News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA.

---

July 3, 2008

The waiting game

Still looking to deal
While there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that Geoff Petrie intends to trade Ron Artest as soon as possible given Ron-Ron's recent outburst and dissatisfaction with his contract situation, don't expect anything to happen before the July 9th signing date. Petrie won't make a move until Beno Udrih formally rejoins the Kings. But that doesn't mean he hasn't compiled a trade wish-list or begun entertaining offers. The same teams that were intererested in Artest before he committed to the final year (and $7.4 million) of his contract continue to find him appealing, especially in light of his expiring contract. The Lakers, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, among others, will be exchanging phone calls with in the near future.

Spencer learning quickly
One of my Kings sources told me late last night that Spencer Hawes was really upset - no surprise there - about the settlement that apparently will enable his hometown Sonics to move from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Hawes, a diehard Sonics fans, attended the Save Our Sonics rally two weeks ago at the downtown courthouse, dressed in a Gary Payton jersey. While we blue-state types might quibble about his Republican politics - the lad is the offspring of two unabashed liberals! - you have to love his passion.
Hawes, by the way, continues working toward his degree at the University of Washington. He currently is enrolled in accelerated classes.

---

June 15, 2008

Oh, now I get it ....

LOS ANGELES - Mystery solved. Immediately after the Lakers' unimpressive Game 5 victory over the Boston Celtics, I happened upon David Stern while he was waiting for his wife, Diane, outside the women's restroom in the back of Staples Center. As I was about to blurt out the obvious question - whether the Commissioner had any concerns about assigning Dick Bavetta because of the stress he must be experiencing from Tim Donaghy's unfounded allegations - one of my colleagues beat me to it.
Stern explained that Bavetta was "next up on the wheel," referring to the playoff rotation for the referees. He then added that he never considered replacing the longtime ref - who was one of the officials who worked the controversial Kings-Lakers Game 6 - because of Donaghy's claims that two of the refs that night (Bavetta, Bob Delaney, Ted Bernhardt) "conspired" to influence the outcome and extend the series per the league's desires.
I have to agree with Stern on this. Bavetta's a big boy. He has to deal with this sooner or later. It would have been terribly unfair to remove him from the rotation because of a convicted felon's claims or reports that the FBI inquired about him last summer.

On the spot

LOS ANGELES - About 30 minutes ago, veteran referee Dick Bavetta strolled across the Staples Center court here at the NBA Finals, stopping briefly to make small talk with a few reporters. Bavetta - one of the three officials who worked the infamous Game 6 - drew tonight's assignment for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. And for obvious reasons, he looked pretty stressed, almost sheepish. Former referee Hue Hollins early last week said that the FBI inquired about Bavetta - and whether there were any indications he influenced the outcome of games - during their probe of the Tim Donaghy betting scandal.
Bavetta must feel like he's under the microscope. I don't know how he is going to officiate with a clear head tonight.
Still, that's what you do. You go to work.

What to believe?
Being down here when Donaghy's Game 6 allegations surfaced has enabled me to seek opinions from colleagues from other newspapers and cable outlets around the country, many of whom have covered the NBA for decades and were here for Game 6. The sentiment has been almost universal: (1) Game 6 was the worst officiated postseason game in decades; (2) that fourth-quarter was particularly ugly; (3) Bavetta, Bob Delaney and Ted Bernhardt just had terrible nights.
I haven't spoken with anyone (I would trust) who believes any of the three refs had an agenda or were involved in some sort of league-inspired conspiracy to extend the series. I will say it again and again. Unless Donaghy and his attorneys provide some serious evidence, I'm not buying the conspiracy theories. Among other things, David Stern is much too smart and has too much integrity to place his sport in that type of jeopardy.

Kareem's tutelage
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is the Laker's big man's coach, has been working with Pau Gasol, trying to get the lanky forward/center to better establish his "core." Kareem wants Gasol to utilize the strength in his hips, ostensibly to keep him from being pushed around so much

---

June 14, 2008

The pressure on Kobe ...

