PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference first round; Game 1
Despite being the eighth seed, Ron Artest has labeled his Sacramento Kings as a team to beat in the Western Conference.
The defending NBA champions may have something to say about that.
The San Antonio Spurs begin defense of their title by hosting Artest's Kings in a first-round matchup.
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Artest greatly changed the fortunes of a struggling Sacramento squad Jan. 25, when he arrived in a trade from Indiana. The Kings picked up their defensive intensity and finished 26-14 with the mercurial small forward in the lineup to make the playoffs.
"I don't even think we're the underdogs any more," said Artest, one of the best defensive players in the NBA. "I think we're the team to beat, just by how we've been playing."
After winning a franchise-record 63 games, the Spurs may be better than last season, when they beat the Detroit Pistons in seven games for their third NBA title in seven seasons. Despite injuries to key players all season, the Spurs won five of their last six to win the Southwest Division title and top seed in the West.
"Our season is starting in a couple of days," said guard Manu Ginobili, who missed 17 games because of various injuries. "The last 10 games, you just wanted the regular season to finish and get ready for the excitement. The atmosphere changes in one second."
Tim Duncan, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, battled plantar fascitis throughout the season and averaged 18.6 points and 11.0 rebounds in 80 games in what many considered a down year.
But because of the improved play of point guard Tony Parker and strong contributions from its reserves, San Antonio once again is the favorite to emerge from the West.
Parker averaged a team-high 18.9 points on 54.8 percent shooting and was named to his first All-Star team. The Spurs added Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel to a bench that already included Brent Barry and Robert Horry, giving San Antonio vital depth that Sacramento lacks.
"The team is playing well and we are going into the playoffs on a good roll," said Finley, who averaged 10.1 points. "We are the more experienced team in the playoffs and that should be valuable down the road.
"Hopefully we can keep improving as we keep winning. When you are the defending champion, you have a lot of people against you."
Chicago, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers were all recent champions able to repeat, something the Spurs did not accomplish after winning their two titles. San Antonio lost in the first round in 2000, and in the second round in 2004.
For the Spurs to repeat, they'll have to first get by the Kings, who closed the season winning nine of their last 11 -- including a 97-87 win at San Antonio -- to reach the playoffs for the eighth straight year.
Sacramento struggled on the road before the Artest trade, but ended the season with six wins in its last seven road games.
The Kings' 17-24 road record is the worst of any playoff team in the West, but with Artest, Sacramento has a different mindset outside of Arco Arena.
"There are going to be a lot of road games coming up," Artest said. "I'm sure San Antonio is going to be ready for us, so we've got to come in there with a lot of energy and confidence. We're on the road this whole playoffs, so that's where we've got to win. We've got to make it our home away from home."
Artest's all-around game is complemented by point guard Mike Bibby, who'll guard Parker in one of the series' most intriguing matchups. Just as Parker enjoyed his finest season, Bibby averaged a career-high 21.1 points and has been steady for Sacramento.
This is the first playoff meeting between the Kings and the Spurs.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Kings - 8th seed. Spurs - 1st seed.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Kings - F Kenny Thomas, F Artest, C Brad Miller, G Bonzi Wells, G Bibby. Spurs - F Bruce Bowen, F Duncan, C Nazr Mohammed, G Ginobili, G Parker.
REGULAR SEASON TEAM LEADERS: Kings - Bibby, 21.1 ppg and 5.4 apg; Miller, 7.8 rpg. Spurs - Parker, 18.9 ppg and 5.8 apg; Duncan, 11 rpg.
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: Spurs, 2-1. The Spurs won two games by a combined four points before the Artest trade while the Kings beat the Spurs by 10 on the road late in the season.
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