GAME 38 at Detroit, Preview & Game Thread

by Tom Ziller on Jan 18, 2008 2:37 PM PST in Game Threads

On to Detroit, a town in which the Kings have oh so much success.

J.D. Friedrich - Cloister Graveyard in the Snow (1810)

SACRAMENTO KINGS (14-23) 102.2 ORtg (#16), 105.8 DRtg (#25), 96.1 Pace (#10)
DETROIT PISTONS (29-10) 108.1 ORtg (# 3), 99.4 DRtg (# 2), 90.3 Pace (#30)
BALLHYPE | NBA.com PREVIEW | DETROIT BAD BOYS

The Kings managed a 10-point win over the elite Pistons back in November. If the Spurs and Mavericks hadn't both wilted in Sacramento since, that victory'd be the overwhelming choice for 'win of the year.' Beno Udrih was sensational, Mikki Moore solid, and everyone else good enough. On the other side, Chauncey Billups had a bad night and Antonio McDyess didn't play.

You cannot count on bad games from Billups; they are rare and speak little about your defense -- when he's off, it's because he's off. In other words, you can't really bother Billups into playing poorly, you can just hope.

In all, this is an elite team, maybe the second best squad in all the land. The defense is superb, the offense better. It'll take a ton of effort to slow them down on offense and just as much to score on them regularly. From my vantage point, Sacramento's best opportunity would come in speeding the game up (Detroit prefers it slow) and hoping your extra horses negate Detroit's rotation at the top. Even then, the Pistons bench is much improved, and Flip Saunders has been great at doling out minutes this year.

Game's at 5 p.m. Enjoy, and go Kings.

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Comments

This one

could get ugly early. We need to protect the ball, shoot well and try to hang around 'til the 4th. Then anything can happen. Go Kings!

by Kfan in Korea on Jan 18, 2008 2:51 PM PST reply actions

Speaking of Ugly....

T.Z's picture choice is ugly & hauntingly arresting at the same time...giving free darko a true competition in art history?Me likee.

by Rhondda Nunes on Jan 20, 2008 2:28 PM PST up reply actions

could it be?

can we finally get a road win against a .500 or better team? i hope so. let's hope they out-work the pistons. that's usually how they beat these good teams.

by kingsfaninjapan on Jan 18, 2008 3:23 PM PST reply actions

pookey's revenge

Rodney Stuckey's career high is 10 points. In honor of pookey's pre-draft lust, Stuckey will exceed that number tonight.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 3:47 PM PST reply actions

Rodney Stuckey

The Pistons really should trade him for Speedy Claxton. J/K

by Kfan in Korea on Jan 18, 2008 4:31 PM PST up reply actions

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

We are slipping into the NBA abyss.

by jjham15 @ Sactown Royalty on Jan 18, 2008 5:54 PM PST up reply actions

You guys are making fun of me no fair

My feelings are hurt.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Jan 19, 2008 2:01 AM PST up reply actions

I really

thought that Stuckey was going to go off. I like the kid and the way Travis Deiner(!) lit us up I figured that Stuckey would go nuts.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 19, 2008 9:17 AM PST up reply actions

We only tease you...

because we like you so much & your passion for the game.

by Rhondda Nunes on Jan 20, 2008 2:29 PM PST up reply actions

Salmans

What happened to him? He's got 1 assist and 1 turnover for first quarter stats. This guy was a superstar a few days ago.

by KingsFan on Jan 18, 2008 5:40 PM PST reply actions

what happened?

the "big guns" came back. salmons might not be able to play as good when he doesn't have the ball in his hands so much. with martin, bibby and artest out, there weren't too many other options.

by kingsfaninjapan on Jan 18, 2008 5:57 PM PST up reply actions

Bright side

Our bench is beating their bench 36-3.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 6:09 PM PST up reply actions

Total change in game play

It's seems he lost his aggressiveness. He should not alter his style simply because the starters came back. Sad.

by KingsFan on Jan 18, 2008 7:37 PM PST up reply actions

The Pistons horrible shooting is leading to...

ridiculous long rebounds.

31-12 run!

Maybe Theus should rethink the starting line-up unless he really likes being down in the first quarter of every game. Salmons and Garcia are playing like they are just waiting to get yanked out of the game.

We are slipping into the NBA abyss.

by jjham15 @ Sactown Royalty on Jan 18, 2008 5:57 PM PST reply actions

F*!%

Martin with a finger injury?!? Shoot me now.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 6:05 PM PST reply actions

Play a little game called just the tip.

See Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers.

We are slipping into the NBA abyss.

by jjham15 @ Sactown Royalty on Jan 18, 2008 6:09 PM PST up reply actions

Just for a second...

...just to see how it feels.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Jan 18, 2008 7:20 PM PST up reply actions

Detroit Feed is awful

They barely mentioned the injury. Any idea how bad it is?

by Kingsfan banished to AZ on Jan 18, 2008 6:09 PM PST reply actions

X-rays are negative.

by Deleran on Jan 18, 2008 6:24 PM PST up reply actions

LOL

It's the Detroit feed for a reason.

