Preview: Warriors at Kings, Preseason Game 4

by Ziller on Oct 17, 2009 1:00 PM PDT Comment 24 comments

Golden State Warriors' Andris Biedrins, left, from Latvia, and Anthony Randolph, right, have a laugh during the NBA basketball team's Don Nelson Celebrity Roast on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. Jeffrey Ross brought the house down with a particularly off-color bit regarding Corey Maggette's passing skills. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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Welcome to Sacramento, Stephen Jackson and Don Nelson. Please do not stay long.

THE OPPONENT

It is franchises like the Golden State Warriors that make life worth living. For fans of other franchises. Like the Kings. So here's to you, Golden State Warriors. Shalom!

The Dubs come in with awfully bright roster ... which happens to be overshadowed by the team's veteran leader (who just signed a lucrative extension that won't even kick in until next summer!) grousing to the media about broken promises, trade demands and general schlubber blubber. Stephen Jackson, the oldest player on the Warriors (non Mikki Moore division), is the least mature, at least in public. The team's highest paid player, Mr. Monta Ellis, happens to be the second most immature. Ellis, you may remember, told the media ... on media day, when players are supposed to be completely smiley ... that he couldn't play with Stephen Curry, the team's top draft pick. Of course, Ellis had never actually seen Curry play. After the first preseason game, during which Ellis had realized that Curry does not suck, Ellis changed his tune. (Ellis gets paid the same as Kevin Martin to do less at a less efficient rate while being a clearly worse teammate, by the way.)

And in the background sits mastermind Don Nelson, who could have been yours, Sacramento. How unfortunate we were to lose out him, huh? (No Nattin' Musseltheus jokes, please. Allow me my schadenfreude in peace!)

THE KEY BATTLE

Holy crap, it's a team with a non-freak, sub-280 center! The Kings have already faced Greg Oden (twice) and Andrew Bynum, who -- outside of Dwight Howard and sometimes Shaquille O'Neal -- represent the most powerful players the position has. Spencer Hawes will get to match up with stringy Andris Biedrins, a deft rebounder and efficient scorer who is far from meaty but ultralong. If Hawes gets plenty of post work tonight, it will be interesting to see how well he finished on Biedrins. (If he gets minutes against Mikki Moore, all the better.)

INTERESTING SIDESHOW

According to parts of the basketball thinking class, neither of these two teams plays a point guard in the starting five. Rumor has it the Kings liked Stephen Curry's game, but (ignoring Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio for a second) preferred the physicality of Tyreke Evans and had concerns about a Curry degenerative knee condition. Evans has made the Kings look brilliant in VSL and three preseason games, while Curry had struggled for the most part. But Curry remains a prototypical Petrie guard, and it will be interesting to see whether Evans or Kevin Martin can shut him down in what should be a gingersnap fast game.

WILD GUESS OF THE EVENING

Donte Greene will get playing time. In the actual basketball game, not just warm-ups. He will not take a 3PA.

REAL TALK

What the fungus? This whole thing has been pretty serious. I need to remember to pour Beam on the cereal on weekends, too, I guess.

DETAILS

No T.V. at all, so no illicit streams. Radio on KHTK 1140 AM at 7 PM Pacific. Plenty of tickets still available. Game thread will open at 7 PM.

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Comments

Let the carnage in the low post begin

Bring on Donte, he played AR well in VSL. Also, PW said Tyreke’s conditioning isn’t up for 40mpg, so I expect to see alot more of Sergio as well.

This is the game for May & Brockman. The only question is who will play the 5 more, JT or May. Not a lot of preseason games left for PW to experiment with different lineups and to solidify his rotation. So, I expect extended minutes for Mason, May, & Greene.

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

by HighTops on Oct 17, 2009 1:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. May can play the 5 in this game.

October 28th couldn't come soon enough.

by JETisKing on Oct 17, 2009 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In an unexpected twist of awesomeness

I will now be going to the game with great seats. I’m looking for Reke to dominate Curry and Hawes to somewhat redeem himself (even though I don’t think he really did anything to need to redeem himself by). Should be a high-scoring game.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Oct 17, 2009 1:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So -

Can we anticipate a “View from Great Seats” recap (no pressure)?

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Oct 17, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Recap, Recap, Recap!

Professional Hyperbole Slayer

by ForThree on Oct 17, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea yea RECAPPP

I was soooo excited to illicitly watch this game tonight, but now my hopes have been crushed.

