| Updates : 18/04/03 : > Kings To Face Rockets, 1st Round |
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Steady throughtout the season, the Kings have an awesome squad that makes them one of the favourites for the WWBL Championship. Chris Webber will be a big loss, missing the first game or two of the series, especially considering they are playing the Rockets, including the Mailman, Karl Malone at PF. However, such is the depth that Vlade Divac can step in at C, allowing the 0.1 rebound per game off a double double average, Keon Clark to step back to PF. Webber's 20.9PPG, 10.3RPG and 3.9APG will be very much missed though. Peja Stojakovic and Wally Szczerbiak may have the two hardest names to spell in the league but are doing a great job, with Peja leading the team in scoring (21.5PPG including 45% from beyond the arc) and Wally not far behind (16.7PPG). With this All Star team in front of him Mike Bibby has done a great job setting them up (7.9APG) as well as adding 12.6PPG himself. The bench is scary to, with Troy Hudson, Jimmy Jackson, Joe Smith, Scot Pollard, Hedo Turkoglu and Vlade Divac (when CWebb returns) all possible starters at many other franchises.
The Rockets starting line up is equally strong, with Ming, Francis, Harpring and Malone all averaging over 12PPG. Ming has been impressive in his rookie year with 12.3PPG and 8.5RPG and more to come in the play-offs. Francis's 18PPG and 6APG have also helped the team into fourth spot. Matt Harpring has proved a super trade, averaging a surpringly high 14.5PPG and is keeping James Posey on the bench. But it is the Mailman in possibly his final season, who has impressed the most. 21.9PPG following his surprise move from the Jazz, got him into the NBA All Third Team and earnt him numerous Player of the Week awards. Still one of the best, his battle with the returning CWebb, could be most inticing. The bench although not as strong as the Kings's one boasts talented youngsters James Posey and Kedrick Brown, as well as useful veterans, PG Mark Jackson, PG Tony Delk and C Tony Battie. This could be the most intriging tie of the first round.
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since the 5th February 2003