[Izulde]

Kings Set To Take On Trailblazers

The top-seeded Sacramento Kings play the Portland Trailblazers in the first round, thus earning GM Jestor a date with his former team's biggest advesary the last few seasons in the Northwest.

Jestor's Denver teams lost in the first round the last three seasons and his first Sacramento Kings squad now seeks to break that one and done streak. Whether or not they can do it following a terriic regular season is open to question.

Point Guard
William Tackett vs. Jerian McCrary
Tackett has been the revelation of the season in this year's heralded rookie class. After looking so stellar in training camp that Jestor traded away favorite Zelipe Gama, the former LSU senior delivered beautifully, averaging 14.2 points, 12.7 assists and 1.1 steals in the regular season. That assist total was good for second in the league. An accurate shooter, he's a terrific passer, but sometimes gets caught trying to make too fancy a play and turns the ball over. However, he's weak on the defensive end, save for the ability to steal and McCrary should be able to score freely on him.

31 year old McCrary is a very good all-around guard and surprised by averaging 15.8 points and 10.5 assists during the regular season, showing passing skills previously unheard of. That said, he's still better suited to the 2 spot, though his 6'6, 224 lb frame gives him the type of muscle to challenge 6'4, 183 lb Tackett, particularly given his superior defense.

Advantage: Draw

Shooting Guard
Mateen Yeaton vs. Sonny Boxler
At 37, Yeaton isn't the same player he was in his heyday. His 47.7% shooting was his worst since the 2011 season and he's much slower than he used to be, with particularly eroded defense. That said, to ignore him is dangerous, as he still averaged 13.5 points, a block and steal per game and has the size and veteran savvy to make life miserable for a loafing opponent.

It's a crime that the 27 year old Boxler hasn't yet made an All-NBA team, because he's the best all-around SG in the league, supplanting Yeaton in that role. He averaged 22.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.2 blocks and 1.3 steals in the regular season, numbers that should earn him MVP consideration, to say nothing of All-NBA honors. A dynamite scorer, good rebounder and passer and excellent defensive playmaker, a smart player can nonetheless score on him, as his technical defense isn't all that good. There's also some question how effective he'll be, given that he's still hobbled by a sprained ankle.

Advantage: Trailblazers

Small Forward
David Anyan vs. Kevin Durant
After his 23 point, 6.4 rebound, 1.2 block, steal regular season, nobody's going to argue that Anyan's still got it at 33 years old. One of the primary scorers on this Kings team, he was a brilliant free agent pickup who brings explosive scoring, great passing for a forward and ferocious defense, with no real weaknesses in his game.

Anyan's presence means a very tough draw for 36 year old Durant, who can still play at a fairly high level, illustrated by his 16 points, 6.6 rebounds and steal per game. Despite his impressive 6'10, 220 lbs frame, he never did develop the kind of shotblocking ability he should have and his defense is nowhere near the level it was. If he hopes to contain Anyan, he'll have to use veteran intelligence cultivated through his many years in the league.

Advantage: Kings

Power Forward
Antonio Sarchet vs. Charlie Joseph
The once-scorned trade for Sarchet is now being universally lauded as the 29 year old posted 19.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and a steal per game while serving as Sacramento's #2 option. He averages a breathtaking 60%+ shooting from the field, is a ferocious rebounder belying his 6'8, 239 frame and is underrated on the defensive end.

28 year old Joseph is listed as a C, but at 6'9, 264, he's comparatively short even for a PF. Not a scorer, but a great rebounder and a respectable defender, illustrated by his 9.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He'll have his hands full containing Sarchet and indeed that will be his primary mission this series.

Advantage: Kings

Center
Greg Oden vs. Terrence Howard
Oden, the Kings' team captain, defies old age by still being one of the upper-echelon centers in the league. A defensive and rebounding beast, he can still bang it in from down low, as his 11.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks show. One of the most intelligent, most loved and hardest working players in the game.

33 year old Howard is all about the inside shot, averaging 14.9 points, 10 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in the regular season. A good rebounder, with blocking hops that one wouldn't expect out of his 6'10, 259 lb body. Not the best defender overall though and nowhere near as intelligent as Oden.

Advantage: Kings

Bench
Ronald King, who Jestor first became enamored with in Denver last year, has been a cheap, terrific scoring sparkplug off the bench, the first Jestor reserve to average double-digit scoring in the regular season (10.7 points). Brandon Edmond filled in for Oden after he was acquired from Memphis following Oden's injury early in the season. A great rebounder, defender and shotblocker who doesn't take a shot unless he's sure it'll go in, he averaged 8.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in split duty. Lost in Tackett's glow is fellow rookie Jim Johnson, who made incredible strides his first year, averaging 5.6 points, mostly off the bench. In fact, the 20 year old improved so much, he could be a starter as soon as next season.

