Kings 97, Clippers 92
by Tom Ziller on Mar 1, 2010 6:22 AM PST
in Recaps
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PrintIf you use strict definitions, neither Ime Udoka's miracle save or Beno Udrih's harsh hassling of Rasual Butler really "saved the game," because the game was still somewhat in question after each possession. So let's appreciate those plays as vital and defining. That's all an obtuse way of saying, "Way to go, Ime! Nice save! Hurrah, Beno! Good defense!"
The offense struggled a good bit after that smooth first quarter. In the first, the team scored 32 points in 25 possessions (1.28 points per possession); the rest of the way, it was 65 points in 73 possession (0.89 points per possession). Ball movement, the fast break and off-ball movement were visible culprits -- 12 assists on 24 FGAs in the first half, five on 14 in the second half. The offense was stagnant as pond water, even as Tyreke Evans went to the rim repeatedly. It took a couple smooth jumpers from Carl Landry and those final lay-ups by Evans to straighten things out.
The Clippers were bad offensively pretty much the whole way. How much credit do the Kings defenders deserve? The defensive rebounding was solid throughout (nine for Spencer Hawes, six for Landry), the Clips shot only 59 percent at the rim, and the Kings did lovely work challenging just about every three (save one or two by Butler), limiting L.A. to 5-20 behind the arc. Some of this was the Clippers missing shots. But give the Kings some credit, especially in comparison with the standard set this season. This was a better defensive performance than we're used to.
Anyone who complains about Reke's offense ought to note 14 of his 21 FGAs came within five feet of the basket, and 18 of the 21 came within 10 feet. (He hit nine of them, and missed all three long jumpers.) He also drew four fouls going to the rim -- so 22 of his 25 shooting possessions involved penetration or setting up in the post. That is un-frickin-believable. Not all the lay-ups fell, and at times it seemed like he drive despite L.A.'s strategy to stop him. But, for example, the similarly beefy Baron Davis took 17 FGAs ... and nine of them came from 10 feet or beyond. Evans understands his advantage, and abuses it. He is the Mortal Kombat player using Sub-Zero and mashing the floor freeze-uppercut combo. He's the Madden player who found the unstoppable crossing pattern and refuses to stop using it. Maybe Reke's abuse of Davis and Eric Gordon and Butler, maybe it's not ethical. Maybe it's cheap, or cheesy. But that doesn't matter when the scoreboard lights up. That doesn't matter when the whistle blows, and when the ref raises Evans's hand.
***
Seriously, Ime? That was an incredible save.
***
For the second straight game, Hawes started afire and eventually slowed down a bit. But that's fine. Sixteen and nine with a couple blocks, more assists than turnovers, 50 percent shooting, less than 20 on less than 50 percent for Chris Kaman? I will take it. Hell yes I will take it.
***
Landry carried the team offensively in the fourth. He had a True Shooting percentage of .529 for the game, but .555 in the fourth. He's getting there. (Lovely defense from Landry, too.)
***
Omri Casspi played less than 30 minutes, but had four of the team's 11 offensive rebounds. He was incredibly active, and while his jumper seems to come and go (3-of-6 in the first, 1-5 after) that activity sustains runs and stems damage. Cheers.
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I love how Tyreke attacks the rim constantly.
It’s up to the rest of the teammates at that point to find some space in case he needs to pass. For instance, yesterday Beno got in the paint and Cisco somehow outsmarted everyone and made a back cut underneath the basket. Beno saw him and passed for our easiest basket. I’m pointing this out because whenever the defense collapsed on Evans’ drives, no one was free for a kick out pass or something. Most of the drives were isolation plays with the rest of the Kings just sitting around. That guy can average at least 3-4 more assists just by driving and passing.
disagree
on several of tyreke’s drives 3 defenders eventually covered him at the rim. someone is open for a kick out pass there, by doing nothing but standing around. he needs to do a better job recognizing that when he beats his defender if there are 2 shot blockers at the rim, kick it
this is a separate issue from guys just standing around before he makes his move, which is not necessarily his fault.
he’ll get it.
in no way am I complaining about pg13 as the leader of our team. it could be far worse, look at baron “fadeaway contested 20 footer for 1000 million dollars” davis — talk about bad contracts
by lchristmas on Mar 1, 2010 6:59 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
You're both right
There should be a little more motion on offense from the rest of the team sometimes, but Tyreke needs to do a better job recognizing when somebody is open.
