the back of Suns rookie center Jake Tsakalidis before zipping a pass to the top of the circle. Anyone remember that!!!
That drew gasps from the sellout crowd of 17,317 at Arco Arena.

Later, Williams put on a dribbling exhibition as he repeatedly went between his legs while simply bringing the ball upcourt.




Kings 89, Suns 82
Game 4 2001 Western Conference 1st Round
5/2/01
"Kings Win First Playoff Series"


A second straight comeback has earned the Sacramento Kings their first playoff series triumph in 20 years. Peja Stojakovic scored a playoff career-high 37 points as the Kings erased a 19-point deficit to stun the Phoenix Suns, 89-82, and capture their Western Conference first-round series, 3-1.

Sacramento has made a habit of coming back against Phoenix. The Kings rallied from a 17-point deficit in Game Three on Sunday and trailed by 28 points in a victory here March 7.



Lakers 119, Kings 113
Game 4, 2001 Western Conference 2nd Round
5/13/01
"Kings Back to Expansionism"


Kobe Bryant carried the Los Angeles Lakers to the Western Conference finals and knocked the Sacramento Kings into an offseason of uncertainty.
Bryant had playoff career highs of 48 points and 16 rebounds as the Lakers completed their second straight sweep with a 119-113 victory over the Kings, who may have seen Chris Webber for the last time. While the Lakers move on, the Kings are unsure of their next move. This was their third straight postseason appearance with a team built around Webber, who becomes a free agent July 1 and is believed to be headed elsewhere.
"It's been great," Webber said. "I don't know if this is the last game. I have to think about it."
"Now that C-Webb isn't going to be here anymore, they're going back to the expansionism," O'Neal said. "I don't think he'll be here." "THE BIG ARISTOTLE.

Webber had 21 points and 11 rebounds. The All-Star power forward made just 8-of-25 shots and was not nearly the dominant force that O'Neal and Bryant were.

"It's definitely disappointing. The truth of the matter is the Lakers are a great team," Webber said. "We felt like we could do some things but you got to give big Shaq credit and Kobe credit. They've got great balance, scoring, defense, everything. I think they've done a great job."

 

[Purple Reign]

Honorable Mention

Kings 125, Mavericks 119
Game 3, 2002 Western Conference 2nd Round
5/9/02
"The Doug Christie Game"


Doug Christie came back and the Sacramento Kings never looked back.

Christie returned from a sprained right ankle and finished a flawless shooting game with a flourish as the Kings regained home-court advantage in their Western Conference semifinal series with a 125-119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Considered the defensive stalwart in Sacramento's diversified attack, Christie made his first two shots before twisting his ankle in the first quarter. He was not expected to return -- until All-Star forward Peja Stojakovic sprained his right ankle in the third quarter.


"The doctor wanted me to wait until Saturday and then I just said 'Peja's out, let me see what I can do, let me see if it will get warm,'" Christie said. "The trainer told me to go talk to the coaches and see if they'll let you get back in. Luckily, they did."

Christie made 6-of-6 shots and 6-of-6 free throws, scoring 20 points. He was one of many weapons for the Kings, who wasted no time regaining the home-court edge they gave away with a loss in Game Two and grabbed a 2-1 series lead.
"I didn't know he played this well -- 6-for-6 and 20 points," Kings forward Chris Webber said. "We joke about it but that's the leader of this team. He's the Superman. He does everything for us and never gets the credit unless he does some type of Willis Reed-type thing like this. He plays hard every night and he was a big factor in this one."

"I looked up and saw he had six points (at halftime) and I didn't think he would be coming back," guard Mike Bibby said. "Then he came back in and he had 20. He's a warrior and he really played hard through some tough pain. He's a tough player every day in practice though, too."

Webber had 31 points and 15 rebounds and Bibby collected 29 points and eight assists.




Kings 114, Mavericks 101
Game 5, 2002 Western Conference 2nd Round
5/13/02
"Kings Clinch at Home"

Win or lose, the Dallas Mavericks knew they would be going home. Hedo Turkoglu and the Sacramento Kings made sure the flight home will not be a pleasant one.

Turkoglu jump-started the decisive run and recorded his first career playoff double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Kings eliminated the Mavericks with a 114-101 triumph in Game Five of their Western Conference semifinal series.




Mavericks 132, Kings 110
Game 2 2003 Western Conference 2nd Round
5/8/03
"Nick Van Exel and The Beginning of the End"

Nick Van Exel insisted that the Dallas Mavericks ignore the Sacramento Kings. Just make shots, he said repeatedly, and everything will be fine.

Dirk Nowitzki made five of Dallas' 11 straight baskets in the first quarter, and Van Exel went 8-of-9 in the first half as the Mavs set or tied several NBA playoff scoring records in a 132-110 victory, tying their second-round matchup at one game apiece.

