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04-21-2006, 11:07 PM
Just about three months ago if anyone had said that the Sacramento Kings were going to make the playoffs they would have been considered crazy. But that’s one of the first things that Ron Artest said on his arrival in Sacramento, and crazy or not, he was right. Should we believe him now when he says the Kings will make it out of the first round; stranger things have happened, but not usually to an 8th seed.
This time last year the Kings were hobbling, literally, into the playoffs against a more invigorated Seattle team, this year it feels very different. The Kings are playing with more passion and energy than they have shown in over a year and they actually look like a team that could do some damage; too bad that they have to start against the reigning World Champs the San Antonio Spurs. Although the Kings have been playing solid ball lately, the Spurs are still the better team. The Kings finished off their last 40 games (after the Artest trade) with a 26-14 record but the Spurs finished 31-9, even so the Kings will be a worthy opponent, more so than what their 8th seeding would convey. The Kings are capable of beating San Antonio, but doing it 4 times out of 7 is the trick.
OFFENSE
The Kings can outscore most teams in the NBA, led by Mike Bibby they are 10th in the NBA but the Spurs are 2nd in points allowed and 1st when it comes to the differential between points scored and points allowed and since defense wins championships the Spurs have the advantage. The Spurs have built their reputation as a defensive minded team but they are also an efficient team as they are 4th in FG% and 2nd in 3P%, they are a smart team and don’t take many ill-advised shots. They have also played together for a long time and with a few championships under their belts they know what to do to win and can force their opponent to play the game their way. Their biggest Achilles Heel is at the free throw line where they are about the worst in the league (go figure). That is what the Kings need to take advantage of, the Kings offense isn’t what it used to be and with Artest’s hand injury they will lose part of what they have left, they will need to press the Spurs and if necessary play tough and send them to the foul line, of course that is easier said than done as the Spurs are good at avoiding fouls. On the flip side the Kings need to be aggressive on offense as well they will need to spread the floor and share the ball, but it should be in Bibby’s hands as much as possible.
DEFENSE
This is where the Kings could surprise, although not as dogged in their defensive attacks as the Spurs, they have shown more effort since Artest’s arrival and with Artest and Wells they can put together an effective plan. The King’s biggest weakness on defense is that their biggest player is not a post player; relatively speaking little defense comes out of Brad Miller, however not much offense comes from the Spurs centers so the Kings could get away with this one, although not off the hook, Miller will have to help on defense when it comes to the swift of foot Parker sliding by Bibby. The Spurs defense in the post will give them an advantage especially if the Kings get frustrated, start avoiding the paint, and wind up taking circus jumpers.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Spurs not only finished with the 1st seed in the west, they also finished the season only one game behind Detroit for the best record overall. They are no fluke; and although there are rumbling concerns about injuries they are a top tier talented team from top to bottom, however well the Kings have played these last 40 or so games they are going to have their hands full with the Spurs.
The Kings also do not have quite the depth of San Antonio but in the playoffs it is not as important as in the regular season. The biggest challenge however is that the Kings do not really have anyone to back up Bibby offensively so when he is on the bench they will need someone to step up on offense. Also the Kings are small when they sit Miller, while the Spurs have 5 players over 6’10”. Part of depth is the injury factor. After 82 games everyone is beat up, for the Kings Ron Artest’s thumb may be the most critical injury, everyone else is banged and bandaged as usual, for the Spurs neither Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili are at 100%, how well they can play injured will be key.
To offset that however, the Spurs have the experience factor. They have a total of 759 playoff games, 759! led by Robert Horry with 198 games, even youngster Beno Udrih has 21. The Kings have only 150, led by Bibby with 45; they have three potentially key players in Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia with none.
The experience factor comes into play again with the defensive match up of Bruce Bowen versus Ron Artest. Both are known for their ability to stifle their opponents defensively, while Bowen has a reputation for pushing the lines, Artest has a reputation for breaking other boundaries. With the level of tension cranked up a notch things could get dicey. Bowen has been here 80 times to Artest’s 26, if experience counts for anything Bowen may have a better handle on when to push that limit.
