April 17, 2001

The Morning After the Phoenix Loss (or, "You've got to ac-cen-tuate the positive...")

It Ain't Over Till It's Over celter07 As disappointed as I am now, the "Comeback Kings" are an up and down team usually. Now is a good time to be down so they can be up in the playoffs where it will really count! This is a perfect scenario for them to comeback and surprise everyone! They now can look forward to the playoffs where anything can happen! Bawsor I think today's loss may be a blessing in disguise. The team always played poorly in games they had to win (Clippers game). The team does not take success well. The added expectation takes away their sponteniety. This is also a learning process for our young players like Peja and Hedo. There is still hope, and I have every confidence in this team.

The loss against Phoenix was a crusher, but let's keep our eyes on the real prize, and celebrate how well we did this year.

Reno Lady All of us would have rather seen a different outcome tonight - but it didn't happen that way so we either deal with it and get over it - or we let it control us, and I don't believe in letting anything or anyone control me but me and my God, whatever and however I perceive it to be. They lost - and they didn't play well - and does anyone think for one minute that they're not absolutely miserable right now? Are we forgetting that these are people with feelings and emotions pretty much the same as ours? If we feel bad think how they must feel - and be human enough to empathize with that and decent enough to not rub their noses in the loss. Hallama Kings win the 3rd seed in the West! A great achievement that no one realistically would of guessed when the season started. Rest up and get ready for the playoffs. C'mon people, it's the 3RD SEED! The Real JC The regular season is over, we have the third seed and we need to get ready to go to war. The regular season is a long one, if the Kings can learn that games during the first week of the season matter just as much as games do in April, then we won't finish like this in seasons to come.

Pondo Could you imagine being in the fight for the Pacific Division at this stage of the season? I did not. After fighting for 8th in the past it seemed hard for me to dream a 3rd place seed, wow! Like they say "The Playoffs are the Second Season!" What was done during the Regular Season got them this far, now the real test will begin. To me, they will need the Fan Support more! Arco has to really rock! GO Kings!!

Benard This is true that Kings played a very bad game tonight. The point is we still have a chance to win. I think the Suns will be the best we can get on the first round. If we play a B game, we will have a good chance to get the job done by 4 games. At the same time, we send Portland to LA. For the last 4 teams, Portland has the best chance to beat Lakers. If they win, we have a good chance to go to final too. I just want to say today's loss may not be that bad until we know the outcome. So, just stay positive and enjoy the playoffs.

gokings Yes, Pacific division title would have been cool, but the matchups would not have been favorable. Portland is a playoff type team. They struggled second half of last year and then were a different team in the playoffs. As we saw tonight, we can play horribly, as well as 8 on 5, and only lose by two points. Therefore, I like the Phoenix matchup if it holds. Secondly, it won't matter that LA has homecourt because Portland could easily upset them. As a matter of fact, I would take Portland to vanquish the demons of last year and win in 5. Then we get homecourt in the second round. Anyhow, the first goal is to get out of the first round, and I would rather be the third seed and get Phoenix in the 1st round then have to play Portland because we won the Pacific.

Sioux32 I don't know if anyone remembers the Blazers a couple of years ago when they made it to the WCF? they were so happy. they jumped around and hugged each other----and I thought "That's it for them". It was like they'd won the championship before they even got to the hard part. I felt like that when I watched the Kings celebrate after the Spurs game. they were bound to go flat or have a letdown. They did the same thing after clinching a playoff spot---dropped 2 games. I'm glad they did it in the regular season so they can get down to business in the playoffs. I'm sorry they weren't able to bring a banner to arco, but that really doesn't mean that much....I like the Phoenix matchup better than Portland for the first round. Let LA & Portland go through a cage death match. that's fine with me. I don't think the fans should be too hard on the team. they are going into uncharted territory beyond the first round. I think they are doing GREAT!!! Go Kings!!! Get healthy.

Milos Kings will have the fourth best record in the entire NBA. The players and staff must always have highest ambitions but us fans should be happy with this record. I still want them to win it all, but am not dissapointed with the regular season. Every game should be played with the goal of winning, but now that we lost at Phoenix, there is one more good consequence - there is no more pressure for the next two games. The playoffs? A very different game indeed. IMHO, winning a bball game (and other team sports) depends greatly on the concentration and mental toughness - even more in playoffs. I still say: Kings can go all the way! They have everything they need, I just hope they will know how to use it. And, I think those of us who wanted to rest Webber in the last five games were right - nothing was gained by playing him and nothing would have been lost if he rested. He would just be readier for the playoffs.

