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Kings feel the full boot from Spurs
by Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin April 22, 2006 |
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Last Saturday night's match between the Spurs and Kings wasn't even close. The Spurs went to work right away on Sacramento this was not a surprise considering that Sacramento was lucky to even get into the playoffs. The Jazz faded a little bit in the Western Conference, New Orleans faded a little bit, and the Kings get some credit Head Coach Rick Adleman got them in the post season. Certainly the trade for Ron Artest from Indiana made the difference, Artest is critical, but Saturday to put it bluntly the Kings were outclassed by the Spurs. In another playoff series Miami could be tough with Detroit and the Spurs scouts are watching that game very closely to see how the outcomes will be. The predictors are saying Detroit and San Antonio for the finals again. There just doesn't seem to be anybody in the Western Conference beating San Antonio. Again the Kings were seeded eighth in the playoffs and San Antonio will not only have the home court advantage throughout the playoffs they have several more wins and there is just no question about it the Spurs should just roll right through the Kings and you look at Saturday's 122-88 blow out and that was a pretty good example. Artest got the Kings to the playoffs no question about it without Artest the Kings are not in the playoffs so you have to give the Kings credit in that acquisition. In all fairness to Artest he gives the Kings 100% every night in and night out. Artest's performance did not make a factor in Saturday's game Artest finished the ball game with 16 points second in scoring for the Kings in game #1. Artest unfortunately is taking more shots than he should and towards the end of the year Artest was doing a lot more shooting and Adleman just cant whether its Artest, or former King Chris Webber basically because their super stars just lets them do what they want. Adleman has done a pretty good job coaching but the big question is will Adleman be back next year with the Kings? The Kings have their work cut out for them for the rest of the playoffs if they want to be a factor in this best of seven series. With the Spurs taking the first one and both clubs coming back on Tuesday night for game two for a 6:30PM PDT tip off and if the Spurs just capture three more games beginning Tuesday night in San Antonio. Right now the money is easily on the Spurs and moving onto the next round. The Spurs are coming to Sacramento on the 28th and 30th. You can expect the fans at Arco to support the team. The fans in Sacramento really know that the Kings are the only show in town. The fans as usual will be out there vocally supporting Sacramento and that should give the Kings a lift but no one at this point can see the Kings slipping by San Antonio. The Spurs are a NBA Championship caliber team a top flight team and even coming back to Sacramento it won’t make that much of a difference. Game one is a clear indication of what to come the Spurs are going to come with the attitude that this is the first one out of the way now lets go get game #2. In reality this is the way the whole series is going to go. The Spurs dunked the Kings by 34 points and for the Spurs Tony Parker lead the way with 25 points, Nazr Mohammed had 18, Norm Van Exel a former Warrior with 11 and the same amount for Tim Duncan. The Kings finished off with Ron Artest with 16, Mike Bibby 17, and Bozi Wells 12 for the top three in Sacramento scoring. JC and Kenny G footnotes: Here's what to expect for Tuesday night in San Antonio look for the Spurs to come up with win number two and it would be a shock if the Kings evened the series. San Antonio is just a better team. The entire team is impressive you can point to Tony Parker, Nazr Mohammed, or Van Exel and Tim Duncan but the entire team can come out and crash the basket. They would not be a Championship team or get in the finals in the last two years and almost win it without the solid team they have. You can go right down the roster of the Spurs with the Spurs starting five and the deep bench they have. Not putting Sacramento down but there is no comparison, you can't compare Bibby, Artest, or Wells to the San Antonio players. The Kings know playing on the San Antonio home floor is going to be another tough go on Tuesday night and that's why the team with the best record has the home floor advantage and the team that is seeded in the eighth and final spot in the playoffs will have to travel in their front games to try to win on the road which will be difficult for the Kings the rest of the way. Game two Tuesday night at 6:30PM PDT tip off. April 28th at Sacramento April 30th at Sacramento May 2 at San Antonio May 5 at San Antonio if necessary May 7 at San Antonio if necessary Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin both host Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento Saturdays |
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