Speaking of experience, with 198 games and 6 rings this is Horry-time. Of all the Kings only Mike Bibby has first hand knowledge of the dagger that he can put in your heart. This is time of year when Horry shows up to play and his advantage is that most everyone else has forgotten about him. The Kings should not be inattentive when it comes to Bob.
Along with experience comes leadership. When it comes to the playoffs that role usually winds up with Bibby for the Kings and although Artest has become the ‘de facto’ team leader it will still most likely be Bibby’s job to take the clutch shot. For San Antonio when the cards are down or if their backs are against the wall the Spurs will rely on Tim Duncan to get it done, and as in the past, no doubt he will deliver.
And when it comes to leadership, last but not least, comes the coaches, Popovich and Adelman, but it’s Pops with the hardware. Popovich has the talent and has utilized it to its best ability. Adelman has talent as well, and right now he needs to prove that he can maximize what he has. If San Antonio sweeps Sacramento, it is highly likely that the Kings will be looking for another coach this summer. If Adelman can put together a strong performance from his team and take this to 6 or 7 games he’ll have some bargaining power. If the Kings somehow outlast the Spurs, the Maloofs will probably say, “Just fill in the check”.
TO A MAN:
Mike Bibby v. Tony Parker – Bibby, Parker, Duncan and Miller could be the key factors with Artest as the wild card. Mike Bibby is always a 3-point threat and if he’s feeling it he is capable of going off for 30+ points. Parker does not shoot threes (he only took 36 shots to Bibby’s 497) but his FG% is 54.8%, efficient. Parker is probably more active on defense but Bibby has had his way over Parker in the past, however I would expect to see more double teams on Bibby, especially with Artest’s injury, which will limit his (Artest’s) offense. The Kings’ offense hasn’t been quite as potent as in the past and there have been struggles within the team knowing if the play will be going through Bibby, Miller or Artest, but in the playoffs it should start (and end) most of the time with Bibby. Parker and Duncan are the primary offensive threats for the Spurs. The Kings need to try to stay in front of Parker and not let him get easy drives to the basket where he can score or dish, if they can stay in his face they can pressure him and either force him out of position or get a turnover. Both Parker and Bibby are continuing to improve and both are having career seasons, Parker may have been an All-Star but Bibby should have the edge here.
Bonzi Wells v. Manu Ginobili – Both Ginobili and Wells have suffered through injuries this season, but neither has succumbed. Ginobili is the spark and energy to the Spurs while Wells is the down low post, grind it out player for the Kings; Ginobili gives the Spurs speed, while Wells brings hustle; Ginobili leads the Spurs in steals and is a scoring threat that spreads the floor, while Wells leads his team in offensive rebounds and can find a way to get in his opponents way; very different styles. Ginobili will most likely outscore Wells but Bonzi’s contributions will be just as important.
Ron Artest v. Bruce Bowen – Is there an over/under on T’s in the playoffs? Although Artest will probably play more defense against Ginobili, Parker and even Duncan it’s likely that he and Bowen will at some point have a heated match-up. Artest had been the Kings’ number two scorer so his injured thumb could have a bigger impact than he thinks, but no doubt he’ll find a way to make up for it. Bowen’s defensive assignments will probably be as varied as Artest’s and not only is Bowen a defensive obstacle but he can also be an offensive threat, he is a 42.4% 3-point shooter, only Michael Finley takes more threes than Bowen for the Spurs.
Kenny Thomas / Shareef Abdur-Rahim v. Tim Duncan – Duncan leads the Spurs in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, blocks and is their number one scoring option, all that with an injured foot. Is there anything that the combo of Thomas and Shareef can bring against Duncan. Both can score in the paint and both are important parts in the Kings’ ability to rebound. Since getting the starting nod Thomas is a nightly double-double threat, while bringing in Shareef off the bench gives the Kings the ability to rest either Thomas or Miller. But it will probably take some double teams and harassment to slow down Duncan, and even then he’ll still get his.
