Kings Flashback - Kings at Golden State

Woah. Should have called that last entry "Where the Hell is MIKE?" Been a busy couple of weeks, and I'm behind on just about everything, so still trying to catch up. As this is one of the things I'm behind on, yet I lack time for fresh new bloggin', thought we'd try another one of the Kings game writeups I did back in the 2000 season. When last we left our Kings, they had beaten up the Golden State Warriors AND taken their lunch money at Arco Arena. The game that followed was a bus trip toward the Bay, where the Kings went to face a Warriors team that was looking for some redemption...and some payback.

Kings at Golden State
11/10/00

Did I not tell you we were in for a better game this time?

Holy cow! This is the part where I start to be careful what I wish for! I was right in believing that after such a humiliating loss at Arco last time, the Warriors were going to come back pissed and vengeful, anxious to remind their fans that they’re an actual force this year, not a high school team with a bigger budget.

This was a monster game, and everything I love to see out of a good, hard-fought basketball matchup with two hungry teams duking it out. The previous win was all about the fastbreaks and the longball. This one was physical, down in paint, fighting for every inch, every rebound, every force to the hoop. Big-time, exciting NBA action, and both teams had a lot to be proud of.

It was neck and neck most of the way, with a good lead by the Kings in the first half getting eaten up by Warrior wrath and determination. There was no lollygagging for Oaktown this time, and I got my chance to see some of these guys shine. Jamison played 51 minutes and tied his career high of 37 points. Fortson, the rebounding NBA sensation, pulled out his 5^th straight double-double, nailing 16 points and 17 boards. Hughes wanted some payback after his performance two nights before, and got it with 5 rebounds, 8 assists (!) and 12 points. Vinnie only put up two points, but fed the masses with 5 assists to keep his team in the game. Mills was a monster King-killer with 18 mad points. These guys gave it their all, and kept their half of the arena (the half that wasn’t Kings fans driving the 90 minutes from the capital) cheering. It was war, and despite myself, I was loving every minute of it. Hey, blowouts are nice and all once a while, but if you’re really a basketball fan, you want to see a game, not a slaughter. And game, we got.

And the pudding wherein the proof lied (or is that “lay”)? Overtime. The Kings held a 4-point lead in the final moments of regulation, and lost it thanks to a Hughes jumper and two free-throws from Del Negro. With 9.5 seconds left, Webber tried a 17-foot jumper that went in and out, and it was time for O.T. And time, thankfully, for the Kings to seal the deal. Mostly due to Webber, who scored 35 in the game, 10 of which were in O.T. Webb, by the way, had career highs in free-throws attempted (23) and made (17). This was his night, and the former Warrior shined in the face of an always hostile Oakland crowd (when are people going to let the time-out thing go? Get over it, people! He was in college! Find a new taunt, for crying out loud!). Not only 35 points for Webb, but 16 rebounds and 6 assists.

It was big night for just about everyone on the Kings, and especially for J-Will, who was back in full showtime style with 20 points and 8 assists, living up to his press in high fashion. Webb and Jason were the mad team, making it all happen in overtime (Chris’s 6 in a row put us up 105-101 with 1:33 left, and the crazy J-Will pass that followed right after gave Chris another pair to seal the deal). Peja was sort of hit or miss, putting up 16 points (and when we call that hit or miss, let’s remember some players wait their whole careers to see 16 points in one game), and Vlade was in the ZONE with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 13 points and a steal. Did someone say 13 points? So, too, did the in-the-groove Doug Christie score, getting his stroke back in style and working that crazy “D” with 3 steals. Nick got 14 whole minutes, but only managed a couple of points and 1 board. Pollard wasn’t pulling down as many boards this time around, but got hot on the offense, plugging in 6 points (and, as always, stood tall and worked the defense under the hoop). Jon Barry gave us 5 points and a couple of those surgical rebounds that drop the jaw. Not too big a night for Bobby Jackson (but, hey, it was J-Will’s show tonight anyway)…no points, but some rebounding, aggressive defensive, and pair of assists, still doing his part for the crew. Obviously there was a LOT of Webber Time tonight, so only 5 brief minutes of play for Lawrence, but he dropped a bucket with the time he got. And we got some rook! Turkoglu got 3 whole minutes, and used it to slam down a MONSTER jam so heavy that he almost injured himself coming down (nearly face-first onto the oak). I love seeing this kid play! He’s really making the most of his short minutes, and I know Rick’s keeping an eye on him, and we’ll be seeing more out of him as the season moves along (and as the unavoidable injuries start to happen). Any team can look good when you’re 30 points ahead—it’s how your team looks when it’s anyone’s game from buzzer to buzzer that really makes the difference. The Kings stepped up and made it happen tonight, sinking the Warriors in post-reg 114-107. Thanks again, Mr. Webber. Funniest part of the night was Webber getting fouled half-court with the clock about to expire. There was really no reason for it. But Webb grinned and shrugged, with a look that said “Hey, I’ll take a couple more points.” And that’s just what he got, making that 35 happen…and making the Oakland fans hate him even more. Got to love that.

This was one great game of basketball, and I felt this compulsion to give the Warriors and very sincere thanks for a fantastic game. Mock them if you want (most of the NBA does), but this a team with a lot of talent, playing with some key injuries right now (they played tonight without Sura, Mullin, Cummings, or the last-game-injured Mookie), and if they can get healthy and get some breaks in the months to come, they could get a lot of respect this year. They got a lot from me tonight, truly playing like Warriors.