Spurs-Grizzlies Preview: Five Key Factors

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zach randolphUvo, take me back to 2011. (Sorry, I’ve been watching too many Blake Griffin commercials.)

Just two years ago, the eighth-seeded Grizzlies stunned the top-seeded Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, sending San Antonio back to its rocking chairs a little bit earlier than anyone expected.

Memphis used a breakout performance by Zach Randolph (31 points, 11 boards in Game 6) to close out the Spurs, then took the Thunder to seven games before bowing out in the West semifinals.

Back then, analysts like Stephen A. Smith used unnecessary big words to postulate that we were seeing the end of the great San Antonio dynasty. How erroneous those assertions were.

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Dayton: What it means that the Kings are staying in Sacramento

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At around 7 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday night, I became whole again.

The author (right) with Kings play-by-play man Grant Napear in Philadelphia. He thought it was the last time he'd be able to see his team in person.

The author (right) with Kings play-by-play man Grant Napear in Philadelphia. He thought it was the last time he would be able to see his team in person.

I found out that the Sacramento Kings, my favorite NBA team is, this time, for sure, going to exist next season.

I found out that the squad I’ve been rooting for since I was 12 years old is staying right where it belongs, and that I can look forward to the NBA draft, and next season, and getting NBA League Pass again.

I couldn’t be more ecstatic.

What does it feel like to realize that your favorite team is going to be around for a while, that you won’t have to be an NBA nomad, with no real rooting interest anywhere?

Put it this way:

The Kings were horrible this season, but it feels like they just won a playoff series. I’m pouring champagne all over myself as we speak. In fact, I just plastic-wrapped my keyboard.

The Vlade Divac jersey I’ve been wearing for the past few weeks in semi-protest (almost like a Che Guevara shirt on a college campus) is now just another awesome old-school jersey. The look of forlorn empathy I’ve seen on people’s faces when I tell them I’m a Kings fan will now only show up when I tell them I still live with my parents.

To sum it all up: This is the exact opposite of the 2002 Western Conference finals.

Maybe it’s karma (although that’s a tough sell to Seattle fans), or maybe it’s just Kevin Johnson. But this time around, the Kings actually came out on top with everything on the line. In May 2002, I collapsed to the floor in devastation when the Kings “lost” to the Lakers.

Today, I couldn’t have been happier if Amanda Pflugrad showed up at my house.

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson worked tirelessly to keep the Kings.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson worked tirelessly to keep the Kings.

This was a fight Sacramento deserved to win. The Kings have some of the most passionate fans in the NBA, and thanks to the Herculean efforts of Johnson, the mayor and a former All-Star point guard, they have a group of investors willing to spend an ungodly amount of money on the team, and a plan for a new arena that was passed, 7-2, by the City Council.

The fact that this whole thing became a bidding war was unfortunate and wrong, because Sacramento never wavered on whether or not it wanted to keep the Kings. Fans still showed up in droves. Politicians fought tooth and nail for the right to use public money on a new arena.

Kings fans sold out the home finale. They cheered on their team that night as if it were the NBA Finals. A guy named Carmichael Dave even put together a bus tour and traveled the country to spread the word about the passion his city had for the Kings.

This was never about Seattle. The people up there deserve a team, and I sincerely hope that they get one soon.

No, this was about Sacramento, and in truth, the only reason the Kings were even in the position to be relocated was because of the vindictive Maloof family, which backed out on an arena deal they had agreed to last year. Then they sold the franchise to Seattle businessman Chris Hansen in stealth. The Maloofs were hellbent on screwing over Sacramento, hoping to pull the moving fans away in the middle of the night like the Baltimore Colts.

Thankfully, it didn’t work.

It feels pretty great to know that the collective efforts of a fan base and a city can be enough to stop an inept ownership group.

It feels even better that I’m going to have a team to root for next season, and in the seasons to come.

Long live the Sacramento Kings.

Long live my team.

