Shout At the World

by Tom Ziller on Jan 12, 2009 8:21 AM PST in Recaps

That was just about as complete an effort as any reasonable fan could expect. Jason Terry got free quite too easily, the Kings challenged Erick Dampier a taste too much, but that's IT.

Beno Udrih nor Jason Thompson nor Francisco Garcia registered a turnover; Spencer Hawes had only one in 20 minutes. So despite some an iffy connection between Kevin Martin and Brad Miller, and a bit of fluster in the late second and early third, Sacramento was able to get a shot on basket more trips than usual. Sloppy play from Dallas (eight of the Mavs' 13 turnovers were steals) helped the defense, and Dirk Nowitzki had a series of shots that'd be tough were he not named Dirk Nowitzki. I thought the defense on Dirk worked well; it's hard to give complete credit to Thompson, Miller and Hawes, but then you watch Dirk abuse Garcia on a mismatch late and you re-respect the work the bigs did. Kudos, kudos my friends; Dwight Howard visits Tuesday, and your services will again be required.

Six Kings in double figures, the shots spread rather evenly between seven players. I wonder if this is another facet of the Mikki Moore demotion (which has left our protagonist with only 5-1/2 minutes of playing time) -- there's no starter to slouch off on. Moore could hit the 18-footer with regularity, but no matter how open the opponent left him Mikki wouldn't take more than four or five of those night ... and that's if a) it's falling, and b) the facilitators are looking for Moore. Thompson isn't a deadeye scorer at this point (not close), but he's tons more versatile and can score much easier than Moore (who needs a near-perfect situation on every attempt). The entire starting line-up now can score 20 points with no eyelash out of place. It's an aggressive, versatile unit that can shoot, one through five. The defense often remains suspect at four positions (depending on Miller's mood and the refs attitude towards Shock's energy), but the substitutions aren't terribly better on that end. There are ramifications we hadn't imagined in Thompson's promotion, and so far they are positive.

Let's leave Garcia at point guard for another moment, because this win deserves a bit of glee without trepidation, for a change. Yay Kings!

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Comments

Let's pray that Natt's tough love has worked.

If beno can produce like last night or even somewhat close to that this team can compete. When he registers the 10 mins 3 turnover games we pretty much are hopeless.

There now I've met the 75 word count. -pookeyguru

by moproblemz on Jan 12, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions

Not about Beno

Although he had a great game, good for him! (good for us) [one of BMs TOs was really his, still though, 6 &1 if you count that]

Look at the box score, the stat sheet is littered with assists for everyone. Most players who got minutes had at least 2! Trust.

Passing passing, passing is a display of it.

One wonders if the appearance of greybearded and wise Carril, someone above disdain, finally allowed the team to trust, at least for one game, and do what they’ve been asked over and over, SHARE THE BALL.

BMiller had a couple of sweeeet behind the back or no look passes that resulted in easy baskets. That kind of ball sharing is just what will get his game going.

The only thing I disliked was KMs body language towards the end, he was one of the few players i thought looked like he believed they might blow the game(?). Feel free to disagree on that. Anyway, pulling out the win (finally) may solve that confidence problem, for now at least.

There was a lot of Trust on display last night as evidenced by all the passing and assists, really only Bjax coming up short in that regard (coming in to save the day…). A quality and attitude I have said numerous times recently is the biggest problem with this team right now.

Bigs often boxed out to let the other big or smaller player pull down the rebound as well. Team rebounding, it was nice to see.

Lets hope that Trusting attitude we saw sticks, because win or lose, that was excellent team ball we saw last night and any player should have been proud to be a part of it.

"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"

by lietothegirls on Jan 12, 2009 11:05 AM PST reply actions

Nooooooooooooo!

We were so close to taking over the ping-pong ball (do they still use those?) lead!

by cabz on Jan 12, 2009 11:26 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

f*ck it

If Petrie had the top pick he’d he use it to get somebody that was projected for 10 anyway. Let ’em win!

