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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12533063p-13388342c.html
Watson again is upstaged by Bibby
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, March 9, 2005
There's a tattoo on Earl Watson's arm that pretty much sums his duels with Kings guard Mike Bibby over the years.
"Trials and Tribulations." Is there room for "Despair"?
Watson is the Memphis Grizzlies guard who has seen Bibby's act before, up close and personal, with Tuesday night being the closest view and most personal.
He defended Bibby about as well as legally possible on the game's final, frantic play, when the Kings' floor leader eluded Watson near the baseline, raced to the top of the key, caught the ball and unleashed a 33-foot game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
And off the glass for good measure. The Kings prevailed 85-82 and kept Memphis at arm's length in a tightening Western Conference race.
"Another big shot by Bibby," Watson muttered later. "Wow. He's done that a lot."
Watson said last week his toughest assignment in college was Bibby, when he was the cool, collected leader of Arizona and Watson competed for UCLA. And his toughest assignment in the NBA? Bibby, again.
"He always hit big shots," Watson said, nodding. "His whole career since I've seen him play, so it was a total Bibby shot. That was huge off the backboard. I don't think he called glass."
Watson tied it at 82-82 with a layup with just under a minute to play, a score that stood until Bibby's last effort. And Watson knew who would receive that opportunity.
"No doubt it was going to be Mike," he said. "I wouldn't do anything different. Well, the only thing I'd do different would be to tackle him. But then he'd get free throws, and he makes those, too."
Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello was left to bite his tongue. He wondered why no one on the three-man officiating crew started the clock when the inbound pass was deflected by James Posey, with each man possessing a timer button on his belt. They didn't touch it until Bibby had the ball. A five-minute debate ensued at the scorer's table, to no avail, because officials can only rule if Bibby got the shot off in time.
"The game should have been over, and we should be in overtime," Fratello said. "But because we don't have the power to correct an incorrect decision, we have a team with a loss right now that should still be playing.
"You can't approximate how much time was lost by the time our guy deflected it. That's why the ball died like a quail and changed direction, and (Bibby) had to run to it."
Bibby never disputed that the ball was tipped, and he added "sometimes that happens." It goes down as another Twilight Zone finish at Arco Arena. There was the buzzer-beating block by Amare Stoudemire that allowed Phoenix to hold on. And later, there was the non-call goal-tend by Dallas' Erick Dampier, who pinned the ball against the glass in the closing minutes, allowing the Mavericks to rally and win.
Watson again is upstaged by Bibby
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, March 9, 2005
There's a tattoo on Earl Watson's arm that pretty much sums his duels with Kings guard Mike Bibby over the years.
"Trials and Tribulations." Is there room for "Despair"?
Watson is the Memphis Grizzlies guard who has seen Bibby's act before, up close and personal, with Tuesday night being the closest view and most personal.
He defended Bibby about as well as legally possible on the game's final, frantic play, when the Kings' floor leader eluded Watson near the baseline, raced to the top of the key, caught the ball and unleashed a 33-foot game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
And off the glass for good measure. The Kings prevailed 85-82 and kept Memphis at arm's length in a tightening Western Conference race.
"Another big shot by Bibby," Watson muttered later. "Wow. He's done that a lot."
Watson said last week his toughest assignment in college was Bibby, when he was the cool, collected leader of Arizona and Watson competed for UCLA. And his toughest assignment in the NBA? Bibby, again.
"He always hit big shots," Watson said, nodding. "His whole career since I've seen him play, so it was a total Bibby shot. That was huge off the backboard. I don't think he called glass."
Watson tied it at 82-82 with a layup with just under a minute to play, a score that stood until Bibby's last effort. And Watson knew who would receive that opportunity.
"No doubt it was going to be Mike," he said. "I wouldn't do anything different. Well, the only thing I'd do different would be to tackle him. But then he'd get free throws, and he makes those, too."
Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello was left to bite his tongue. He wondered why no one on the three-man officiating crew started the clock when the inbound pass was deflected by James Posey, with each man possessing a timer button on his belt. They didn't touch it until Bibby had the ball. A five-minute debate ensued at the scorer's table, to no avail, because officials can only rule if Bibby got the shot off in time.
"The game should have been over, and we should be in overtime," Fratello said. "But because we don't have the power to correct an incorrect decision, we have a team with a loss right now that should still be playing.
"You can't approximate how much time was lost by the time our guy deflected it. That's why the ball died like a quail and changed direction, and (Bibby) had to run to it."
Bibby never disputed that the ball was tipped, and he added "sometimes that happens." It goes down as another Twilight Zone finish at Arco Arena. There was the buzzer-beating block by Amare Stoudemire that allowed Phoenix to hold on. And later, there was the non-call goal-tend by Dallas' Erick Dampier, who pinned the ball against the glass in the closing minutes, allowing the Mavericks to rally and win.
