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PROGRAM CHANGE: The part of "Peja the Allstar" will be played tonight by understudy, Hedo Turkoglu.
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IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT...

JB

What a great win. The Raps couldn't miss in the first half and the Kings really weren't challenging their shooters. I was pretty worried when they mentioned the Raps had been off for 5 days. They moved the ball real well and go lots of open looks and were hitting off of their screens.
Hedo really showed me that he is improving his decision making. It was great to see him be so aggressive in the 4th quarter. You could clearly see the Kings were a much better team with him on the floor. The starting guards really were the key to winning. Since they have had their share of bad games, it was a nice change. And if Chris Webber was playing with a bad finger, I might just go get a pair of pliers and hurt another of his fingers. I think he had something like 31 points and 15 rebounds and seemed to shoot very well from the foul line.

I actually have seen Webber and Bibby hooking up on more throw downs lately, but that's a little easier than a flying jam if that's what you mean. Napear made a comment today that Webber did that off of his injured ankle and that was a good sign. I'm a little less optimisitic since Webber has not really improved or declined any great deal. He's going to need a summer off before he gets that explosive movement out of his legs again. On the positive side, this has forced him to be a little more crafty with his moves. I do find it odd that he seems to land on his backside a great deal while finishing drives. It hasn't hurt him so far and if that's what he thinks he has to do to avoid landing on his ankle wrong, so be it.

TheBigO

Well today was one of those days where hoops is both a source of happiness and one of frustration.

Case in point: My old high school (where I graduated from) is celebrating the fact that their girls bball team is the DI NorCal champs. Likewise my new high school (where I work) is celebrating the fact that their girls bball team is the DII NorCal champs. Both teams will compete for the state championship in their respective divisions.

On the other hand, my Golden Bears stumbled in the tourney, dropping to Pitt by double digits despite it only being a one point game at the half. Nevertheless, Cal is young and well coached and should be good team for the foreseeable future.

And I wasn't too upset with their loss considering that they played hard and illustrated some tough perimeter D. I think the better team simply won today.

Which brings me to the Kings.

Another study in contrast, the Kings grab a much needed win, but don't bowl me over with their effort in doing so.

The truth is that the Kings should be EMBARRASSED by their defensive effort the last two games. The Knicks and Rapz are two of the most anemic offensive powers in the L. And yet both teams were allowed to get Chalupa-esque numbers against a Kings team that had been pretty solid defensively earlier this season.

The fact that they won the game is the only thing keeping me from being upset about the lackluster effort on that end of the floor. However, I hardly think I'd be alone in my criticism had Alvin William's shot gone in (what D and a subsequent play by DC huh?) and the Dino's pulled one out.

We are now approaching the point in the regular season where how you win starts to become almost as important as WHETHER you win. Today's Kings team is not going to win a championship. The Kings team that rattled of 12 straight earlier this year certainly looked like they could be.

Get healthy, get focused, get dominant. Only one month to go.

On the bright side, Webb looked great early, Bibby seems to have found his stroke again and going 4-1 on a road trip is always a good thing.

Lastly, is it just me or has Webber not really thrown one down in a LONG time? Obviously he can be effective without the hangtime, (MJ during the end of the 2nd 3peat was better than MJ during the beginning of the 1st 3peat so . . .) but I wonder if the aggregate of all the injuries to his ankles have permenantly robbed him of his explosiveness.

Finally, some fantastic hoops this morning. The Philly/Orlando game was great but I think Cincy/UCLA was even better. I do think Huggins was robbed at the end of the 1st overtime with the no call but . . .

I'm certainly not crying for the guy. I'm definitely not a Huggin's fan. I don't think its a coincidence that his graduation rates are awful and that the guys he does get into the L are all jerks: Kenyon Martin, Ruben Patterson, Nick Van Exel, Danny Fortson, Melvin Levett, and now Steve Logan who refused to shake hands with the UCLA players.

