Scientists gained new insight in their study of
Black Holes during Game 2 of the playoffs.
This overhead view of Arco Arena clearly
shows that the Kings sucked so completely
that not even light itself could escape
the strength of that sucking.
. .

FANS ARE READY FOR GAME THREE

tariq58

Getting excited for the Kings game Saturday. Just a hunch, but I think the road will be a good tonic for the Kings right now.

His head weighs heavy that wears the (regular season) crown, and I think the Kings were bending to the pressure of being the hunted, rather than the hunter, for a change.

If the Delta Center is as one would expect, the Kings will have no trouble feeling like the hunter/underdog in Utah, and I think they'll raise their game.

What I'd like to see:

Peja click from outside early, opening some space.

Vlade dropping some post moves early, opening up his post passing game.

Pollard getting some putback garbage buckets.

Hedo clicking on like he did against the Lakers last year (after shooting horribly against Phoenix) and Bobby locking up people on the perimeter.

I think it's going to happen.

Jeff

I personally think that the refs bait a couple teams because they are sick of the way they act. Refs are only human, and sometimes it seems they have a vendeta vs certain teams.

What I don't get, is how Utah gets so much love from the refs....Anyone who has ever sat near the floor at a Jazz game knows that Malone curses those guys like dogs, and Sloan and Stockton are whining about calls all night long. You would think the refs would punish them like they go after the Blazers. Maybe it is just alot more fun to watch Portland explode?

Yesterday, Turner showed a stat I thought was interesting. They said Kobe Bryant's career playoff scoring average was 19.4 points per game. At first I thought, well that is probably weighted down by his early years in the league where he was Jones' backup. But then I realized his team got bounced in the first round back in those days, and 70% of his playoff experience is as a starter.

Conversely, Chris Webber (though he has only played about half as many playoff games as Kobe) averages 19.9 points per game on a team that distributes the points far morew evenly than LA typically does.....

So if Chris Webber disapear come playoff time....Where has Kobe been?

Or maybe players production typically drops come playoff time....Even for the next MJ, and the commentators need to find something new to harp about?

CUBAN'S GOT OUR BACK

kingme

I just saw Mark Cuban with Rome on the Last Word. Ordinarily, I find his "Hey, look at me" antics distasteful, but he speaks the truth about the officiating. His criticism has certainly grown less vociferous as the Mavs are doing better and better, and have a legtimate shot at the title. But on Rome's show, he reiterated again that the refs

definitely affect games, and he cited our series with the Jazz of an example, and said something to the effect of "why don't you ask Sacramento right now if they think refs don't affect how a game is played."
He mentioned our series twice, so I don't know if he's really concerned on our behalf, or merely issuing a warning to the officials prior to our possible match-up with them in the next round.
Hey, Kingsgurl!! On you leaving today for Utah? We'll all be thinking of you, and all of the other hearty and brave Kings fans who dare to experience the hostile Delta Center. Do us proud and represent! Good luck and have a safe journey. Go Kings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bookit

Cuban just understands what goes on in a playoff series with the Jazz. The Mavs had to go through the same BS last year as the Kings are now. The Jazz tugg, pull, flop, stare down refs, and fling their arms up as if they were fouled. They do this on EVERY play and the refs somehow eventually buy into it. I know Mark was frustrated last year but talent eventually won out. I think talent will also win out this year and the Kings will advance.

Bottom line is the refs need to hear some bickering from the Kings coaches and players so they won't buy into the Jazz BS as often.

Critic

I am not a Kings fan. I think overall the refs do as good a job as possible given the speed and contact of the NBA game, especially in playoffs (though now and then they can inadvertently change outcomes of games with mistakes that don't even out). I buy no conspiracy theories. I personally don't think any Laker other than Shaq is treated outside the norm by refs.

Even Shaq is treated pretty normally when he plays D. But, with the ball in his hands, they re-write the rules for him (and to a certain extent against him). All my Zards fans agree -- my seatmate sold her Lakers tickets in part because watching that annoys her so much.