Van Exel scored a career playoff-high of 36 in 30 minutes, and he didn't even get rolling until after the big run of consecutive shots. He sparked a 30-7 run in the second quarter with three straight 3-pointers. His biggest contribution, though, was inspiring his teammates to keep believing in themselves after a lopsided loss in the opener made them 2-8 in their last 10 games against the Kings.

All-Star forward Chris Webber was carried to the locker room by four teammates late in the third quarter after he injured his left knee while going for a lob pass. He limped back to the bench on his own early in the fourth and didn't return. The exact nature of Webber's injury was uncertain. He'll undergo an MRI exam Friday.
``I just twisted it,'' said Webber, who led the Kings with 31 points in 29 minutes. -

Also, backup guard Bobby Jackson, winner of the NBA's Sixth Man award, fractured his right cheekbone in a fourth-quarter collision. His status for Game 3 is not yet known.

 

[Purple Reign]

Honorable Mention

Kings 96, Lakers 90
Game 2, 2002 Western Conference Finals
5/20/02
"The Kobe Bryant Cheeseburger Mystery"

This time, Mike Bibby and the Sacramento Kings made sure there would be no fourth-quarter magic for the Los Angeles Lakers. Chris Webber had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Bibby had seven of his 20 points -- including a clutch 3-pointer -- in the final period as the Kings evened their best-of-seven Western Conference finals series against the Lakers at one game apiece, 96-90.

Bryant, who became ill after eating a bacon cheeseburger and a slice of cheesecake at his hotel Sunday night, was given intravenous fluids Monday morning and missed the team's shootaround. But he started the game and was sharp early, scoring nine points in the opening quarter as the Lakers took a 26-25 advantage.

Bryant began the second quarter on the bench, but the Kings opened the period on an 8-0 run, prompting Phil Jackson to re-insert the All-Star guard. O'Neal then took over, scoring 15 of his team's next 17 points to take a 43-42 edge.

"In certain spurts I had a lot of energy, and in some I didn't," Bryant said. "I just tried to pace myself for three quarters and then hopefully we'd get within striking distance, and then (with) the energy I saved up, I'd be able to put it all out when the game is one the line. But unfortunately we weren't able to get it to that point."



Kings 103, Lakers 90
Game 3, 2002 Western Conference Finals
5/24/02
"The Staples Center Massacre"

The Sacramento Kings' dismal postseason past at the Staples Center was vanquished with 48 dominant minutes.


Chris Webber had 26 points and nine rebounds and Mike Bibby scored 24 points as the Kings rolled to a 103-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference finals.
Sacramento was winless in five previous postseason trips to the Staples Center but needed a win in Los Angeles to reclaim home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Kings played with purpose from the opening tip and withstood a remarkable run by the Lakers in the fourth quarter to take a 2-1 lead.

 

[Purple Reign]

I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Back Down memory Lane.

 

[uolj]

Oh yeah....I didn't mention the fact that the Kings blew it in 7 to the Lakers, the Giants blew it in 7 to the Angels, the Niners had a great year only to get pummled by the Bucs, and the other bay area teams, the Raiders and A's also blew it in the postseason despite winning their divisions and being favored to win! Man, NorCal Sports fans had it rough that year!!!

I know this isn't what you meant, but that sounds like a great year for Northern California sports teams. Everybody made it to the postseason, was competitive, and provided great entertainment. I'd take that year over most others I've seen.

 

[kingsfan916]

real good work purple reign

 

[Amanjoy]

I know this isn't what you meant, but that sounds like a great year for Northern California sports teams. Everybody made it to the postseason, was competitive, and provided great entertainment. I'd take that year over most others I've seen.

Of course it was an amazingly successful year for NorCAl sports, but it hurt to see every single team work so hard and get to the brink of a championship only to blow it. You would think that with all those teams so close to winning it all that one of them would've pulled through...but it wasn't meant to be! That's what hurts the most for me!

Compared to the condition of Norcal sports teams, I've really learned to appreciate what went on in 2002! With the Niners and Raiders wallowing in futility, the Kings rebuilding on the fly, and the Giants and A's barely hanging in there for playoff contention, I'd take the 2002 near-misses any day!

It hurts though to realize that it's been almost 12 years now since a NorCal team held a title! Since the Niners Super Bowl Victory in the 1994 season, teams have challenged, but never pulled through! Depressing really...

But for me, seeing teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago White Sox, and Miami Heat win the title made me feel good because it gives hope to loyal fans of the heartbreaker team like those of us that root for the Kings. Of all the times you say 'maybe next year', next year has to come at least once. For the fans of those teams, many times the fans thought next year was finally here and it wasn't. Finally it came this year! Hopefully it comes for a NorCal team sometime soon!