Donte? Donte'! Donté?!?!
'spect da 'xtra E'

by iashwash on Jan 12, 2009 11:29 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

Agreed

That would make more a much more palatable couple of months. Who cares if we end up 5th or 6th?

by misterbrister on Jan 12, 2009 11:33 AM PST up reply actions

You say that now...

I remember a different sentiment from most around draft day last year, when it looked like we were yet again going to end up one or two picks late on the players most coveted.

I’m not in favor of tanking (ie: losing on purpose), I just won’t feel all that different about a season that concludes with 20 wins instead of 16. However, I will likely feel a lot better in the off-season if we’re holding the #1 pick versus #5 (and yes, I realize there could still be a lot of chance involved between those two positions).

by cabz on Jan 13, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions

Oh...

And how many around here wished we had a few more losses last year when Portland grabbed Bayless? Judging by the reactions in the thread, I’d say it was very close to unanimous.

by cabz on Jan 13, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions

bayless as I said here(?) later on

Has been wretched so far. Bobby B has played much much bettter, whatever you think the future may be.

"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"

by lietothegirls on Jan 13, 2009 2:30 PM PST up reply actions

My point wasn't that it was horrible we missed on Bayless.

It was that how many of you feel about wins and losses now may not be how you feel come draft day, which was evident last year.

by cabz on Jan 13, 2009 3:20 PM PST up reply actions

I wouldn't mind winning 20 if the rookies were playing

I understand your point. If I were sure that 16 wins guaranteed a top 3 pick, I could live with winning 16. But, not if it’s by playing Miller, Jackson, & Moore. If their not gone by the trade deadline, then their minutes need to be reduced dramaticly and Hawes , JT, Greene, & BB need to get extended PT.

Then if we still win 20 or more I don’t care. Then we get what we get. We don’t know how the lottory will go, and at this point we don’t even know who will enter the Draft. So, there’s no sense in counting on the guys we want being available anyways.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Jan 13, 2009 4:57 PM PST up reply actions

I think the 2nd half might surprise folks

I"m not predicting a 5 game win streak. 25 games won is still very possible.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jan 13, 2009 5:18 PM PST up reply actions

That certainly isn't too far of a reach...

we’ve been in a lot of game in the last 2 minutes. If a couple had gone our way, we’d already be halfway there. That scares me though, because I think 25 wins puts us closer to the 7-10 range, which isn’t nearly as attractive (or as helpful to our future) as a top 3 pick.

by cabz on Jan 13, 2009 10:06 PM PST up reply actions

There isn't that many worse teams than Sac right now

There are teams just as bad, but not many worse. They’re going to win some games themselves at some point, all teams do.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jan 14, 2009 4:37 AM PST up reply actions

I could live with that...

if it made a significant, positive impact in their growth. Playing time is one thing, but developing as a player is the important thing and I don’t care whether it takes place in games, practices, off-season workouts, etc.

In other words, I’m looking for something to look forward to. A high pick would fit that mold and significant development in the young nucleus would too.

by cabz on Jan 13, 2009 10:12 PM PST up reply actions

So true

Are we gonna live together? Together are we gonna live?

by otis29 on Jan 12, 2009 11:35 AM PST up reply actions

Nobodys knows about the ping pong balls

They do it in secret and only reveal the results in that public ceremony.

(For all the conspiracy people out there)

"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"

by lietothegirls on Jan 12, 2009 12:14 PM PST up reply actions

We'll be losing plenty of games

Not too concerned about getting a good draft pick at this point.

by Deleran on Jan 12, 2009 8:41 PM PST up reply actions

Ju-Ju

You still try to win every game, and let the ping pong balls fall where they may. Tanking is bad ju-ju, and it rarely seems to pay off for the greatest offenders.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 12, 2009 11:36 AM PST reply actions

Too true

We’d really feel jinxed if we tanked and still didn’t get the #1.

"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"

by lietothegirls on Jan 12, 2009 12:15 PM PST up reply actions

nice job natt

it’s a good plan- beat playoff-bound teams to feel good, then continue losing to other lotto teams so as not to give too much ground in lotto positioning

by fire_voisin on Jan 12, 2009 12:19 PM PST reply actions