| "I Felt Like Superman!" Authored by Bob Souza - April 22, 2005 - 3:44 pm
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To the 17,317 delirious fans at Arco Arena, it must have looked like he had just squeezed out of a phone booth -- flexing his muscles and adjusting his cape. Bobby Jackson’s entry into the game in the first quarter was a thing of beauty. The long and painful wait was finally over.
Don’t squawk to a Kings’ fan that it was a meaningless game, that Steve Nash didn’t play. Well, neither did Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic. So there.
Finishing the regular season by drubbing Phoenix, the team with the best record in the NBA this year and picked by many to win it all, had to feel good. Real good.
The 132-107 win by the Kings squared their record at 2-2 with the Suns, and will surely give them added confidence if they meet in the playoffs. Getting Jackson back could be huge. As in: Really very big.
Check out his line: 16 minutes, 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and 2 steals.
Unreal. The man hasn’t played since December 21st. Four months!
“I can’t believe how loud it was in here,” Jackson marveled later. “It gave me butterflies and chills. I felt like Superman when they were chanting my name.”
He was referring to the deafening cries of “Bobby, Bobby, Bobby” following his nailing of a three just before the half. The Man of Steel generated another standing-O when he left the game in the fourth.
To see the enormous impact one player can have, one need look no further than the once-wretched Golden State Warriors. The arrival of Baron Davis created an instant turnaround for that team. And for their fans.
Jackson brings that same kind of passion and fire. “Just having Bobby’s energy gave the team a big lift,” Rick Adelman crowed.
The first round match-up with Seattle should be entertaining. The Kings have had their trouble with the Sonics this year, winning just 1 of 4. But two of the losses came without Jackson, and the Sonics have less playoff experience. From this bench, it says the more veteran Kings do it in seven.
Still, various and sundry question marks continue to swirl around this bunch. Some of them aren’t the least bit pretty.
Will Stojakovic play through the yapping of his groin strain, and if he does, will he disappear again, as he has often been known to do?
Will Brad Miller be effective at all? He’s eligible for the first game, but may get held back until game number 3. His presence could prove as valuable as Jackson’s.
Will Greg Ostertag finally contribute anything? Word on the street claims he’s in better shape now, and convinced he will be a factor. Uh… okay.
Will Bobby mirror his first game back, and be the spark that throttles this engine to unbelievable heights? Don’t bet against him.
“A lot of guys in this league get booed, and I don’t even want to be one of those guys” Jackson quipped.
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. |
