Bibby Has Stepped Up His Game

SACRAMENTO —  By now it’s clear there are significant differences between the Kings who were swept from the playoffs by the Lakers last season and the Kings who have pushed the Lakers to the brink of elimination this season.

One of them is named Mike Bibby.

It was Bibby’s 22-foot jump shot with 8.2 seconds remaining Tuesday in Game 5 that gave the Kings a 92-91 victory over the Lakers and a three-games-to-two lead in the Western Conference finals. Game 6 is Friday at Staples Center.

“Mike reminds me of Terry Porter when I had him in Portland,” said King Coach Rick Adelman, who coached the Trail Blazers from 1988 to 1994. “He’s going from a good player to a great player right before your eyes. He’s so quiet, but you can see the confidence building in him. He has nerves of steel. Mike was good in the regular season, but he’s been great in the playoffs.”

Bibby’s scoring average has risen from 13.7 during the regular season to 19.4 in the playoffs, but there’s more to his transformation than points, according to Adelman.

“Everyone has taken a step up,” he said. “Our offense is different [because of Bibby]. We’re more efficient. Getting one player like him changes the way you play.”

The Kings dealt erratic point guard Jason Williams to the Grizzlies last summer to get Bibby and now are one victory away from reaching the finals for the first time since 1951, when the franchise was based in Rochester, N.Y., and was called the Royals.

“I marvel at the way he gets around people,” Adelman said when asked about Bibby’s ability to beat defenders. “He makes a play. He beats people and everything becomes very clear around him. John Stockton is that way.”

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Bobby Jackson, a reserve guard, wished to make it clear that he did not get away with a foul in thwarting Kobe Bryant on a last-second jump shot in Game 5. Television replays indicated that Jackson yanked Bryant’s jersey from his shorts seconds before Bryant’s shot sailed off target, preserving the Kings’ one-point victory.

“I don’t feel I fouled him,” Jackson said. “I poked the ball away. I didn’t touch him after that.”

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Doug Christie, assigned to Bryant until fouling out late in Game 5, agonized on the bench after Jackson took his place. “The worst four minutes of my life,” Christie said. “I hated it. It was a terrible experience.”

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Peja Stojakovic played Tuesday for the first time since spraining his right ankle May 9. He had two points, missed all three shots he attempted and took six rebounds in 18 minutes. He hopes to play better and for longer stretches Friday.

“I wasn’t 100%,” Stojakovic said. “It’s sore and tender and weak. I’m hoping it will get better for Friday. I couldn’t stand to watch, being in street clothes. I wanted to be a part of the team.... I’m not worried about my conditioning. I am worried about my foot feeling better.”