IMO, Shaq is allowed to clear out with his shoulder and upper arm with moves that cause every other player in the NBA to be called for a foul. He is allowed to charge, so long as he is in reverse, driving his huge butt into stationary defenders with arms raised. Whether they flop or get driven back inch at a time, he is NEVER called for the foul that the rules say he deserves. Jahidi White can do those upper-arm-and-shoulder clear-out moves (tho he can't do much else on offense) but he gets called for a foul EVERY time he does one.

Also, to be sure, when Shaq has the ball other players are often allowed to hack him with no calls in a way that if they were hacking anyone else would be called. But that does NOT even things out. Why? Shaq is 40% of the Lakers' team at both ends of the floor. Call all the fouls both ways as the rules say they should and Shaq is on the pines early, often in the first quarter, and so what if his counterpart is there as well, the loss of Shaq devastates the Lakers, while the loss of no other player does that to the opponents to the same extent.

I have stopped watching Lakers games other than to check the score during commercials elsewhere because I just get annoyed watching this in action, and who needs that from something that is supposed to be entertaining. I am not a Laker hater. In fact, I like Kobe -- his game reminds me of Jerry West, my childhood hero. I think Horry is an underappreciated role player who makes himself useful in a zillion little ways on teams where others are stars. I even like the grease-head with the gorgeous wife -- IMO, defenders that good always deserve respect. I like the Zen Master and think he's one of the best coaches ever -- he took a Laker team that had been getting swept in the first round and has won two for two with it, or perhaps lesser versions of it and he gets his players to accept personal responsibility, play defense and share the ball and run plays on offense. I have nothing against Shaq other than the preferential treatment he gets from refs, but that just gets too painful to watch in many games.

MANoICE

I was looking at the Playoofs pages at ESPN.com and I took a look at the complete leaders lists. THey have a list for the foul leaders (of which Vlade is tied for first.) As I browsed down the list, I noticed that Pollard is tied for 16th with many other players. They also list fouls per 48 minutes here. Of those players listed highest here (who play more than 10 minutes) he is ranked third @ 14.2. Now, I know Scot is not the most delicate player in the league, but a guy who is not much of a shot blocker really shouldn't be getting this many calls against him. It is not like he is hacking away. If they are going to let this series get physical (the most physical I have seen in this years playoffs) they why does this not go for Pollard as well?

John114AAA

I have not posted in a while. My mother always told me that if you have nothing positive to say...then do not say anything. As long as I continue to live in the Scaramento area, I will remain a Kings' fan. When the Kings first came to Sacramento and went to hell for so many years, there were times when we used to joke that we would "go to see NBA basketball and ...oh...the Kings would be there too".

The NBA is slowly but surely losing me as a fan. I wonder how many other long time (over 40 years for me) fans of the NBA are slowly but surely moving their entertainment dollars to others areas and turning off the TV set when the NBA comes on? It is sad that the NBA is heading in the direction of the WWF and turning the greatest game in the world into "entertainment" where the end justifies the means. Many arenas are now mostly corporate boxes where the purpose is to sell name and product and curry favor...not to watch and enjoy basketball. Television rules the schedule for sure and maybe the results..... The league promotes players who are booed in their home towns....Kobe Bryant....or players who are all flash and no substance....Vince Carter.... The real fans do not accept this and slowly but surely leave the game they have loved so much.

If the Kings can not over come this with all their talent, then I will have to reassess my spending on entertainment dollars. I am willing to bet that there are many in the world who are watching this debacle and having the same feelings....

The number of people who vote in elections goes down when people believe that the outcome is pre-determined...that they have, in effect, become disenfranchised.

The number of NBA fans continues to go down as the NBA caters to corporate dollars and the media. The regular fans and the teams that just want to play old time basketball... are disenfranchised as well.

I know what the NBA and laker fans and the "hanger ons" will say....just like when an employee who has been discriminated against or has been guided to do something unsafe or illegal and they complain about it or quit or become a whistle blower....they are called "disgruntled employees". I will be called a "disgruntled Kings' fan". You will see that response to this message on here.

I hope ...yes, even pray, that I am wrong on this and that my fears are just childish frustrations. Only time will tell, but there will be additional evidence very soon. I would like to think that I am normally in Bonnie's group number 2. However, the evidence is shifting me into group 1 slowly but surely. When I find myself in that group, I will be gone from NBA basketball.

GO KINGS..... adapt, improvise and overcome.