Brad Miller v. Nazr Mohammed / Rasho Nesterovic – Next to Bibby, Miller’s offensive game is a critical component to the Kings having a successful game. If Miller can show up on offense it presents an abundance of challenges, will he shoot, will he pass, will he move to the basket or step back, will he really take that three, not a typical center. Miller’s style will make it tougher on Nesterovic and Mohammed since he will pull them away from the low post leaving the rebounding burden on Duncan, but he’s used to that. What Miller will need to do on defense is to not let Nesterovic and/or Mohammed have a career playoff series, a la Jerome James. The Spurs are talented enough to get the ball to the open player, even if it is Nesterovic, and if he has good positioning he will score. One of the better talents of Miller’s is his ability to shoot from the line and if he can get the Spurs (especially Duncan) into foul trouble, even better.
Bench – For Sacramento, Shareef and Martin will get most of the bench minutes, followed by Francisco Garcia and Jason Hart – but that is probably only if there’s foul trouble, not something Adelman will do unless he has to. For San Antonio, although Nazr will probably start, Rasho will be in as much, Finley will be key with Beno Udrih, and Brent Barry, plus watch out for Robert Horry and Nick Van Exel, King killers. The Kings biggest problem will be at the point and center positions as there are no true backups for Bibby or Miller. Martin, Artest, Garcia and even Miller can all run the point but the Kings are susceptible to losing their rhythm when Bibby is on the bench. Both Thomas and Shareef can spell Miller but again the Kings lose a lot of offense without Miller. The Spurs have a little more flexibility then the Kings off the bench, especially with Finley. They can also spark things up with Udrih, Barry, and Horry. The Kings rely on their bench probably more than the Spurs but the Spurs can probably get more minutes out of their bench.
For the Kings a lot will rest on Bibby, Miller and Artest but the load needs to be shared by Wells, Thomas, Abdur-Rahim and Martin if the Kings want to win anything. For the Spurs more of the weight will be on Duncan and Parker and if they want to get anywhere Ginobili, Bowen and Finley will have to step up. On a player-by-player basis, except for Duncan, the Kings actually may have the edge, the problem is that this is a team sport and for the Spurs usually the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, that’s Popovich’s success.
Winning - It won’t be easy and probably isn’t likely, but it is possible, which in itself is amazing.
Three months ago anyone who would have suggested the Kings could share the same court with the Spurs would have been laughed out of town. But times have changed, now anything is possible, do you believe?
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_17056.shtml
This time last year the Kings were hobbling, literally, into the playoffs against a more invigorated Seattle team, this year it feels very different. The Kings are playing with more passion and energy than they have shown in over a year and they actually look like a team that could do some damage; too bad that they have to start against the reigning World Champs the San Antonio Spurs. Although the Kings have been playing solid ball lately, the Spurs are still the better team. The Kings finished off their last 40 games (after the Artest trade) with a 26-14 record but the Spurs finished 31-9, even so the Kings will be a worthy opponent, more so than what their 8th seeding would convey. The Kings are capable of beating San Antonio, but doing it 4 times out of 7 is the trick.
OFFENSE
The Kings can outscore most teams in the NBA, led by Mike Bibby they are 10th in the NBA but the Spurs are 2nd in points allowed and 1st when it comes to the differential between points scored and points allowed and since defense wins championships the Spurs have the advantage. The Spurs have built their reputation as a defensive minded team but they are also an efficient team as they are 4th in FG% and 2nd in 3P%, they are a smart team and don’t take many ill-advised shots. They have also played together for a long time and with a few championships under their belts they know what to do to win and can force their opponent to play the game their way. Their biggest Achilles Heel is at the free throw line where they are about the worst in the league (go figure). That is what the Kings need to take advantage of, the Kings offense isn’t what it used to be and with Artest’s hand injury they will lose part of what they have left, they will need to press the Spurs and if necessary play tough and send them to the foul line, of course that is easier said than done as the Spurs are good at avoiding fouls. On the flip side the Kings need to be aggressive on offense as well they will need to spread the floor and share the ball, but it should be in Bibby’s hands as much as possible.
