Tale of Two PG's

As crazy as it sounds, Atlanta is going to the playoffs.

Well, it’s not a guaranteed thing, but right now they’re sitting in the eighth seed, a game-and-a-half ahead of New Jersey. It would be their first playoff visit since ’99, and what do you know, that’s the last time they had a good PG – Mookie “Don’t call me Daron” Blaylock.

Think about it, the guys who came after the Mookster and before Mike Bibby: Jason Terry (a loud-mouthed two trapped in a ones body), Dan Dickau (forever destined for backup status), Jacque Vaughn (he of no jump shot), Tyronn Lue (has been looking for Iverson since June of ’01) and Joe Johnson (great young player, but better at a different position).

And you know, Bibby isn’t the most traditional of PG’s - nobody is going to mistake him for Mark Price (just thought I’d throw out a vintage name out there) – but he has playoff experience, takes care of the ball (just 2.4 TO per) and best of all, makes big shots. What? You haven’t seen many Kings games in recent years?

Anyway, his departure from Atlanta has had a two-pronged effect: Bibby gives Atlanta their first good PG of the decade; Sacramento immediately promoted Beno Udrih, poor man’s Calderon, to the starter spot, where he played so darn well while Bibby missed a large chunk of the season’s first two months.

Udrih, banished by Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, has given the Kings a ton of stability at the point, averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 assists in 60 games this year. Who spiked his Gatorade? And I know this may come as a surprise, but he’s playing for a contract. I know, we’ve never seen a guy have a career year when he’s playing for a contract, but Udrih probably thought (in broken English), “If I play good, I get money…” And in all honesty, he's a bargain-basement guy: $561,000 this year.

Now that I’m sidetracked, Udrih should re-sign with Sacramento, unless they pursue better available players at his position – something tells me Agent Zero wouldn’t place Sac-Town high on his priority list, but who knows? Bottom line: Udrih has made the most of his King-sized opportunity, no doubt earning a nice contract, and he’ll get to watch his ex-teammate (Bibby) make the playoffs (and get bounced four-straight by Boston).

Everybody wins.