THE KINGS WILL RISE AGAIN

by Tom Ziller on Feb 1, 2009 3:17 PM PST in Recaps

Like Jean Grey ...

the Kings are back.

(May not apply beyond Sunday.)

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Most hilarious game ever?

Yes

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Yes

67 votes

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Comments

That was a gutsy performance

Jackson, Martin, Salmons, Williams and Hawes played great in OT. It was the all-star game in Sacramento but that was entertaining.

BOOK IT!

by kingme18 on Feb 1, 2009 3:26 PM PST reply actions

but I don’t think “gutsy” is the right word. Letting them tie up the game at the end or regulation was horrible. Not like this was the win against the Lakers either, it was against a team that will join us at the top of the lottery.

by TheRaven on Feb 1, 2009 5:17 PM PST up reply actions

This team will take any win it can get.

BOOK IT!

by kingme18 on Feb 1, 2009 7:20 PM PST up reply actions

looked like a college game (age wise) at times

much better game then I expected. Was happy to see Sheldon get some burn and BJax came up big at the end of the 4th.

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

by Bluejohn on Feb 1, 2009 5:14 PM PST reply actions

I was at this game

It was entertaining. Westbrook went to the line much too often but drove the ball with shake and bake type moves that were a pleasure to watch. The defense on both sides was intermittant at best, better on the Kings side of the court. Kevin Durant makes the game look easy. JT mumbles to himself almost constantly and only when he got really upset did he stop talking.

The potent trio of Durant, Green and Westbrook is something the Kings hope to achieve – Would you rather have those three or Martin, Thompson and Hawes?

Shelly came in and really changed the tempo of the game. He is a brute. He has pitiful hands, he has Brad Miller type lift but he took Krstic out of the game and he batted the ball to teammates on every loose ball he was near. He is clumsy with purpose.

I thought it interesting that Coach Brooks went with the 3 guard small ball line-up – the other two frontcourt players were Durant – the starting shooting guard for Carlessimo’s Sonics oh so long ago – and 6’10" ex-Jayhawk Nick Collison. The Kings did little to adjust with only a nudge at low post scoring or driving the ball inside. I was disappointed at how insignificant BBrown played.

The last play of regulation where the Kings decided to foul for a two rather than give up a three was smart until it wasn’t. Coach Brooks was shooting at Green to miss the second FT and it just went perfectly. Disheartening, but all ended well despite the OT starting with no Garcia or JT and BMiller and Beno out.

by betweentheeyes on Feb 1, 2009 5:55 PM PST reply actions

Considering

They got the no.2 pick, dealt Ray Allen and the no. 4 pick, you had better get players of that quality. The Kings have had less to work with.

A solid point guard will go a long way for this team.

BOOK IT!

by kingme18 on Feb 1, 2009 7:21 PM PST up reply actions

I'd like to announce

I’m too sexy for Sactown Royalty. That is all.

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.....

I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....

by pookeyguru on Feb 1, 2009 10:26 PM PST up reply actions

Natt's rotations continue to make me question his coaching skills

Granted we don’t have anyone to guard Westbrook. But, Durant is too tall for Salmons to guard and he just shot over the top of him. Green was too quick for Thompson but who else did we have especially when Thompson got into foul trouble.

Oh Yea, Donte Green. He’s 6’10" long and quick. His defense is suspect, but he’s got to learn sometime. What better time than to go up against other young players. If he was only in there to stand in front of them and hold up his hands, maybe his taking some of the fouls would have kept JT out of foul trouble. Certainly, he couldn’t have been any worse than Moore.

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

by HighTops on Feb 1, 2009 11:43 PM PST up reply actions

Donte Greene

is not a power forward. Thank God Salmons was on Durant instead of Donte or he might have scored 50. Donte is not the same kind of player as JT at all, and as far as we know has never guarded a post player, so he’s not taking fouls for JT.

An average game by John Salmons would be the best game of Donte's career.

by ForThree on Feb 2, 2009 6:37 AM PST up reply actions

You're both right

While Donté is not currently the answer to any defensive question (unless the question is, “Who’s man just had an unimpeded run to the basket?”), can’t a 20 year old prospect get at least a lillte more burn on an 11-38 club?

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Feb 2, 2009 8:07 AM PST up reply actions

I agree

though I have to say its got to be tough on Natt when 3 of his 4 best players (Martin, Salmons, Garcia) all play wing positions where you would want to get Donte the time and we’re losing all these games.

Its easy now, after losing so much in January to say, we were going to lose anyway, might as well get Donte some burn, but at the time, in the games we’re in, its got to be hard on Natt to give time to a raw rookie rather than one of his few legit NBA players.

I do thing Donte needed to get more burn in some of the blowouts sooner. I’d really like to see him come in when things look like they are getting away but before blowout status, but its hard to defend time for Donte in games we’re competitive in.

I think he’ll get some more time soon; I hope so also.

An average game by John Salmons would be the best game of Donte's career.

by ForThree on Feb 2, 2009 1:06 PM PST up reply actions

If Im not mistaken Donte has already played PF in a game this year.

Jeff Green is a 6’ 9" 2nd yr player who weights 235lbs. Kevin Durant is 6’ 9" 2nd year star that weights 215lb. Physically, Donte at 6’ 11" and 226lbs is not overly matched playing against either player. And, if Donte is going to play SF in the future he’s going to have to guard Durant sooner or later.

I didn’t say Donte should be the main defender. I only suggested that once JT got his 4th personal that it wouldn’t have hurt to give him a try and see what he can do. And, since he wasn’t given the opportunity, there is no way that you can say how he would have done.

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

by HighTops on Feb 2, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions

All I'm really saying

is I don’t “question Natt’s coaching skills” because he’s not playing Donte, I think that’s defensible.

I do question them because this team doesn’t appear to be playing better on defense, doesn’t appear to be developing any legit identity and only seems to give a professional effort about 2/3s of the time.

An average game by John Salmons would be the best game of Donte's career.

by ForThree on Feb 2, 2009 1:08 PM PST up reply actions