While on the subject of these two teams, it brings me back to the 2002 Western Conference Finals. The Kings were the #1 seed in the conference and many thought they would win the title. Three particular games stick out to me. Game 4 is one. The Kings had a big 24 point lead in the first half. The Lakers came back to cut the lead and it was down to two points on the final possession. With time winding down, a missed layup by Shaquille O'Neal was swatted away by Vlade Divac and the ball went straight to Robert Horry who won the game on a three-pointer. Instead of Sacramento being up 3-1, the series was tied 2-2.
In Game 5, it was a Mike Bibby jumper with 8.1 seconds left that gave the Kings the win but only after Kobe Bryant missed the potential game winner. Game 6 was controversial as many calls went against the Kings and the Lakers shot 40 free throws including 27 in the fourth quarter. The Lakers won the game 106-102. Game 7 was tense with 16 ties and 19 lead changes. The Kings were done in by poor free throw and three-point shooting and lost 112-106. The Lakers, not the Kings, were headed to the NBA Finals.
There are plenty of What If scenarios here. What if Divac just grabbed the rebound and not batted it to Horry? The Kings would have won the game and eventually the series in Game 5 which would spare any of the dramatics of Game 6 and 7. Of course if Bibby missed the shot in Game 5 or Kobe makes his shot, there would not have been a Game 7 at all. If Game 6 wasn't fixed (allegedly), the Kings probably would have won.
Instead though, the Lakers came out on top. While the final game may have been meanningless to the Kings, for one moment it brought back memories of that series. Once again, it was the Lakers driving the dagger into the Kings hearts.