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant is starting to sound like he anticipates an avalanche of critcism if, as expected, the Lakers lost this series. And while Celtics coach Doc Rivers defended Bryant as the the most "unfairly" criticized player in the league, the old debate - when to involve teammates, when to take over a game - is becoming a recurring theme.
Longtime Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons repeatedly referred to a need for "balance" in the offense, and specifically noted his club's 18-point first-half lead in Game Four. "Kobe didn't score a point in that half," said Clemons, "but we moved the ball and got everybody involved."
As one humorous aside a few minutes later, Bryant said he recovered from Thursday's bruising defeat by reading Harry Potter to his daughters.
"They just wanted me to read to them," he said, "and I swear it was awesome. He (Potter) had more problems dealing with the media and the Celtics."

---

June 13, 2008

Striving for perspective

LOS ANGELES - After Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers addressed members of the media during Friday's interview sessions - both coaches gave their players the day off - several of us engaged in what proved to be an eerily prescient conversation before leaving the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo.
Longtime Atlanta Hawks media director Arthur Triche, who is most well-liked and efficient people in the business, was talking about how his ongoing bout with cancer has taught him "not to sweat the small stuff." Triche, who recently underwent a second surgery and chemotherapy at M.D. Anderson in Houston, says that when someone wants to argue these days, he simply walks away. Only in his 40s, Triche added that, "I don't take the losses nearly as hard as I used to."
At about this point, two league publicists walked over, caught the end of Triche's comments, then mentioned something like, "Yeah, just look at Tim Russert." They then relayed the news of the brilliant CNBC political analyst's passing hours earlier.
As word spread, everyone stood around in shock. Several of the journalists knew Russert personally. One had just hung out with him at a hotel pool about a month ago. But we all wondered whether the constant deadline pressure inherent in the industry contributed (or caused) his heart attack.

Not looking so good, either ....
Jackson has had both hips replaced within the past few years, but he still looks like he's in tremendous pain when he walks. Never graceful to begin with, his gait is awkward, more like a limp than a stroll. The other day I chatted with him as we walked out of the loading docks at Staples Center, and he walked deliberately, with a cane.
How many more years can Our Friend Phil keep this up? The flights, the hotel beds, the pressure, and the frenetic schedule take a toll. And Jackson has had significant physical issues since his playing days with the New York Knicks.

Painful, poignant memories
If the Celtics clinch the series Sunday, Rivers is going to be an emotional wreck. Within the past 13 months, he has experienced the following: been exorciated by Celtics fans, who urged Danny Ainge to find another coach; lost his father to cancer during the regular season; guided a roster with strong-willed veterans Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to within a victory of a title.
When someone asked Doc if he had spent any time ruminating about his close relationship with his father, the Celtics coach completely choked up. After a long pause, he finally said, "That's a tough one for me to talk about."

Motivating Kobe
Pierce asked to defend Kobe in the second half of Game 4, but apparently, that wasn't what was on Kobe's mind early Friday. According to Jackson, who spoke briefly with his players before sending them home, his star was more intrigued by Garnett's post-game comments. (I mentioned them in my blog last night).
In essence, Garnett suggested that the Lakers generally play "team ball" during the first two periods, and "second half is usually, Kobe takes over games. It just looks like they wanted to get the ball to Kobe and sort of let him finish it off ... It didn't really look cohesive."
Jackson didn't elaborate, but you get the picture.

---

June 12, 2008

The shocker in Staples ...

