[Izulde]

I like our chances against Sacramento. Even more than I did our shot against the Jazz, to be honest. But let's just see what the article says. I've decided to cut out the fluff this time and go straight to the position by position previews.

Point Guard
Zelipe Gama vs. Carlton Goree
Gama really stepped up when the team needed him to in the first round and averaged 18 points, 9 assists, 2.3 steals and a block against Utah. That same type of production will be extremely helpful against the Kings.

The rookie Goree, who almost got drafted by Denver, has proven a revelation and another Sacramento 1st round steal. He averaged 13.1 points, 8.9 assists and 2.4 steals in the first round. A smart, good all around point guard. Not flashy and doesn't have the upside to be elite, but he's got great stealing instincts and excellent shooting mechanics.

Advantage: Draw

Shooting Guard
Mateen Yeaton vs. Justin Barnes
Yeaton was hampered by injuries most of the first round, but still gritted his way through to 17.8 points, a steal and 2 blocks versus the Jazz. He's back to full health and that's got to scare Sacramento.

We've really been impressed by Barnes's work ethic on defense this year and he's now an adequate defender. But he's still just 6'2 against Yeaton's 6'8, the kind of smaller guard last year's Finals MVP loves to abuse. Sensational first round for Barnes: 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He won't duplicate those numbers against Denver, though.

Advantage: Nuggets

Small Forward
David Jackson vs. Sean Griffin
Quietly effective first round by 50 Ninja for 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Shot a blistering 65.1% from the floor. If he can reduce his foul tendency a bit and be more aggressive with his shot taking, he could easily be a 15 points a game player.

3 inches and 40 pounds separate Jackson and Griffin, which is a huge disadvantage for the Kings. Griffin averaged 9.9 points, 6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks in the first round, but he's not liable to have much more success against the bigger, outspoken Jackson.

Advantage: Nuggets

Power Forward
Marcelino Augusto vs. Mike Vines
Breathtaking showing by Augusto in the first round, averaging 25.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.8 blocks. He's transitioned beautifully into the Nuggets #1 option on offense this year and will probably stay that way for most of the rest of his career. Just a special, special player, the kind whose number hangs in the rafters someday.

Vines deserves credit as a great, silent defender with terrific scoring talents inside, but 16 points a game as he did in the first round won't be enough against this high-powered Denver offense. On top of that, he has to contain the NBA scoring leader. It's going to be a tough outing for Sacramento here as well.

Advantage: Nuggets

Center
Andrew Bogut vs. Patrick Riley
Bogut's averaging a near double-double in the playoffs thus far with 9.8 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks. He's doing exactly what the Nuggets coaching staff wants him to do and he should do more of the same this series.

Getting Riley in offseason free agency was a major coup for the Kings, as he can score, rebound, and defend in addition to being one of the league's best blockers. He's averaging 14.3 points, 12 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 3.7 blocks so far in the playoffs. A big plus for Sacramento here.

Advantage: Kings

Bench
Victor Gipson's hobbled by a sprained wrist, but he's filling Jackson's old role in averaging 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks off the bench. A big body and a terrific reserve to have. Rico Wolfe's chipping in 7.3 points and Louis Mertens is averaging 5 points a game, giving the Nuggets three solid bench players who can really rack up the points.

Third year Slovenian Cene Kovacs is a solid all-around reserve, averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in the first round. Winston Smith is a giant at 7'4, 267 lbs and a phenomenal defender with some upside still waiting to be filled. He averaged 6.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in the first round and should be successful here as well. Deron Williams can still pass and score at 37, as his 6.7 points in the postseason thus far illustrate.

Advantage: Draw

Final Thoughts
The Kings do have some nice players and a solid bench, but the Nuggets are simply too talented for Sacramento to overcome. This series will be shorter than the Denver/Utah one. In fact, we'll call the sweep.
Prediction: Nuggets in 4

Yeah, like I said. Easy matchup here.