Baron Davis...
He probably has one of the best skills set and body build for a PG ever. But the BB IQ is not there.
The only problem is
He seems to have lost confidence in his outside shot. Blake is probably a better option for them.
"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."
by coolcatreportdotcom on Mar 1, 2010 8:02 AM PST up reply actions
I felt the Clippers did well versus Tyreke
He drove several times and blew layups at the rim. I think Gordon plays him really well because he has the strength to keep from getting muscled around so much. I also felt Omri was not shooting well, but he busted his ass over and over again and I appreciate it.
I don't question BD's bball IQ
he does tend to get lazy and settle for jumpers way to often. He’s not the only player in the league by any means who’s love for taking it to the rim diminishes as he gets a little older. My take on Baron is that he could have been great but settled for being a little less.
"I make love to pressure" - Stephen Jackson
He's similar to a Tyreke that never learned to shoot
Here’s hoping that doesn’t happen (and he’s over 30)
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on Mar 1, 2010 7:39 PM PST up reply actions
I’m not going to foreclose the issue, but Tyreke does not look comfortable passing to players who are in motion. You may have noticed this last night, where the few pick n roll situations that featured him as the ballhandler, none of those resulted in passes. Small-n, obviously, but it was night and day vs. Beno at the point.
Tyreke still forces the issue too much
It’s great when he makes it but last night was an example of him being a little of and killing the ball movement. He needs to learn to keep his head up for the potential pass.
evans and landry
Went to the game. A few notes.
Evans did attack the rim, but several times the Clips seemed like they had 4 guys waiting for him at the rim and the shot was not converted. The last two attacks saved the game, but it would have been nice to kick the ball out at times too. Can’t have everything just yet.
Another play that stood out of me was Donte’s first 3 pointer. Landry had the ball down low on the baseline backing his defender in and then the double team came. He kicked the ball out across the paint to the other side of the court to Donte standing behind the 3 point line. Donte nailed it. I love JT, but no way does he make that play.
Finally, Donte was nice to the kids in pregame warm ups letting them pass the ball to him as his praticed his jump shops. Good stuff.
by noreboundsnorings on Mar 1, 2010 7:08 AM PST reply actions
I like how
Steve Perrin over at Clip’s Nation said phrased it:
It’s a foregone conclusion that Tyreke Evans will be the rookie of the year at this point, and deservedly so. He’s terrific. But he has a quality that goes beyond “impressive-for-a-rookie”. On big possessions, he has the ability to get not just shots, but layups. That’s not supposed to happen against a competent NBA defense (and perhaps the Clippers were not tonight, but usually they are). In a one point game, in the final two minutes, on consecutive possessions, Evans got lay ups. Lay. Yups. That’s superstar stuff.
Now, they weren’t playing what you would call “competent defense” on some of those possessions, but he has done that move against better teams in the past.
indeed young man.
INDEED.
"Thou must give props" - Ice_9ine
by tomroadrunner on Mar 1, 2010 7:12 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Someone please interpret the body language for me.
We’ve got the cupped hands at the groin and then there is the tongue thing going on. Is this a macho thing or sexual thing, both, or other interpretation that I am missing?
To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.
Basically saying hes got huge walnuts..Go watch I think it was Major League 2 with Tanaka and Cerrano basically saying hes got Cajones
Judgment day is coming!
Yes, I did see the interpretation about the "Cajones"
I got that. That is the concrete meaning, but what is the abstract meaning?
It seems like it is a form of disrespect to the other team, but maybe I am reading too much into it.
I do think that it took a lot of balls, on Tyreke’s part, to make such a display at the end of a game.
To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.
In the context of my sentence, I used the "Tyreke Huge Balls Waddle" (THBW for short) picture
as a sort of adverb (I think. I slept during English. HALP! LPA!). In this picture, his balls are so large as to be a disability. He must waddle to get around.
He could be using it as a demonstration of his courage, but he also could be using the NBA as a platform for drawing attention to “Huge Balls Syndrome” research.
