 |
 |
| Robert Seale/TSN |
 Webber and the Kings are one win away from a huge
upset.
|
get
this photo |
Today, sports fan Steve Schindler says Chris Webber is about to
come of age and lead the Kings past the Lakers.
He didn't quite do it in college, and he couldn't accomplish it in
Golden State or Washington. But it appears Chris Webber is about to come
of age. And it could happen in Los Angeles on Friday night.
It was Webber, with his near triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds and
eight assists), who provided what it took for the Sacramento Kings to beat
the Lakers 101-88 and force the Hollywood bunch to the brink of
elimination in Game 5 Friday night.
The Kings needed a stud Webber in Game 4 because Jason Williams
continued to struggle, going 1-for-8 from the field. Webber wasn't just a
stud, he was unconscious.
Webber's late-game steal from Kobe Bryant led to an 11-point lead for
the Kings. And his no-look pass to Vlade Divac for a fast-break jam over
that same Kobe proved that he has developed that 20/20 vision in the back
of his head. The eyes that come with age.
Sure, it helped that a band of rabid pine riders from eighth-seeded
Sacramento broke out against the Lakers. The King reserves outscored the
Laker bench 42-8 on Tuesday night at Arco Arena.
With Webber stealing and dealing, the Kings’ hot bench bunch of Jon
Barry, Tony Delk and Predrag Stojakovic poured in 17, 12 and 11 points,
respectively. Add that to the Kings shooting 9-for-21 from 3-point land,
and the best team of this NBA season could not fend off a second
consecutive loss.
Make no mistake, the Kings were very close to elimination after the
first two games of this series. But after playing possibly their most
complete pair of games of this season, they are in a position to advance
with a win in Los Angeles on Friday night.
Webber commented that it would have been easy for the Kings to give up,
but they came home and got two wins, and now they are going back to LA.
Going back hoping to finally come of age.