Kings Look To Build Momentum In Charlotte

by Tom Ziller on Feb 25, 2011 12:56 PM PST in Commentary

The Charlotte Bobcats traded their best player, Gerald Wallace, to the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, and their best center -- Kwame Brown be damned -- in Nazr Mohammed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That bodes well for the Sacramento Kings, who visit Charlotte at 4 PM Pacific Friday. The Bobcats got Joel Przybilla in the deal for Wallace, and Mo Peterson and D.J. White in the Mohammed trade. I'm not sure any of them will play, leaving Charlotte a bit more light than usual in terms of talent.

Marcus Thornton will be available, however, and wearing No. 23. It's unclear how much he'll play; I imagine that unless Jermaine Taylor goes off again, Paul Westphal will turn to M.T. early, just to get the kid some confidence. I'm eager to see him from our new point-of-view.

DeMarcus Cousins will match up with Kwame, with Samuel Dalembert coming off the bench and hoping to punish the thin Charlotte frontcourt. The Bobcats don't shoot many threes (good news for Sacramento), but D.J. Augustin and Stephen Jackson can maim opposing guards. Beware! Boris Diaw and Jason Thompson might be the best match-up in terms of ha-has, if only because they are oddly similar.

Game threads at 4 and 5:30. Let's go Kings.

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marcus thorton comin to sac..

marcus thorton is gonna feel the energy that kings fan possess in his first home game… got love it..!!

by yaboyrafa on Feb 25, 2011 12:59 PM PST reply actions

Yeah he should like that.

"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!

by caseycheesecake on Feb 25, 2011 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

I'm expecting a win.

"And Solskjaer has won it!"

by 'tough as nails' spence on Feb 25, 2011 12:59 PM PST reply actions

Me too.

"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!

by caseycheesecake on Feb 25, 2011 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

Diaw is going to rock it the rest of the season with Wallace gone.

He’s a nice player.

"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!

by caseycheesecake on Feb 25, 2011 1:01 PM PST reply actions

Is S-Jax playing for Charlotte?

He took an awkward spill and left on Tuesday with a hamstring injury. They would be lacking a lot of firepower without him and Wallace/Nazr

by james_kevin18 on Feb 25, 2011 1:06 PM PST reply actions

I'm really excited to see Thornton play...

win tonight baby!

Sometimes you just have to look yourself in the mirror and say....Tyreke Evans.
That just happened.

by darkadun on Feb 25, 2011 1:31 PM PST reply actions

Another casualty of Relocationgate 2011...

No more incredible scouting reports from HighTops. I know we’ve played this team before but I always enjoy reading HT’s threads.

by clicc916 on Feb 25, 2011 1:37 PM PST reply actions

Lets Go Sacramento Kings Baby!

I’ve always liked Thornton especially last year

The Maloofs will always be some playas, Geoff Petrie can neva be a hata, Chris Webber will always be a playa, Mike Biiby can neva be a hata, Vlade Divac will always be a player, Doug Christe can neva be a hata, Bobby Jackson will always be a playa, Peja Stojakovic can neva be a hata, White Chocalate will always be a playa, Rick Adelman can neva be a hata, Pete Carril you know he's a playa, Kevin Martin can neva be a hata, Omri Casspi will always be a playa, DeMarcus Cousins can neva be a hata, Tyreke Evans now that's a real playa, THE SACRAMENTO KINGS NOW THEM SOME REAL PLAYAS!!!!!

by slamson on Feb 25, 2011 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

What happened to High Tops?

His scouting reports were amazing.

If you want to be your best, you have to do your best, otherwise you are only second rate.
______________________
People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones - English Idiom

by Slam_Dunk on Feb 25, 2011 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

HighTops is sick

Hopefully he gets back on the horse by the end of the season. I miss his reports.

by Tom Ziller on Feb 25, 2011 3:34 PM PST up reply actions

Not anything serious

I hope?

Wsihing you well if you read this, HT!