The Sacramento Kings: Where Amazing Happens!

by kingme18 on Jan 18, 2008 7:05 PM PST up reply actions

Detroit Announcers

When will they stop saying "Fills it up" after every basket? It's driving me crazy!

by The Ghost of Dick Bavetta on Jan 18, 2008 7:17 PM PST up reply actions

At least

They aren't spending half the broadcast talking about the heckler behind them.

by Deleran on Jan 18, 2008 7:19 PM PST up reply actions

Martin

8-14 for 22 points so far...off night.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 7:16 PM PST reply actions

Ron from 3

No - no - no...yes!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 7:18 PM PST reply actions

Dear Mike Bibby

Pleqse stop shooting pull up 3's in transition.

Thanks,

Everybody else on the Kings

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Jan 18, 2008 7:22 PM PST reply actions

kingme18

You out there? Say "book it" for me!!!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 7:31 PM PST reply actions

What a win!

Season sweep of the Pistons! Wooooooooooooooooooooooo.

by The Ghost of Dick Bavetta on Jan 18, 2008 7:32 PM PST reply actions

Stoked!

Indeed. I'm gonna be well happy all night long.

by ProjectCambio on Jan 18, 2008 7:50 PM PST up reply actions

Hats off to Theus

That was a beautiful final play. Nice change from the muss.

by Kingsfan banished to AZ on Jan 18, 2008 7:32 PM PST reply actions

Apparently the pistons forgot...

We have no 3-point defense, haha. They should have taken notes from Toronto. Great win though!

by dkons21 on Jan 18, 2008 7:33 PM PST reply actions

56-5

Final bench totals. Hee-hee-hee!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 7:34 PM PST reply actions

WOW

BOOK IT!!

The Kings' best win of the season. Low turnovers tonight and they executed terrifically down the stretch and played the best of game. The Kings turnover total are the barometer of this team.

What a tremendous win tonight. They've made adjustments all year and they picked up a hell of a road win tonight.

The Sacramento Kings: Where Amazing Happens!

by kingme18 on Jan 18, 2008 7:37 PM PST reply actions

Thanks for the "Book It"

I feel complete now.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 7:40 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed

I think our defense deserves credit for the win. 'Cisco absolutely has to be on the floor in crunch time, because his length allows him to totally shut people down.

I hate to even ask but; do you feel like the Kings won, or the Pistons lost?

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Jan 18, 2008 7:59 PM PST up reply actions

Yes...

He sooo reminds me of D.C. Except for his ball handling at times...

by Rhondda Nunes on Jan 20, 2008 2:31 PM PST up reply actions

The Key Move

Besides that last set play, I thought the key to the game was when they focused on shutting Billups down at the end of the game. They shifted Kevin Martin of all people to Billups and had Bibby covering Rip, who torched Mike for one easy hoop. After that they went away from Rip, Billups was doubled and the Pistons punched the ball into the hole, where their big guys didn't really come through.

The 3 ball is not Detroit's game outside of Billups and sometimes Sheed and if you shut Billups down, you win. Nice coaching by Theus and good defense in the last 5-6 minutes.

I'd like to see Kmart become a defensive stopper. He's got the tools, just not the mindset.

I also thought Theus did a good job in limiting Salmons' minutes. The guy wasn't producing and Reggie rewarded the guys that were. Same with keeping Mikki out of there at crunch time. The guy really has bad hands. Enough said.

I also like that runner that Spencer threw in. He's usually just catch and shoot, but that was an NBA drive and one.

Indiana may be tougher because they've got more 3-point shooters. That's the type of game the Kings have to win to get back into the playoff hunt.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 18, 2008 9:30 PM PST reply actions

Why

are you talking about the playoff hunt?

by ProjectCambio on Jan 18, 2008 9:47 PM PST up reply actions

A Clip...

of coolcatreportdotcom at the last StR mixer (that's TZ and Louis on the couch)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtP3whUbgZE

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 10:00 PM PST up reply actions

Germans?

Forget it, he's rolling.

Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Jan 19, 2008 12:51 AM PST up reply actions

Viel Spass!!!

by Rhondda Nunes on Jan 20, 2008 2:32 PM PST up reply actions

Also,

I refer you to the 1st post in this thread. Nicely done, kfan.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 18, 2008 10:43 PM PST reply actions

Thanks for the shoutout

I wasn't able to listen to the whole game, had to leave just as we took the lead in the 2nd quarter.

Sure was nice to come home, check the box score and see only 12 TOs! Wish I could've listened to the whole thing.

If we can get our TOs down to 12-13 a game, we can win a lot of games in the 2nd half the season.

by Kfan in Korea on Jan 19, 2008 1:54 AM PST up reply actions

Great Game

Salmons has 0 points in 20 minutes. Garcia has only 5 points and 1 rebound in 28 minutes. Artest with only 2 rebounds in 29 minutes yet the Kings beat Detroit on the road by 7.

Very nice.

He can shoot, and he looks great in a suit. Hey, everybody - It's REGGIE TIME!

by dalt99 on Jan 18, 2008 10:55 PM PST reply actions

whoop de doo

I think the theme of this season remains that the kings can beat any team on any given night, but they can also loose to any team on any given night. consistenly inconstistent as tz has said. i think a lot of it has to with match ups as the kings are good to decent in many areas (FT%, drawing fouls, 3pt %, steals) and weak in others (rebounding, TO's).

by Ball in Cup on Jan 19, 2008 1:29 AM PST reply actions