Turkoglu Will Try to Swing It

Hedo Turkoglu, who will replace injured swingman Peja Stojakovic today in the Kings’ starting lineup, would like to point out the significant differences between them.

Turkoglu is Turkish; Stojakovic is Serbian.

Turkoglu believes he’s an All-Star in waiting; Stojakovic already is one.

Turkoglu says he’s content to play defense and rebound; Stojakovic is a scorer.

Stojakovic will be sidelined because of a sprained right ankle for at least the first two games of the Kings’ first Western Conference finals appearance since 1981, when the franchise was located in Kansas City. Turkoglu said he is confident he can fill the void.

“It’s tough, though, because I am replacing one of our leading players,” Turkoglu said. “We are different players. I try always to be an all-around player, helping in scoring, rebounding and defending. Peja is a really good scorer.”

Until today, Turkoglu’s most significant game was with Turkey in the European championships last summer. He helped the Turks defeat Germany and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks in the semifinals.

“I had 23, 11 and eight in the semifinals against Dirk,” he said with a smile, referring to his points, rebounds and assists.

The Kings don’t expect that sort of production from Turkoglu today. They simply need Turkoglu to play to his strengths. Coach Rick Adelman has been planning to play this series without Stojakovic, so the role of swingman is Turkoglu’s for the time being.

“I’m going on the assumption that we won’t have Peja back,” Adelman said. “If and when he’s back, it will be big boost for us.”

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Sacramento center Vlade Divac began his NBA career with the Lakers and it clearly pained him the last few days to answer repeated questions about the pre-series trash talking between the teams.

“I respect that organization a lot,” he said Thursday. “All good things happened to me there. I had the start to my career with that team.”

Asked about the King-Laker rivalry, he said Friday, “Obviously, there is a rivalry there. You have two teams from California, one from the north and one from the south. You have to have a rival. You can’t just be alone. For us, to go to the championship, we have to go through them.

“Who is their rival? We have the best record in the regular season. I don’t really care, though. I look at them as a team we have to beat.”

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Point guard Mike Bibby said he has watched a good deal of videotape of Derek Fisher, his Laker counterpart.

“I know what he likes to do, his tendencies at both ends of the court,” Bibby said.

What Bibby wouldn’t say is what, in particular, he believes he can exploit in Fisher’s game.

“Not for the cameras,” he said with a wry smile.

“I’m anxious,” he added. “I’m ready to go. Other than that, that’s the only feeling I have right now. I think everybody’s still relaxed at this point.”