I had to look at other NBA boxscores last night to make me feel good about the Kings.

God help the Kings.

My game summary: UGH.

I can’t lie. Last night’s 102-89 loss to the Thunder made me very (mad). I know that the Kings are a work in progress(?), but I had no idea that they would be so (alcohol inducing). Let’s face it. There are games that you (never dream) you’ll win, and this was one of them. 81 more of these and I’ll be ready for (post season/the draft/therapy).

Kevin Martin was (not injured) in the 1st half, accounting for over 50% of the Kings offense when you include his points and assists. His true shooting percentage of 71% was (too complicated for me to understand). Martin tailed off in the 2nd half, however, and by the end of the game he needed (help from his teammates).

Up front, the Kings were just (young and thin and horrible). Nenad Krstic and Jeff Green looked like (all stars and more all stars) against the Kings front line. Jason Thompson couldn’t stop (everyone by himself), Sean May provided (a grim reminder of our current situation up front), while Spencer Hawes brought (punch lines) from off the bench. Jon Brockman also got in a few minutes. What Brockman lacks in (minutes), he more than makes up for with (the company he keeps). One thing was proven: all of this talk about getting another big man is (making my head hurt real bad, Wendy).

Tyreke Evans is (so confused) right now. He had an off night, missing 11 of 16 shots and turning the ball over 3 times while delivering 2 assists. He missed (an unholy number of) shots at the rim, but that can be attributed to (Beno Udrih’s Tyreke Evans voodoo doll). I’m sure that within a couple of weeks, Evans will have us (up and cheering him).

Omri Casspi was a (bright point). His 15 points on 9 shots in 19 minutes proved that he is (ready to start). Too bad he’s (stuck behind Desmond Mason), because I would like to see him play (more).

Speaking of Mason, it’s time to call the Desmond Mason project a huge (effing mystery). Sure, the casual fan may think that he (shhas compromising photos of Paul Westphal), but the true and knowledgeable fan knows that he (sucks). Let’s cut Mason (loose), OK?

I sure liked that the team (ran up and down the court in the right direction and didn’t get hurt). This makes me feel (good) when I think about the rest of this (loooooooooong) season.

And does anyone know when Ziller is coming back? No offense, but I find section214’s posts to be (perfect for the bottom of my bird cage). Compared to him, I’m (Desmond Mason). Tom, if you’re out there and reading this, please (hurry back).

And after watching that fiasco last night, I needed a laugh.

I’m sort of glad I didn’t have to watch it. From everything I’ve read and seen, this was not the same Kings team that played hard in the preseason. Was it first game of the season jitters? Thunder just rock it cause of opening night? Whatever the case, I won’t be worried until this happens more often. Looking at the box score (Again I wasn’t able to watch the game)

Martin: 5-19. He’s not going to be 5-19 much this year. 14-14 is better. 4 rebounds, 4 assists:1 turnover and 3 steals is much better. Martin should be an All-Star, but it says something bad to me about our ball movement when Kevin is our leader in assists.

Evans: Bad night offensively, and apparently defensively. I’m racking it up to first game jitters. This would be his worst game in a Kings uniform if we counted pre-season games. We know he can do much MUCH better. Not duly worried. Everyone sucked on defense tonight.

May: Get back to the bench.

Thompson: Solid, but you can do better. Unfortunately Jeff Green gives you problems, always has and likely always will.

Mason: If you’re going to start, never ever ever ever shoot the ball. Please.

Hawes: Get back to the starting lineup, but grow a pair as well.

Noc: Meh you can do better. Good on the boards though.

Casspi: 0-1 from long range. Unforgiveable. But 15 points, 3 boards, 1 steal, 1 block on 7-9 shooting? All in 19 minutes? Successful debut for the Zohan. I think we’ve found our new 6th man if Mason continues his masquerade as a starter (something I’m actually for as a means of masking his poor offense and providing a spark off the bench in Omri)

Sergio: Sort of glad you beat out Beno, too bad nobody could hit a shot tonight.

