It was the final night of the 2012-13 NBA season, it was a night where for most, it was the start of their vacation plans and/or rebuild in the hopes of landing that next great player that can bring them out of despair. For others, it was a night where if you win and you're in.
Yet, as much as most people were focused on whether the Lakers or Jazz would make the playoffs, which would have been a riveting night to watch. I decided to watch the Kings/Clippers game instead.
Why?
You know what, that's a good question. I thought about why I should do such a thing but after watching the Jazz lose to the Grizzlies thus sealing their fate and sending the Lakers to the playoffs. It made the decision easier to watch the Kings/Clippers instead but I would check the Rocket/Laker game from time to time.
Another reason for this rationale, was that I wanted to pay my respects to a fan base that perhaps was going watch the last live NBA game in their city. It was bittersweet as they have supported this team thru thick and thin in an arena that looks like a dumpy house compared to the palatial residences their NBA peers currently reside.
Losing season after season, they supported and cheered them on, even though the product on the court did not match the enthusiasm of the crowd 90% of the time. They showed up night after night for nearly 30 years, even as their team was long out of contention. They have endured thru terrible ownership that made an unwise investment in Las Vegas and are now paupers in Princely garbs.
Now, they're losing their team to another that also lost their own in the most crushing way possible. It's a sad cycle that has befallen Sacramento and Seattle. They are cities who both deserve NBA teams.
Alas, there will only be one who will get to see Pro Basketball in the Fall of 2013 while the other will see the lights dark in their arena. This league is a business, nothing less, nothing more.
That's why, I decided to watch the Kings play even as the Lakers/Rockets game went into overtime on a crazy Chandler Parsons splash. Boy, was I rewarded for making that decision even though I could do no wrong with either in retrospect.
It was a game where it was thrilling as the Clippers were playing for Home Court while the Kings were trying end the season a high note. The Clippers and Kings went basket for basket with Crawford splashing two big splashes while the Kings responded with DeMarcus Cousins who has immense talent but very temperamental going to work against Ryan Hollins.
Each team, played with urgency as if it were the Seventh Game of a Playoff series. They competed and put pressure on each other in the final minutes of the game. It had a timely tip by Blake Griffin on a gimpy body that has been beaten down over 82 games that sealed the game while ensuring Home Court against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Meanwhile, the Lakers hold off the Rockets in Overtime. They got the 7th seed and the right to face the San Antonio Spurs. As I watch the final moments of the Laker/Rocket game, I can only think back to the sounds of fans and the memories of the late 90s and early 2000 Kings teams that were a joy to watch.
I was reminiscing back, to the passing wizardry of Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Jason White Chocalate Williams and to a certain extent, Brad Miller that are flowing thru my head. In addition, the sweet shooting of Peja Stojakovic.
Now, I am not a Kings fan but a basketball fan. I do wonder though, if I will ever get a chance to hear those sounds again or will it just be..........a distant memory.
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