Kels Dayton is a freelance writer whose work has also appeared in SLAM Magazine. You can check out more of his work at RoundballDaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @RoundballDaily.

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Most Improved Player Rankings: The Finale

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Nikola VucevicThey say all good things must come to an end.

This is the final edition of the Most Improved Player Rankings and I—

I’m sorry … I … told myself I wasn’t going to cry. (sniffle)

It’s been an amazing run here at the Most Improved Player Rankings. We’ve talked about donut races, wildebeests, and Andy Enfield’s wife. We’ve made fun of just about every basketball announcer out there and also Jim Nantz.

But now it’s finally time to get down to the business of naming the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

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Most Improved Player Rankings: Week 23

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Peyton SivaI’ll admit it: I teared up a little last night.

When the buzzer sounded in Atlanta, and Louisville emerged as the NCAA champion, I was humbled by my own role in it all. After all, I’m not a hero. I’m just a man writing a column about the most improved players in the NBA.

But once again, I became the center of the basketball universe. I didn’t do any interviews because I wanted this moment to be about the players and the coaches, not me. Still, I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t looking forward to when Rick Pitino calls and asks me for my ring size. 

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Most Improved Player Rankings: Week 22

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Omer AsikThere are less than three weeks left in the NBA season. Three weeks. And I’m having a breakdown.

It’s up to me to rank the Most Improved Players in the league this season, but I might as well be tasked with coming up with the goofiest Lopez brother, the dumbest “Real World” contestant, or the craziest old lady on “The View.”

Here’s the thing: I just can’t decide which of the candidates have risen above the rest. There are so many players who have improved so much over the course of the season, it’s almost unfair to have to pick only one.

And yet I must. It’s not a charge I take lightly. I swore an oath when I took this column. Either that, or I’ve been watching too many episodes of Game of Thrones. (I’ve been proofreading this column in an English accent).

Either way, I decided to write down the case for each of the candidates. Because talking (or writing) is often the best therapy:

The case for Nikola Vucevic: The Vucevator began as a bench player in Philly and has become a double-double machine in Orlando, averaging 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds this season. He came from nowhere, and he’s become a solid young center with All-Star potential. He’s had some monster games, and ranks third in the league in rebounding.

The case for Omer Asik: He went from stiff to starter and incredibly productive big man, emerging as a rebounding virtuoso in Houston, averaging 11.6 per game. He was also a borderline All-Star and ranks second in the league in rebounding.

The case for Paul George: He’s everyone’s favorite, and has stepped up and become the alpha dog on one of the best teams in the East, and maybe one of four teams who wouldn’t get absolutely steamrolled by the Heat in the playoffs.

The case for Jrue Holiday: The Jruth arguably has had the best season of anyone on this list. He’s in the top 10 in scoring and assists, and has singlehandedly carried the Sixers this season, although not very far. And he was arguably the best player on this list last season, too.

The case for Greivis Vasquez: The Hornets made his case pretty well, putting together this montage for Greivis. It looks like a movie reel. You’ve got to admire their dedication.

The case for Kemba Walker: He went from adequate player on a crappy team to terrific player on a crappy team. He’s been a big-time scorer for the Bobcats this season, and without him, they probably would have won three games this season.

The case for Larry Sanders: He went from buried on the bench to starting and becoming one of the league’s best defensive players. His offensive numbers also have greatly improved, as he put up 24 points to go with 13 rebounds in a Monday win over Charlotte.

Honestly, all of these guys have a legitimate claim to the throne award. But only one will win. Unless two of them win, and it’s a co-Most Improved Player Award. But then they’d have to give out two trophies. So I think it’s just going to be one. 

As it stands right now, one man has risen above the rest. I chose him because of how irrelevant he was last year, and how much of a force he’s become today.

You will find out his name soon enough. Actually, why don’t we just take a look now? Yeah, that sounds good. Well actually, let’s wait until the next line break.

On to the rankings.

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