GAME 3 at Dallas, Preview & Open Game Thread

by Tom Ziller on Nov 3, 2007 3:57 PM PDT in Game Threads

Dallas lost to Atlanta last night, something which may give both Kings players and fans some level of hope heading into tonight. I'm not damp spaghetti, but two blasts of despair:

The Hawks might be good.
Josh Howard.

Jake at Mavs Moneyball has some very sane points about uncharacteristic Dallas behavior with regards to rebounding and defense: Howard is a terrific rebounder for his position, and giving up 101 points in a 94-possession game isn't all that bad. If anything, the Mavericks' offense was poor (94 points in 94 possessions -- a 100 offensive rating). Jerry Stackhouse, Trenton Hassell and Eddie Jones deciding to shoot a combined 3 for 21 might have something to do with that.

But the trio could shoot just that bad again and Dallas could roll. The Kings offense is not close to passable. After two games (against one good and one great defensive team), Sacramento's offensive rating is 89.9. Perspective: The worst team offense last season -- Indiana -- had an offensive rating of 102.8. League average was 106.5. Sacramento isn't as bad as it's looked... but Dallas is no slouch on defense: The Mavs had the 5th best defense last year. Ugliness will reign, at least until Seattle visits the river city on Tuesday.

Barring an offensive explosion no one would see coming (despite the very nice second half in San Antonio), the Kings will have to lock down Dallas (the 2nd best offense last year) much harder than Atlanta did. You think the defensive personnel -- Mikki Moore, Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- is in place to shut down Dirk Nowitzki? Good luck with that. Dirk might go for 40 in the first half; Josh Howard is a good stretch stronger than any King not currently suspended, and the Jason Terry/Jerry Stackhouse combination can bomb from halfcourt. Stopping one of those factors, even with Devin Harris most likely out, is a stretch. Two or all three, which with this Kings offense would be necessary to win, isn't happening.

But hey, this is where amazing happens right? Tip's at 5:30 p.m. locally on Comcast SportsNet, while Jason Ross again sings through radio frequencies. Go Kings.

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Re: GAME 3 at Dallas, Preview

I think it's time for Reggie to put Cisco in the starting lineup.
You just can't play from behind all the time against good and very good teams on the road and expect to win.
We need more playmaking and firepower. And Salmons/Martin/Garcia trio is the best one we can put on the floor.

by cwebb on Nov 3, 2007 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME 3 at Dallas, Preview

and here we go:
salmons/garcia/martin/moore/miller :)

by cwebb on Nov 3, 2007 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME 3 at Dallas, Preview

We are only 15 point underdogs. Stranger things have happened. My friend was able to buy three BOC from Woot! once. It seems that most of us weren't really expecting a win from these first three games, but it would be really nice. No better way to begin Daylight Savings Time if you ask me.

by spragueito on Nov 3, 2007 5:05 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME 3

Total rebounds for the 1st quarter = 4; 2 for Martin, 1 for Salmons, 1 for Moore.

All hail the cower forwards!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 6:15 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME 3 at Dallas, Preview

great game by watkins so far.

by cwebb on Nov 3, 2007 6:26 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME

The $21 million that Salmons will earn over the next four years is beginning to look like fair to good value.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 6:29 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME

especially comparing to Moore's 18$

by cwebb on Nov 3, 2007 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME

Amen.

Martin = 15 pts. on 6 shots. I'm telling you until Artest gets back this team is the Mitch Richmond years revisited.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME 3

We're 64% field, 40% from 3, perfect from the line, down by 18 - amazing.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 6:36 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME 3

Yeah, I noticed the same thing looking at the box score. Incredible. Don't think I've ever seen that before. The Kings are finding every conceivable way to be bad. Their stinkyness might be able to bend time and space.

Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Nov 3, 2007 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME 3

Jerry Reynolds is an StR reader. He likes Miller/Artest/Salmons as a starting front line once Ron-Ron returns.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 6:38 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME 3

Yeah, I like that too.

Added benefit of keepin Artest in the paint where we want him.

And Artest can gaurd most of the PFs in the league and even against Duncan/Howard/Garnett, I think Artest can do as well as any of the hydra of cowerosity

by Kfan in Korea on Nov 3, 2007 7:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME 3 at Dallas

They finally start talking about Mikki's inability to handle the ball... He has to have the WORST butterfingers I have ever seen.

Mikki+Thomas need to be benched, indefinately.

God what I would pay to see Justin Williams back in the line up.

Forget the fact that we only have 8 rebounds... how about the fact that Kevin Martin, a 2-guard.... has as many rebounds as all of our big men combined, with 3.

by dkons21 on Nov 3, 2007 6:44 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME 3 at Dallas

Yeah, the league should have credited Kidd with 1.5 assists every time he actually set up Moore last year.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME 3 at Dallas

That sounds fair.

Third Quarter Collapse: An SBNation Blog for Orlando Magic fans

by Evan Dunlap on Nov 3, 2007 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME 3

I don't think that anyone would have been surprised with 0-3, but not by an average of 15 points or more per game. The mood (and attendance level) on home opening night will be very interesting to see.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 7:09 PM PDT reply actions

Re: GAME 3

am i the only one tired of 20 point deficits?

i know the team is piss poor without artest and bibby but this is depressing

Whether your dominating the playground, the last one to leave the gym, or your big time like Mike Bibby...

by CrownUs93 on Nov 4, 2007 12:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: GAME 3 at Dallas

Too many careless plays, too little defense, Good night folks.

by dkons21 on Nov 3, 2007 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

Quincy Douby Pissing Me Off

Quincy Douby is starting to piss me off. Why can't he step up and be a contributor. I know its early but Barea is an UNDRAFTED D-LEAGUER for crying out loud.

Sigh. Can't Quincy provide us with a little bit of offense.

Ready to Rule: Kevin Martin

by kingme18 on Nov 3, 2007 9:34 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Quincy Douby Pissing Me Off

You want Douby to be better? Let him drive on the Kings' interior "defense." That'll perk up anyone's offensive game.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 3, 2007 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Quincy Douby Pissing Me Off

You hit the nail on the head with this comment. The fact that the Kings got NO blocked shots is indicative of what is happening with their interior defense.

Will Artest be able to turn this around alone? How long will Justin Williams be out? What is the time period for the police and district attorney to either put up or shut up? I sure hope Justin is working on his free throws during his time off.

by KingsFan on Nov 4, 2007 10:15 AM PST up reply actions