Preview: Bobcats at Kings
THE OPPONENT
As when the Kings visited Charlotte on the Road Trip From Hell, the Bobcats rule on defense and get by on offense. The Bobcats give up 102 points per 100 possessions, and score 103.5.
Of course, that's in total, and for whatever reason the Bobcats are much better at home -- 18-5 -- than the road -- 5-17. It shows up a but on offense -- the Cats are about three points per 100 possessions better at home than on the road. But the real difference is on defense: at home, Charlotte allows 95 points per 100. On the road, it's 105. That's an insane difference. Teams shoot .519 (eFG) against the Cats when they leave Charlotte, versus .462 when the Cats are at home. Night and day.
This is good news for the Kings, who happened to shoot .530 (eFG) in Charlotte, with most of the damage coming from Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi in the second half of that game.
KEY BATTLE
Evans/Kevin Martin vs. Raymond Felton/Stephen Jackson. Last time, Larry Brown had Felton guard Martin ... and Speed couldn't capitalize, finishing with only nine points on nine FGAs and five FTAs. Felton is a nice defender, but he shouldn't be shutting down the taller, longer, quicker, faster Martin. That performance was more a result of a quick trigger, a rusty stroke and bad vibes. Hopefully, in his second game back at home, Martin can force Brown to make the tough decision of what to do with Evans, who should cause problems for whomever guards him.
BOLD PROCLAMATION
Boris Diaw will drop a dime, then pick it up.
BOLD BROCKLAMATION
That will be the last time the mobile ice cream vendor ignores an order from Jon Brockman.
DETAILS
7 PM PST. Game thread at 7, post-gamer at 9:45.
31 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Let's just hope
Paul Millsap doesn’t get traded to Charlotte before game time…
"When the going gets Weird, the Weird turn professional."
(Hunter Thompson)
Oh, right!
In that case, let the trading begin!
"When the going gets Weird, the Weird turn professional."
(Hunter Thompson)
Tyreke & Casspi take on Wallace
As good as Charlotte has been at home 18-5, they have been equally as bad on the road 5-17. But for January they’re 11-4, going 7-1 at home, and 4 of their 5-road victories came this month. They’re .470 FG%, .412 3P%, and .771 FT%, and are averaging a season high 102.2ppg, 21.3apg, and 5.4bpg although their rebounds are the lowest this season. Probably the only thing good about playing the Bobcats right now is, that they will be on the 2nd game of their 3rd back to back in the last 9 days
In the January 18th 2pt lose to the Cats, the Kings actually outscored Charlotte from the field by 6pts, even though we only shot 7 of 27 from 3pt range for 25.9%. But, this was one of those games that ended up being decided at the FT line where Sacramento was outscored by 8. The Kings only made 14-21 FT’s while the Cats got to the line 33 times on 25 fouls, 10 of which were on JT and JB who had 5 each.
It was quite a different game for Jason and Jon. Jason’s 5 fouls limited his playing time to only 16 minutes in which he only produced 6pts and 4 rebs. Jon on the other had had a breakout game on the boards, pulling down 14 in a little over 30 minutes but had no points. Unfortunately, Jon’s 7 offensive boards only lead to 3pts.
For the Bobcats, Wallace had 28/5 with almost half his points coming from the FT line on 13-15. Raymond Felton had the most remarkable game, with 17/10/9 and just missing a triple double by 1 rebound. Charlotte is very aggressive offensively and likes to attack inside. They were 27 of 55 inside of 10ft in our last game, and on their remaining 27 shots from 16ft range out past the 3pt line they shot around 50%. This aggression gets them to the FT line on an average of 27 times a game,
The Kings on the other hand have lost all 9-road games and 3 of their 5 home games in January (2-12). They barely got past GS, and lost to Utah who was without their 2 all-stars. In our last game against Charlotte, Westphal played every player suited up except Sergio, even Hilton got 10 minutes. And, in yesterday’s game in Utah, PW again played everyone except Sergio, with May subbing in for Hilton. So, it seems that PW isn’t ready to commit to a regular rotation even though we’re more than half way through the season.
Based on past experience I can only guess who’s starting and who will match up with whom defensively. Spencer’s performance dictates that he starts against Nazr, let’s hope he gets more than the 11 minutes he got against Charlotte in the last game. Felton & Jackson start in the backcourt for the Cats, and Martin & Evans return for the Kings. But, Felton won’t come close to a triple double this time, and Jackson who has been averaging 24ppg, will have more than 11pts this game. Martin will have a problem stopping Jackson, so I’m guessing PW has Evans & Martin switch defensive assignments. Does JT start and who covers Wallace? Best guess JT & Omri start, and no one is able to cover Wallace. Maybe Donte, when JT gets into foul trouble.
