| Battered And Bruised, Sacramento Rolls On Authored by Bob Souza - February 1, 2005 - 2:33 am
Calling it a separation of men from boys may be a bit much, so how about winning through adversity? Yeah, that works - at least for now. What better example than the Kings 94-84 road victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves without stars Peja Stojakovic and Chris Webber.
As has been the case of late, whoever can slap on a uniform and wobble off the bench has managed to get the job done. This time it was Brad Miller’s 27 points and 15 rebounds, aided with 23 and 21 points by the guard duo of Cuttino Mobley and Mike Bibby, respectively. Mobley complained of an upset tummy in the first quarter.
Despite the erratic and volatile season the Wolves have put together, any victory over Kevin Garnett and his crew at their place is a truckload of reason for a blissful night’s sleep. With Webber sitting due to a sore and swollen knee, and Stojakovic resting because of his latest bout with chronic back spasms, the modified starting five played the entire second half, and played it very well.
Following the game, Mobley quipped, "Mike Bibby said we hadn't won in here in awhile. I have a good history here, so we bring a little luck or something... We stuck with it. We played hard. I said to Mike in the first half, I know we're a little weak -- shooting like 0 for a million -- but if we keep working hard, something good will happen. And half came around and I didn't feel sick anymore, just a little bit woozy, and we got the W."
As in Win - not Weenie.
Bibby, who appeared to get revitalized by a loudmouthed heckler, summed up the mindset of the team: “Guys just try and step up. Whenever we have people down, people step up”.
And up.
The Kings have now won 9 of their last 11, with the two losses coming against San Antonio, who is busy battling Phoenix for the best record in the NBA. No disgrace there, bowing to the powerful and efficient Spurs. The Kings are currently 30-13, and have also won 17 of 21.
Weakened already by the wrist-surgery absence of dynamo Bobby Jackson, the Kings have also had to do without Maurice Evans, who was fast becoming an inspiring force off the bench. He has been banished to the disabled list with a severe groin strain.
Other assorted maladies of late: Chris Webber leaving a game early against the Spurs due to twisting an ankle, and missing subsequent time because of it; Cuttino Mobley, slightly straining his right ankle against New Jersey; Mike Bibby skipping a practice with a bum ankle.
The team broadcaster was spotted sprinting for the training room, and there’s an impatient and cranky line at the whirlpool tub. So far, it’s been orderly.
The Kings have been helped by the strong performances of subs Kevin Martin and Darius Songalia, not to mention Miller’s beefy contributions. “I played 53 games without Webb last year, so I know when I’ve got to step up”, the center said recently.
Brad probably wouldn’t mind stepping on a few necks in the process.
All teams battle the dreaded injury bugaboo during an insufferably prolonged season. The ones that can continue to win will be among the last to stand, point, and laugh. Halfway through this year’s journey, the Kings seem to have stumbled on the formula.
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