LOS ANGELES - To say that the Lakers were stunned by the manner of their defeat tonight would be a major understatement. But it is becoming increasingly apparent that the Celtics - contrary to the pre-Finals projections - are the superior team. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are creating too many matchup problems, their defensive tenacity is exceptional, and on nights like tonight, when their subs spread the floor, they are very difficult to defeat.
The Lakers just aren't getting consistent enough scoring from their second and third options, and those defensive breakdowns tonight were crippling. (see the Ray Allen-Sasha Vujacic sequence).
I thought Kevin Garnett had a very interesting observation. He suggested the Lakers blew their huge lead partly because they began relying too much on Kobe Bryant. "If you've paid attention to them at all," said Garnett, "usually the first half is team ball, second half is usually when Kobe takes over the games. They weren' t nearly as aggressive as they were in the first half. It just looks like they wanted to get the ball to Kobe and let him sort of finish it off. It didn't really look cohesive."

Good news for the Celtics
The stats indicate that, for the Celtics to lose this best-of-seven series after claiming a 3-1 lead, it would take a collapse of epic proportions. The team leading 3-1 has claimed the championship every time.
But you would never know the C's were this close to another title based on Danny Ainge's demeanor. The Celtics' general manager calmly strolled the hallway outside the visitors locker room after the game, pausing to chat with reporters. It's hard to believe that, a year ago, his team was rebuilding and his longime star Paul Pierce increasingly restless. that's one of the unique aspects of the NBA. Once in a while, a franchise is transformed almost over night. Or in this case, in one offseason.

More from Staples ...

LOS ANGELES - I just finished a conversation with Joe Maloof, who was at the Palms in Las Vegas, and among other things, he is as curious as everyone else about what David Stern plans to say.
Joe admitted that he had been dodging the media the past few days - mostly to avoid saying something imprudent, which he has been known to do - but decided to speak out after being barraged by e-mails and phone calls. And, in typical Joe Maloof fashion, he became increasingly animated as the conversation continued. (Ok, I keep pushing to gain a truer sense of his feelings.)
Clearly, he still believes the Kings were robbed and is still angry about the outcome. But he repeatedly labeled any potential manipulation as "implausible, impossible." Coming from an owner who runs a business in Las Vegas, it sounded pretty convincing. One thing that was pretty funny: He couldn't resist a dig at Phil Jackson, the coach he tried to hire at the end of 2005-06 season, one might recall. Well. If you can't beat them, hire them, right?

A few quick pre-game thoughts
Jackson, who is never shy about tweaking his players, defended Pau Gasol against suggestions that his starting center was, well, soft. "I think that would be the reputation Pau came to us with," said the Lakers coach, "but he's constantly risen to the occasion in every series we've gone through this year. The last game (three) obviously was not a great game for him, but we believe that he's going to have another real good game for us. I won't touch the soft (stuff), though."

Rondo set to go
Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was listed in the starting lineup, but coach Doc Rivers planned to keep a close watch on his mobility. Rondo's best asset is his quickness, and if he is hampered by his sore ankle, Rivers says he will go back to Eddie House, the one-time Kings guard who happens to be Mike Bibby's brother-in-law.

The chatter continues ...

LOS ANGELES - The referee scandal and the discussion Kings-Lakers and Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals continues unabated. Here at the Staples Center, journalists continue approaching and asking what it actually looked like to those of us who were here in the building that night.
As I continue to say, as strange as the officiating must have seemed on television, it was even more bizarre for those who were present - on and off the court.
Journeyman guard Damon Jones, who is providing analysis throughout the series for NBA.com, wandered over and reminded me that he was on the team that year. (Jones, who has a year remaining on his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has played for so many clubs, it's hard to keep track).
"That game was so tough," he said, shaking his head. "I don't know. I don't know. We all felt the same way."

The Staples experience ....

With all the distractions created by the referee situation, I forgot to blog about the amazing development ongoing outside Staples Center. The last time I was here on assignment, probably about two years, the area across 11th Street consisted of two massive parking lots. But when I drove down Adams the other afternoon before Game 3, I almost missed the turn. I felt like I was in a different country. Those surface parking lots have been supplanted by the glitzy Nokia Theatre and entertainment plaza, with an ESPN zone, restaurants and other entertainment venues under construction.
Frankly, the change is simply stunning. Having worked at the old Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, which was located a few blocks away during the 1980s, I never would have envisioned the extent of the transformation. I guess I should visit more often, huh?

