April 14, 2001

Loss kingme4 A disappointing, scary loss,only because now we HAVE to win the next three. We can't count on Portland to beat the Lakers - let's face it, the wheels are off the wagon with that team. I don't know how i'm going to get through Easter dinner with all the butterflies I'll have anticipating that game. And Danny Crawford...I don't know who here said it, but i agree. the League wanted to make the Mavs look good for the Chinese webCast viewers. Who else better to officiate a game that you want "fixed" than Mr. Crawford? It's funny, the League really stuck its neck out by allowing illegal

BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF HEART ATTACK WATCHING KINGS GAME

defenses, but they didn't address the problems with officiating at all. And everyone,from the fans to the media to the players agrees there is one. It's like they're in denial...or, as we often suspect, they don't want to tinker with their own little "insurance policy". after all, they and NBC, need to be able to "control" certain situations in order to get the desired result!

Crawford and friends Reno Lady Yes, Danny Crawford was one of the refs tonight and Bonsy's "Crawford Law" was in effect. A T on Adelman immediately but Nelson was yelling and jumping all over the place and never got one - what's up with that? Bad calls on both ends of the floor but the one they consistently missed was against Webber when he was being double & triple teamed. It's almost impossible to NOT commit a foul in that situation and he was being teamed up on all night. However, the Kings missed a lot of opportunities and I'm sure they're aware of it. I'm more concerned about Webber's ankle than the loss because we could afford 1 loss and still take the division - but we can't afford for Chris' ankle to be unhealthy during the playoffs. You could tell by the way he was moving and the look on his face it was hurting him. So let's all hope this was a minor thing and that with a couple of nights' good rest and some muscle relaxers he'll be okay. One other comment - How in the world does Bradley get away with his fouls and his constant traveling? He drags his pivot foot constantly. I was made aware of it tonight by someone else and when I started watching could see it's true. The fouls are far more obvious but it's like the refs are blind to it. I was really hoping they could pull off a win tonight but I'm not too surprised at the outcome. They have to be exhausted and after the emotional rollercoaster of last night's win a letdown is totally realistic. The Kings actually played better than I thought they would and kept coming back but just missed too many easy baskets, including free throws. Let's hope the Blazers come up with an upset win over the Lakers on Sunday and that our guys get a lot of rest before they take on the Suns. The Lakers losing one would sure take some of the pressure off.

Jason and the Zone Critic IMO, anyone can learn to play zone, especially the positions where the feet don't touch the paint. I think big men, especially centers, will have the hardest time adjusting to the new rules. How can you post up a relatively short guy like Jason if they are playing zone? If he gambles on a steal and misses, it isn't necessarily a lay-up or dunk by "his" man. This looks like it really helps Jason, at least if he can get his stroke down to the point of shooting say 35% on his 3's. No more getting torched for 50+ points; his handling will be needed to beat the 8 second clock; the only downside is that it may keep him from doing the penetrating and dishing that I have thought he should be doing. But, since he isn't doing much of that anyway, not much loss there. Timing plays with cutters going behind a guy who has to clear the paint to avoid 3 seconds may favor a guy who can hit those cutters with good passes and he should be able to do that. I think a team with multiple shot-blocking big men can switch in and out of the paint and keep it blocked. The Kings should be able to do that. Fascinating (to me anyway) to try to figure out how to "use" the rules and how to "beat" them. ;-) Also, almost no team will "zone it" every trip. The fun will come in mixing up the defenses and even switching from man to zone or zone to man on the SAME possession to confuse the offenses. In college ball, folks send a cutter through the lane to see if it's a zone (no one chases) or man (his man goes with him). With only a 24 second clock, there isn't time for TOO much of that "discovery" type play.

Iverson, etc. Bonsy Did any of you see Allen Iverson on nba.com TV last evening? Whoa. He was complaining about how his teammates didn't play as hard as he does. How they didn't step up when he's doubled. He said "I step up when I'm open." The Sixers got blown out by the Magic last night. Also, did you see Terry Porter yelling at one of their coaches after being pulled out of the game in OT for Avery Johnson? He needed to be calmed down. My favorite "Kodak Moment" last night was Webber rushing out after the game, shoving people out of his way to get to Vlade so he could just bear hug him. I'd give $100 bucks to know what they said to each other. Was it Jeremy last night that said it was so great to see players who just love each other, regardless of race, creed, or nationality? Absolutely true.

In Response to Bo's Opinion Yesterday Bawsor "..when I see my stuff on the Home page, I realize that I ramble .. Bo Kimble" I thorougly enjoyed Bo's posting. I wouldn't call it "rambling", but rather a "stream of consciouness" reflection on how you feel now as a Kings fan after so many years of frustration. Your posting was also a trip down memory lane, bring up so many of the old Kings players. I am a new-kid-on-the-block here, but I have followed the team before, even back when they were in Kansas City, with Scotty Wedman, Otis Birdsong, and Nate Archibald. Of course, the Big Fella's arrival three years changed everything. But even then, it was difficult to follow the team from the East Coast due to lack of national coverage. Of course, things changed last year, starting with the first game in Japan. Now the Kings is one of the most popular teams. Funny, my favorite color now is purple! It's just the ol' school, miserable Kings' fan in me riding out a dream season, hoping it never ends. If the Big Fella stays, you will have many more dream seasons, at least 50 wins for the next 7 years. I think the Kings will evolve to be like the Jazz. Before Malone and Stockton, the Jazz was an awful team (John Drew), moving from New Orlean to Utah. Once Malone and Stockton came on board, the Jazz became one of the elite teams. And the Kings are now in that company and will remain there. Well, so much for my ramblings...

That loss hurt. Public Enemy It wasn't devestating, but it hurt. If they lose on Sunday, then THAT would be DEVESTATING. As good as this season has been, if the Kings don't win the division, this season will always have an asterisk next to it, in my eyes. We can get 56 wins and set a new franchise record for wins in a season, but if we don't win the division, then I'll always look to this year as the one where "they couldn't get it done." Unless, that is, they win the championship. I wouldn't expect any help from Portland or Denver. I don't see the Lakers winning by any less than 10 points in each of their remaining games.