2004 Playoffs

Major Season Events

Coach Knowles took over the struggling Long Beach franchise, moved the team to Ahwatukee, and, using a group of under-appreciated free agents, impressively improved the team's record by 5 wins. Coach Bublak, one of only two coaches to have two teams in the playoffs, pulled off the feat for the second year in a row. Gaffes in the draft include KCC wasting a 1st round pick on Darko Milicic and Midwest choosing Marquis Daniels with the 8th pick. Weak at guard, Midwest partially made up for the blunder by drafting nearly fossilized Reggie Miller with the 18th pick and thrusting him into a lineup that won the division.

In the end, behind the play of playoff MVP Tim Duncan, KCC had revenge by sweeping the defending champions, Baja Banditos, who a year earlier had beaten KCC by winning 4 games in a row after being down 0-3.

Notable playoff performances:

Playoff MVP: KCC's Tim Duncan, 22 pts, 52.3% FGs, 10.8 rebs, 3.8 blocks.
KCC's Doug Christie shot 63.3% from behind the arc (19 of 30).
Finals game 3: battle of the guards...Baja's Gary Payton shoots 10 of 14 (2 of 3 3pters), 24 pts, 8 assists, 1 TO while rival point guard Steve Nash scored 26 on 11 of 15 shooting. KCC's Shaq shot even better (10 of 12).
Finals game 2: KCC's Steve Nash had a triple double with only 1 TO while Rott's Garnett racked up 34 pts, 21 rebs, 7 assists, 5 blocks. KCC's Michael Redd hit a 3-pt shot at the end of regulation to send it into OT. Iverson missed a potential game-tying shot at the end of OT.
Finals game 1: Baja shoots only 9 FTs versus 40 for KCC.
In game 7 of the KCC/Rott playoff game:
- KCC's Shaq shoots 12 of 14, blocks 8 shots, grabs 15 rebs, makes 1 FT
- KCC's Kirilenko grabs 14 rebs off the bench
- KCC's Duncan fouls out after getting 27/13
- KCC's Nash/Christie combine for 18 assists
- Rott's Stojakovic: 32 pts
- Rott's Baron Davis misses 21 of 28 shots, has 7 steals
- Bad moment for Ben Wallace after playing for 16 minutes:
  "It looks like WALLACE is hurt... The referees are stopping play...
  He's coming out of the game... It looks like he's done for the day...
Facing elimination on the road in game 6, KCC's Tim Duncan shot 14 of 19, grabbed 14 rebs, rejected 4 shots, and forced Rottingham's Ben Wallace to miss 12 of 19 shots.
Baja's Allen Iverson stepped up again, this time in the deciding game 6. He had 31 pts, 11 assists, 3 steals, 48 minutes, 1 TO.
Baja's Allen Iverson snaps out of his slump and shoots 13 of 18 (including 2-2 3pters & 4-4 FTs), 32 pts, 9 assists, 6 steals
Allen Iverson, Baja, 5 of 22 FGs, 7 TO's in game 3
Suffering foul trouble, Midwest had to play 6th-man Carol Boozer for 40 minutes and he scored 22 pts, grabbed 15 rebs, dished out 5 assists, and had 2 steals in game 3
Allen Iverson, Baja, 3 of 14 FGs, 5 TO's in game 2
Kevin Garnett, Baja, 33 pts on 14 of 20 shooting, 16 rebs, 4 blks, 4 assists, 2 steals in game 1 of playoffs
Tim Duncan, KCC, 12 blocks, 25 pts, 14 rebs in game 1 of playoffs

Finals

The King's Crimson Cobras defeat defending champs Baja Banditos 4-0.

Game 1: King's Crimson Cobras 103, Baja Banditos 90
Game 2: King's Crimson Cobras 111, Baja Banditos 109
Game 3: King's Crimson Cobras 125, Baja Banditos 114
Game 4: King's Crimson Cobras 109, Baja Banditos 96

KCC's playoff stats.
Baja's playoff stats.

Division Finals:

East:

Baja Banditos beats Midwest Marauders 4-2

Game 1: Baja Banditos 111, Midwest Marauders 108 (OT)
Game 2: Midwest Marauders 121, Baja Banditos 102
Game 3: Midwest Marauders 105, Baja Banditos 104
Game 4: Baja Banditos 113, Midwest Marauders 106
Game 5: Baja Banditos 103, Midwest Marauders 100
Game 6: Baja Banditos 112, Midwest Marauders 110

Midwest's playoff stats.

West:

The King's Crimson Cobras defeats Rottingham Rogues 4-3

Game 1: King's Crimson Cobras 121, Rottingham Rogues 93
Game 2: Rottingham Rogues 119, King's Crimson Cobras 101
Game 3: King's Crimson Cobras 113, Rottingham Rogues 110
Game 4: Rottingham Rogues 118, King's Crimson Cobras 113
Game 5: Rottingham Rogues 116, King's Crimson Cobras 114
Game 6: King's Crimson Cobras 112, Rottingham Rogues 99
Game 7: King's Crimson Cobras 125, Rottingham Rogues 102

Rottingham's playoff stats.

Post-season Injuries

Shaq, starting center for KCC: after game 1 of playoffs, his injury prognosis was "out for 4 games." He can play in game 6.

Brent Barry, 6th man for Baja: after game 2 of playoffs, his injury prognosis was "out for 8 games." He can play in game 11.