We may never know.
"Thou must give props" - Ice_9ine
by tomroadrunner on Mar 1, 2010 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
It means
“I have huge ones giving me the confidence totake the ball in big moments.”
It simply means
he’s used to playing with big balls.
"If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him." - Cardinal Richelieu
Well, whatever was going through his head at the time...
He will forever be remembered for his “huge balls waddle.”
To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.
Question:
Who has the superior mean face – Casspi or Garcia?
A lonely Kings fan in a sea of gold and purple...
Omri face is pretty mean
but Cisco’s mean face includes a look of disdain as well. Hands down I have to give it to Cisco.
"I make love to pressure" - Stephen Jackson
hahahaha
Diego Sanchez vs Cisco in a mean face star down?
I'm liking this Landry guy!
I didn’t get to see much of him in Houston. I seem to recall him being advertised as an above average offensive player (especially in the 4th quarter), but a below average defensive player and defensive rebounder.
It seems like our team defense has improved a lot with him, and Houston has been giving up a lot of points since he left. I’m starting to get the feeling that he is one of those “glue” guys that help keeps a team together and makes everyone around him better.
Is it just me, or does it seem like everytime you read a quote from him or hear him in an interview, he says something that makes you feel better about our team?
Landry is definitely a nice addition to our team.
He does well in interviews and genuinely seems to be happy to be here in Sacramento.
To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.
PROFESSIONAL
That is my nickname for him.
"Thou must give props" - Ice_9ine
by tomroadrunner on Mar 1, 2010 2:26 PM PST up reply actions
This had to be done.
Carl Landry in a top hat. You’re all welcome.
GREENE! You’ve been superfluously apostrophe’d! - andy sims
by iashwash on Mar 1, 2010 8:37 AM PST reply actions 10 recs
You're missing the monocle!!!!
:P
"Thou must give props" - Ice_9ine
by tomroadrunner on Mar 1, 2010 2:21 PM PST up reply actions
wow, joining Mr. Monopoly, the Planters peanut, Col. Klink and Mr. Magoo
I was hoping for better
by betweentheeyes on Mar 1, 2010 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
classic
Best Bond song ever
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on Mar 1, 2010 7:36 PM PST up reply actions
wow i know the Landry top hat pic reminded me of something
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
See avatar. Nice job.
"Matthews, like so many before, did not expect the Yeti. No one ever expects the Yeti." ~ Ziller
by CaliforniaJag on Mar 1, 2010 5:06 PM PST up reply actions
I liked the pic,
but I couldn’t get it to line up nicely on the avatar page, unfortunately. It’s still freaking hilarious and is saved on my computer.
"Matthews, like so many before, did not expect the Yeti. No one ever expects the Yeti." ~ Ziller
by CaliforniaJag on Mar 1, 2010 9:16 PM PST up reply actions
Best part of the game
My cousin was there and got me a Casspi jersey for $10. Oh, and also that we won. That would also be the best part of the game.
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
Dammit
Where were these $10 Casspi jerseys? I had no idea they existed. I would’ve bought one. Meh.
"Matthews, like so many before, did not expect the Yeti. No one ever expects the Yeti." ~ Ziller
by CaliforniaJag on Mar 1, 2010 9:04 AM PST up reply actions
BTW
Tyreke Evans made a 17-foot jumper at 8:37 in the 3rd quarter. He was not 0 for 3 on shots beyond ten feet.
"Matthews, like so many before, did not expect the Yeti. No one ever expects the Yeti." ~ Ziller
ESPN shot chart shows it
and I remember when he hit it. I told edm7 “this is the quarter Tyreke goes off” when he hit the jumper.
"Matthews, like so many before, did not expect the Yeti. No one ever expects the Yeti." ~ Ziller
by CaliforniaJag on Mar 1, 2010 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
I remember it though
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on Mar 1, 2010 10:46 AM PST up reply actions
Another good win
I thought the D was excellent yet again and agree with PW that there are real signs that a defensive mindset may be sinking in.
Like JR, I thought Evans had a very bad 2nd half until the very end. The big lead made him want to pad his stats(?). He still needs to learn that he’ll get his numbers in the flow of the offense and doesn’t need to force it.
