3. 2002 PAC DIV CHAMPION SACRAMENTO KINGS v. 14. 2007 CHICAGO BULLS
Kings: 61-21, 1st Pac Div, 3rd Off/6th Def
d. Jazz West 1st Rnd 3-1
d. Mavs West Semis 4-1
Lost Lakers West Finals 4-3
#41 overall seed
Coach: Rick Adelman
Starters
C Vlade Divac 33 11.1 PPG 17 PER 7.3
F Chris Webber 28 Michigan 24.5 24.4 8.6
F Peja Stojakovic 24 21.2 19.3 9.9
G Mike Bibby 23 Arizona 13.7 14.9 6.3
G Doug Christie 31 Pepperdine 12 15.2 8.6
Rotation Reserves
C Scot Pollard 26 Kansas 6.4 15 6.8
F Lawrence Funderburke 31 Ohio St 4.7 13.8 1.6
F Hedo Turkoglu 22 10.1 14.2 5.2
G Bobby Jackson 28 Minnesota 11.1 17.3 5.4
G Gerald Wallace 19 Alabama 3.2 13.3 .6
Leaders Christie 4th steals, 5th Steals/Gm,
Webber: 4th PER
3rd in offense, 6th in defense, the '02 Kings are the 3rd seeds in the region and the 41st overall seed in the tournament. Webber nears 25 PER; depth is the key for these Kings.
Bulls: 49-33, 3rd Cen Div, 21st Off/1st Def
d. Heat East 1st Rnd 4-0
Lost Pistons East Semis 4-2
#216 overall seed
Coach: Scott Skills, GM John Paxson
Starters
C Ben Wallace 32-Virginia Union 6.4 PPG 14.6 PER 8.2 WS
F Andres Nocioni 27 14.1 15.6 4.1
F Luol Deng 21-Duke 18.8 18.7 11.3
G Kirk Hinrich 26-Kansas 16.6 17 10.1
G Ben Gordon 23-UConn 21.4 18.2 8.6
Rotation Reserves
C Malik Allen 28-Nova 4 10.4 1
F PJ Brown 37-La Tech 6.1 9.7 2.3
F Tyrus Thomas 20-LSU 5.2 14.8 2.2
G Chris Duhon 24-Duke 7.2 11.9 4.8
G Adrian Griffin 32-S Hall 2.5 10.7 1.3
Leaders: Wallace 2nd Off Reb, 2nd Def WS, 2nd Def +/-, 2nd Def Rtng
Deng 5th Def WS
The best defensive team in 2007 is the Bulls; not a lot of scoring. No one hits 20 PER but both 21 year old Deng and 26 year old Hinrich reach double digit WS.
Matchup
C Push
F Webber (Kings)
F Push
G Hinrich (Bulls)
G Gordon (Bulls)
Bench: Kings
Game One
1st Qtr
9 Bulls 7 Kings 7
Kings Webber(1) Peja, Divac, Divac
Bulls Deng, Gordon(3) Deng
6 Kings 15 Bulls 13
Kings Peja, Webber, Peja, Webber
Bulls Deng, Hinrich, Deng
We're underway; Stojakovic hits 6 quick ones against the best defense from 2007.
3 Kings 23 Bulls 19
Kings Divac. Webber, Webber, Divac
Bulls Duhon, Deng, Wallace
1st Q Score Kings 31 Bulls 19
Kings Christie, Turkoglu, Bibby, Jackson
Bulls
Sacramento crowd loves this one; the Bulls lack of scoring might be disabling in this series.
2nd Qtr
9 Kings 36 Bulls 23
Kings Jackson(3) Jackson
Bulls Thomas, Deng
6 Kings 43 Bulls 27
Kings Webber(3) Webber, Webber
Bulls Nocioni, Wallace
7 for CWebb to open the quarter and the Kings look to be on their way to an easy game one win.
