Salvation, or Maybe

by Tom Ziller on Mar 3, 2008 7:34 AM PST in Recaps

That was ugly.

To see Jason Williams nail his fourth three in the first half (in four attempts), to see the Heat bench explode in excitement... ugh.

To see the Heat lead by 10 while Dwyane Wade has two points...

To see Miami player after Miami player either waltz into the lane or bomb away with nary a hand in his way...

And then to see all change completely in the span of eight minutes...

At halftime, my wife and I bet dinner on a comeback. Chimichunga, here I come.

It was not the most epic comeback, considering the stakes (low), the opponent (minor), and the grand scheme (is there a grand scheme?). But if you did not come away completely satisfied with that win, then you have little business being a Kings fan.

From Beno Udrih's extraordinary night, to Kevin Martin's painful efficiency, to Ron Artest's consistently answered prayers, to Brad Miller's well-rounded effort... all the ingredients for a monumentally filling victory were there. Of course, they all came in the second half.

Why the turn-around? Ron Artest explains, through Sam Amick:

"I'm glad coach didn't give up like he did in Miami," Artest said. "In Miami we were down 14, (and) he pulled me out. We got down 26, and he put me back in the game. But (Sunday) we were down 20, and he let us play. He told us, 'You only have five minutes to get it right,' or he was going to put the young guys in. Sometimes in this league, you're going to get down 20. It happens ... . As long as we keep fighting, we'll get it back."

By the time five minutes had gone in the third, the lead was cut to 15. In another five minutes, the lead was five. In another fives, the Kings led by eight.

Say what you will about the source of the blistering offense in the third. (How blistering? 41 points in 24 possessions. An offensive rating of 170.8.) I will point to this:

Min FG FG3 FT Reb Ast Blk Stl TO PF Pts
12 3-5 2-2 10-11 1-2 0 0 0 2 2 18

That's Martin's third quarter. That's a True Shooting percentage of .915.

Great game all around. Thoroughly enjoyable from roughly 7:15 p.m. on. Go Kings.

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Last night's game

was the epitome of why the Kings frustrate the hell out of me. We will easily lose to crappy teams, which is what happened on the road trip. But, we'll beat good teams or at least give them our best shot.

That third quarter should piss off every Kings fan. Why don't they play that well every night. The Kings at their best are amazing and could go deep into the playoffs. But, for some reason they just can't do it consistently. Why? Is it Theus, is it Artest? What the hell could it be?

by vfettke on Mar 3, 2008 10:10 AM PST reply actions

I don't know

but I know we had a team who play more consistently good than this one early in the season.

Martin, for the win!!!

by Kjack on Mar 3, 2008 10:28 AM PST up reply actions

We're just not that good

The difference between good teams and mediocre teams is winning on the road. Take a look at the league standings. Every team above us has a positive (road wins minus home losses).

The difference between mediocre teams and bad teams is winning at home. Every team below us has a bad home record. At this point we are completely mediocre.

If we were a young team we could blame it on still learning how to win on the road(see Atlanta). But we're not young, and most of our players have some to a lot of playoff experience. Just mediocre.

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 3, 2008 1:17 PM PST up reply actions

To take it another step

Most of the top West teams (minus Utah & Dallas) have winning road records at the moment. Winning alot of games in this league means winning on the road. The Kings haven't always done that.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Mar 3, 2008 1:31 PM PST up reply actions

True

Back in the day, I always looked for the Kings to win 75% at home and 50% on the road. So, 30 and 20. 50 wins makes you pretty good, most seasons.

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 3, 2008 2:18 PM PST up reply actions

I love this comment

In a reversal of sorts, Artest questioned the coaching staff's desire after the victory.

"We're trying to make the playoffs," he said. "Once we get the coaches believing that we can make the playoffs, we'll be fine."

I really REALLY love this comment.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Mar 3, 2008 1:38 PM PST reply actions

The standings

Ron really ought to look at the standings some time.

by Carl on Mar 3, 2008 1:46 PM PST up reply actions

Well...

that's a pretty tough sell Ron. you might have better luck selling birth control to nuns

by vfettke on Mar 3, 2008 4:08 PM PST up reply actions

Depends on which nun you ask

I bet there are some, that while don't like it in any way, hell I'm pro choice & don't like it, that are willing to accept it because the alternative is worse. I think that statement would be more true of a George W Bush type. I love the line though.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Mar 4, 2008 1:57 AM PST up reply actions

Gotta give it to him

The man is confident, even if isn't reality based.

Mikki Moore - WNBA Hair, WNBA Body, WNBA Talent

by otis29 on Mar 4, 2008 6:16 AM PST up reply actions

Incredibly entertaining

That game was incredibly fun to watch - in the second half. I've given up hope that this team will ever be good (actually, I gave up hope two years ago) - so I want to watch some entertaining basketball. Last night's huge momentum swing, passionate play and big comeback are what it's all about. Good stuff.

by Carl on Mar 3, 2008 1:46 PM PST reply actions