[G-Force]

Both teams struggled with their outside shooting in game one, and both teams have to the potential to shoot considerably better in game two. It is going to be interesting to watch the adjustments that both coaches make in game two regarding match-ups and playing time.

G-Force

[DaUnbreakableKinG]

Originally Posted by G-Force

Both teams struggled with their outside shooting in game one, and both teams have to the potential to shoot considerably better in game two. It is going to be interesting to watch the adjustments that both coaches make in game two regarding match-ups and playing time.

G-Force

Yeah, I believe so too that they'll shoot better. Wasn't a good shooting night Saturday.

[DaUnbreakableKinG]

Kings notes: Ostertag still must earn his court time

Greg Ostertag's role never changes.

He leans, he muscles, he clogs.

"That's what I do: Go out there, push people around, get offensive rebounds, try to change shots," the Kings' reserve center said.

Ostertag has more playoff experience to his credit - 88 games - than all of the Seattle SuperSonics combined, so Kings coach Rick Adelman will continue to use Ostertag, provided the 7-footer produces.

* Peja Stojakovic said his friend and fellow Serb Vladimir Radmanovic of Seattle treated for dinner Friday night. "He took me to some Italian restaurant," Stojakovic said. "It wasn't healthy. He wasn't eating good. I don't know. Was it a setup for me?"

Lots of experience if you ask me.


@ Peja and Vladi.

[DaUnbreakableKinG]

Sonics notes: Let's play 'Guess the quote subject'

SEATTLE - Take out the "P," and you have this:

The layoffs - those annual eons of time between games in the NBA playoffs.

So with the Seattle SuperSonics and Kings not playing again until Tuesday night, embrace a game of another kind. Call it "Name the Subject of that Quote." It's catchy, we know.

"It's hard to stop a guy like that, or keep guys like that down," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said Sunday at his team's training facility.

After Seattle's 87-82 game one win, McMillan could've been talking about Mike Bibby, the Kings' playoff-proven point guard who turned in a horrid 1-for-16 shooting effort in the opener. He may have been speaking of center Brad Miller, who looked respectable but played just eight minutes in his first game back from injury, or Bobby Jackson (0-for-7 shooting), Cuttino Mobley (22 points), or maybe Kenny Thomas (10 points). In truth, he was referring to forward Peja Stojakovic, who led the Kings with 24 points.

Radmanovic looking for more

The Sonics were 27-5 when Vladimir Radmanovic scored in double figures, and he is looking to regain that form. Game 1 was his first outing since fracturing his right leg, and he missed his only shot.

[DaUnbreakableKinG]

Ailene Voisin: Ridnour - his job is to pester

SEATTLE - The numbers certainly favored the other guy, as did the reputation. So what was the kid doing out there? What was he thinking? What on earth possessed him to pressure Mike Bibby - one of the clutch performers in recent NBA playoff history - and believe he could get away with it?

His quickness and energy.

His coach's game plan.

His own naïveté.

Luke Ridnour simply performed as directed, never questioned the aggressive tactics or even his own ability to accomplish the unfathomable: Frustrate Bibby into a miserable 1-for-16 playoff performance. Make him think, make him work, make him tired. And though the former Oregon standout missed all six of his field-goal attempts and had only four assists in Saturday's series opener, his quietly effective defensive effort was characteristic of Seattle's surprisingly successful season; these Sonics sneak up on people. Weakside, strongside, blindside.

What is naïveté.




Luke Ridnour chases the ball between Kings Bobby Jackson, left, and Corliss Williamson. His hustle stymied Mike Bibby's offense in Game 1.

[DaUnbreakableKinG]

Sizing up their weapons

Adelman tries different combinations to counter Sonics

Rick Adelman, who often has been criticized for not using his bench, couldn't be faulted in that regard Saturday night.

The Kings' coach used 11 players in his team's 87-82 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Adelman is trying to weave Brad Miller and Bobby Jackson, both coming off injuries, into the rotation and find the most effective ways to deal with the size and physical style of the Sonics' frontcourt.

Saturday, Adelman tried the unusual pairing of the 7-foot Miller and 7-2 Greg Ostertag on the front line. The coach also had 6-foot-7 Corliss Williamson guarding 7-1 Jerome James, and 6-4 Cuttino Mobley against 6-10 Rashard Lewis.

Miller and Ostertag rarely had played together on the floor even in practice, Adelman said.

Hope they get used to each other fast.


Greg Ostertag (00) muscles his way between Rashard Lewis (7) and Jerome James for a rebound Saturday. Ostertag and Brad Miller helped neutralize the Sonics' frontcourt.


Bobby Jackson, left, and Cuttino Mobley discuss strategy in the fourth quarter Saturday. Jackson had a cold shooting hand, going 0 for 7.

[DaUnbreakableKinG]

Tacoma News-Tribune: Radmanovic’s Braids are gone, but soreness remains

Vladimir Radmanovic’s leg fared better than his hairdo.

The braids the Seattle SuperSonics forward wore in Saturday’s playoff victory over the Sacramento Kings were long gone Sunday, but the soreness in his right fibula, which suffered a stress fracture more than a month ago, lingered.

Radmanovic continues to undergo daily treatments of ice, massage and electric stimulation for the injury, which kept him out of the final 19 regular-season games. He was scoreless in 13 minutes against the Kings.

“I’m not 100 percent yet, but I will be 100 percent soon,” Radmanovic said.

Radmanovic missed the only shot he attempted Saturday. Still, his reputation for making 3-pointers helped the Sonics spread the floor, coach Nate McMillan said.

“You’ve got to respect that he can shoot the ball,” McMillan said. “We were able to run a number of plays with him in the game, and basically he opened up the floor because the defense didn’t want to leave him.”

[Peja Vu]

Originally Posted by DaUnbreakableKinG

What is naïveté.

NAÏVETÉ: A FEATURE characterized by a relative inability to see the unpleasant aspects of life and the potential harmful or negative consequences of one's actions.

[Twix]

I found this latest Kings article:

link: Frustrated Bibby blows off media

SEATTLE - Mike Bibby is tired of talking about his performance in Game 1 of Sacramento’s playoff series against Seattle.

Or maybe he’s just tired of talking, period.

The Kings point guard snubbed interviews Monday in Sacramento, perhaps showing his frustration from days of scrutiny after one of the worst games of his career.

Bibby shot just 1-for-16 from the field with four assists as Seattle won Game 1 on Saturday night. The SuperSonics lead 1-0, and it’s all but certain Bibby won’t disappear again in Game 2 on Tuesday.

“He’s human,” Seattle guard Antonio Daniels said Monday. “Guys are going to have nights where they don’t make shots or things don’t go their way. He’s still a very good player, obviously one of the best point guards in the league.”

....

“If you look at these playoffs series, a lot guys are having tough games,” Kings coach Rick Adelman said. “It’s just how you respond to them. Mike has always responded, and I fully expect him to tomorrow.”

It’s not just Bibby who struggled in Game 1 for the Kings. Bobby Jackson, playing for only the second time since December after a wrist injury, went 0-for-7 with two assists.

“I’m over it,” Jackson said. “It happens and all I can guarantee is that I won’t play like that again. I didn’t play bad. I think I was trying to do too much when I got out there. I just have to take my time and let the game come to me.”

GOO KINGS!!!