3 Kings 51 Bulls 27
Kings Jackson(3) Pollard, Christie(3)
Bulls
Halftime Score Kings 60 Bulls 31
Kings Turkoglu, Turkoglu, Jackson(3) Jackson
Bulls Nocioni, Gordon
An absolute blowout; the Kings march to a game one win.
3rd Qtr
9 Kings 64 Bulls 37
Kings Bibby, Jackson
Bulls Brown, Deng, Hinrich
6 Kings 67 Bulls 39
Kings Turkoglu(3)
Bulls Nocioni
Kings.
3 Kings 79 Bulls 43
Kings Webber(3) Divac, Webber(3) Webber, Webber
Bulls Thomas, Nocioni
3rd Q Score Kings 87 Bulls 54
Kings Divac, Divac, Pollard, Divac
Bulls Deng, Hinrich, Gordon(3) Deng, Hinrich
10 for Webber, 8 for Vlade - The Kings burning through game one.
4th Qtr
9 Kings 90 Bulls 58
Kings Divac, Jackson(1)
Bulls Nocioni, Deng
6 Kings 101 Bulls 60
Kings Jackson, Peja, Bibby, Jackson, Bibby
Bulls Hinrich
A beating.
3 Kings 109 Bulls 66
Kings Webber, Bibby, Christie, Peja
Bulls Hinrich, Gordon, Gordon
Final Score Kings 115 Bulls 74
Kings Webber, Brown, Cleaves
Bulls Nocioni, Griffin, Griffin, Sefolosha(3)
Never a game, the Kings just pound away at Chicago. 74 might be the lowest point total of the tournament.
Webber: 30 pts/13 boards/6 assists - Player of the Game
Divac: 18 pts/9 boards/5 assists
Bibby: 10 pts/11 assists
Peja: 11 pts
Jackson: 22 pts/5 boards
Deng: 20 pts/11 boards/6 assists
Hinrich: 12 pts/7 assists
Gordon: 12 pts
Nocioni: 13 pts
Game Two
1st Qtr
9 Kings 6 Bulls 4
Kings Divac, Webber, Webber,
Bulls Gordon
6 Kings 16 Bulls 12
Kings Bibby, Bibby, Peja(1) Christie, Divac
Bulls Hinrich, Nocioni, Gordon, Nocioni
Scott Skiles Bulls got embarrassed in game one, can they hang in today?
3 Kings 22 Bulls 20
Kings Peja, Webber, Turkoglu
Bulls Wallace, Nocioni, Deng, Thomas
1st Q Score Kings 26 Bulls 22
Kings Webber, Webber
Bulls Griffin
Bulls still in the game; C-Webb had 30 in game 1 and he comes out with 10 in the first qtr.
2nd Qtr
9 Kings 28 Bulls 26
Kings Webber
Bulls Sefolosha, Allen
6 Kings 33 Bulls 33
Kings Jackson(3) Divac
Bulls Deng, Hinrich, Nocioni(3)
Totally different than game one; Bulls keeping up with the Kings.
3 Bulls 40 Kings 37
Kings Bibby, Webber
Bulls Brown, Nocioni(1) Deng, Nocioni
Halftime Score Bulls 48 Kings 48
Kings Pollard, Bibby, Peja, Bibby, Webber
Bulls Deng, Deng, Deng, Wallace
We've got a game, 8 for Luol Deng to close the half and we are tied.
3rd Qtr
9 Kings 54 Bulls 50
Kings Webber, Turkoglu, Jackson
Bulls Deng
6 Kings 59 Bulls 52
Kings Divac, Jackson, Bibby(1)
Bulls Hinrich
A little daylight for the Kings as Chicago cant find the bucket.
3 Kings 69 Bulls 54
Kings Pollard, Jackson, Jackson, Turkoglu, Turkoglu
Bulls Nocioni
3rd Q Score Kings 73 Bulls 56
Kings Bibby, Turkoglu
Bulls Gordon
And it's over - the Kings hold Chicago to 8 third qtr points and Sacramento will advance.