			2004 Playoffs Major Season Events Coach Knowles took over the struggling Long Beach franchise, moved the team to Ahwatukee, and, using a group of under-appreciated free agents, impressively improved the team's record by 5 wins. Coach Bublak, one of only two coaches to have two teams in the playoffs, pulled off the feat for the second year in a row. Gaffes in the draft include KCC wasting a 1st round pick on Darko Milicic and Midwest choosing Marquis Daniels with the 8th pick. Weak at guard, Midwest partially made up for the blunder by drafting nearly fossilized Reggie Miller with the 18th pick and thrusting him into a lineup that won the division. In the end, behind the play of playoff MVP Tim Duncan, KCC had revenge by sweeping the defending champions, Baja Banditos, who a year earlier had beaten KCC by winning 4 games in a row after being down 0-3. Notable playoff performances: Playoff MVP: KCC's Tim Duncan, 22 pts, 52.3% FGs, 10.8 rebs, 3.8 blocks. KCC's Doug Christie shot 63.3% from behind the arc (19 of 30). Finals game 3: battle of the guards...Baja's Gary Payton shoots 10 of 14 (2 of 3 3pters), 24 pts, 8 assists, 1 TO while rival point guard Steve Nash scored 26 on 11 of 15 shooting. KCC's Shaq shot even better (10 of 12). Finals game 2: KCC's Steve Nash had a triple double with only 1 TO while Rott's Garnett racked up 34 pts, 21 rebs, 7 assists, 5 blocks. KCC's Michael Redd hit a 3-pt shot at the end of regulation to send it into OT. Iverson missed a potential game-tying shot at the end of OT. Finals game 1: Baja shoots only 9 FTs versus 40 for KCC. In game 7 of the KCC/Rott playoff game: KCC's Shaq shoots 12 of 14, blocks 8 shots, grabs 15 rebs, makes 1 FT KCC's Kirilenko grabs 14 rebs off the bench KCC's Duncan fouls out after getting 27/13 KCC's Nash/Christie combine for 18 assists Rott's Stojakovic: 32 pts Rott's Baron Davis misses 21 of 28 shots, has 7 steals Bad moment for Ben Wallace after playing for 16 minutes: "It looks like WALLACE is hurt... The referees are stopping play... He's coming out of the game... It looks like he's done for the day... Facing elimination on the road in game 6, KCC's Tim Duncan shot 14 of 19, grabbed 14 rebs, rejected 4 shots, and forced Rottingham's Ben Wallace to miss 12 of 19 shots. Baja's Allen Iverson stepped up again, this time in the deciding game 6. He had 31 pts, 11 assists, 3 steals, 48 minutes, 1 TO. Baja's Allen Iverson snaps out of his slump and shoots 13 of 18 (including 2-2 3pters & 4-4 FTs), 32 pts, 9 assists, 6 steals Allen Iverson, Baja, 5 of 22 FGs, 7 TO's in game 3 Suffering foul trouble, Midwest had to play 6th-man Carol Boozer for 40 minutes and he scored 22 pts, grabbed 15 rebs, dished out 5 assists, and had 2 steals in game 3 Allen Iverson, Baja, 3 of 14 FGs, 5 TO's in game 2 Kevin Garnett, Baja, 33 pts on 14 of 20 shooting, 16 rebs, 4 blks, 4 assists, 2 steals in game 1 of playoffs Tim Duncan, KCC, 12 blocks, 25 pts, 14 rebs in game 1 of playoffs Finals The King's Crimson Cobras defeat defending champs Baja Banditos 4-0. Game 1: King's Crimson Cobras 103, Baja Banditos 90 Game 2: King's Crimson Cobras 111, Baja Banditos 109 Game 3: King's Crimson Cobras 125, Baja Banditos 114 Game 4: King's Crimson Cobras 109, Baja Banditos 96 KCC's playoff stats. Baja's playoff stats. Division Finals: East: Baja Banditos beats Midwest Marauders 4-2 Game 1: Baja Banditos 111, Midwest Marauders 108 (OT) Game 2: Midwest Marauders 121, Baja Banditos 102 Game 3: Midwest Marauders 105, Baja Banditos 104 Game 4: Baja Banditos 113, Midwest Marauders 106 Game 5: Baja Banditos 103, Midwest Marauders 100 Game 6: Baja Banditos 112, Midwest Marauders 110 Midwest's playoff stats. West: The King's Crimson Cobras defeats Rottingham Rogues 4-3 Game 1: King's Crimson Cobras 121, Rottingham Rogues 93 Game 2: Rottingham Rogues 119, King's Crimson Cobras 101 Game 3: King's Crimson Cobras 113, Rottingham Rogues 110 Game 4: Rottingham Rogues 118, King's Crimson Cobras 113 Game 5: Rottingham Rogues 116, King's Crimson Cobras 114 Game 6: King's Crimson Cobras 112, Rottingham Rogues 99 Game 7: King's Crimson Cobras 125, Rottingham Rogues 102 Rottingham's playoff stats. Post-season Injuries Shaq, starting center for KCC: after game 1 of playoffs, his injury prognosis was "out for 4 games." He can play in game 6. Brent Barry, 6th man for Baja: after game 2 of playoffs, his injury prognosis was "out for 8 games." He can play in game 11.

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