GAME 43 at Seattle, Preview & Game Thread

by Tom Ziller on Jan 27, 2008 1:07 PM PST in Game Threads

Kevin Pelton of SONICS.com has a terrific preview (as he does for every game). It's better than what I'd submit.

Three quick things:

Fast and furious. Unless shots aren't falling, in which case 'fast and ugly' might better define things.
Surprisingly, how well Kurt Thomas is shooting might have a tremendous impact on this one.
It may be unfair, but I'll judge Reggie Theus a bit based on how Ron Artest acts in another foreign building.

Game's at 6. Go Kings.

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Golden Opportunity

This is a golden opportunity for lots of things such as somewhat salvaging a disappointing road trip, take a 2-0 lead in the season series against the Sonics and also more importantly:

WIN A ROAD GAME AGAINST A WESTERN CONFERENCE OPPONENT.

In all likelihood the Kings will grab a win and start a five game homestand against another weak opponent like the Bobcats.

The Sacramento Kings: Where Amazing Happens!

by kingme18 on Jan 27, 2008 2:57 PM PST reply actions

Re: Western Conference

It gets even worse when you consider the Kings are 0-6 in their own division...

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

by louismg on Jan 27, 2008 4:14 PM PST reply actions

Fair or not

I think we'll all be watching to see how Theus handles Artest tonight. I'd like to see Reggie not give him the start, but I'd settle for a short leash.

A very short leash.

Don't make me come in there!

by LeaguePassAddict on Jan 27, 2008 4:17 PM PST reply actions

Artest makes me not want to watch. His attitude just flat out sucks and I think its starting to take its toll on this team. There are games where the Kings play with amazing chemistry, and then there are games where Ron-Ron comes in and destroys it. It's one thing to play tough and not be bullied, and have that hard ass mentality. But when I watch Artest do it to show boat, and as a form of anger, it makes the Kings games less fun to watch.

by vfettke on Jan 27, 2008 4:37 PM PST up reply actions

Artest and the Kings

I think both he and the Kings will be very productive tonight. They know they have to get back on track here.

Both the Lakers and Portland are starting to slide back towards the pack, so the Kings still have a shot. But they need to string together a bunch of wins and get back to .500 ASAP. If they can be within four games of a playoff spot by the All-Star break, things could get interesting in the second half.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 4:26 PM PST reply actions

Let's get back to sharing the ball

Like to be close to the 30 assists vs. NJ and not the 20 we had vs. LA and UTA. And protect the ball as always. Go Kings!

by Kfan in Korea on Jan 27, 2008 6:11 PM PST reply actions

Wazzup?

Just got here. I miss anything good?

by idjpg85 on Jan 27, 2008 6:48 PM PST reply actions

Balance

38 points, 10 point lead, and five players lead with six points apiece. Spencer also has a couple of buckets.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 6:52 PM PST reply actions

Small Ball Lineup

for most of second quarter.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 6:54 PM PST reply actions

Kmart

3 for 10 including 1 for 43 from 3, but 5 of 5 at the line. Durant is 3 for 11. Sonics close to within 3.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 7:39 PM PST reply actions

We're giving them this one...

There are so many things wrong with this game...

Easy shots not falling, giving them way too many second chance points, which they are killing us with... Bad turnovers, and turnovers that are definately BS calls... I'm getting sick watching this.

We're playing soft, and the refs are definately missing a LOT of calls against the sonics... I'm so pissed I can't find words to describe my anger right now... Hurray for 0-3 road trip, though there is time left to salvage I think the damage to the teams mentality has been done.

PLAY SOME REAL DEFENSE AND KNOCK DOWN THOSE EASY SHOTS DAMNIT!

by dkons21 on Jan 27, 2008 8:17 PM PST reply actions

Given I just said what I did

With the lead... I'm still standing by it... absolutely ATROCIOUS reffing, and ball handling by the kings... deadly combination.

by dkons21 on Jan 27, 2008 8:20 PM PST reply actions

Close game to the finish...

3 minutes to go and the Kings have a two point lead!

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

by louismg on Jan 27, 2008 8:20 PM PST reply actions

Kevin Martin! For Three!

Kings up by 5. Money.

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

by louismg on Jan 27, 2008 8:25 PM PST reply actions

What I want to see

K-mart drain the tripple giving kings the edge they need to win in these last 43 seconds.

by dkons21 on Jan 27, 2008 8:28 PM PST reply actions

It wasn't a tripple

BUT I WILL TAKE THAT ALL DAY! KMART!

by dkons21 on Jan 27, 2008 8:36 PM PST up reply actions

Nailbiter

Kings by 2 with 43 seconds left. They were just up by 7.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 8:29 PM PST reply actions

Kings with the ball. 20 seconds left.

Up by two. Don't blow it!

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

by louismg on Jan 27, 2008 8:31 PM PST reply actions

Martin

amazing shot!

by KingsFan on Jan 27, 2008 8:32 PM PST reply actions

Wow

Kevin Martin: Where Amazing Happens

by idjpg85 on Jan 27, 2008 8:32 PM PST reply actions

whoaaa

play of the year? it's up there.

the sacramento kings: where joel przybilla happens

by ptgloden on Jan 27, 2008 8:33 PM PST reply actions

I got the finish

I wanted from Martin on that pass from artest... but damn why is it we always miss the freethrows at the worse time... ugh the suspense is MURDER.

by dkons21 on Jan 27, 2008 8:35 PM PST reply actions

MARTIN !!!

Lightning does strike twice!

by KingsFan on Jan 27, 2008 8:35 PM PST reply actions

OMFG

I'm at a loss for words.

by idjpg85 on Jan 27, 2008 8:36 PM PST reply actions

Kings win! Yay!