Stern to speak
This should be interesting. An NBA publicist just came into the media work room and informed us that David Stern will hold a press conference at 5:45. I can't say I'm surprised. We've all been waiting to hear more from the Commissioner.

---

June 10, 2008

Just another night in Staples ...

LOS ANGELES - So much for covering another routine game at the NBA Finals. Word of the Tim Donaghy's allegations reached the Staples Center midway Tuesday afternoon, and from that point in, the entire evening had a strange, almost surreal feel.

Reporters hung near the entrances awaiting the arrival of David Stern and former Kings backup Scot Pollard, one of the the two centers who fouled out in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals. (Pollard lasted a whopping 11 minutes). Stern spoke only briefly with reporters, but managed to level a few timely blows at his former disgraced referee.

"The only concern I have is that when a letter gets filed on behalf of a convicted felon, my concern is that the news media run with it as a major blockbuster series of allegations, when in fact, this guy is dancing as fast as he can to throw as much against the wall so his sentence won't be as hard, put more at risk," said the NBA Commissioner. "(But) pretty much he's a singing, cooperating witness who's trying to get as light a sentence as he can."

Pollard, the one-time Kings quipster and current Celtics reserve who is recovering from ankle injuries and won't play during the series, was deadly serious this time. He leaned against a wall outside the visitors locker room for quite a while before the game, talking with clusters reporters as they approached. He seems very conflicted about the developments. He still believes the Kings were ripped off, especially with the series of phantom calls in the fourth quarter, but sounds hopeful that Donagy's spouting turns out to be unsubstantiated.

Yet this is pretty funny. His worst memory from that series wasn't Game 6 or even the blown opportunity in Game 7.

You can probably guess what comes next.

The Robert Horry shot lives on.

Finally off the couch

Hall of Famer Bill Walton - who describes himself these days as the father of Luke - was able to watch his son play in person Tuesday for the first time in months. The senior Walton, an NBA analyst for ESPN, has been sidelined the past few months with back and hip injuries. But he was mobile enough to make the drive from his home in San Diego earlier Tuesday with his wife, Lori.

While he was chatting with a few of us, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar approached and asked how his UCLA heir was feeling. "Good," Walton replied, as two of the greatest centers in league history bumped knuckles.

The Staples crowd was pretty impressive last night for sure: In an area outside the media dining tent, the following NBA luminaries lingered: Walton, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, along with the venerable Jack Ramsay, who has been battling cancer, but looks much healthier than he has in a long time. Former Kings rival (and aspiring actor) Rick Fox also ambled past, and said he was working on a new television series about a football coach.

Keeping up with KJ

Before he was enveloped by a throng of reporters asking for his insight on Kings-Lakers, Donaghy, and all things related to the series, Magic asked what was happening with his former Phoenix Suns rival Kevin Johnson. Magic said he heard KJ was headed for a runoff with Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, and said he might hold another fundraiser for the challenger.

Magic certainly seems to like politicians. Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides runs his foundation. The former Lakers great (and minority owner) expects Angelides to attend Game 4 on Thursday.

---

June 9, 2008

Back to L.A.

LOS ANGELES - Not that I needed any reminders that I was traveling to L.A. to cover the middle games of the NBA Finals, but while walking toward baggage claim in the Southwest Airlines concourse at LAX earlier this afternoon, I noticed a commotion near Gate 3. Insatiably curious by nature - as are most journalists - I wandered over and saw Jerry West standing behind a table, making small talk with fans and posing for photos with the Larry O'Brien trophy. As I later learned, the Lakers icon was at LAX to "welcome" the championship series trophy from Boston, per the league's ongoing promotion with the airlines.

One of the security guard's told me that West already had been there for about 30 minutes before I arrived. (I saw him accommodate a few of the police officers who asked for a photo op toward the end of the session). At one point, the former Lakers great looked up and saw me standing behind the crowd, holding my computer roller bag and a stack of newspapers. He made eye contact and laughed. I called out to him, "Are they paying you extra for this?" He rolled his eyes ...

