05/01/24
May 11, 2003
Kings show heart, but Mavs break it.: "If you have the opportunity to win a playoff game, a crucial potentially series-controlling game as the Kings did Saturday night at Arco Arena, you'd best seize it." Another Sacramento Bee columnist says "The final score meant the season."
posted by kirkaracha to basketball at 10:01 AM - 6 comments
kirkaracha, that's a great new marketing slogan for the Kings: Your Kings: Piddling all over the cort like puppies, just not as cute!
posted by billsaysthis at 11:04 AM on May 11, 2003
I know I'm stating the obvious, but damn that was a good game. I kept looking for Long Socks (Van Exel) to get the ball, but every one of the Mavs played great. Even Dirk Nowitzki, when he couldn't buy a basket, had 20 rebounds. This game will have an asterisk because Webber didn't play, but it's still a huge win. I thought the Kings played great. The newspapers would be gushing praise for them if one or two baskets had gone the other way. The Mavs had a better plan to break down the Sacramento defense at the end of the game. Credit Don Nelson and his staff.
posted by dusted at 12:30 PM on May 11, 2003
It was also nice to see Walt Williams finally earn his salary for the season. The Mavs have thrown him in towards the end of games that they're behind and he's either choked or not touched the ball every time. Good on you, Walt. Oh, and kirkaracha, from a Mavs fan that's had a discouraging season when the game is on the line (last night excluded): They also get so overexcited in pressure situations (like, oh, the entire playoffs), I'm surprised they don't piddle all over the court like puppies. They panic and rush their shots, make bad passes, and throw the game away. Until they can put teams away and score at crunch time, the Kings Mavs will never win the championship.
posted by Ufez Jones at 04:25 PM on May 11, 2003
I thought the Kings played well also. They just couldn't make the one last shot that would put the Mavs away, and that finally caught up with them. As a Mavs fan, I feel like the Kings are such a solid team they'll never lose a series to Dallas. Maybe the loss of Webber is enough to change this, but I have my doubts. I'm still having nightmares about Christie and that blond-haired backup geek from last year's playoffs.
posted by rcade at 09:09 PM on May 11, 2003
Interesting note, the Mavs scored 83 points in last night's game, the same amount they scored on Thursday, in a HALF.
posted by corpse at 08:55 AM on May 12, 2003
After last night and Game 7 of last year's West finals against the Lakers, it's clear the Kings don't have what it takes to win the championship. They blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in a home playoff game. They missed a third of their free throws (24/36), including Divac missing two potential game-winners in overtime. Coming out of a timeout at the end of the first overtime with the game tied and 16 seconds on the clock, they had no plan, passed the ball maybe once, and heaved a desperation three they didn't need instead of driving to the hoop. They also get so overexcited in pressure situations (like, oh, the entire playoffs), I'm surprised they don't piddle all over the court like puppies. They panic and rush their shots, make bad passes, and throw the game away. Until they can put teams away and score at crunch time, the Kings will never win the championship.