Nice job, team!

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

by louismg on Jan 27, 2008 8:36 PM PST reply actions

As Grunt would say

Put it in the books!!!

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 8:37 PM PST reply actions

KEVIN MARTIN!!!

who says he's not clutch??

the sacramento kings: where joel przybilla happens

by ptgloden on Jan 27, 2008 8:37 PM PST reply actions

K-mart

Clutch special in aisle five. Also can we please get a team member to aisle 4 for a clean up? Sonics hopes and dreams are all over the floor.

by dkons21 on Jan 27, 2008 8:38 PM PST reply actions

Amazing

How we can't deny a three with the game on the line.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 8:40 PM PST reply actions

I looked at the replay

And Salmons was in Wilkens' grille. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat.

On a related note, check out the 3 that Turkoglu hit to beat the Celtics today. Same thing. Allen did a pretty good job, but somehow Hedo drove it home.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 27, 2008 9:17 PM PST up reply actions

No

When you force a guy into a triple-pump 25-footer, the defense is good. As 214 said, Salmons was in his lap.

by Tom Ziller on Jan 28, 2008 6:57 AM PST up reply actions

Someone Must Be LIstening

Artest and Bibby tied for team lead with six assists apiece.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 8:41 PM PST reply actions

WOW

Kevin Martin books it at the buzzer. Whew! What a game. Got scary there for a second after Szczerbiak nailed that three pointer to give Seattle a three point lead. But we're doing a much better job winning close games now and the Kings walk away with a nice, nice win on the road.

Bobcats, another hapless team is next on the docket and time to grab yet another win. I'm out. Go Kings!

The Sacramento Kings: Where Amazing Happens!

by kingme18 on Jan 27, 2008 8:53 PM PST reply actions

we needed this win

I dunno if we could have kept holding hope for this team if we lost to the Sonics.

Thanks Kevin for being amazing. Also to the rest of the team for the performance at the line.

by coachtheus on Jan 27, 2008 8:58 PM PST reply actions

Miller with another solid DD

and 5 assists. Who was saying he wasn't a top ten center? This is like a rebirth. I haven't seen him play this well since he played PF with Vlade at center.

by SavageBeast on Jan 27, 2008 8:59 PM PST reply actions

I was....

I said he wasnt top ten earlier in the year. (after sittin courtside and watching him look like sh*t VS Denver) He is playing good ball right now though, so i'll eat my words for now!!

by Hoops916 on Jan 27, 2008 9:04 PM PST up reply actions

Sounds like a future diary ...

It really depends who you call a center. Some call Duncan a center; some call him a power forward. Same thing with Stoudemire, Howard, Jefferson, etc. You tell me who's a center and who's a power forward and I'll tell you if Brad makes the cut.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 27, 2008 9:54 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed...

He is having one hell of an offensive year. However, I feel his lack of being a low post presence hurts the Kings horribly bad on the defensive end. I've never doubted his ability to hit a shot and dish out a few assists

by Hoops916 on Jan 28, 2008 7:33 AM PST up reply actions

Since Duncan

pissed and moaned about being a center on the all star ballot (he knew that he would finish behind Yao) until they re-did the ballot and made him a power forward, I'll consider him to be a power forward, with Elson and Oberto being the centers.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 28, 2008 7:48 AM PST up reply actions

Those were big shots

in the growth and development of one Kevin Martin. Fun to watch, too.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 27, 2008 9:18 PM PST reply actions

I missed you guys!

I watched tonight's game with a bunch of Faker fans, and I have to say, seeing Martin come through in the clutch was money. All I kept hearing was "Your boy Martin may put up good numbers, but he doesn't really help your team win..." Needless to say, the end of the game felt great. Martin took control, and won the game.

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 27, 2008 10:22 PM PST reply actions

I Hope...

I hope we are starting to see a bit of that killer instinct that people say Kevin lacks. Clutch Clutch shots!

Section 213 C

by illy5603 on Jan 27, 2008 11:06 PM PST reply actions

Kevin Martin Video Highlight is here

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280127025

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

by louismg on Jan 27, 2008 11:18 PM PST reply actions

Well

at least we won

by kingme on Jan 28, 2008 12:24 AM PST reply actions

My only complaint

This game never should have been that close. The Sonics are one of if not the worst team in the NBA and were on a 13 game loosing streak. This does not bode well for the Kings.

I think Garcia should have been in at the end instead of Salmons. Garcia was having a better game. Salmons let that last three be taken to tie the game. I like Salmons but he was not the wise choice at the time.

by KingsFan on Jan 28, 2008 8:08 AM PST reply actions

That three at the end

Was defended about as well as you can without fouling the guy. I like Garcia's defense on the floor at crunch time as well, but that shot was very well defended.

If you can, watch the tape again. Great defense, even better shot.

Disclaimer: I am anti-Bibby.

by otis29 on Jan 28, 2008 8:20 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah

Salmons played very good defense all night -- a block, some deflections, stayed in front of his man and rotated well. You can't do anything more than he did on the Wilkens shot.

I agree, though, that Garcia's active defense is a boon in the closing minutes... maybe in replacement of the point guard.

by Tom Ziller on Jan 28, 2008 9:36 AM PST up reply actions

Especially if you're trying to hold onto a lead

He can defend the three extremely well, and gets those long arms in the passing lanes. He just seems to make the offense work a bit harder than the "give up easy layups and hope to make your free throws" approach the team uses on occasion.

Disclaimer: I am anti-Bibby.

by otis29 on Jan 28, 2008 10:29 AM PST up reply actions