One of the things that always impressed me about West - who has long been known both for his accessibility with reporters and responding loudly when he doesn't like what he reads - is that he will do just about anything for his sport. He feels a genuine debt to the NBA for enabling him to enjoy what has turned out to be a pretty lavish lifestyle. I can recall three specific formal dinners where West, who was either the honoree or honoring one of his former Lakers teammates, broke down while talking about his career.

Phil's apparent memory issues

Longtime Kings fans will probably appreciate this: After the Celtics were awarded 38 free throws to the Lakers' 10 in Game 2 Sunday evening, Phil Jackson was quoted as follows: "I've never seen a game like that in all these years I've coached the Finals. Unbelieveable."

Now, while Game 6 of the memorable Kings-Lakers series in 2002 was only a conference finals, surely Phil hasn't forgotten? In the game that many of the NBA's longtime observers publicly and privately labeled a travesty - among them Sport Illustrated's Jack McCallum and Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke, who were seated baseline at Staples Center - the Lakers shot 27 free throws IN THE FOURTH QUARTER to the Kings' 9. Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard both fouled out after receiving ticky tack calls in the fourth period.

Interestingly, the officiating crew that night included veteran referee Bob Delaney, who in yet another hilarious aside, was shown receiving an earful from Jackson during Sunday's game.

---

May 2, 2006

Ailene Voisin: Busy summer ahead for Petrie

SAN ANTONIO - As the postseason continues toward its conclusion, perhaps Friday night in Arco Arena, the issues that Geoff Petrie has to address during the offseason are increasingly apparent. Besides resolving Rick Adelman’s
situation - and assuming that the roster will be adjusted to complement Ron Artest’s skills - he clearly has to upgrade the roster in two areas - power forward and perimeter shooting. Brad Miller is a high post center who can pass, shoot, and there was a time, collect close to 10 rebounds per game. But the power forward spot has been problematic, particularly on the defensive side, since Chris Webber blew out his knee in Dallas. Petrie undoubtedly will try to maneuver to acquire someone who can offset Miller’s lack of mobility and athleticism.

Kenny Thomas is only 6-foot-7, and erratic at both ends. Shareef Abdur-Rahim is only 6-foot-9, and probably best-suited as a reserve. He is not nearly as quick or effective as he once was, though his jump-hook remains is a terrific option.

And when you study the Spurs - the model for Western Conference teams, if not the league - the their balance is exceptional. They make it difficult for opponents to attack the basket, which makes it imperative to (a) score in
transition and (b) space the floor with three-point shooters. In the deciding three minutes in Game 5, for instance, Mike Bibby was the Kings’ only consistent outside shooter on the floor, and he labored through a 3-for-12 night.

The effort is there, and Artest is sensational, but the Kings have holes. Petrie will have a busy summer.

---

May 1, 2006

Ailene Voisin: Momentum has changed

SAN ANTONIO - Those mood swings inside Arco Arena these days are dramatic, to say the least.

But there was something very different going on Sunday night. For the first time in three postseasons, I started to sense that Kings fans actually believe their team has a chance to play the role of the upstart, of the underachiever, instead of the annual victim. Was it when Ron Artest chased down his own errant shot and scored just before intermission? When Brad Miller caught a pass and, without hesitation, stroked a jumper from the left side in the third period? During that sequence when Bonzi Wells powered into the lane for that rebound basket that prompted the spontaneous chanting from the crowd? Whenever it was, it had seeped into the air, something akin to a verbal swagger.

Given the club’s history, even the most faithful Kings fan had myriad reasons to be skeptical. Robert Horry ring a cowbell? Remember how the Kings squandered a double-digit lead while Vlade Divac twitched on the bench during
the Game 3 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavs in 2003. That Chris Webber debate in 2004 (should he start or sub?). The uninspiring performance in
last year’s brief series with the Seattle Sonics? Those first two losses in San Antonio seemed to feed right into Sacramento’s annual swan song: There they go again.