Screw you Knicks! LBJ to the Kings!!!

by Shizzo on Oct 17, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Cohan is cheap

This shouldn’t really surprise you.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 17, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

First one to 140 wins

From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.

by My Losing Season on Oct 17, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If that's the case

the game will be over by halftime.

"I'm too weird ta live but much too rare ta die"

by aKingisBored on Oct 17, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am expecting a post that will make the whole weekend

and make up for this miserable pre – season with no television.

I have been totally impressed with the game recaps posted here by StR members. It almost makes up for the lack of games. When the NBA falls down, StR steps up. Go Kings.

"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley

by Bluejohn on Oct 17, 2009 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

your good sense and good will

will go a long way this season and many to come. Thanks Bluejohn. rec’d.

by betweentheeyes on Oct 17, 2009 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That says a lot about the nature of fandom

and how much detriment a business takes on when it only thinks of itself as a business.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 17, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice! Enjoy the game.

Count how many Warriors fans are still rocking their “We Believe” ’07 playoff T-shirts. Such a great series.

October 28th couldn't come soon enough.

by JETisKing on Oct 17, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am hopeful that we will get a better picture of what kind of Kings team we have

The last 3 games have been against Portland and the Lakers, both teams that appear to be headed to the playoffs if not poised to win it all. Golden State is a better barometer for the Kings. If they play well against GS even if they dont win it will be a good thing. A win would really boost the Kings confidence. They can get off the schnide and get that first win out of the way. GS has had a decent preseason going 3-2. The Kings have had a rough go of it at 0-3. I hope PW really starts putting his 1’s on the floor to play together more and let them develop some chemistry before the season starts. He needs to find out who his 5 best players are and what he has on the bench to help win games.

I am looking forward to the matchup of ‘Reke against Curry. Hopefully we will see some fireworks there. Also, does anyone else know if the game will be broadcast on CSN Bay Area? It would be nice to see a game on tv and not have to get lucky searching for an internet feed. Unfortunately, CSN Bay Area would probably have the game blacked out here in Sacramento because Warriors games usually are. It really sucks that we cant see ANY preseason games of the Kings this year. How Hokie and Bush League is that? Way to build up that fan support for a young team! The Kings ARE a professional basket ball team in the NBA right? You would think they are a college team as bad as the game availability is on tv. I know it is preseason, but I’d be willing to bet that the majority of NBA teams televise at least some of their preseason games! Are the Kings Marketing staff suicidal? They should have worked out a deal with Channel 10 or CSN California to show at least 1 or 2 Preseason games!

Also looking for Hawes to rebound and have a solid game tonight. He has gone up against 2 of the best young bigs in the league in Oden and Bynum. Biedrins is a good center too, but not the caliber of the other 2. Hawes needs to come out with some fire and really play Biedrins hard. Pick up some fouls. Back him down and score over him. Play aggressive defense against him. I think we would all like to see Spencer take his game up a notch or 2.

Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!

by FaStRmAn on Oct 17, 2009 2:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You're a bit behind

So read this and catch up. (But, the short answer is that the game won’t be on TV in GS or Sac.)

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 17, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is 'Reke going to guarding Curry or ME?

"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley

by Bluejohn on Oct 17, 2009 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was thinking the same thing. Monta-'Reke matchup is more intriguing to me.

October 28th couldn't come soon enough.

by JETisKing on Oct 17, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So glad we weren't the only team without pre-season TV. Dernit!

October 28th couldn't come soon enough.

by JETisKing on Oct 17, 2009 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Pookey. I dont have the time to loiter here all day so the help is appreciated.

Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!

by FaStRmAn on Oct 17, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neither do I

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 17, 2009 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good article by sam amick

I did not know how bad the economy was effecting the smaller market NBA teams. This is certainly a sign of the bad economy. They must have trouble lining up advertisers for the pre season games. You would think that Kings – Lakers would be a draw even in the preseason. You would think that the Maloofs would want to get some exposure for their young team. If there was money to be made airing the games they would be on tv, so the preseason must not be a money maker. The other thing is when you look at that list, you see another example of the inequality between the haves and the have nots. Big market teams have all their preseason games televised. Small market teams don’t.

And if the NBA starts the season with replacement refs, the viewership will most certainly suffer. I think the real NBA refs are bad enough. Replacement refs are awful!!

Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!

by FaStRmAn on Oct 17, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs