Otis Birdsong

•Otis Birdsong, New Jersey Nets guard, enumerating the three certainties of life: "Death, taxes and my jump shot."

Star guards Otis Birdsong and Phil Ford were on the sidelines because of injuries, but lowly Kansas City kept the faith and drove to a 3-1 playoff lead over Phoenix

The underdog Kings got one electrifying performance from Phil Ford in their opening-round playoff loss to fast-moving Phoenix, but what they really needed was hometown hero Tom Watson to hole out some shots

The K. C. Kings have put together a dynamite mixture that's made them the Midwest Division's most explosive force

Christmas is still to come, but in Kansas City they're already decking the hall for rookie Phil Ford, who has made the team a winner