Even with Martin & Evans combining for 58pts/8rbs/9asts and 4 steals, the Kings still weren’t able to beat the undermanned Jazz. The offense is slow and vanilla. For every kick out, off of penetration that leads to an open long jumper, there’s one that leads to a turnover. JT & Omri have fallen on hard times. But, by far the worst part of the Kings play right now is the defense. We’re getting beat on simple PG picks, and players coming off of screens straight down the lane for uncontested lay-ups and dunks.
Game Keys
The Speed/Reke backcourt does well again, but Charlotte is ranked #1 in fewest points allowed so less the 55pts.
The Kings win the battle of the boards, but if we don’t get some 2nd chance points off of the offensive rebounds it will mean anything as far as the outcome of the game.
The Bobcats are going to go to the FT line 30+ times. The Kings need to be aggressive. That means Tyreke and Kevin need to attack the rim, and limit the long-range jumpers. Lot’s of screens and hard cuts off the picks straight to the basket.
Charlotte is just playing too well, and the Kings aren’t. Too many players on the Kings aren’t hitting their outside shots (38% from 16-23ft range), and the defense has actually gotten worse since the return of Kevin. And, I doubt that the back-to-back road games will be any burden at all for Charlotte. I’ve got to go with Charlotte by 7 with the Kings failing to reach 100. But, it’s time to stop worrying about Wins & Losses and start working on eliminating mistakes. Go Kings.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
by HighTops on Jan 30, 2010 3:18 PM PST reply actions 11 recs
Excellent work on the breakdown except that
The Kings will win tonight.
102-96
by Nutterball on Jan 30, 2010 3:37 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Great job, HT
I expect a good game tonight, because the teams played so recently, and they are familiar with each other. Let’s hope K-Mart picks up where he left off, and Omri and/or Beno find their touch…
Who woulda thought
that the Cap’n Jack trade would have had such a huge impact on the Cats? Should be a fun game, hopefully Kevin is back for good and Kevitron can be sold for scrap metal.
Go Kings! Tie last seasons win total!
Father of the "Natt this!" movement, Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order, and Originator of the "Brock Ness Monster".
by Aykis16 on Jan 30, 2010 3:25 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Anyone who knows how players excel after leaving the Warriors...
e.g. Agent Zero (ill timing), Jamal Crawford, Baron Davis, and now Capt Jack
Tyreke Evans for R.O.Y!
by sac-townz finest on Jan 30, 2010 3:34 PM PST up reply actions
Spencer got pulled from the Starting lineup before, How long for JT to get pulled?
I think it’s time that PW sends a message.
Thompson has been slumping for nearly 15 games now……
i think he might need a few games off.
Remember folks, I'm almost always wrong.
My sig was too long...
by Scott Coleman on Jan 30, 2010 3:38 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I’d kinda like to see JT come of the bench for a few, maybe give Omri and Donte the start at the 3 and 4
I wanted to adopt, but all the good looking babies were taken
by joeytothelimit on Jan 30, 2010 4:23 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
i could see that lineup that could matchup well against the 'Cats
"Oh boy! If you don't like that you don't like Kings basketball"-Peaches
Bold proclomation
Larry Brown and Stephen Jackson will not be working this well together a year from now.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Bold Proclamation
Larry Brown will have moved on to a new coaching gig a year from now!
I wanted to adopt, but all the good looking babies were taken
by joeytothelimit on Jan 30, 2010 5:21 PM PST up reply actions
For us?
Yes. For Spencer Hawes and Donté Greene? To be determined.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Are you Paul Westphaling them?
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.....
Oh, hes in the laegue two and Jayson Thomson and that Boggins dude on Milwokee, and Occur for the Jizz. Its a talented laegue.--Kfan in Korea
Is that a new slang word, like Natting?
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
I hope not.
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.....
Oh, hes in the laegue two and Jayson Thomson and that Boggins dude on Milwokee, and Occur for the Jizz. Its a talented laegue.--Kfan in Korea
Akin to Westphlailing - When in doubt, make another substitution.
To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.
Maybe it's a performance clause in his contract:
$500K bonus if you make more than 3000 substitutions in the season.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy

by 




