I mean, what happened to getting the ball to Beno and Hawes after the intermission? He’s got to learn that every time he drives and kicks rather than going in vs double and triple teams – will decrease the number of bodies waiting for him down the road.
Still, a good win and I may sound a bit more critical than I mean to be.
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
Disagree
He [Tryeke Evans] is the Mortal Kombat player using Sub-Zero and mashing the floor freeze-uppercut combo
i would liken it more with the Street Fighter 2 move with Guile where you hold down and backwards together at the same time firing sonic booms non stop and then your opponent can’t handle it and jumps so you smack them with a flash kick to the face. Un-frickin-stop-able and you can do it the whole time if your a real jackass
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
That's assuming they dont spam you with fireballs right back with the occasional weak-punch shoryuken which will punch you right out of your suck-ass flashkick.
I hate Guile. Particularly the way the computer, on higher difficulties (I’m talking SNES here) would walk towards you and then flash kick…that is impossible cheating ass bitch computer!
totally disagree
Trust me i was always Ken and Ryu and if someone was good enough at Guile’s kick/sonic boom sitting on the floor holding back technique you can’t fireball and weak kick your way out of that if they don’t slip up. It’s been proven with science.
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
by wallywagon11 on Mar 1, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
But
didn’t Ryu’s low roundhouse kick take more energy than the sonic boom? I seem to recall being able take the sonic boom while delivering the roundhouse to regain control??
I think this is worse than political arguments
It sounds like English but I can’t translate.
"I make love to pressure" - Stephen Jackson
A counter for every cheat
You forget about Chun-Li. With a few well timed jumps you can get close to Guile but.too far for a flash kick. When the next sonic boom comes you then can jump to evade and do a head stomp which can actually stop the impending flash kick. Now you have Guile cornered and ripe for the taking.
The Ken/Ryu fireball and uppercut version of this play may be more effective as an uppercut cannot be blocked (but can be evaded).
Good Lord am I a nerd.
by Mityt on Mar 1, 2010 12:35 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I meant to say the uppercut cannot be countered
It can certainly be blocked.
by Mityt on Mar 1, 2010 12:38 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I use my thumbs for other things but I am oppositional by nature
criminey crikes I am a frikkin’ fossil. (one of my favorite punishments is putting a kid in thumbless mittens, makes them crazy – they don’t know what to do).
by betweentheeyes on Mar 1, 2010 12:46 PM PST up reply actions
With Chun-Li doesn't matter if you jump the sonic boom with a head stomp
if they are sitting with guile and you go with headstomp then can immediately do the flash kick
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
by wallywagon11 on Mar 1, 2010 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
Ah... but it does
This is the action I want with this manuever. As you jump their last sonic boom they will initiate the flash kick. If you are doing a head stomp at the beginning of a flash kick you can counter the flash kick. Not many moves in the game can actually counter the flash kick but Chun-Li’s head stomp is one of them.
Reke know what his strength is
and plays to it and is confident about it. Not everyone commits to it or is so good that it will always be better than the opposition. Baron is a driving point guard with a big build but he didn’t commit to going to the hole like Tyreke and took some ill advised threes. Baron also didn’t involve teammates, the Clippers seem more dangerous with Blake.
Too Easy should kick out or dump off when 4 guys collapse on him like at times midway through the 4th period but those guys can’t be standing around either and should be cutting but stay out of his way. Until Cisco gets 100%, I actually think Spence is our best outsider shooter which shows why we might need one.
Landry was playing in his Houston form in the 4th and then the offense got away from him. Casspi, and Beno, seems like the only players that tries to initiate him in the post. Reke’s drives are a good close but not always when the whole D collapses on him. I think they should be complemented with Landry as he was abusing DeAndre Jordan who was too slow to guard him. Landry is better from the line as well.
Weird, D gets better without Speed who would have thought having 5 players playing D instead of 4 would make your D better.
