Post by KingsOfKings on May 7, 2008 15:50:53 GMT -5
Game 1
Kings lose 119-96
After a history of getting eaten alive by Augustin, the Kings probably focused a bit too much on him. Augustin only scored 24 points on 8-18 shooting, but he set up his teammates extremely well with 16 assists. Carmelo Anthony and Jamont Gordon had awesome games, but Spencer Hawes was rendered ineffective with foul trouble trying to stop easy baskets by Oden and Hibbert...not to mention the defense of Oden and Hibbert. Hawes only played 22 minutes and scored 4 points, that won't get it done. Meanwhile, Bill Walker, Roy Hibbert, and Oden joined Augustin as 20-pt scorers and the Blazers dominated the 4th quarter when Hawes fouled out.
Game 2
Kings lose 128-103
Here was the classic Augustin-Oden dominance. DJ put up 39 points, and Oden added 31. Hawes struggled inside again as Hibbert had 9 blocks. The Blazers used a huge 3rd quarter push to take the lead and cruise in the 4th.
Game 3
Kings win 108-99
The Kings rode a shooting advantage and turnover advantage to a home win to bring the series to 2-1. Shawn Marion had 8 blocks, which was effective in holding Oden down to 8 points. He had the same foul trouble, but the Kings opened up a 20-pt lead while he sat. Hibbert and Walker had good games for the Blazers, but amazingly, Augustin was held to 18 points. All 5 Kings starters and the 6th man Kyle Weaver were in double figures.
Game 4
Kings lose 107-94
Jordan Crawford's coming out party had to be in the 2nd home game for the Kings in the series. He scored 30 points to pick up slower scoring days by Walker, Oden, and Augustin. The key to the game was Oden shutting down Marion to a 1-10 shooting night. That contributed to a nightmare 35% shooting night for the Kings. Carmelo Anthony, Jamont Gordon, Spencer Hawes, and Baron Davis all scored about what I'd expect, but that shooting percentage won't get it done, even at home. The Kings only committed 5 turnovers, which is insane, but they lost the rebounding battle so they didn't get many extra possessions out of it.
Game 5
Kings lose 93-89
Kings only won one road game in the playoffs, and this wasn't one of them. The Blazers held Carmelo to 12 points, and Jamont Gordon's 24 points weren't enough to offset it. The Blazers got scoring from Augustin, Oden, and Walker. The Blazers were up 17 points at the half, and the Kings fought back to bring the game within 4 by the end. It looks like Hawes had early foul trouble, but finished the game. Only Jamont Gordon scored more than 12 points for the Kings, just not enough scoring to win on a night when the defense did a pretty impressive job.
Series summary -- The inability to win a road game killed the Kings. Also the inability to put up consistent shooting percentages and absorb a bad game from a key player by picking it up elsewhere. The Blazers were a force this year, and we knew it'd take a special series to beat them again.
Kings lose 119-96
After a history of getting eaten alive by Augustin, the Kings probably focused a bit too much on him. Augustin only scored 24 points on 8-18 shooting, but he set up his teammates extremely well with 16 assists. Carmelo Anthony and Jamont Gordon had awesome games, but Spencer Hawes was rendered ineffective with foul trouble trying to stop easy baskets by Oden and Hibbert...not to mention the defense of Oden and Hibbert. Hawes only played 22 minutes and scored 4 points, that won't get it done. Meanwhile, Bill Walker, Roy Hibbert, and Oden joined Augustin as 20-pt scorers and the Blazers dominated the 4th quarter when Hawes fouled out.
Game 2
Kings lose 128-103
Here was the classic Augustin-Oden dominance. DJ put up 39 points, and Oden added 31. Hawes struggled inside again as Hibbert had 9 blocks. The Blazers used a huge 3rd quarter push to take the lead and cruise in the 4th.
Game 3
Kings win 108-99
The Kings rode a shooting advantage and turnover advantage to a home win to bring the series to 2-1. Shawn Marion had 8 blocks, which was effective in holding Oden down to 8 points. He had the same foul trouble, but the Kings opened up a 20-pt lead while he sat. Hibbert and Walker had good games for the Blazers, but amazingly, Augustin was held to 18 points. All 5 Kings starters and the 6th man Kyle Weaver were in double figures.
Game 4
Kings lose 107-94
Jordan Crawford's coming out party had to be in the 2nd home game for the Kings in the series. He scored 30 points to pick up slower scoring days by Walker, Oden, and Augustin. The key to the game was Oden shutting down Marion to a 1-10 shooting night. That contributed to a nightmare 35% shooting night for the Kings. Carmelo Anthony, Jamont Gordon, Spencer Hawes, and Baron Davis all scored about what I'd expect, but that shooting percentage won't get it done, even at home. The Kings only committed 5 turnovers, which is insane, but they lost the rebounding battle so they didn't get many extra possessions out of it.
Game 5
Kings lose 93-89
Kings only won one road game in the playoffs, and this wasn't one of them. The Blazers held Carmelo to 12 points, and Jamont Gordon's 24 points weren't enough to offset it. The Blazers got scoring from Augustin, Oden, and Walker. The Blazers were up 17 points at the half, and the Kings fought back to bring the game within 4 by the end. It looks like Hawes had early foul trouble, but finished the game. Only Jamont Gordon scored more than 12 points for the Kings, just not enough scoring to win on a night when the defense did a pretty impressive job.
Series summary -- The inability to win a road game killed the Kings. Also the inability to put up consistent shooting percentages and absorb a bad game from a key player by picking it up elsewhere. The Blazers were a force this year, and we knew it'd take a special series to beat them again.
