MINNEAPOLIS -- The Kings haven't won a Game 7 since moving from Kansas City to Sacramento.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have never played in one.
And both teams realize chances like this are rare.
The Kings and Timberwolves play tonight in Minnesota for the right to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
"Everything is magnified," Kings forward Chris Webber said. "You can lose a game by one point, so you don't want to let a point slip away."
The Kings' past playoff failures extend beyond seventh games. Since moving to Sacramento in 1985, the Kings are 4-7 in elimination games, including Sunday's victory over the Wolves, and 0-2 in Game 7s.
Their first Game 7 as a Sacramento team was in 2002, when they lost at home in the conference finals to the Lakers. Last year, they forced a seventh game against Dallas in the second round but lost to the Mavericks on the road.
The last Game 7 victory in franchise history was in 1981, when a Kansas City team with Phil Ford and UH standout Otis Birdsong beat Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals. (The Rockets beat that team 4-1 in the West finals.)
Still, the Kings have more experience in big playoff games than the Wolves, who until this season had never been past the first round. In 1998, Minnesota stretched Seattle to five games in a best-of-five and lost on the road. But the stakes are exponentially higher this time.
"We've got to step up," Minnesota guard Sam Cassell said, "because there's no tomorrow."
Cassell needs to step up more than most. After scoring a combined 59 points in the first two games, he's been ineffective while fighting back spasms.
In the last four games, Cassell is 16-for-45 from the field (1-for-10 on 3-pointers) for 43 points.
Cassell's lack of composure also has been an issue. Always one to argue with officials, Cassell was hit with a technical after picking up his sixth personal foul in Game 6 while Minnesota was attempting a comeback.
Cassell, a two-time NBA champion with the Rockets, has been Minnesota's best fourth-quarter player this postseason, and the Wolves need him calm and as close to healthy as possible. Asked what was hurting him the most, Cassell answered: "Everything."
"I'll find a way," he said. "I've been in situations like this before."
The Kings will also need a big game from their point guard if they want a chance to win. The offense has been stagnant whenever the Wolves have contained Mike Bibby or gotten him in foul trouble.
Peja Stojakovic didn't start finding his rhythm until Game 6, and Webber and Doug Christie have been inconsistent. And with Anthony Peeler suspended for elbowing Kevin Garnett in the face on Sunday, Sacramento's bench is thin past backup center Brad Miller.
"We've been there before," Bibby said. "This is a team that someone always steps up."
West named Executive of Year
-- Memphis Grizzlies president Jerry West was selected NBA Executive of the Year by the Sporting News after turning a struggling franchise into a playoff team.
But West said the Grizzlies' makeover is far from finished.
"We had a magical year this year. OK, but does that qualify as a success in my eyes? No. We need to get better," he said.
West got 16 1/2 of the 35 votes cast by fellow league executives. He finished ahead of Minnesota general manager Kevin McHale, who had five votes, and Utah senior VP of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor, who had three.
The Grizzlies went 50-32 this season but were swept by San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies' best previous win total was 28.
"This is not an individual award. It's really an organizational award," West said.
West gave much of the credit to majority owner Michael Heisley, who has allowed him free rein with the Grizzlies, and to Hubie Brown, who won the league's Coach of the Year award.
West, 65, also won the executive award in 1995 as general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent 40 years with the Lakers as a player, coach and executive.
West said he enjoys working in a smaller town where he can avoid the public spotlight more than in Los Angeles.
"I always like to fly under the radar screen," he said. "I don't like publicity."
Houston Chronicle.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have never played in one.
And both teams realize chances like this are rare.
The Kings and Timberwolves play tonight in Minnesota for the right to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
"Everything is magnified," Kings forward Chris Webber said. "You can lose a game by one point, so you don't want to let a point slip away."
The Kings' past playoff failures extend beyond seventh games. Since moving to Sacramento in 1985, the Kings are 4-7 in elimination games, including Sunday's victory over the Wolves, and 0-2 in Game 7s.
Their first Game 7 as a Sacramento team was in 2002, when they lost at home in the conference finals to the Lakers. Last year, they forced a seventh game against Dallas in the second round but lost to the Mavericks on the road.
The last Game 7 victory in franchise history was in 1981, when a Kansas City team with Phil Ford and UH standout Otis Birdsong beat Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals. (The Rockets beat that team 4-1 in the West finals.)
Still, the Kings have more experience in big playoff games than the Wolves, who until this season had never been past the first round. In 1998, Minnesota stretched Seattle to five games in a best-of-five and lost on the road. But the stakes are exponentially higher this time.
"We've got to step up," Minnesota guard Sam Cassell said, "because there's no tomorrow."
Cassell needs to step up more than most. After scoring a combined 59 points in the first two games, he's been ineffective while fighting back spasms.
In the last four games, Cassell is 16-for-45 from the field (1-for-10 on 3-pointers) for 43 points.
Cassell's lack of composure also has been an issue. Always one to argue with officials, Cassell was hit with a technical after picking up his sixth personal foul in Game 6 while Minnesota was attempting a comeback.
Cassell, a two-time NBA champion with the Rockets, has been Minnesota's best fourth-quarter player this postseason, and the Wolves need him calm and as close to healthy as possible. Asked what was hurting him the most, Cassell answered: "Everything."
"I'll find a way," he said. "I've been in situations like this before."
The Kings will also need a big game from their point guard if they want a chance to win. The offense has been stagnant whenever the Wolves have contained Mike Bibby or gotten him in foul trouble.
Peja Stojakovic didn't start finding his rhythm until Game 6, and Webber and Doug Christie have been inconsistent. And with Anthony Peeler suspended for elbowing Kevin Garnett in the face on Sunday, Sacramento's bench is thin past backup center Brad Miller.
"We've been there before," Bibby said. "This is a team that someone always steps up."
West named Executive of Year
-- Memphis Grizzlies president Jerry West was selected NBA Executive of the Year by the Sporting News after turning a struggling franchise into a playoff team.
But West said the Grizzlies' makeover is far from finished.
"We had a magical year this year. OK, but does that qualify as a success in my eyes? No. We need to get better," he said.
West got 16 1/2 of the 35 votes cast by fellow league executives. He finished ahead of Minnesota general manager Kevin McHale, who had five votes, and Utah senior VP of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor, who had three.
The Grizzlies went 50-32 this season but were swept by San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies' best previous win total was 28.
"This is not an individual award. It's really an organizational award," West said.
West gave much of the credit to majority owner Michael Heisley, who has allowed him free rein with the Grizzlies, and to Hubie Brown, who won the league's Coach of the Year award.
West, 65, also won the executive award in 1995 as general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent 40 years with the Lakers as a player, coach and executive.
West said he enjoys working in a smaller town where he can avoid the public spotlight more than in Los Angeles.
"I always like to fly under the radar screen," he said. "I don't like publicity."
Houston Chronicle.
