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The Kings hope for some Peja-vu
by Graham Flashner / May 21, 2002

Give the Kings lots of credit: they stepped up defensively in Game 2 and took advantage of a depleted Kobe Bryant. (It’s a safe bet the Lakers will think twice about ordering room service in an enemy hotel). With Kobe unable to summon up a Jordan-like performance the famous Game 5 in 1997, when a similarly ailing MJ poured in 37 on the Jazz, things were somewhat balanced out. The Kings effectively doubled Shaq in the second half, denied the Lakers the good perimeter looks that they enjoyed all day in Game 1 and worked their pick-and-rolls to perfection.

One can argue that, save for one miserable first quarter in the first contest, the Kings have played the Lakers even, minus one of their top scorers. This Sacramento team is deep and talented enough to have started the season 15-5 without Chris Webber, and they will hang with the Lakers even if Peja Stojakovic never plays a minute. But they cannot beat the Lakers -much less extend the series to a full seven games- without their Yugoslav star.

His 18.3 scoring average and 7 rebounds per game in the playoffs is only part of the story. With the 6-9 Peja in the lineup, the Kings gain a formidable perimeter shooter and a fearless penetrator. Without him, the Kings one major edge that they hold on the Lakers -their depth- is neutralized. Peja’s absence denies Rick Adelman the luxury of bringing super-subs Bobby Jackson and Hedo Turkoglu off the bench. Jackson has been electrifying in his sixth man role, but starting him means that either he or Mike Bibby would draw the unenviable task of defending Kobe, a Sacramento nightmare. By starting Turkoglu, Kobe is left to battle defensive specialist Doug Christie, the Kings preferred matchup. Unfortunately that left Rick Fox to apply the clamps to Turkoglu, who was as overmatched as the Romans who fought Russell Crowe in “Gladiator”.

Nicknamed ‘He don’t’ by press punsters, Turkoglu didn’t hit his first shot of the entire series until the two teams had logged nearly 70 minutes of basketball. Hounded by Fox, Turkoglu spent most of Game 1 on the periphery of Arco Arena. Unable to get good looks, denied his favorite spots on the court, Turkoglu was a non-factor beyond even the Lakers’ wildest expectations. Not that anyone expected miracles he’s averaging 7 ppg in the playoffs but his tentativeness and unreliable perimeter shooting enabled the Lakers to sag inside.

Without the threat of Peja’s jumper and drive, the Lakers can collapse the middle more, narrowing the court on slashing players like Bibby and Jackson. And with Turkoglu forced into the starting lineup, the Kings have fewer fouls to spread out among their big men. Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard have had enough help so far in guarding Shaq, but it’s only a matter of time before Shaq plays an entire game like the first half of Game 2, when he made 11 of 15 shots and revealed the interior Kings defense as softer than Charmin.

Before everyone gets too excited by Peja’s probable return for Game 3, remember that Fox stuffed him in last year's sweep, to the tune of 38.8% shooting for the series. Granted, Peja has a better supporting cast this year with Mike Bibby replacing the erratic Jason Williams. The real X factor, of course, is how much Peja’s speed and timing will suffer from the layoff and the injury. Sprained ankles are notoriously fickle when it comes to fast recovery.

Ultimately, the series will be decided on which Lakers team shows up on a given night. The Lakers accomplished what they wanted at Arco, seizing home court advantage and making a forceful statement in the opener; they would’ve won that game even with the Kings at full-strength. Faced with a must-win in Game 2, the Kings came out with all the urgency the Lakers lacked, but even with all that emotion… and a subpar Kobe… and with Lakers role players barely able to put points on the board… they very nearly gave the game away at the end, letting a 15 point lead dwindle to five, before an atrocious shot by Robert Horry and a Kobe turnover bailed them out.

Perhaps showing the strain of trying to three-peat, this year’s Lakers seem to require more heightened emotional challenges to spur them to the top of their game. In the San Antonio series, it came from Phil Jackson. Before the start of the semifinals, it came from Vlade Divac, boasting that the Lakers could not win without home-court advantage. Now, with Peja’s imminent return, and the Lakers mindful of their inconsistent play at Staples Center, it’s time for the champs to make another statement and remind everyone that while Sacramento may have closed the gap between the two teams, they haven’t sealed it, at least not until they prove they can play at the Lakers level defensively. A brave performance by Peja could help extend the series to a stunning seventh game. Just the type of challenge the Lakers could use on their way to a third straight title.

Graham Flashner is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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