Kings vs. Rockets Preview: CAN WE GET MUCH HIGHER?

Particularly Cousins because nobody on Houston has been able to stop opposing big men from rebounding and scoring

Which makes him look awkwardly top heavy.

Tyreke and Salmons will have to take out Lowry/Martin, Jimmer doesn’t have a shot in hell against them. Offensively Tyreke should be able to dominate this team

If Cousins can stay out of foul trouble, I could see him getting another 20+ points and 15+ rebounds again.

I am also calling this Salmons break out game. I have an odd feeling that tonight is the night averages start to work themselves out and he has a good performance.

Unfortunately this will be the first game I won’t be able to watch because I’m on my way to go duck hunting. I hope Cousins dominate Dally, Tyreke dominates KMART, and IT makes ball movement his bitch. Go Kings!

For the last couple years Houston has been the epitome of average in the NBA. They’ve been the team on the cusp of making the playoffs, but never making it. And this year they are again average in almost every statistical category, except in getting to the FT line where they are last.

That doesn’t mean this won’t be a tough game, because they are better than their record shows. Like the Kings they’ve had a Playoff caliber opponent in most of their games. They’ve lost to Orlando, split with San Antonio, lost to Memphis, beat Atlanta, lost to both LA teams before finally losing a home and away to Oklahoma City. They’re one road win came in an unimpressive 82 to 70 victory over the Bobcat, the only none Playoff bound team they faced. While they have lost 5 of their last 6 games only one was at home, and 2 of their 3 wins came at home.

As for our Kings alumni, Sammy finally made it into the starting lineup 3 games ago, but his stats for the season are unimpressive. He’s averaging under 6 pts and 6 rebs and 1.6 blocks in 19 mpg. Kmart is also struggling shooting 41% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc in 34 mpg. In his last 3 outings, he’s 16 of 45 from the field (35.6%) and 4 of 14 from 3pt range (28.6%).

Houston has only played 2 games in the last 5 days and like the Kings had Thursday off. I expect them to go with a 9 man rotation of Dalembert and Hill at Center, Scola and Patrick Patterson at the PF, Chandler Parsons their 2nd round pick in 2011 (6-9 200lbs) and Chase Budinger at SF, with Martin, Lowry and Dragic in the backcourt. Their core starters of Martin, Lowry and Scola could all see Playing Times in the 40’s.

The Kings will have to shot better than their average FG% of 40%, and that means taking high percentage shots and getting to the rim. The way we’ve been shooting from beyond the arc, the misses that turn into fast break points for Houston will outnumber our points on the made 3’s. There should be some great matchups; Martin & Tyreke, Cousins & Dalembert, even Thomas and Lowry. And, I’m really looking forward to see how Coach Smart plans to defend Scola. Win or Lose this is going to be a fun game to watch.

but loving what I saw in Toronto. Let’s hope for more improvement tonight.

Once we get “never nervous” pervis healthy and back on the court I think we can run our blitz package and stop all the easy red zone points we are giving up.