Dunking Dutchman - betting that Omri will have at least 12 games with 85% TS% this season.

by RikSmits on Feb 26, 2011 12:36 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

This, very much this

"Children want what they want when they want it." ... Andy Sims

by edm7 on Feb 26, 2011 2:02 PM PST up reply actions

Beat the Bob Cats (clap, clap, clap clap clap)!

"The Kings have nothing to lose but their games."

by SactoRyan on Feb 25, 2011 1:41 PM PST reply actions

clicc made a good point

Where has HT been? His scouting reports are one of my favorite parts of StR

by MichaelMack on Feb 25, 2011 1:47 PM PST reply actions

Kings fan from NC

On my annual trip to Charlotte to see the Kings play I’m looking forward to seeing what DMC can do against Charlotte’s big guys. I am hoping to see a monster game from him as well as a big first night from Thorton. Even though I’m not from Sac I’m praying this isn’t the last time I see the Sacramento Kings play live.

by MTBalla on Feb 25, 2011 2:06 PM PST via mobile reply actions 2 recs

Can you start a Stay in Sac chant while you're there?

I know it might be awkward but maybe they’ll empathize since they lost a team recently.

by jveezy on Feb 25, 2011 2:12 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I don't see why not

If we can get a “Stay In Sac” chant from 3,000 miles away, it can do nothing but help the cause

"These Kings won't quit... Hey Sacramento, don't quit on your Kings either"
-Steve Levy, ESPN SportsCenter on 2/22/2011(approx. 8:54 PST)

"Both teams played hard. God bless & good night"
-The GREAT Rasheed Wallace

by SheWentToJarrad on Feb 25, 2011 2:14 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I'm on it

There are usually quite a few Kings fans around at the game, I’ll see what I can do. I’m all for it

by MTBalla on Feb 25, 2011 2:30 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs

From Jim Crandell's twitter

Sac Mayor KJ wanted Maloofs to give Taylor/ICON documents relevant to arena construction today..ain’t gonna happen until next week…

"These Kings won't quit... Hey Sacramento, don't quit on your Kings either"
-Steve Levy, ESPN SportsCenter on 2/22/2011(approx. 8:54 PST)

"Both teams played hard. God bless & good night"
-The GREAT Rasheed Wallace

by SheWentToJarrad on Feb 25, 2011 2:13 PM PST reply actions

A thought:

Right now we have a 1-game winning streak.
Tonight we play Charlotte – a very winnable game.
Tomorrow, we play Memphis – also winnable.
Monday, Here We Stay night, we’ve got the Clips. Winnable.
Wednesday, we play Portland. They’re practically a walking hospital. Winnable.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

In these times, you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning.
~Carl Sandburg

by PurpleLoco on Feb 25, 2011 2:29 PM PST reply actions

Blazers are walking around with Lamarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, Wes Matthews and GERALD WALLACE these days. They still have Roy, despite him being injured himself. Hobbled, maybe…but still very dangerous.

I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues. To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one’s self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one’s own powers.
--Holmes, on Modesty

by Donovan Jeska on Feb 25, 2011 2:34 PM PST up reply actions

Oh, yeah. Of course.

But I do still think it’s winnable, especially if we’re riding on the high that comes with a winning streak.

That one will be fun to watch, regardless.

In these times, you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning.
~Carl Sandburg

by PurpleLoco on Feb 25, 2011 2:36 PM PST up reply actions

We've only had

two “winning streaks” all season, if I’m not wrong. And they were both two games each. But shoot I’m ever the optimist-let’s do it!

by kingsforaday on Feb 25, 2011 3:35 PM PST up reply actions

The Thornton Trade is really bad timing.

In my opinion, at least. I’m glad Tryreke is still injured, so we’ll get an extended look at Taylor…he’s been doin’ dirty work in Tyreke’s absence, and I would hate to see him buried under Beno, Reke, Pooh and Thonton in the rotation before we really get a good look at him.

Beno and Thorny to start, Pooh and Taylor off the bench?

by Donovan Jeska on Feb 25, 2011 2:31 PM PST reply actions