DEFENSE
This is where the Kings could surprise, although not as dogged in their defensive attacks as the Spurs, they have shown more effort since Artest’s arrival and with Artest and Wells they can put together an effective plan. The King’s biggest weakness on defense is that their biggest player is not a post player; relatively speaking little defense comes out of Brad Miller, however not much offense comes from the Spurs centers so the Kings could get away with this one, although not off the hook, Miller will have to help on defense when it comes to the swift of foot Parker sliding by Bibby. The Spurs defense in the post will give them an advantage especially if the Kings get frustrated, start avoiding the paint, and wind up taking circus jumpers.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Spurs not only finished with the 1st seed in the west, they also finished the season only one game behind Detroit for the best record overall. They are no fluke; and although there are rumbling concerns about injuries they are a top tier talented team from top to bottom, however well the Kings have played these last 40 or so games they are going to have their hands full with the Spurs.
The Kings also do not have quite the depth of San Antonio but in the playoffs it is not as important as in the regular season. The biggest challenge however is that the Kings do not really have anyone to back up Bibby offensively so when he is on the bench they will need someone to step up on offense. Also the Kings are small when they sit Miller, while the Spurs have 5 players over 6’10”. Part of depth is the injury factor. After 82 games everyone is beat up, for the Kings Ron Artest’s thumb may be the most critical injury, everyone else is banged and bandaged as usual, for the Spurs neither Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili are at 100%, how well they can play injured will be key.
To offset that however, the Spurs have the experience factor. They have a total of 759 playoff games, 759! led by Robert Horry with 198 games, even youngster Beno Udrih has 21. The Kings have only 150, led by Bibby with 45; they have three potentially key players in Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia with none.
The experience factor comes into play again with the defensive match up of Bruce Bowen versus Ron Artest. Both are known for their ability to stifle their opponents defensively, while Bowen has a reputation for pushing the lines, Artest has a reputation for breaking other boundaries. With the level of tension cranked up a notch things could get dicey. Bowen has been here 80 times to Artest’s 26, if experience counts for anything Bowen may have a better handle on when to push that limit.
Speaking of experience, with 198 games and 6 rings this is Horry-time. Of all the Kings only Mike Bibby has first hand knowledge of the dagger that he can put in your heart. This is time of year when Horry shows up to play and his advantage is that most everyone else has forgotten about him. The Kings should not be inattentive when it comes to Bob.
Along with experience comes leadership. When it comes to the playoffs that role usually winds up with Bibby for the Kings and although Artest has become the ‘de facto’ team leader it will still most likely be Bibby’s job to take the clutch shot. For San Antonio when the cards are down or if their backs are against the wall the Spurs will rely on Tim Duncan to get it done, and as in the past, no doubt he will deliver.
And when it comes to leadership, last but not least, comes the coaches, Popovich and Adelman, but it’s Pops with the hardware. Popovich has the talent and has utilized it to its best ability. Adelman has talent as well, and right now he needs to prove that he can maximize what he has. If San Antonio sweeps Sacramento, it is highly likely that the Kings will be looking for another coach this summer. If Adelman can put together a strong performance from his team and take this to 6 or 7 games he’ll have some bargaining power. If the Kings somehow outlast the Spurs, the Maloofs will probably say, “Just fill in the check”.
TO A MAN:
Mike Bibby v. Tony Parker – Bibby, Parker, Duncan and Miller could be the key factors with Artest as the wild card. Mike Bibby is always a 3-point threat and if he’s feeling it he is capable of going off for 30+ points. Parker does not shoot threes (he only took 36 shots to Bibby’s 497) but his FG% is 54.8%, efficient. Parker is probably more active on defense but Bibby has had his way over Parker in the past, however I would expect to see more double teams on Bibby, especially with Artest’s injury, which will limit his (Artest’s) offense. The Kings’ offense hasn’t been quite as potent as in the past and there have been struggles within the team knowing if the play will be going through Bibby, Miller or Artest, but in the playoffs it should start (and end) most of the time with Bibby. Parker and Duncan are the primary offensive threats for the Spurs. The Kings need to try to stay in front of Parker and not let him get easy drives to the basket where he can score or dish, if they can stay in his face they can pressure him and either force him out of position or get a turnover. Both Parker and Bibby are continuing to improve and both are having career seasons, Parker may have been an All-Star but Bibby should have the edge here.
