Purple Reign
Starter
I know that the sentiment here in Kings Land is that our favorite moments and favorite games are the one's that we win. But this thread's author feels that favorite playoff moments and games trancends wins and losses. It's the moments that are sports comparable to events such as September 11th and the Death of JFK. Moments that you will always remember where you were, how you felt when you itnessed them. With that said, the second greatest moment/game in the Maloof era is.....
2. Los Angeles 100, Sacramento 99
Game 4, 2002 Western Conference Finals
May 26, 2002
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Four years later and it is still the game that still breaks every Kings fan’s heart.
In a game that the Kings absolutely controlled for the first three quarters, leading by as much as 23 points absolutely controlled for the first three quarters, the two-time defending champion Lakers fought back but still trailed, 99-97, after Vlade Divac made 1-of-2 free throws with 11 seconds left. The Lakers inbounded to Kobe Bryant, who drove right and went up for a shot that was challenged by the 7-foot Divac. Bryant's miss was rebounded on the other side of the basket by Shaquille O'Neal, whose follow shot also was challenged by Divac and missed. The clock was winding down and Divac batted the ball away from the basket.
"I think I got a hand up in (O'Neal's) face and contributed to helping his miss. Vlade tipped the ball out, something at that time I probably would have done, all of us would've done, I'm sure." Kings forward Chris Webber
"I'm next to Vlade, who is trying to tap the ball out -- doing the smartest thing possible -- and I look out and see Rob," - Lakers forward Rick Fox
The ball bounded to the top of the 3-point circle to Horry, who gathered it and fired a shot over a charging Webber that banged in at the horn, sending the sellout crowd of 18,997 at the Staples Center into delirium.
"You cannot think in a situation like that," Horry said. "A lot of guys, when the ball is coming, sit there and look at the clock, then it makes you rush your shot. I was like, 'If I don't get it off in time, we lose. If I do, it's money.' I was just worried about getting my form and getting my money shot down." - Lakers forward Robert Horry
"It was a blessed day for us, Thank God for Robert. Thank God his father met his mother, too." - Lakers Center Shaquille O'Neal
"That's a victory from the jaws of defeat," coach Phil Jackson added. "That was an incredible finish. And I didn't draw it up like that, so don't ask me." - Lakers Coach Phil Jackson
The first quarter was an instant replay of Game Three, when the Kings quickly took control. This time, they shot 71 percent (15-of-21) and sped to a 40-20 lead behind 10 points apiece from Bibby and Divac.
A 3-pointer by Doug Christie extended the margin to 46-22 before LA began to fight back behind Bryant, who scored 13 points in the second period. and pulled the Lakers within 65-51. However the play of the game was Samaki Walker’s only basket of the game (and the first three point basket of his career), a half court heave that counted at the end of the first half, that clearly came after time expired. Officials counted it good, and the beginning of the end for the Kings was under way.
The Kings had their lead cut to 80-73 entering the final period, when Horry scored 11 points. His two free throws and 3-pointer made it 88-84 with 6:31 to go, and another 3-pointer answered a jumper by Turkoglu and pulled LA within 96-93 with 1:39 left.
Divac sank a long jumper with 1:17 to play, but Bryant threw in a floater in the lane. After Christie missed an open 3-pointer with 39 seconds to go, O'Neal drew a foul and made two free throws with 26 seconds left. He was 9-of-13 from the line, including 5-of-6 in the final period.
The sequence has been forever burned in our minds. Kobe Bryant drives the baseline, his shot hangs on the rim. Shaq O’Neal puts the ball back up, and it is no good. Vlade Divac bats the ball away from players underneath the basket and the ball finds it’s way to the top of the three point arc right into the hands of “Big Shot Rob”, and the rest is history.
Hedo Turkoglu expresses the sentiment of all Kings fans...."It's the luckiest thing I've ever seen in my life,"Vlade hit the ball and it went straight into his hands and he was wide-open. The whole game, he was going for offensive boards, but at that moment he was waiting right there. You could never see this type of game in your life."
2. Los Angeles 100, Sacramento 99
Game 4, 2002 Western Conference Finals
May 26, 2002
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Four years later and it is still the game that still breaks every Kings fan’s heart.
In a game that the Kings absolutely controlled for the first three quarters, leading by as much as 23 points absolutely controlled for the first three quarters, the two-time defending champion Lakers fought back but still trailed, 99-97, after Vlade Divac made 1-of-2 free throws with 11 seconds left. The Lakers inbounded to Kobe Bryant, who drove right and went up for a shot that was challenged by the 7-foot Divac. Bryant's miss was rebounded on the other side of the basket by Shaquille O'Neal, whose follow shot also was challenged by Divac and missed. The clock was winding down and Divac batted the ball away from the basket.
"I think I got a hand up in (O'Neal's) face and contributed to helping his miss. Vlade tipped the ball out, something at that time I probably would have done, all of us would've done, I'm sure." Kings forward Chris Webber
"I'm next to Vlade, who is trying to tap the ball out -- doing the smartest thing possible -- and I look out and see Rob," - Lakers forward Rick Fox
The ball bounded to the top of the 3-point circle to Horry, who gathered it and fired a shot over a charging Webber that banged in at the horn, sending the sellout crowd of 18,997 at the Staples Center into delirium.
"You cannot think in a situation like that," Horry said. "A lot of guys, when the ball is coming, sit there and look at the clock, then it makes you rush your shot. I was like, 'If I don't get it off in time, we lose. If I do, it's money.' I was just worried about getting my form and getting my money shot down." - Lakers forward Robert Horry
"It was a blessed day for us, Thank God for Robert. Thank God his father met his mother, too." - Lakers Center Shaquille O'Neal
"That's a victory from the jaws of defeat," coach Phil Jackson added. "That was an incredible finish. And I didn't draw it up like that, so don't ask me." - Lakers Coach Phil Jackson
The first quarter was an instant replay of Game Three, when the Kings quickly took control. This time, they shot 71 percent (15-of-21) and sped to a 40-20 lead behind 10 points apiece from Bibby and Divac.
A 3-pointer by Doug Christie extended the margin to 46-22 before LA began to fight back behind Bryant, who scored 13 points in the second period. and pulled the Lakers within 65-51. However the play of the game was Samaki Walker’s only basket of the game (and the first three point basket of his career), a half court heave that counted at the end of the first half, that clearly came after time expired. Officials counted it good, and the beginning of the end for the Kings was under way.
The Kings had their lead cut to 80-73 entering the final period, when Horry scored 11 points. His two free throws and 3-pointer made it 88-84 with 6:31 to go, and another 3-pointer answered a jumper by Turkoglu and pulled LA within 96-93 with 1:39 left.
Divac sank a long jumper with 1:17 to play, but Bryant threw in a floater in the lane. After Christie missed an open 3-pointer with 39 seconds to go, O'Neal drew a foul and made two free throws with 26 seconds left. He was 9-of-13 from the line, including 5-of-6 in the final period.
The sequence has been forever burned in our minds. Kobe Bryant drives the baseline, his shot hangs on the rim. Shaq O’Neal puts the ball back up, and it is no good. Vlade Divac bats the ball away from players underneath the basket and the ball finds it’s way to the top of the three point arc right into the hands of “Big Shot Rob”, and the rest is history.
Hedo Turkoglu expresses the sentiment of all Kings fans...."It's the luckiest thing I've ever seen in my life,"Vlade hit the ball and it went straight into his hands and he was wide-open. The whole game, he was going for offensive boards, but at that moment he was waiting right there. You could never see this type of game in your life."
