Jerome James

Mike Bibby

Bobby Jackson

On the other hand, the bigger picture doesn't provide evidence that the Sonics played any better relative to their expectations than the Kings. After all, the Sonics shot only 36.5% from the field; while they didn't have as high-profile off nights as Bibby, the four Sonics starters besides Rashard Lewis (8-for-13) shot a combined 17-for-56 from the field (30.3%), hardly typical performance. And that includes James, who did need 20 shots to get his points. While the Sonics could hardly have expected to have three players in double-figures rebounds as they did, their domination of the boards was hardly surprising given they are one of the league's best rebounding teams and the Kings are not.

The wild cards for Game 2 are the pair of players coming back from broken legs, Sacramento's Brad Miller and Vladimir Radmanovic of the Sonics. Miller played only eight minutes in Game 1, but was outstanding in that time. Project his statistics to a starter-like 32 minutes, and Miller would have had 28 points (on 12-for-12 shooting), 16 rebounds and 12 assists. The Kings can't count on Miller being that efficient again, but he should be able to see more action. Radmanovic wasn't statistically a major factor in his 13 minutes on the court, going scoreless, but helped the Sonics space the court. If Nate McMillan is able to use Radmanovic at power forward down the stretch, that could neutralize the Kings efforts to double-team Lewis in the post.

G U A R D S
	Bibby's 1-for-16 evening has already gotten more ink (and, in this case, electrons) than it deserved. It was an off night and those things happen, though hopefully not in the playoffs, and Bibby should be his usual top-tier point guard self this evening. The worry is that the extra motivation will lead him to come out better than ever the remainder of the series. Sonics point guard Luke Ridnour did do a great job against Bibby and should be due for an offensive bounceback himself after going scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting.
	It was a big fourth quarter Saturday for Cuttino Mobley, who scored 10 of his 22 points, hit a 3-pointer to pull the Kings within one and made an obscene gesture to fans that earned him a $15,000 fine from the NBA Monday. With Bibby slumping, Mobley's perimeter punch was much needed for the Kings; he was one of only two starters are on either side to shoot better than 50% from the field. But still, Sonics guard Ray Allen got the best of Mobley, dropping 28 points and 10 boards.
F O R W A R D S
	Injuries did not bother either small forward in Game 1. Lewis was limited only by Sacramento double-teams. He took only 13 shots, but used them efficiently, scoring 18 points. Peja Stojakovic, returning from a strained groin, led the Kings with 24 points. He buried four 3-pointers, but with Lewis paying heavy defensive attention in the fourth quarter, Stojakovic was limited to but two points on 1-for-3 shooting (Lewis posted the same line in the period, bizarrely).
	Power forward promised to be a favorable matchup for the Kings, but that did not materialize in Game 1, with Kenny Thomas and Darius Songaila combining for a quiet 14 points on 5-for-13 shooting. Thomas did have eight rebounds, Songaila five, but combined they still couldn't match Sonics forward Reggie Evans, who pulled down 15 in 29 minutes to lead the Sonics domination in the glass.
C E N T E R
	James says he's yet to have his best game, but the Sonics would probably settle for his shot-blocking presence in the paint even if James didn't add 17 points and 15 rebounds in Game 2. James feasted on smaller Kings starter Brian Skinner, who had four points and five rebounds in 21 quiet minutes. Kings Coach Rick Adelman says he hasn't decided on his Game 2 starter, with Miller, Skinner and Greg Ostertag all in the mix. All three will surely be paying more attention to James tonight.
B E N C H
	A bonus useless stat: Both benches combined for 19 points in Game 1. That means something, but I'm not sure what. Adelman said yesterday he couldn't play 11 players, as he did in Game 1. Presumably, Eddie House will be one odd man out, while Corliss Williamson - who saw no action in the second half - might join him on the bench. Jackson will surely give the Kings more offense on the bench, while the Kings will have a pair of productive big men in reserve no matter who starts. For the Sonics, Antonio Daniels was the only impact reserve in Game 1, scoring 12 points and handing out four assists. Look for a better effort from backup big men Nick Collison and Danny Fortson.

TEAM LEADERS ALLEN STOJAKOVIC Allen 28.0 PPG Stojakovic 24.0 Evans/James 15.0 RPG Thomas 8.0 Ridnour/Daniels 4.0 APG Bibby 4.0 Allen 3.0 SPG Thomas 2.0 James 5.0 BPG Skinner/Williamson 2.0 Allen 43.0 MPG Stojakovic 44.0