Bonzi Wells v. Manu Ginobili – Both Ginobili and Wells have suffered through injuries this season, but neither has succumbed. Ginobili is the spark and energy to the Spurs while Wells is the down low post, grind it out player for the Kings; Ginobili gives the Spurs speed, while Wells brings hustle; Ginobili leads the Spurs in steals and is a scoring threat that spreads the floor, while Wells leads his team in offensive rebounds and can find a way to get in his opponents way; very different styles. Ginobili will most likely outscore Wells but Bonzi’s contributions will be just as important.
Ron Artest v. Bruce Bowen – Is there an over/under on T’s in the playoffs? Although Artest will probably play more defense against Ginobili, Parker and even Duncan it’s likely that he and Bowen will at some point have a heated match-up. Artest had been the Kings’ number two scorer so his injured thumb could have a bigger impact than he thinks, but no doubt he’ll find a way to make up for it. Bowen’s defensive assignments will probably be as varied as Artest’s and not only is Bowen a defensive obstacle but he can also be an offensive threat, he is a 42.4% 3-point shooter, only Michael Finley takes more threes than Bowen for the Spurs.
Kenny Thomas / Shareef Abdur-Rahim v. Tim Duncan – Duncan leads the Spurs in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, blocks and is their number one scoring option, all that with an injured foot. Is there anything that the combo of Thomas and Shareef can bring against Duncan. Both can score in the paint and both are important parts in the Kings’ ability to rebound. Since getting the starting nod Thomas is a nightly double-double threat, while bringing in Shareef off the bench gives the Kings the ability to rest either Thomas or Miller. But it will probably take some double teams and harassment to slow down Duncan, and even then he’ll still get his.
Brad Miller v. Nazr Mohammed / Rasho Nesterovic – Next to Bibby, Miller’s offensive game is a critical component to the Kings having a successful game. If Miller can show up on offense it presents an abundance of challenges, will he shoot, will he pass, will he move to the basket or step back, will he really take that three, not a typical center. Miller’s style will make it tougher on Nesterovic and Mohammed since he will pull them away from the low post leaving the rebounding burden on Duncan, but he’s used to that. What Miller will need to do on defense is to not let Nesterovic and/or Mohammed have a career playoff series, a la Jerome James. The Spurs are talented enough to get the ball to the open player, even if it is Nesterovic, and if he has good positioning he will score. One of the better talents of Miller’s is his ability to shoot from the line and if he can get the Spurs (especially Duncan) into foul trouble, even better.
Bench – For Sacramento, Shareef and Martin will get most of the bench minutes, followed by Francisco Garcia and Jason Hart – but that is probably only if there’s foul trouble, not something Adelman will do unless he has to. For San Antonio, although Nazr will probably start, Rasho will be in as much, Finley will be key with Beno Udrih, and Brent Barry, plus watch out for Robert Horry and Nick Van Exel, King killers. The Kings biggest problem will be at the point and center positions as there are no true backups for Bibby or Miller. Martin, Artest, Garcia and even Miller can all run the point but the Kings are susceptible to losing their rhythm when Bibby is on the bench. Both Thomas and Shareef can spell Miller but again the Kings lose a lot of offense without Miller. The Spurs have a little more flexibility then the Kings off the bench, especially with Finley. They can also spark things up with Udrih, Barry, and Horry. The Kings rely on their bench probably more than the Spurs but the Spurs can probably get more minutes out of their bench.
For the Kings a lot will rest on Bibby, Miller and Artest but the load needs to be shared by Wells, Thomas, Abdur-Rahim and Martin if the Kings want to win anything. For the Spurs more of the weight will be on Duncan and Parker and if they want to get anywhere Ginobili, Bowen and Finley will have to step up. On a player-by-player basis, except for Duncan, the Kings actually may have the edge, the problem is that this is a team sport and for the Spurs usually the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, that’s Popovich’s success.
Winning - It won’t be easy and probably isn’t likely, but it is possible, which in itself is amazing.
Three months ago anyone who would have suggested the Kings could share the same court with the Spurs would have been laughed out of town. But times have changed, now anything is possible, do you believe?
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_17056.shtml