GAME 65 at Phoenix, Preview & Game Thread

by Tom Ziller on Mar 15, 2008 3:47 PM PDT in Game Threads

SACRAMENTO KINGS (29-35) 108.2 ORtg (#15), 111.2 DRtg (#25), 92.8 Poss (# 8)
PHOENIX SUNS (43-22) 115.0 ORtg (# 1), 109.0 DRtg (#15), 95.6 Poss (# 4)
BALLHYPE| NBA.com PREVIEW | BRIGHT SIDE OF THE SUN

Same song, second verse?

For the Kings to win this one, the Phoenix defense will need as poor as L.A.'s last Sunday. Though the Lakers and Suns are quite a bit different offensively, their central weapons as it pertains to the Kings remain similar: Speedy, long big men. Like Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire should be able to eat the Sactown bigs for dinner. On picks-and-rolls, in transition, on the glass -- Amare has been among the most dominant offensive forces in the league this year, and everything he does is the sort of thing the Kings have sincere trouble stopping.

Pau isn't as strong, and Spencer Hawes was able to negate Gasol's offense for a stretch. No such luck shall befall the battle with Amare. As we saw twice in December, he's just too much for anyone on this roster. (Hell, he's just too much for the entire league.)

Elsewhere, the Kings should be able to score often against an odd Phoenix defense still adjusting to a quasimobile backstop in Shaquille O'Neal. Beno Udrih shouldn't have defense-imposed issues getting to the cup, and late rotations should leave the Sacramento gunners open for some threes. If they hit them, this can be a game (like last Sunday). If not, the Kings would have to pray for an uncharacteristically awful Phoenix performance.

Turnovers wouldn't project to be a problem, and rebounding's never a source of consternation against Phoenix. It all comes down to hitting shots and getting stops (as so many games do).

Game's at 7. Go Kings.

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Now to the end of the season!

Let the tanking begin!

The NBA Lottery: Where fans turning against their favorite team happens.

by kingme18 on Mar 15, 2008 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

Actually...

Er... youth movement:

Beno, K-Mart, Salmons, Williams, Hawes starting line-up

The NBA Lottery: Where fans turning against their favorite team happens.

by kingme18 on Mar 15, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

the Kings would have to pray for an uncharacteristically awful Phoenix performance.

I always do.

As far as tanking, I'd much rather see us playing for pride and getting everybody in sync. Good minutes for the young guys, but not at the expense of the possibility of a win.

But if we're down by 30 at the half, Sheldon & Hawes all the way.

TickTickTickTickTickTick

by LeaguePassAddict on Mar 15, 2008 4:39 PM PDT reply actions

Now I feel bad

I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I DIDN'T ACTUALLY WANT THE KINGS TO BE DOWN BY 30 AT THE HALF.

Dang.

TickTickTickTickTickTick

by LeaguePassAddict on Mar 15, 2008 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions

You lie witch! You spread vicious lies

to discredit all the dissenters. You lie!

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 Mar 16, 2008 5:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Hmm

given up 20 points in 5 mins.

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 15, 2008 7:25 PM PDT reply actions

ron artest

backing down giricek like he was a 9-year-old girl.

even if we don't win, this is going to be a fun game to watch.

the sacramento kings: whom amazing happens against

by ptgloden on Mar 15, 2008 7:34 PM PDT reply actions

makeup call

if I've ever seen one

the sacramento kings: whom amazing happens against

by ptgloden on Mar 15, 2008 7:38 PM PDT reply actions

an observation tonight

shaquille o'neal is larger than spencer hawes

the sacramento kings: whom amazing happens against

by ptgloden on Mar 15, 2008 7:40 PM PDT reply actions

hahahahahaaha

It's not that funny, but it hit my funny bone. Good post.

Mikki Moore in the skills challenge! - LPA

by iashwash on Mar 17, 2008 7:47 AM PDT up reply actions

and a message to the refs

LET 'EM PLAY.. these are the SUNS and the KINGS. can't we have some fun?

on the same subject: lane violation calls are an annoying "point of emphasis" this year-- seriously could be called on every single trip to the line.

37-34 at the end of 1. will we be able to score 150 to win this?

the sacramento kings: whom amazing happens against

by ptgloden on Mar 15, 2008 7:43 PM PDT reply actions

interesting

announcers from other teams always say that the kings are a decent team.

...an easy slam dunk layup. -clippers announcer

by kingsfaninjapan on Mar 15, 2008 7:50 PM PDT reply actions

14-2 run for suns in 3 minutes

ouch...

the sacramento kings: whom amazing happens against

by ptgloden on Mar 15, 2008 7:56 PM PDT reply actions

wait, how did this happen?

suns up by 26.. shooting 73%

the sacramento kings: whom amazing happens against

by ptgloden on Mar 15, 2008 8:05 PM PDT reply actions

68-42 3:47 to go in the 2nd

Giricek has 17 pts. on 7/8 shooting.

