You suspect, then, that Bibby will indeed get a vote or two in the race for Player of the Playoffs, assuming Sacramento can win either Friday's Game 6 at Staples Center or an if-necessary Game 7 at home Sunday.

The Kings would thus proceed to the role of overwhelming favorite in The Finals against the New Jersey-Boston survivor. Sacramento has two shots to win one against the Lakers, largely because of Bibby embracing fourth-quarter pressure much more readily than he soaks up postgame adulation.

After three seasons of torment toiling in Vancouver, and an unremarkable fitting-in regular season with the Kings, Bibby has gradually established himself as Sacramento's most dependable postseason player. That's despite arriving for a first-round matchup with Utah sage John Stockton with no prior experience, unless you count an NCAA championship as an Arizona freshman in 1997.