2006 NBA 1st RD P/O: WC (1) San Antonio Spurs vs (8) Sacramento Kings

[STYLEgod]

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (8) Sacramento Kings

Schedule

Game 1 - Sat April 22 Sacramento at San Antonio 4:30PM LOCAL, 5:30PM ET, ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 25 Sacramento at San Antonio 8:30PM LOCAL, 9:30PM ET, TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 28 San Antonio at Sacramento 7:00PM LOCAL, 10:00PM ET, ESPN2
Game 4 - Sun April 30 San Antonio at Sacramento 7:00PM LOCAL, 10:00PM ET, TNT
Game 5 * Tue May 2 Sacramento at San Antonio TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 5 San Antonio at Sacramento TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 7 Sacramento at San Antonio TBD TBD TBD

Records

Spurs:

63-19 (34-7 Home, 29-12 Road)

Kings:

44-38 (27-14 Home, 17-24 Road)

Season Series

Spurs 2-1

Lineups:

Spurs:

Starters

PG Tony Parker 18.9 pts, 5.8 assists
SG Manu Ginobolli 15.2 pts, 1.55 steals
C Nazr Mohammed 6.2 pts, 5.2 rebs
PF Tim Duncan 18.6 pts, 11.0 rebs
SF Bruce Bowen 7.6 pts, .426 3pt%

Key Bench Players

Michael Finley 10.0 pts
Brent Barry 5.6 pts
Robert Horry 5.1 pts
Nick Van Excel 5.4 pts
Rasho Nestorovic 4.5 pts
Beno Udrih 5.0 pts

Kings:

PG Mike Bibby 21.1 pts, 5.4 assists
SG Bonzi Wells 13.6 pts, 7.7 rebs
C Brad Miller 15.0 pts, 7.8 rebs
PF Kenny Thomas 9.1 pts, 7.5 rebs
SF Ron Artest 17.6 pts, 5.1 rebs

Key Bench Players:

Shareef Abdur-Rahim 12.3 pts
Kevin Martin 10.8 pts
Francisco Garcia 5.6 pts

Team Totals

Spurs:

95.7 ppg, Opponents 88.8
41.4 rebounds, Opponents 40.3
20.9 assists, Opponents 16.3
.473 fg%, Opponents .433

Kings:

98.9 ppg, Opponents 97.3
40.5 rebounds, Opponents 42.1
22.3 assists, Opponents 21.2
.454 fg%, Opponents .454

Key Matchups

(1) Tony Parker vs Mike Bibby
(2) Brad Miller vs Tim Duncan
(3) Bonzi Wells vs Manu Ginobolli

Interesting Notes

-The Kings have what appears to be a comparable or better starting lineup (could be deceiving) but the bench is clearly thin beyond Shareef

-Neither Artest nor Bowen appear to have a clear defensive assignment where they can be used as a "stopper"

[STYLEgod]

I think the Spurs will win in six, simply because the Kings are talentwise and depthwise very well matched up with the Spurs. Bibby will have a huge series.

But the Spurs will make the key plays when it matters.

[STYLEgod]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Ron Artest stayed in the Sacramento Kings' practice complex long after his teammates left Thursday, firing jumper after jumper with his injured right thumb heavily wrapped.

After watching most of the last 1 1/2 NBA seasons from his couch, Artest is more than ready for his return to the playoffs - and he seems completely unworried to see the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs across the court, playing outstanding basketball and coming off their best regular season in franchise history.

In fact, Artest thinks the Spurs should be worried about the eighth-seeded Kings.

"I don't even think we're the underdogs any more," Artest said. "I think we're the team to beat, just by how we've been playing."

In the opening game of the series on Saturday, the Spurs will begin the pursuit of their fourth title in eight seasons. The Kings are just at the start of their journey, with most of their core expected back next season to build on the tumultuous adventures of this season.

After a dismal start in which coach Rick Adelman questioned his own job security, the Kings surged to a 25-11 finish shortly after Artest joined the team in a trade with Indiana for Peja Stojakovic. They hit the playoffs in full stride, winning nine of their last 11 games - including a 97-87 victory at San Antonio on April 5.

But the improvement wasn't enough to avoid the top-seeded Spurs in the longtime Western Conference powers' first post-season meeting. Artest predicted the Kings would make the playoffs back in January during the height of their disarray, and he now says he expects Sacramento to leave the post-season "No. 1. They're No. 1 now, but I think we'll leave No. 1."

Bold words from a bold player - but don't mistake Artest's bravado for a lack of respect for his opponents. Artest speaks in glowing terms of the Spurs' defensive intensity, and he relishes being on the road in hostile arenas during his first post-season in the Western Conference.

"There are going to be a lot of road games coming up," Artest said. "I'm sure San Antonio is going to be ready for us, so we've got to come in there with a lot of energy and confidence. We're on the road this whole playoffs, so that's where we've got to win. We've got to make it our home away from home."

Artest's ebullience stands out on a roster full of quiet players who prefer to lead by example when they lead at all. The Kings have taken on much of Artest's personality since he joined them - no-excuses defence coupled with bursts of outstanding offensive play and a general swagger that was missing earlier in the season.

The Spurs have plenty of swagger after winning two titles in the last three seasons - and the Kings aren't fooled by their victory at the AT&T Center earlier in the month. That game was the second half of back-to-back contests for the Spurs, who had the NBA's second-best record at 63-19.

"It's not going to be the same team we saw in there last time," Adelman said. "Other than Detroit, they were the most consistent team in the league this year on a game-by-game basis. That's how they got to where they are."

Lets see about that!! :cool:

[STYLEgod]

Spurs win game 1, 122 to 88.

[Parth]

Spurs win game 1, 122 to 88.
they were killin them when i watchd so i changd the channel

[STYLEgod]

they were killin them when i watchd so i changd the channel

:lol:

Ya I got bored watching the game so I started flipping the channels back/forth. I don't like the Spurs.

[Parth]

:lol:

Ya I got bored watching the game so I started flipping the channels back/forth. I don't like the Spurs.
omg same here i hate them ..i like monu tho hes a player ..

my dad hates tim .. calls him stone/rock bc he never ever never shows emotions ..
i thin he smild when he won the champ thats bout it

[Midnight_toker]

spurs playoff series always bore me..cuz its never interesting..they always finish the series early and ruin it for the reg nba fans..lolol..like spurs-suns west finals last year..only 5 games..at least pistons make their series interesting..like miami and spurs finals even tho they lost..o well i hope 2nd round against mavs or even grizzlies would be better

[Parth]

spurs playoff series always bore me..cuz its never interesting..they always finish the series early and ruin it for the reg nba fans..lolol..like spurs-suns west finals last year..only 5 games..at least pistons make their series interesting..like miami and spurs finals even tho they lost..o well i hope 2nd round against mavs or even grizzlies would be better
spurs jus sucks ass ..

[STYLEgod]

omg same here i hate them ..i like monu tho hes a player ..

my dad hates tim .. calls him stone/rock bc he never ever never shows emotions ..
i thin he smild when he won the champ thats bout it

Haha your dad hated Tim Duncan! But ya Duncan doesn't smile often... I remember his days at Wake Forest and ya he didn't smile back then.

Spurs games are hella boring! I just never got interested watching their games.. so slow. The way Duncan run bored me... sometime its fun to watch Parker run around the courts and the way the camera keep checking out Eva. Thats the best part of their games I guess... :lol:

[STYLEgod]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ron Artest of the Sacramento Kings was suspended one game without pay for hitting Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs in the head with his forearm.

The suspension was announced Monday by the league. Artest will miss Game 2 of the Western Conference series on Tuesday.

The contact occurred in the third period of the Spurs' 122-88 win Saturday night against the visiting Kings.

Artest was hit in the mouth by Ginobili's elbow on the game's opening possession. The cut inside his upper lip required three stitches.

The Kings are even more screwed now. :no:
Spurs in 5.

[Parth]

The Kings are even more screwed now. :no:
Spurs in 5.
yea thats the same they said on sportcenter ..spurs in a sweep no more then 5 games

[STYLEgod]

Good Lord! Look like the Kings are playing well w/o Artest in Game 2!
The Kings lead 43-36 in 2qtr with 4mins to go..

