The crowds of purple faithful have turned a lot of that energy, once endeared to rooting on their Kings, to heckling the three-time defending champions.

But are Kings’ fans really going to feel satisfied if they win a world championship without knocking off the Lakers?

In boxing, to be the champ you must beat the champ (unless he retires, ala Jordan and the Bulls). It is apparent that Sacramento wants nothing to do with the Lakers and they might just get their wish, but you have to imagine that an NBA title would mean so much more if they beat L.A. on the way.

A Sacramento championship would almost be laughed upon if it were squeezed between two Laker dynasties.

Who remembers the Spurs winning a championship between the Bulls’ and Lakers’ dynasties? The Kings must knock off the Lakers to be considered the true champions of the NBA.

So Kings fans, don’t waste your energy booing the Lakers — you need them.

Stuffing the ballot box for Duncan

There is no denying that 2003 NBA MVP Tim Duncan is flat out boring.

Has anyone ever met a huge Duncan fan? Do you ever see a guy walking around campus wearing his jersey? Does this jersey even exist — I bet Mark Madsen jerseys outsell Duncan apparel.

The Spurs forward doesn’t speak or entertain much, although he achieves plenty. He’s the kind of guy that walks into a party, drinks free from the keg, and then takes off with about three of the best looking girls — all without saying a word.

Duncan has led his team to the best record in the NBA, and he did it with more than impressive numbers. He deserves the award just as the Maloof brothers deserve the admiration of every single living male. I mean they own an NBA team, run casinos, and one of them is even involved with Britney Spears.

I’m just waiting to see an E! True Hollywood Story on these guys. Things are just too perfect…

Jazz duo needs time apart

Realizing their relationship had no future; John Stockton plans on retiring and Karl Malone plans on seeing “other people.”

Watching Stockton and Malone ‘s tag-team dominance in the NBA felt a lot like sitting through “The Titanic” — it went pointlessly on and on even though we all knew it would end in disaster. Oh yeah, and we ran out of popcorn a long time ago.

What happened to the East?

I wonder if David Stern thinks this year might just be the year for the East: “Well, we spread out a few quality superstars and teamed them up with overpaid has-beens and underage never-weres.

“Combining a good proportion of clubhouse cancers on just about every roster should help too. Oh, and no valuable big men. “Yeah, that’s the recipe for parity.”

The great eight still remain

Other than the possible exception of the Celtics, every team we thought would be here still stands. This isn’t March Madness and there have been no surprising upsets. But really, that is for the best.

From here on out we will see only the best competition.

Click here to send private feedback about this articleto the State Hornet’s Sports staff.