Bron Jockman: ONE BOARD? What is this nonsense. Looks like he played solid though.

Donte Greene: Ineffective in limited time.

Beno Udrih: DNP – Coach’s Decision (Really like that line from the box score actually)

Because the first quarter started out so badly, I realize that people are – rightly perhaps – going to want to point out defense. And since their front line scored such a high percentage of their points, it might be easy to talk about interior defense. But it wasn’t really the inside where the Kings were getting beat. Sure, Vlade’s vocal clone ate May for lunch early but beyond that it was Green and Durant killing us on the outside. This was the case partly because of poor rotations and partly because they were just shooting lights freakin’ out! The Thunder scored 40 in the first quarter, which means they averaged about 20/qtr afterwards. With this Kings squad, I’ll gladly take 20 per quarter.

However, at least equally odious was the offense. It looked like a glorified pick up game last night. The spacing was embarrassingly bad, which begs the questions of why in the hell would you start Mason when your point guard can’t shoot a lick and needs open lanes and your starting Center (May) and PF’s range is the FT line? You can’t spread the floor when Tyreke, Desmond, May, and JT are your starters. And Tyreke needs the floor spread to be his most effective. While his jump shot is nauseating, dude can get to the basket ANY time he wants. And once he figures out that he doesn’t need to finish every drive but can dish or take the easy, short shot the game is going to really come to him.

I’m hoping that last night ended the starting Sean May experiment and the Sergio as 2nd string PG experiment. Spencer needs and should start. His shot was off last night, but his defense was much better than May’s, and he blocked and altered shots. He’s still rushing shots, but he’s just a better fit with the starting unit. Regarding Sergio, yes, he can pass and dribble, but this team needs outside shooting and, love him or hate him, Beno is a more skilled shooter and offensive player than Sergio.

Finally, you gotta love the Israeli sharp shooter! He was easily the best thing about the Kings last night.

Friday will be completely different, Kings fans. Teams tend to respond after embarrassing efforts. I predict we come out with fire, fast breaks and energy.

I totally agree on Mason on all counts: effing mystery, sucks, time to cut loose. I never understood his starting nod. When you have a teammate who can barely hit the back board from 18 feet away, never mind the rim, or the unthinkable of going through the rim, confidence is not exactly inspired up and down the roster.

I do support PW decision to start May over Hawes. He needs to light a fire under Spencer. Hawes will eventually be the starter, but make him earn it. Spencer needs to know every minute he is out there, he has to battle for position in the paint, help around the basket with rebounds and contests. He’s not doing that. First half was pathetic. He was playing like he took a pre-game muscle relaxant. He needed 5 Hour Energy with a Red Bull chaser.

The Kings may be stuck in the preseason, but section214 is already in postseason form.

Admit it. You’ve been working out with David Thorpe.

Isn’t it wonderful that K9 (woof!) finally has some company down there at the end of the bench? He can show Beno the ropes.

“Hey, here’s how you find a fresh towel.”
or
“Now you don’t even have to stand up, since the new rules don’t let us. Yep, just lounging, getting paid millions. Pass me a Gatorade.”

a lack of trust.

Great post yet again 214!

But it was not pretty.

Evans got smoked. Badly. Couldn’t finish at the rim, and looked like a chucker, even though I know he’s not.

Hawes came in trying to prove he should start, and instead reinforced why he doesn’t. He tries to do too much, and if he doesn’t either give up on that hook shot down low or start making it, I’m gonna throw something through my TV.

The refs were terrible last night. It’s like they decided that KMart should only get so many freethrows, no matter how hard he got hit while driving or shooting.

JT will put up gret numbers as soon as he figures out how to stay on the floor.

On the maximally-ineffective list, we find May, Mason, Sergio and Greene, with May the only one who looked like he might work his way off the list eventually.