[Parth]

Good Lord! Look like the Kings are playing well w/o Artest in Game 2!
The Kings lead 43-36 in 2qtr with 4mins to go..
wtf its still on .. damn ima go watch

[STYLEgod]

GAME 2: Its on Spurs... in overtime with 128-119 victory. But remember the Kings did it w/o Artest... I guess its bettre w/o him! Pretty close game..

[STYLEgod]

Game 3: Tonight at 10:00 PM EST on ESPN2

Spurs lead series, 2-0.

[Parth]

Game 3: Tonight at 10:00 PM EST on ESPN2

Spurs lead series, 2-0.
i hate spurs .. dunno y

[STYLEgod]

i hate spurs .. dunno y

Same here... its just that vibe the Spurs were giving me. Not my fault..

[Parth]

Same here... its just that vibe the Spurs were giving me. Not my fault..
omg same.. n plus .. tim never shows emotion like even when he wins a good game always that one weird facee

[STYLEgod]

omg same.. n plus .. tim never shows emotion like even when he wins a good game always that one weird facee

:rofl: @ TDuncan's facial expression.. seriously maybe he wasn't happy with his performance even if his team win.

[nycballa88]

its cuz there an old time team nd no1 wants them to win, they want new talent

[nycballa88]

duncan looks like a monkey

[Parth]

:rofl: @ TDuncan's facial expression.. seriously maybe he wasn't happy with his performance even if his team win.
my dad calls him stone bc liek stone face bc i thin he smild once whne he won the champioonship.. i guess hes seriuos bout the game lol who knows

[STYLEgod]

Kings is in the lead with 47-41 over Spurs at Halftime.

[Parth]

Kings is in the lead with 47-41 over Spurs at Halftime.
spurs r gun end up winnnin .. i like manu alott

[Parth]

kings win ..by 1 .. amazin endin ..
:rofl: LMAO i would of laughd if he missd that winnin layup

[STYLEgod]

Kings won Game 3 with 94-93 at the buzzer.

:lol: I wonder what Barkley is saying about Ginobili now.. But WOW what a way to finish by the KINGS at the buzzer. Im just glad the Kings were able to steal this game after the Spurs stole game 2.

I just want the Kings to extend the series if they cant win it.

[Parth]

Kings won Game 3 with 94-93 at the buzzer.

:lol: I wonder what Barkley is saying about Ginobili now.. But WOW what a way to finish by the KINGS at the buzzer. Im just glad the Kings were able to steal this game after the Spurs stole game 2.

I just want the Kings to extend the series if they cant win it.
tru .. jus for the exicemnt

[nycballa88]

lucky layup...i was so pissed

[STYLEgod]

Game 4: Kings 54 Spurs 43 - Halftime

[Parth]

lucky layup...i was so pissed
pissd? .. i thought it was a pretty cool layup

[Parth]

Game 4: Kings 54 Spurs 43 - Halftime
i dont like this series .. one of my least fav.. i dont like kings bc the whole vibbe of lakers n kings .. n shit .. but i dont leik spurs either ..

i rather see spurs win this one.. but for lakers purpose .. i hope kings win so its better for the lakers..

[STYLEgod]

The Kings did it again! Series tied at 2-2 after a win by the Kings 102-84 over the Spurs.

[STYLEgod]

Game 5 tonight at 9:30 (eastern)... hopefully the Kings will win this one.

[nycballa88]

i dunno why but i want the spurs. we need to have one classic team goin to the finals

[Parth]

19 - 25 .. man spurs winnin

hope kings win .. so its beeter for lakers

[nycballa88]

no fuck them kings, im a :king:

[Parth]

no fuck them kings, im a :king:
lol shut up

[STYLEgod]

Spurs won in Game 5 with 109-98 over the Kings.. another close game. Will the Kings win the next one?

[nycballa88]

i doubt it but its the nba, they might, jus to get more money

[STYLEgod]

i doubt it but its the nba, they might, jus to get more money

Really? You think there is some kind of conspiracy going on in the NBA? Like how the refs may be getting paid by some rich fans or Stern or even the president of the team!

[nycballa88]

hell ye, theres no other reason for gay calls like that

[STYLEgod]

Spurs won Game 6.. 105-83 and the series 4-2