Seems UCLA plays best as an underdog and that Lavin's team does just enough to keep him from getting fired.

SactoGreg

THAT was a great basketball game to watch! Sure, it's better when the Kings win, but why is it those two teams make it a hair-raiser when they play at Air Canada Centre?

I was hoping Webber would step up today, and man, did he ever! I loved watching him play good defense and taking the ball inside. 15 for 18 from the line is damn good!

Bibby and Christie had a few clutch baskets. Vlade had a good first half and played with heart in the second half. Bobby played his normal, up tempo defense (although it was tough watching him miss so many easy baskets). And Hedo played a good game to go along with his good start.

Come home, Kings, where the Arco crowd will take care of you for the next four games. You'll need it when you hit the road for six!

GO KINGS!

OhSC

Kings force Ruptures to foul a lot! Well, Chris Webber forces Ruptures to foul, a lot! Hmm, wonder what Kings record is when fouls given are <= .75 of fouls taken? Me like.

Did y'all see Bobby on ESPN this morning? Long segment featuring Bobby and his adopted nephew. Heh, kid said Bobby can't dunk!

Saw flashes of some good D by Kings!

OK, how many times has Vlade been wide open on that p&r onna northside this last two weeks? I'd like to see that play run more, a la Bobby's feed to Scot.

...YOU DON'T LIKE KINGS BASKETBALL

Reno Lady

I liked it! 4-1 on the road is darn good and should keep the "they can't win on the road" detractors quiet for a while. Hopefully it will also give the Kings themselves confidence that they CAN win on the road and the next trip will be a

winning one too.

Webber indeed stepped up bigtime today, including taking a charge in the 4th, grabbing a couple of crucial rebounds, getting to the line often and making all but 3 of his FTs - AND calling a smart timeout to let the Kings retain possession of the ball.

I was really happy to see Hedo start in place of Peja and play so well. He got a little too aggressive a couple of times and got called for offensive fouls but all in all he had a very good game.

Christie's layup in the 4th on the long pass from Webber and his trip to the FT line was critical. I was really nervous when I saw it was Christie who had leaked out and was running toward the basket as he has a tendency to miss easy layups. It was great to see him keep his focus and finish this time.

I just wish they would have played defense in the first half like they did the end of the 3rd quarter and the rest of the game. I realize that being short-handed on the bench means players & coaches have to be careful that not too many guys get into foul trouble but I sure think the Kings could have turned up the defense in the 2nd half of the 2nd quarter and gone into the locker room with a lead at the half.

Critic

Webber's stats are tough! Shooting 18 FTs and grabbing 15 boards, he must have been living in the paint. Making 15 of those FTs with a bad finger on the shooting hand ain't shabby either. CWebb earned a big chunk of his salary today and it sure looks like he kept his team from losing a game they shouldn't be losing but just might have lost if he hadn't come up so big.

nebsmak

Webber was hitting the early jumpers, and passing great! He was grabbin boards and making his throws! Great game for Webber! Hedo impressed me the most today though. He was getting into the offense very well, very agressive. I think Hedo is almost an intimidator, that dude doesn't take crap from anyone.

el donut

Can you believe it. The Kings couldn't put the Raptors away, but they closed it out in crunch time. Boy, what a hair riser! Now back to Sactown and 4 home court games including LA.. Peja get you ham string strung so you can play with Foxx.

I wonder how much Webber's ankle is bothering him. He admitted it was a factor affecting his playing ability? He also commented that he reinjured his finger a little. How long does a finger sprain (dislocation) generally take to heal? Just curious. I know, I'm full of questions.

Bonnie49erKings

Webber was great today. The only negative impact from the finger was probably from the tape. He had a couple of turnovers where the ball looked like it slipped out of his hand.

What I loved most about Hedo today was some of his hustle on the boards and sheer determination.

Bibby also had a great game. When he plays like that, the Kings win.

Not much more to say. But 4-1 on this road trip is dandy.