Game One
Or maybe not. Patrick Riley explodes for 27 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks, Mike Vines puts up 16 points and 10 rebounds and Deron Williams scores 11 off the bench. On our end, Mateen Yeaton scores 31 and Zelipe Gama -just- misses the triple-double with 9 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in addition to Victor Gipson's 8 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. But the rest of our reserves suck, Marcelino Augusto has a god-awful 2 for 12 night and the Kings steal the opening game win.
Final - Sacramento 86 Denver 77

Game Two
Patrick Riley comes up with 10 points and 12 rebounds and the Kings continue to get stellar play off their bench, as four Sacramento reserves score 8 points or more, led by Raymond Felton and Winston Smith with 10 points a piece. Mateen Yeaton gets in foul trouble and I'm swearing up a storm. Marcelino Augusto breaks out for 26 points and 13 rebounds and David Jackson doubles for 12 points and 12 rebounds, but the story of this game is Louis Mertens, who goes a crazy 11/15 for 29 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 steals to win Player of the Game and carry us to a series-tying victory. I -knew- there was a reason why I liked the Belgian kid's game so much!!
Final - Sacramento 92 Denver 106

Game Three
In Sacramento now and we need at least a split to reasonably stay alive in this one. A sweep would obviously be preferred. It won't be easy though, as Justin Barnes finally cracks the 20 point mark with 21, Patrick Riley gets 10 points and 11 rebounds and the Kings' bench continues to amaze me, Deron Williams and Winston Smith scoring 14 and 10 respectively. We counter with Marcelino Augusto's 19 points and 20 rebounds, Andrew Bogut's 12 points and 19 rebounds and Rico Wolfe's 13 bench points. The clincher, however, belongs to Mateen Yeaton, who, unfettered by foul trouble, blitzes the Kings for 34 points and we're in good shape with the 2-1 series lead.
Denver 95 Sacramento 78

Game Four
Just win, baby. It's a mantra Mateen Yeaton's looking to fill as he goes out and scores 40. Zelipe Gama puts together 11 points and 10 assists and Rico Wolfe adds 16 points off the bench. But Mike Vines tears us apart for 32 points and 11 rebounds, Patrick Riley had yet another solid game of 16 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks and Carlton Goree issues 14 points and 10 assists. In the end, we're doomed by Andrew Bogut's 1 for 11 night and we're forced into a brawl, losing by 5 to send this thing to another tie of 2-2.
Final - Denver 101 Sacramento 106

Toronto shrugs off the first round scare by the Pistons, punching out the Knicks in a sweep. The Raptors are doing their part; now why can't we do ours?

Game Five
Back in Denver, this is pretty much a must-win right here if we want to defend our title, particularly since the other semi-final round is at 3 games to 1. We get it by the slimmest of margins, rallying in the fourth quarter behind 20 points from Marcelino Augusto, 22 points from Mateen Yeaton and heroic bench showings of 16 and 11 points from Rico Wolfe and Louis Mertens. Justin Barnes was unbelievable with 32 points, Patrick Riley pulled down 16 points and 11 rebounds, while 3 Kings subs had 9 points or more, led by Winston Smith's 12 points. 3 narrow points, but it's a crucial 3-2 series lead.
Final - Sacramento 107 Denver 110

Dallas ousts the Timberwolves in 5, setting up a renewal of an old playoff rivalry. Not good, as I like our chances against Minnesota considerably more. But we have to play the hand we're dealt.

Game Six
Worry about the Mavs later. Let's just concentrate on getting this win right here in Sacramento and moving on. The Kings play balanced offense here, all five starters save one scoring 14 or 17 points. Patrick Riley led the way with 17 points and 9 rebounds and Deron Williams scored 15 off the bench. It's a terrible shooting night from our starters, our top performers Zelipe Gama with 13 points and 10 assists and 10 bench points from Louis Mertens. Terrible shooting night that is, except for David "50 Ninja" Jackson, who sneaks past Sacramento and stabs them with sweet shot after sweet shot until he's put up a game-high 24 points and led us to the clinching win!!!! 50 Ninja!!!!
Final - Denver 103 Sacramento 95

Huge, huge relief.

The Hawks continue their dream season by ridding the playoffs of the Magic in six games, setting up a fascinating East Conference Finals matchup with the Raptors.

Atlanta/Toronto
Dallas/Denver

This is going to be one fun set of conference finals.