Post by KingsOfKings on Feb 25, 2008 2:25:13 GMT -5
Let me set the scene for you.
Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan
Jamont Gordon was clearly a matchup problem for Pargo. He backed Pargo down a couple times, spin-move with a dunk over the backside help...2 times in a row.
Pistons coach Kelly Tripucka called a timeout and put in Arron Afflalo. In hindsight, this was clearly a premeditated thug move. It's hard to look at Tripucka and reminisce about the Bad Boys of Pistons lore. Hell, it's hard to look at Lopez and think of Laimbeer. However, Afflalo is built and he can jack people up.
The Kings adjusted and didn't go back to the same play posting Jamont Gordon up. Only two possessions later, Wilcox swatted a weakass layup by Aminu. It set up a fast break opportunity with Melo leading the way. He dished to Jamont Gordon late enough to take Lawson out of the play. Gordon went up for the dunk, and that's when it happened.
Aaron Afflalo took out Gordon. hard. No flagrant. Gordon is thrown into the basket support where he hits his head awkwardly. He couldn't clear his head so Baron Davis is brought back in off the bench to shoot the free throws.
Meanwhile, the Kings coaching staff and Baron Davis are giving the referees hell. Baron is T'ed up, Jamont Gordon is T'd up, and assistant coach Brad Huse is ejected. Baron finally made the first free throw and the Kings called a time out to regroup. At this point, the Kings led 14-9.
The Palace is noted for being a shitty stadium to play in. Ask Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest. This scene was no different. The security guards couldn't escort fans out of the stadium fast enough. Beer and peanuts was flying everywhere, and the Kings moved their huddle to the middle of the court.
What happened next is pure comedy.
Baron went to the line, tucked his right hand into the waistband of his shorts behind his back...and air-balled a left handed free throw.
For the next 41 minutes, the Kings shot every shot left-handed in dispute of the no-flagrant call and the whole premise of continuing the game in such an unsafe environment.
The numbers are ugly. Carmelo shot 7 for 28 including three half courters to finish off the 4th quarter.
The Kings played hard defensively, but maybe lacked a little heart because of their ineptness offensively shooting with their off hand.
Kings' quotes from the press conference were also quite laughable.
Spencer Hawes, on his 4-21 shooting "It was maybe a questionable time to break out the lefty Kareem skyhook with Lopez all over me, but it was a good time."
Baron Davis, on Hawes "That was some funny shit, he looked like an ostrich on his free throws, it was incredible."
Shawn Marion, on his rather impressive 5-12 shooting "I've dunked lefty more than a few times, it was no big thing"
Kings players dodged comments on the officiating. Baron Davis simply said "I don't dare say a word".
Kings GM and head coach Brad Benjamin took questions last.
Q: Do you have any comments on the officiating?
A: I plainly disagree with the call, I won't deny that I sicked Huse on him, that dude can freak out officials. I think the league should review the play and suspend Afflalo.
Q: Can you remember a team having a bigger home court advantage than the Pistons?
A: Man, you have to be some trashy Pistons beat reporter, that's a lame question. That wasn't a home-court advantage, that was a zoo. We had chimps and monkeys and hyenas behind us, and they weren't caged, and some dipshit gave them beer and peanuts. It was an unsafe environment. There were 5 stoppages of play to clean crap off the court.
Q: Any comments on your players' behavior during the game?
A: I'm proud of my players for handling everything with composure. A lot of people would've blown up...at fans, at officials, at opposing players, and they didn't. I'm proud of their left-handed shooting skill.
Q: Any word on how Jamont is doing?
A: We took him to the hospital, afraid of a concussion. We just heard back that he doesn't have a concussion, the padded basket support probably prevented an extremely serious injury. He does still have blurry vision, and we'll probably hold him out another game or two to make sure everything is normal.
Q: Any more comments?
A: This will be my last one. League office...get your deposit account ready for fine money. TV crews...get your censor ready. Detroit -- you can go F***yourselves.
Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan
Jamont Gordon was clearly a matchup problem for Pargo. He backed Pargo down a couple times, spin-move with a dunk over the backside help...2 times in a row.
Pistons coach Kelly Tripucka called a timeout and put in Arron Afflalo. In hindsight, this was clearly a premeditated thug move. It's hard to look at Tripucka and reminisce about the Bad Boys of Pistons lore. Hell, it's hard to look at Lopez and think of Laimbeer. However, Afflalo is built and he can jack people up.
The Kings adjusted and didn't go back to the same play posting Jamont Gordon up. Only two possessions later, Wilcox swatted a weakass layup by Aminu. It set up a fast break opportunity with Melo leading the way. He dished to Jamont Gordon late enough to take Lawson out of the play. Gordon went up for the dunk, and that's when it happened.
Aaron Afflalo took out Gordon. hard. No flagrant. Gordon is thrown into the basket support where he hits his head awkwardly. He couldn't clear his head so Baron Davis is brought back in off the bench to shoot the free throws.
Meanwhile, the Kings coaching staff and Baron Davis are giving the referees hell. Baron is T'ed up, Jamont Gordon is T'd up, and assistant coach Brad Huse is ejected. Baron finally made the first free throw and the Kings called a time out to regroup. At this point, the Kings led 14-9.
The Palace is noted for being a shitty stadium to play in. Ask Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest. This scene was no different. The security guards couldn't escort fans out of the stadium fast enough. Beer and peanuts was flying everywhere, and the Kings moved their huddle to the middle of the court.
What happened next is pure comedy.
Baron went to the line, tucked his right hand into the waistband of his shorts behind his back...and air-balled a left handed free throw.
For the next 41 minutes, the Kings shot every shot left-handed in dispute of the no-flagrant call and the whole premise of continuing the game in such an unsafe environment.
The numbers are ugly. Carmelo shot 7 for 28 including three half courters to finish off the 4th quarter.
The Kings played hard defensively, but maybe lacked a little heart because of their ineptness offensively shooting with their off hand.
Kings' quotes from the press conference were also quite laughable.
Spencer Hawes, on his 4-21 shooting "It was maybe a questionable time to break out the lefty Kareem skyhook with Lopez all over me, but it was a good time."
Baron Davis, on Hawes "That was some funny shit, he looked like an ostrich on his free throws, it was incredible."
Shawn Marion, on his rather impressive 5-12 shooting "I've dunked lefty more than a few times, it was no big thing"
Kings players dodged comments on the officiating. Baron Davis simply said "I don't dare say a word".
Kings GM and head coach Brad Benjamin took questions last.
Q: Do you have any comments on the officiating?
A: I plainly disagree with the call, I won't deny that I sicked Huse on him, that dude can freak out officials. I think the league should review the play and suspend Afflalo.
Q: Can you remember a team having a bigger home court advantage than the Pistons?
A: Man, you have to be some trashy Pistons beat reporter, that's a lame question. That wasn't a home-court advantage, that was a zoo. We had chimps and monkeys and hyenas behind us, and they weren't caged, and some dipshit gave them beer and peanuts. It was an unsafe environment. There were 5 stoppages of play to clean crap off the court.
Q: Any comments on your players' behavior during the game?
A: I'm proud of my players for handling everything with composure. A lot of people would've blown up...at fans, at officials, at opposing players, and they didn't. I'm proud of their left-handed shooting skill.
Q: Any word on how Jamont is doing?
A: We took him to the hospital, afraid of a concussion. We just heard back that he doesn't have a concussion, the padded basket support probably prevented an extremely serious injury. He does still have blurry vision, and we'll probably hold him out another game or two to make sure everything is normal.
Q: Any more comments?
A: This will be my last one. League office...get your deposit account ready for fine money. TV crews...get your censor ready. Detroit -- you can go F***yourselves.