Why didn’t Brockman get more minutes? Especially in the “Hey, OKC, we’ll spot you 12 minutes of freedom in the paint!” first quarter.

Noc was decent but didn’t show more than Casspi.

Omri, KMart and JT were the only three out there who seemed to know how to score, and all three (yes, even KMart) played decent D.

I hope Westphal showed game film on the plane. They didn’t need to nap, they slept through the game.

that sucks.

May is not a better player and Hawes is the incumbent C. Hawes is the best C on the team, so…HELLO! Start him.

Based on last night’s performance, I’d like to see the starting lineup as Sergio, KM, Casspi, JT & Hawes. Wait about 3-4 weeks and then start Evans.

Hornets – Talented youngsters with little depth.
Kings – Talented youngsters with little depth.
Martin – Awesome 1 on 1. When doubled. Not so much.
Evans – Rookie. First game jitters. I’m not worried about him. Many of his passes to open players resulted in said open players missing their shots.
Casspi – Warrior. Professional. A keeper and (Please OH GOD, please) a starter from now on.
Mason – Poor man’s Bruce Bowen. Except that he can’t shoot the three. Or the two. Oh, and his defense isn’t as good either.
JT – The ref’s bitch.
Hawes – Where is this vaunted post player? Only scored one basket on a post move last night.
Brockman – Warrior. Can he play small forward?
Sergio – Best passer on the team. Worst defender on the team?
Udrih – In the doghouse?
Donté – Time for Reno?
May – Meh.

I think the Kings need to play to Tyreke’s strengths more. Let him handle the ball and create for others by driving and dishing or finishing. Set pick for him and let him work of those. Nobody can handle hiim 1 on 1. Spread the floor and let him work like they did in Memphis last year. Time to get Omri on the floor 30+ minutes. I think the Mason attempt is DOA.

So I went with the +1

Road games are tough. We only won 6 last season.

I’m happy we won the final 36 minutes of the game. I’m not happy we gave the game away in the first Q(had enough of that last season).

And trade Tyreke.

Oh, and burn Spencer at the stake.

That should get this team going!

Wait, what…that was only one game? We aren’t 0-82? Whew! Thank goodness!

And trade Tyreke.

Oh, and burn Spencer at the stake.

That should get this team going!

Wait, what…that was only one game? We aren’t 0-82? Whew! Thank goodness!

Sean May is not going to like film session.
He constantly left his man in the paint to double players that didn’t need doubling – making Kristic a scoring force with easy shot after easy shot. He wants to defend where the ball is, not where his man is. You can’t do that down in the paint. He yelled at Casspi one for not helping and Casspi had to point out that he was guarding a guy named Durant – that you probably don’t want to leave for any reason.
May would I’m sure would admit he had a terrible terrible game. He’s better than that and I’m sure will show it as the season goes on.

put no pressure on the ball handler. On several sequences Westbrook had taken the ball all the way to the paint before he got within 6 feet of him. I’m sure they were told to ‘get back’ on D but . . . .
Stop the ball! ( a Jerryism) He’s quick enough to stay in front and do some harrasing (at least he looks like he is).

Brilliant, brilliant conversation here.

Don’t feel like regurgitating everything that was said on the game thread last night.

There’s no need to panic at all. New coach, new PG and new Kings in their first game equal what we saw last night. Look forward to NO tomorrow. Go Kings.

Westphal and May for Scott and West :) And maybe trade cities while we’re at it.

Kings win by 8.

Casspi scores 20+
Martin scores 30+
Evans scores 15+, 6 boards, 6 assists, 5 turnovers (Paul’s good at stealing)
Hawes starts
Mason starts
Hawes has ok game of 11 points, 9 boards
JT has good game offensively, bad game defensively (David West is not a good matchup for him)
Paul still gets 10+ assists, but he doesn’t score 20 and has a bad shooting night.
Brockman plays 10+ minutes (Hornets are very small upfront)
Beno with the DNP-CD