4th Qtr
9 KIngs 79 Bulls 70
Kings Funderrburke, Peja, Peja
Bulls Nocioni, Thomas, Hinrich(3) Thomas (1) Duhon(3) Gordon(3)
6 Kings 85 Bulls 76
Kings Peja, Webber, Webber
Bulls Gordon, Thomas, Hinrich
Chicago opens the qtr with all the firepower they can muster; they're still...maybe..in this one.
3 Kings 89 Bulls 84
Kings Jackson, Jackson
Bulls Hinrich, Nocioni(1) Nocioni(3) Thomas
Final Score Kings 98 Bulls 95
Kings Christie(3) Webber, Peja(1) Webber, Webber(1)
Bulls Hinrich, Wallace, Gordon(3) Gordon(3)
The Bulls had a chance to tie this game up - Hinrich missing a 3 pointer at the buzzer and it's done.
Webber: 27 pts/7 boards - Player of the Game
Bibby: 14 pts
Peja: 12 pts
Jackson: 15 pts/5 boards
Turkoglu: 10 pts/6 boards
All-Region Team
C Mourning ('99 Heat-1 PotG)
F Webber ('02 Kings - 2 PotG)
F Bird ('88 Celtics - 1 PotG)
G Magic ('86 Lakers-2 PotG)
G Harden ('14 Rockets-1 PotG)
6. 1989 WEST CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 11. 2006 CEN DIV CHAMP DETROIT PISTONS
Lakers: 57-25, 1st Pac Div, 1st Off/7th Def
d. Blazers West 1st Rnd 3-0
d. Sonics West Semis 4-0
d. Suns West Finals 4-0
Lost Pistons NBA Finals 4-0
#88 overall seed
Coach: Pat Riley, GM Jerry West
Starters
C Mychal Thompson 34-Minnesota 9.2 PPG 13.3 PER 5.2 WS
F AC Green 25-Ore St 13.3 17.8 9.4
F James Worthy 27-UNC 20.5 19 9.7
G Magic Johnson 29-Mich St 22.5 26.9 16.1
G Byron Scott 27-San Diego St 19.6 16.6 6.8
Rotation Reserves
C Kareem Abdul Jabbar 41-UCLA 10.1 12.9 2.9
F Mark McNamara 29-Cal 2.9 11.2 .7
F Orlando Woolridge 29-N Dame 9.7 14 3.3
G Michael Cooper 32-N Mexico 7.3 11.9 4.4
G Tony Campbell 26-Ohio St 6.2 12.5 1.1
Leaders: Magic 3rd Assts, 2nd Assts/Gm, 1st FT%, 2nd TS%, 3rd PER, 3rd WS, 2nd WS/48, 2nd +/-, 3rd VORP, 2nd Off Rtng, 2nd Asst %, 1st Trip-Doub
Worthy: 5th FG%
The Lakers had the top offense in '89, swept their way through the West playoffs and got swept in the NBA Finals. 29 year old Magic is a top 5 player in the league. PER over 25 and WS over 15. 41 year old Kareem is coming off the bench.
Pistons: 64-18, 1st Cen Div, 4th Off/5th Def
d. Bucks East 1st Rnd 4-1
d. Cavs East Semis 4-3
Lost Heat East Finals 4-2
#169 overall seed
Coach: Flip Saunders, GM Joe Dumars
Starters
C Ben Wallace 31-Virg Union 7.3 PPG 17.5 PER 10.1 WS
F Rasheed Wallace 31-UNC 15.1 17.6 8.9
F Tayshaun Prince 25-Kentucky 14.1 14.8 7
G Chauncey Billups 29-Colorado 18.5 23.4 15.5
G Rip Hamilton 27-UConn 20.1 18.2 7.6
Rotation Reserves
C Dale Davis 36-Clemson .9 9.9 .4
F Antonio McDyess 31-Alabama 7.8 15.5 4.6
F Carlos Delfino 23 3.6 10.6 1
G Carlos Arroyo 26-FIU 3.2 12.5 1
G Maruce Evans 27-Texas 5 14 3.2
Leaders BWallace 4th Reb, 4th Reb/Gm, 5th Blocks, 2nd Def WS, 3rd Def +/-, 3rd Def Rtng
Billups 2nd Assts, 4th Assts/Gm, 3rd WS, 2nd WS/48, 5th Off +/-, 1st Off Rtng, 4th Asst%
Hamilton 1st 3 Pt%
RWallace 3rd TO%
Prince 4th TO%
Solid all the way around, the Pistons look to upset LA; 29 year old Billups is over 20 PER and 15 WS; 31 year old Ben Wallace (yes, we did just see him, yes) is a top 5 defensive player in the league and he's got double digit WS. Joe Dumars was on the Pistons team that knocked off these Lakers and he's the GM
Matchup
C Wallace (Pistons)
F Push
F Worthy (Lakers)
G Magic (Lakers)
G Hamilton (Pistons)
Bench: Lakers
Game
1st Qtr
9 Lakers 13 Pistons 7
Lakers Magic, Scott, Worthy, Green, Magic, Scott(3)
Pistons Hamilton(3) Prince, Prince
6 Lakers 17 Pistons 15
Lakers Magic, Scott
Pistons Pistons, Hamilton(3) Rasheed(3)
7 for Byron Scott to open the series.
3 Lakers 24 Pistons 15
Lakers Thompson(3) Magic, Magic
Pistons
1st Q Score Lakers 28 Pistons 18
Lakers Kareem, McNamara
Pistons Billups, Prince(1)
Magic scores 10 first qtr pts and the Lakers are up double digits.
2nd Qtr
9 Lakers 31 Pistons 18
Lakers Kareem, Worthy(1)
Pistons
6 Lakers 39 Pistons 25
Lakers Worthy, Scott, Worthy
Pistons Hamilton, Rasheed(3) Rasheed
Lakers rolling in this one.
3 Lakers 41 Pistons 28
Lakers Worthy
Pistons McDyess, Evans(1)
Halftime Score Lakers 47 Pistons 32
Lakers Scott, Magic, Thompson
Pistons McDyess, Hamilton
LA totally shutting down the Pistons.
3rd Qtr
9 Lakers 56 Pistons 40
Lakers Scott, Scott, Scott(3) Worthy
Pistons Billups (3) Billups(3) McDyess
6 Lakers 62 Pistons 47
Lakers Worthy, Worthy, Thompson
Pistons Hamilton(3) Prince, Billups
Byron Scott goes for 7 - LA is rolling.
3 Lakers 69 Pistons 51
Lakers Scott, Green, Scott(3)
Pistons BWallace, Hamilton
3rd Q Score Lakers 75 Pistons 54
Lakers Cooper, Kareem, Woolrdige
Pistons Rasheed(3)
Ben Wallace might be on the extreme losing side of another series against a Pacific Division team; the Lakers just whipping Detroit.
4th Qtr
9 Lakers 86 Pistons 62
Lakers Magic, Campbell, Campbell, Worthy, Magic(3)
Pistons McDyess, Hamilton, Billups, McDyess
6 Lakers 100 Pistons 68
Lakers Green, Worthy, Worthy, Thompson(3) Magic, Magic(3)
Pistons Prince, Hamilton, Billups
10 more for Magic - the Lakers coasting to the game one win.
3 Lakers 110 Pistons 74
Lakers Woolridge, Green(3) Worthy, Kareem, Green(1)
Pistons Hamilton, Prince, Cato
Final Score Lakers 115 Pistons 84
Lakers McNamara(1) Campbell, Campbell
Pistons Johnson, Johnson(3) Johnson, Delk(3)
The Lakers don't have to breathe too hard to take this one.
Magic: 22 pts/10 assists/5 boards - Player of the Game
Scott: 25 pts/8 boards
Worthy: 23 Pts/6 boards
Green: 10 pts/11 boards
Thompson: 10 pts/10 boards
Hamilton: 21 pts
Billups: 14 pts/12 assists
Prince: 13 pts/8 boards
Rasheed: 11 pts
McDyess 10 pts
Game Two
1st Qtr
9 Lakers 8 Pistons 5
Lakers Green(3) Scott, Magic(3)
Pistons Wallace(1) Billups, Rasheed
6 Lakers 12 Pistons 7
Lakers Magic, Magic
Pistons BWallace
Magic's got 7 - that's the same as all of the Pistons.
3 Lakers 19 Pistons 14
Lakers Worthy, Scott(3) Thompson
Pistons Rasheed(3) Prince, Rasheed
1st Q Score Lakers 26 Pistons 16
Lakers Campbell(3) Kareem, Thompson
Pistons Rasheed
It's happening to Detroit again, they can't hang with the Lakers
2nd Qtr
9 Lakers 31 Pistons 20
Lakers Thompson(1) Thompson, Thompson
Pistons Hamilton, Rasheed
6 Lakers 38 Pistons 29
Lakers Thompson, Thompson(3) Green
Pistons McDyess, BWallace, Rasheed, Delk
Mychal Thompson's son Klay will one day go on big scoring runs - but it's Pops who scores 12 straight Lakers pts.
3 Lakers 45 Pistons 31
Lakers Scott, Scott(3) Thompson
Pistons Rasheed
Halftime Score Lakers 51 Pistons 37
Lakers Scott, Thompson, Worthy
Pistons Hamilton, Billups, Hamilton
It's a run back of game one, Detroit can't score against these Lakers
3rd Qtr
9 Lakers 57 Pistons 43
Lakers Worthy, Worthy, Magic
Pistons Billups, Prince, Billups
6 Lakers 59 Pistons 49
Lakers Green
Pistons McDyess, Wallace, Davis,
Pistons draw w/n 10. Defensive battle.
3 Lakers 63 Pistons 59
Lakers Thompson, Worthy
Pistons Prince(3) Rasheed, Billups, Rasheed(3)
3rd Q Score Lakers 71 Pistons 66
Lakers Green, Magic, Woolridge, Worthy
Pistons Billups(3) Hamilton(1) Delfino(1) McDyess
Detroit got as close as a point - they trail by only 5 as we hit the 4th.
4th Qtr
9 Lakers 77 Pistons 69
Lakers Thompson, Worthy, Green
Pistons Hamilton(1) McDyess,
6 Lakers 81 Pistons 75
Lakers Kareem, Worthy
Pistons Hamilton, Prince, Hamilton
Just a 6 point game - can Detroit force game 3?
3 Lakers 90 Pistons 80
Lakers Scott(3) Magic, Worthy, Green
Pistons Hamilton(3), Rasheed
Final Score Lakers 106 Pistons 95
Lakers Magic, Magic, Scott, Worthy(1) Scott, Magic(1) Scott,Magic, Green
Pistons Prince(3) Billups(3) Billups(3) Rasheed, Billups(1) Rasheed(3)
Detroit made it interesting - but couldn't get over the hump - the Lakers move on to face the Kings. Rasheed goes 29 and 10 in the loss.
Magic: 20 pts/12 boards/10 assists - Player of the Game
Thompson: 22 pts/10 boards
Scott: 21 pts/5 assists
Worthy: 19 pts/7 boards
Green: 15 pts/9 boards
All-Region Team
C Mourning ('99 Heat-1 PotG)
F Webber ('02 Kings - 2 PotG)
F Bird ('88 Celtics - 1 PotG)
G Magic ('89 Lakers-2 PotG)
G Magic ('86 Lakers-2 PotG)
