Nail-Biting Lakers/Kings Game Thursday Brings Back Intense Memories of a Once Great Rivalry 

12/30/18

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​For NBA fans with memory's that go back at least as far as the turn of the century, Thursdays Battle between the Lakers and Kings, a tilt in which the hometown Kings narrowly escaped with a 117-116 win, no doubt brought back memories of a classic playoff series too often remembered by history as the Tim Donaghy series. 

Today, we look to change that. 

Of course the series I'm referencing is the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the two Golden State franchises, a series won by the Lakers in 7 on their way to the third of their famous three peat title runs of the Shaq/Kobe era.

The series is sometimes remembered for what many, especially Kings fans feel was demonstrable league bias against Sacramento by the officials, one of whom, the aforementioned Donaghy would a few short years later become the focus of one of the most nefarious scandals in NBA history. 

This article is not to rehash that situation, for a quick reference checkout the WikiPedia page on the matter. 

The fact of the matter is, the 2002 WCF was one of the best playoff series in NBA history. 

Some often forgotten facts and highlights: 

• Two games, four and five were decided by a single point, the Lakers edging the Kings in game four, and the Kings returning the favor in game five
• Only one game, game three was decided by double digits, a 103-90 Kings win
• No team ever had a two game lead in the series 
• The Lakers overcame a 3-2 deficit by winning the only pair of back to back games in the series in games six and seven

Those facts only begin to scratch the surface. The energy, genuine disdain between the teams and the harsh realization by Lakers fans that the Kings were every bit as good, and perhaps better than the two time defending champions made this a series for the ages. 

Lets Break it down.

The Kings
The Kings had everything, a formidable front line with sharpshooting forward Peja Stojakovic who played the final three games of the series after returning from an ankle injury, along with Chris Webber and former Laker Vlade Divac. Webber of course today is often considered one of the more deserving non-hall-of-famers eligible for enshrinement.

The back court of Mike Bibby and Doug Christie, provided an excellent blend of defense, shot making, offense creation and leadership, as Bibby consistently hurt the Lakers while averaging 22.7 points per game, which was second on the Kings for the series behind Webber's 24.3. 

The Kings bench was far superior to that of the Lakers averaging 24PPG to the Lakers 14.5. The Kings in fact got nearly as much scoring from reserve guard Bobby Jackson - 12PPG as the Lakers did from their entire bench. The point guard match-up was easily the Kings greatest strength, winning the scoring match-up 34.7 to 9.7.

In many ways the Kings were the better team, but as they always say in the NBA it's often about the stars. Which brings us to the Lakers.

The Lakers 
For the kids out there, before he was a funny sometimes argumentative TV talking head, Shaquille O'Neal was a BAD BAD BAD man. Oh ya and that Kobe guy was pretty good then too. All you got to do is ask Vlade Divac, or you know watch the highlight. 

The fact is, the pair of all-time greats along with a strong series from the Lakers veteran role players, led by Robert Horry simply were a bit too much for the more well rounded Kings team.

Shaq and Kobe combined for a gaudy 57.4 points, 19.9 rebounds per game throughout the series. Meanwhile Horry, in addition to this very famous shot - again ask Vlade about it, after all he made the pass, turned in a strong series averaging 11.4 points and 11.1 rebounds to go along with a team high 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals per contest. 

Final Talley

• In the end the final scoring differential for the climax series of a three year long playoff rivalry was 2; in favor of the losing team
• The teams pace was identical at 94.5 according to Basketball-Reference
• the points per game averages were separated by just six tenths of a point 99.6-99.3 in favor of SAC
• Offensive ratings were also nearly identical, 103.8 SAC, 103.6 LAL

What This All Means
For those who don't recall this incredible series 16-years ago, please understand, that when your older brother, uncle, cousin or friend called you so deep into the night Thursday gushing about a Kings/Lakers game he wasn't gushing about the potential meaning of a match-up between two fringe playoff teams.

He wasn't gushing about the nail-biting finish he had just watched.

He was in fact, gushing with nostalgia, recalling what was likely the greatest playoff series he ever watched.