Charles Howard could start for virtually any team in the league. He's a phenomenal point producer who plays excellent, tough defense and averaged 15.5 points and 1.5 steals. Chris Rein of the 5.5 points plays solid defense, but the Trailblazers don't have anybody on the bench who can rebound and recent D-League callup Jerry Floyd, while reportedly a promising reserve guard, particularly on defense, is untested.

Advantage: Kings

Final Thoughts
This series pits the Trailblazers superior backcourt against the Kings top-notch frontcourt and greater depth. Sonny Boxler's injury is going to have a definite impact on this series and if Sacramento can jump out to a fast start, this could be over in a hurry.
Prediction: Kings in 5

I'm surprised, but nonetheless pleased they're showing that much confidence in us.

Game One
We jump out to a 28-17 first quarter lead in front of an impassioned home crowd and never look back, our defense shutting the Trailblazers down. When Jerian McCrary is held to an 0 for 10 night, you know it's a rough one for Portland. Antonio Sarchet and Greg Oden turn in double-doubles of 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 points, 11 rebounds respectively, William Tackett shows no rookie jitters in amassing 15 points and 10 rebounds and Ronald King leads the bench with 10 points. But the real story of this game was Mateen Yeaton shining through with his playoff form of old in scoring 22 points. Despite being held to 36.3% shooting as a team, Portland did get 23 points and 11 rebounds from Kevin Durant, 19 points and 12 rebounds from Terrence Howard and 12 bench points from Charles Howard.
Final - Portland 88 Sacramento 98

Game Two
David Anyan got mad after Kevin Durant stifled him in Game 1, so mad that he comes out roaring in Game 2, leading all scorers with 32 points. An awesome game by our reserves, highlighted by Ronald King and Brandon Edmond combining for 20 and 10 points a piece. Portland again struggled to put the ball in the basket, though Charles Howard did his best with a sensational 29 points off the bench.
Final - Portland 95 Sacramento 119

Game Three
A 2-0 series lead is precisely what I hoped for heading into Portland as I'm anticipating the Trailblazers will come ready to play. And indeed, Terrence Howard comes through with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Charles Howard continues his sterling series with 21 points. The Blazers also had their best shooting performance this round. But it wasn't enough, as David Anyan blasted the Blazers for 35 points, William Tackett issued 14 points and 14 assists and Ronald King matches Tackett's 14 points off the bench. Portland made one hell of a fourth quarter rally, but they fell just short and are now held by the throat, looking at a nearly impossible 0-3 series deficit.
Final - Sacramento 101 Portland 97

Game Four
A sweep would be sweet. Unfortunately, the Traiblazers force the game to a crawl, utilizing Terrence Howard inside to get 21 points and 16 rebounds and ride a balanced offense that we can't overcome. Not even with David Anyan's 20 points or Ronald King's Howard-esque 21 bench points. It's okay though, we've still got them at triple break point at 3-1.
Final - Sacramento 86 Portland 91

New Orleans's stay in the playoffs was a short one as the Suns swept them and Dallas didn't do us any favors by kicking out the Jazz in four games. The networks and the NBA brass are giddy over the idea of a Mavericks/Kings matchup next round. We have every intention of bringing them that ratings dream by closing out in Game 5.

Game Five
A sellout, high-decibel crowd on your side is always a great thing and we ride it to our biggest win of the series. William Tackett's the man of the night with 29 points and 12 assists, though it'd be unfair to gloss over Antonio Sarchet's 14 points and 10 rebounds or Ronald King's 20 bench points. Terrence Howard fought courageously for 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Blazers reserves Charles Howard and Chris Rein scored 17 and 13 points a piece. But when just two Portland starters score in double-digits, the chances of continuing the series are rather slim, especially on the road. So it's precisely as predicted, a Game 5 victory. The champagne bottles are popping everywhere in television studios and league headquarters, for the sexy ratings round is secured.
Final - Portland 95 Sacramento 127

Boston puts away Milwaukee in 6 games and Atlanta eliminates the two-time defending East champion Knicks in the same time span. But the biggest story of the series decided in six is Memphis's stunning upset of the heavily favored Timberwolves. There's just something about that Grizzlies team that makes them turn it on in the first round. I hope they can do the same thing to Phoenix, who scares the hell out of me.

Toronto needs all seven games to escape the Nets, but the same fate doesn't smile upon the Cavaliers, who are upset by the Bulls in the deciding Game 7. We could very well see an all-Atlantic, all-Pacific pair of conference finals.

But first we have to get past a Mavericks team thirsty for our blood and that's going to be the most difficult challenge we've faced all season.