Jeff If Phoenix loses to the Clips, and Portland beats San Antonio, Sacramento could still be looking at playing Portland in the first round.....But, I don't care who the Kings matchup with. A third seed is better than pretty much anyone here was expecting at the start of the season...In fact, I recall most believing I was way off base with my preseason rankings that had Sacramento the 5th best team in the West.....Our expectations have been greatly increased, though, with the way sacramento played this season.... Isn't that the beauty of what we have gotten to see so far this season? That the Kings have played so well that it almost makes you irate that they will likely get a 3rd seed instead of a 2 seed? Anyway, it has been a fun season....The Kings still have a reasonable chance to make franchise history by winning 2 more games. And they have as legit a chance to make some serious noise in the playoffs as any other team.

Jag115 First of all, I am thrilled that we are the 3rd seed in the west, with home court in the first round. In spite of not having home court after the first round, remember, all it takes is one away win after the first round and home court is in our favor. Like all of you, the lack of intensity and effort is very distressing, but the fact that it comes in a game that should have had playoff intensity is scary, plus this is the second year we have had a chance to improve playoff position and did not. We had a chance to avoid the Lakers last year and we tanked the game to seattle the same way we did this one, with no rebounding and no effort. On the positive side, as horribly as they played last night, to be within 2 and have a chance to win the game has to be encouraging, especially if we play the Suns in the first round. I say, lets give C-Webb rest until the first playoff game, to heal any of the multiple injuries he may have, (if we can't beat Vancouver without Webb, we are in trouble), and if Peja can get his confidence back, we are fine shape.

John114AAA Let's not forget all the POSITIVES: #1: finishing the season with home court advantage in the first round. Given the level of competition in the West this year, I could not be more pleased. #2: the growth of Peja as a legitimate NBA starter and perhaps an all star of the future. His shooting was always there but his willingness to take and make late in games is big deal. Also, his improvement on defense has been nothing short of spectacular. As Van Gundy said, now we go against him only because Christie is the other option. #3: The continued improvement of Scot Pollard. He has added more strength, does not concern himself with the refs calls so much and is slowly but surely developing some effective offensive moves around the basket. #4: The addition of Doug Christie. Wow, what can we say about him that is adequate praise. His defense and hustle on both ends lead the team by example. His offense has improved as he has blended into the team and learned more about his teammates. #5: The addition of Bobby Jackson. He is a true point guard and brings the defensive toughness that J-Will needs to learn. As much as I was upset and concerned about loosing Tony Delk, the reality is that Tony was more of a shooting guard and Bobby is just a much better fit to what team needed and what J-Will needs to see in practice every day. #6: The improvement of J-Will. He has toned down his wildness for the most part and when he keeps his assists to turnovers at the 3 or above level and drives and dishes or scores inside, the Kings are very hard to beat. He has also improved his defensive footwork and strength. #7: The emergence of Hido. Has Petrie done it agin? Only time will tell, but it sure looks good right now. Especially, when you consider the obstacles that faced/face Hido, he looks like he has the potential and heart to make it. Maybe the best sixth man since the days of Havlicek at Boston (let me dream a little) #8: Vlade the glue. He is the old pro on this young team and filled the role like few could do on a team so diverse and seemingly with a potential for trouble based on past history. His style of play is the perfect fit for this team and C-Webb. He is unselfish to a fault. #9: C-Webb improved yet again and his overall game is among the best in the NBA. Stayed focused with tremendous pressure on him from all sides. #10: TEAM. The King's are a team. From the top down and the bottom up, they think team first. The chemistry grows as they play more together. The owners build a world class practice facility. The team sets a franchise record for wins. And, the fans, we are the best and need to bring it again to the playoffs and for more than 2 games this year!!!! Very Happy!!

Reno Lady It's a new day everyone-a new start if we choose to make it one; we can choose to be sad, happy, angry, forgiving; I choose to be happy (causes less wrinkles than sad and angry). It's a beautiful day today, the sun is just coming up over the mountains, spreading it's beautiful rosy glow across the Truckee Meadows, the birds are singing, the grass is green, and I can look out my office window and see flowers blooming. I refuse to let anything or anyone ruin my day. As fans we still have one of the best teams in the entire NBA and considering what this team, this franchise, has been in the past we are truly blessed and we should be thanking whatever Higher Power we believe in for what we have.