Ron Rivera for Cal Head Coach. I'm a one man movement!
by bringbackbuddytrees on Mar 1, 2010 1:27 PM PST reply actions
Let's re-visit Martin's impact on the defense
after five more games. Three of the five games since Martin has been traded have been at home, and one of the two road games was the Clips. Let’s see if the 99 per game that has been established in these five games can withstand @OKC, @Hou, @Dal, hosting OKC, and @Por. I’ll buy in if we have seen signifiacant improvement over the 10 game stretch.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
I'd also buy it more
If the team has been good at defense when Martin was out with his injury.
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
Lets see if the under 90 points scored comes back
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on Mar 1, 2010 7:35 PM PST up reply actions
Is there any chance
That anyone has come across a video of Ime’s save? I did a quick Youtube search and nothing came up, but maybe on the NBA’s site or somewhere else it exists? It was amazing and I’d love to see it again.
I want to see it too.
I missed the game last night, and I’m so curious to see what this save was. Can you please describe what happened?
Screw you Knicks! LBJ to the Kings!!!
Oops
Sorry, I thought I clicked “Reply” but I apparently just made a new comment. Haha. Ill copy/past it here though.
As I remember it, we missed a shot and LA got the rebound but lost the ball and Ime was falling out of bounds and managed to hit it way back into the backcourt, where someone (probably Tyreke) was able to get it and bring it back and we got another possession. It was near the end of the game and it was a really great save. I could be remmebering it slightly inaccurately though because I don’t know if they even had a replay of it…
If memory serves
it was Spencer who got the ball near the sideline and had to quickly pass it again (to Tyreke I think) before he too stepped out of bounds.
"If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him." - Cardinal Richelieu
Ime had to jump a couple of feet past the baseline
to snag the ball, and then flipped it, over a couple of clips, to half-court.
Well
As I remember it, we missed a shot and LA got the rebound but lost the ball and Ime was falling out of bounds and managed to hit it way back into the backcourt, where someone (probably Tyreke) was able to get it and bring it back and we got another possession. It was near the end of the game and it was a really great save. I could be remmebering it slightly inaccurately though because I don’t know if they even had a replay of it…
My thoughts:
The Kings stopping penetration and easy baskets inside, forced the Clips backcourt to put up 30 difficult shots while holding the Clippers to only 14 assists.
Offensively, we kept the turnovers to below 10 and equaled the Clippers on the offensive glass. That allowed the Kings 5 more FGA’s and 7 more made baskets. And, without those extra FGA’s we probably would have lost because we were outscored at the FT line (again) by 9 pts.
One negative, the Kings are slow to get back on defense and acquire their man, especially the guards. Spencer was forced to stop the ball way too many times, and LA took advantage of the mismatch for some easy baskets.
Cudos to Ime for the great save. But, I have to admit that 10 seconds before the play, I said to myself “Why is Ime in there, instead of Omri or Donte?”
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
I keep forgetting that
You’re absolutely, 100% correct HT (not like you need my approval or anything)
the Kings are slow to get back on defense and acquire their man, especially the guards. Spencer was forced to stop the ball way too many times, and LA took advantage of the mismatch for some easy baskets
If I were to criticize Reke for anything, it’d be for this. I don’t see him hustle back enough to find his man, and sometimes when he comes back he just goes to guard player who’s closer to him, forcing other to rotate and sometimes even creating some mismatches against the Kings. This is true for other guards as well but I’ve seen Tyreke do it many times and it’s one of the small things he still needs to work on.
I keep forgetting to mention this, props to HT for bringing it up.
"Children want what they want when they want it." ... Andy Sims
That's right it's March now!
Everyone pile on Evans. Trade him! ;p
Don't say stupid shit. You won’t be perceived as stupid. - pookeyguru
by Kfan in Korea on Mar 1, 2010 7:46 PM PST up reply actions
Haha, you know I didn't mean it that way
And how dare you make it Evans month? It’s time to pile on JT while he’s out.. such a softie
"Children want what they want when they want it." ... Andy Sims
I just figured it was his turn
everyone else has pretty much been covered.
Don't say stupid shit. You won’t be perceived as stupid. - pookeyguru
by Kfan in Korea on Mar 1, 2010 7:57 PM PST up reply actions
he gets a free
passover
Don't say stupid shit. You won’t be perceived as stupid. - pookeyguru
by Kfan in Korea on Mar 2, 2010 3:38 AM PST up reply actions
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