But the tenor of Sunday’s convincing victory was a complete shocker. The smart money was on the Spurs. How dumb was that? Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells are providing that mental and physical toughness that has been lacking since Bobby Jackson’s early, healthier days, and their size, strength and relentlessness are continuing to cause matchup problems. The Spurs also
are having little success attacking the interior - once an infamous Sacramento soft spot - and at least partly because of Tim Duncan’s foot problem, the Kings have become increasingly selective about their double-teams, no longer automatically running at Duncan and leaving themselves vulnerable from the perimeter. Manu Ginobili just looks lost, stunned by his inability to create much of anything with Artest forever hugging his hip.

I don’t envy Gregg Popovich right now. The Spurs’ coach is probably poring over psychology books as we speak. The world champs don’t want to become one of the few No.1 seeds ousted by No. 8, especially a team that scrambled to
make the playoffs. So I’ll stick with my original prediction - Spurs in six. I still think there is too much talent, versatility, experience and coaching, along with the homecourt advantage, for a San Antonio collapse. But it’s a shaky prediction. The Kings are showing me something. The Kings are hanging tough.

---

April 24, 2006

Voisin: Spurs look improved

Not to take anything away from the Detroit Pistons, but the more time I spend around the San Antonio Spurs, the more confidence I have in my preseason prediction that the Spurs will repeat as champions. Gregg Popovich’s teams always defend tenaciously.

But their offense is more fluid than in the past - their ball movement in Game 1 was absolutely stunning - and their depth is terrific. Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel just add more dimensions to an already-talented roster. If Tim Duncan can avoid aggravating his right foot ailment and Tony Parker continues to perform like he did the other night, no one is going to touch the Spurs. They are an absolute pleasure to watch, skilled and unselfish, and much more entertaining now that they play at a faster pace.

As I wrote several months back, I also believe Popovich should have been named the 2008 U.S. Olympic coach. Besides being more knowledgeable about the international game than any other NBA head coach with the exception of Mike D’Antoni, he possesses all the skills of the great head coaches. He is a stickler for details, as demanding as it gets, and can be a bit of a control freak. But he is also a great communicator and has become much more comfortable in his role as a public figure.

Besides, he loves good food and fine wine. During off-days on road trips to Golden State or Sacramento, Pop usually makes a side trip to Napa or Sonoma.

---

April 22, 2006

Ailene Voisin: Tough talk, tough player

Geez, this was pathetic. The only thing salvaging the evening here in San Antonio -- which included an absolutely horrible basketball game -- was that very little was made about Ron Artest’s prediction. Maybe now we can all get on with the series. For those who might have missed it: Artest envisions himself as the team leader, and accordingly, at times feels almost compelled to thrust out his chest and say something outlandish to seemingly take the pressure off his teammates.

Before the series against the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs, the veteran small forward, who missed the playoffs with the Indiana Pacers last year because of his season-ending suspension, repeatedly proclaimed that the Kings would advance into the second round. And I don’t have a problem with that. In fact, I applaud his competitiveness.

What was he supposed to say? That he expected the Spurs to win? Saturday night’s debacle notwithstanding, his intensity is refreshing. He plays hard, and as was evident last night, he plays hurt. After Manu Ginobili tagged him with an inadvertent elbow to the mouth a mere 18 seconds into the game, Artest crumpled to the court, yet played 35 minutes with a lip that became so inflamed that he was unable to speak with reporters afterward -- an almost unheard of occurrence.

One of the most impressive things about Artest, in fact, is his candor. He doesn’t censor his thoughts or his words. People either accept him or they don’t. And given that players and coaches often are inhibited for fear of harming their image, I’ll take candid mortals over carefully-guarded corporate clones any day.

---

Contact Sports

Bill Bradley - Sports Editor - (916) 321-1224
e-mail: bbradley@sacbee.com.