Transitions are Difficult Critic The Detroit Bad Boys spent a few years after getting really good learning how to beat the Celtics and Lakers of their time. The Bulls spent a few years after getting really good learning how to beat Detroit. Much whining about refs, etc., accompanied these learning processes, including even some racial conspiracy theories about the Celts by some of the Pistons. Then they learned to do the little things that their nemeses were already doing and their talent won out. Then teams losing to them whined about THEM getting the breaks, etc. Some very talented teams never get past the whining; others buckle down and do the things THEY can do to win. It isn't a question of wanting to win -- they all want to win. In the playoffs, it isn't even about effort -- EVERYONE gives 100% in the playoffs. As a player, Mitch Kupchak gave 100% even during the regular season and it gave him a big edge -- in the playoffs he was one of a zillion guys diving for balls, etc. and was no longer special. It's a question of stepping up to the responsibility of doing the things needed to win and many of those don't show up in the box scores and some happen on the practice court and late at night studying films rather than on game day: Calling out picks and switches; setting away-from-ball screens; taking charges; diving for loose balls; boxing out on the defensive boards; not letting the opponents' star get to his favorite spot; studying enough films to know where that spot is; forcing your man to drive to where help is supposed to be rather than letting him go where he'll get a solo shot to the rim; not getting T'd up at critical moments; remaining calm enough to function under extreme pressure; getting back on transition D instead of pleading a case to the refs; taking a bad wild shot at the end of a shot clock instead of no shot at all; taking shots at the end of a quarter that have next to no chance to go in because they MIGHT go in; remaining aware of the shot clock enough not to bail out the opponents with a last-two-seconds foul when they had no chance to score; encouraging and never criticizing teammates (the Kings are GREAT at that); playing the role the coach asks you to play and not whining about minutes (the Kings seem to be very good at this too); learning to take advantage of ref's sight lines to learn to draw fouls on the opponents and avoid getting called for fouls despite contact (some noble-minded folk would call THAT learning to cheat, but no one ever accused Bird, Rodman, Jordan, Magic or other winners with being noble-minded); stars learning when to step up and lead and when to stay within a team concept and let his team mate make the shot/play that decides the game. It's a lot to ask a team new to winning to come out and just DO all those things they didn't have to do to beat Vancouver. Even if they do them all, they MIGHT not be good enough -- witness the Jazz a few times. They went as far as their talent could take them every year, but have been one player short of good enough throughout Malone-Stockton's great careers. It takes courage to step up to be all you can be and risk finding out that isn't quite enough. Ask the Mailman and Sir Charles how much that hurts. If you instead don't quite give your all, you can tell yourself maybe you ARE good enough, if you just practice more at whatever, or just try a little harder. But, if you left any game out there on the court? You won't ever get it back later. If you think someone stole something from you? It will happen again, because you don't know why you lost until it's about you and not others. Anyway, until the Kings do all those little things, the refs just don't matter. If they ever start doing all those things? The refs won't matter to them -- only to the teams they beat in big games.

Finally, to put things in perspective... A few quotes before the season started Dug up by SandB Bill In a related king-sized concern for the denizens of Cow Country, Webber's club is more at risk for slippage than any of the West's 2000 playoff qualifiers. We repeat: Sacramento, not Minnesota. Even in the unlikely event the Wolves lose Joe Smith and Kevin McHale because of their under-the-table contract escapades, even in the face of the Malik Sealy tragedy, the T-Wolves can turn to Kevin Garnett and Flip Saunders for stability. Problem is, these Kings might not survive the first week, given their usual road woes. They open the season with four away games, each the home opener for the opponent, and then their own home opener against those noted pushovers from Portland. Oh, and Jason Williams won't be playing in any of the five games while on suspension. Did someone say 0-5? The tough launch isn't the only challenge, either. There are no guarantees Williams will follow orders and play under control when he does return, and there's no Tony Delk off the bench to steady things if Williams wavers. Bobby Jackson has that job now; let's see if he's as composed as Delk was in that Lakers series. Predrag Stojakovic runs unopposed at small forward, in place of Corliss Williamson, after dragging through the Olympics with a leg injury. Williams did bulk up from 165 pounds to 183 during unprecedented offseason diligence alongside strength coach Al Biancani. Of course, that merely serves as fodder for the Leno-esque among us who might observe that Williams' behind-the-back passes will now sail into the 10th row instead of the fourth.