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 15, 2008 8:06 PM PDT reply actions

28-2 run

in 6 minutes!!! wow. the kings are a bad defensive team obviously, but the suns are downright scary.

the sacramento kings: whom amazing happens against

by ptgloden on Mar 15, 2008 8:09 PM PDT reply actions

omg

suns up 39-12 in the 2nd Q!

...an easy slam dunk layup. -clippers announcer

by kingsfaninjapan on Mar 15, 2008 8:13 PM PDT reply actions

for real?

they almost had 80 in the half?

...an easy slam dunk layup. -clippers announcer

by kingsfaninjapan on Mar 15, 2008 8:14 PM PDT reply actions

38-8 run to close out the half

was 41-40 at one point.

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 15, 2008 8:17 PM PDT reply actions

They had 80

Last time the Kings came to Phoenix.

This isn't as bad as last time. But the Kings were shorthanded last time.

The NBA Lottery: Where fans turning against their favorite team happens.

by kingme18 on Mar 15, 2008 8:18 PM PDT reply actions

Halftime Feature

That was a pretty nice halftime feature. If anyone sees it show up on Youtube, let me know.

by idjpg85 on Mar 15, 2008 8:20 PM PDT reply actions

nice.

artest scored more in the 3rd Q than the kings scored in the 2nd Q.

...an easy slam dunk layup. -clippers announcer

by kingsfaninjapan on Mar 15, 2008 8:59 PM PDT reply actions

Pookey alert

Do not watch this game. /End pookey alert.

I do not want to read about you leaping off of the Space Needle.

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Mar 15, 2008 9:58 PM PDT reply actions

I haven't sat down & watched in awhile

I'm glad I forgot to dvr this game then. (And If I was going to jump off something it would be the I-5 bridge over Lake Union. Or maybe the Capitol Ave bridge. Tough call.)

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 Mar 16, 2008 5:11 AM PDT up reply actions

bridges are for bitches

Space Nee-dle! Spaaaaace Nee-dle! Spaaaace Neeeee-dle!

Mikki Moore in the skills challenge! - LPA

by iashwash on Mar 17, 2008 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions

I missed the game

I see that the Kings got blown out in the 2nd quarter.

I need an explanation on one stat - Martin logged the 2nd most minutes, but six guys got off more shots than him. How and why?

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 15, 2008 10:03 PM PDT reply actions

i didn't watch either

but i checked the box score at the half. at the half Martin had 14 points on 4-6 shooting, with 5-5 from the line. Martin finished with 16 points, 4-6 shooting and 7-8 from the line.

by vfettke on Mar 15, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Disappeared

For whatever reason. He had 11 points in the first quarter. He left for good with nearly 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

He seemed to get very few touches after the first quarter. I'll leave it at that.

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Mar 15, 2008 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions

2nd quarter

The Suns game plan seemed to be let anyone shoot except Martin, and it worked. At 9:54 in the 2nd, the game was 40-41. The Kings then missed a total of 15 shots the rest of the quarter and only made 4. Ron missed 6 shots and the rest of the team missed 9. Even though Ron scored well in the 3rd, the crucial missed shots in the second (poor shot selection?)gave the Suns the chance to score in transition, which they did ad nauseum.

by franfran on Mar 15, 2008 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions

we...

are REALLY bad against the suns

by kingsTV on Mar 16, 2008 1:54 AM PDT reply actions

first game I have seen in a month

and I didn't realize how bad the kings are. Also, is Anthony Johnson part of our youth movement? This game had the feel of a preseason game, I really don't think Reggie could have put a worse lineup on the floor than, the politician, the landlord, douby, anthony johnson and el flaco.
The Politician's spin move/ knee to shaq's nuts was the ugliest basketball move I have seen in a long time. I'm furious that we drafted him 10th, and I really don't enjoy the landlord, how did he go 5th in the draft???

by Travis Mays Hayes on Mar 16, 2008 8:19 AM PDT reply actions

What did you expect?

The Kings always get PUNKED by the Suns. When will they ever learn how to play these guys? It takes strategy. First, they have no defense against Staudemire. All you can do is drive on him and hope he either fouls out or limit his minutes. 3-Wil may be able to slow him down but he's gone.

by KingsFan on Mar 16, 2008 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Shawes is definitely "Big Government"

Dude takes more shots than a communist regime collects revenues.

by NYCFan @ Sactown Royalty on Mar 16, 2008 9:41 AM PDT reply actions

My Gpd

The Raptors are completely look completely clueless and listless on the floor without Chris Bosh. If the Kings don't blow the living cr@p out of the Raptors than the Kings should not call themselves an NBA team.

The NBA Lottery: Where fans turning against their favorite team happens.

by kingme18 on Mar 16, 2008 6:52 PM PDT reply actions