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GAME 60 vs the Lakers, Preview & Game Thread

Tom_toon_tiny by Ziller on in Game Threads

Evil exists.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (42-18)  113.4 ORtg (# 3), 106.0 DRtg (# 6), 94.7 Poss (# 6)
SACRAMENTO KINGS   (27-32)  108.3 ORtg (#14), 111.1 DRtg (#25), 92.8 Poss (# 8)
BALLHYPE | NBA.com PREVIEW

Kurt at Forum Blue & Gold, one of three Lakers fan on the globe whom is not evil (so far as I can tell), breaks down the necessary analysis heading in. I'll let him weigh Sacramento's best opportunity:
The Kings have a couple of players that will give the Lakers problems. One is Kevin Martin, who gives everyone problems because he is damn good. But then there is Beno Udrih, who is coming into his own as a PG and is the kind of quick guy who gives the Lakers issues. Then there is Ron Artest, who may be nuts but can still play the game.

With Udrih and Martin the Kings have two guys who can get into the lane, so the Lakers need to stop the penetration on the perimeter and make good rotations in the paint. They have to control the paint without fouling.


Martin, I fear, should be kept under control by some combination of Kobe Bryant and Reggie Theus. Thus, Beno needs to have another big game. The Lakers defend the perimeter quite well, so it'll take a lot of fearless driving. We know it's something he can; it's a matter of whether he will.

On the other end, I expect the Lakers to drop 130 points. I find no scenario in which the Lakers offense struggles without half their horses coming down with food poisoning. Actually, if Artest can reasonably contain Kobe, and Gasol has a poor night, and Lamar Odom stays content jacking jumpers, then maybe the Kings can hold the Show under 100. Maybe.

I will say this definitively: I'm willing to sacrifice 19 more losses this season if the Kings sweep the Lakers from here on out. If the Kings go 4-19 to finish, and those four are against the Lakers, I will not be mad at anyone.

Sometimes, there are causes greater than ourselves. This is one of those causes.

0 recs | Comment 149 comments

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Kurt is evil
He may not have revealed his fiendish ways yet, but it will come.

Rough game tonight - this is a damn good Laker team. We've shown the ability to play with the upper echelon teams, especially at home so I guess there's a chance.

Mikki Moore - WNBA Hair, WNBA Body, WNBA Talent

by otis29 on Mar 4, 2008 3:37 PM PST   0 recs

hmmm
This Artwork is disturbing man, it does however remind me of that little monkey character Chris Kattan played a few years back on SNL, the one where he would just destroy the apples he was eating, which makes it amusing.  Here's hoping we play up to our competition again!

by joeytothelimit on Mar 4, 2008 4:18 PM PST   0 recs

Is that a picture of...
Pau Gasol?

by shazam on Mar 4, 2008 4:25 PM PST   0 recs

We may not win
But we have a fighter's chance!

GO KINGS!  Please, just give me a win tonight!

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 4, 2008 4:28 PM PST   0 recs

Damn
I sat and watched that for about two minutes!
Mikki Moore - WNBA Hair, WNBA Body, WNBA Talent

by otis29 on Mar 4, 2008 4:34 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Oh yah
Whenever I am having a bad day at work, or the Kings are driving me nuts, or I just need a pick me up, I open that up and watch it.  In 5 years, that picture hasnt gotten old.  It's actually gotten better.
Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 4, 2008 4:39 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

One for us old folks:
It reminds me of Rock'em Sock'em Robots... he knocked his block off!

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 4, 2008 6:34 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I never noticed -
Keon Clark in the background. I wonder if he was high.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 4, 2008 4:56 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Keon
He was drunk.  He woke up the next morning thinking Gavin gave James Worthy a nutpunch.  His whole basketball career is a bit foggy to him.

by spragueito on Mar 4, 2008 6:33 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Help me out
I'll be away from the TV until about 9:15 and my TiVo is broken.  I am going to need an active game thread to use as a recap.  I have faith in all of you.
Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 4, 2008 6:41 PM PST   0 recs

WE WON !!!!
thats sort of what im going to write
GO KINGS !!!

by maiku on Mar 4, 2008 6:58 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Beat LA!
Beat LA!Beat LA!Beat LA!Beat LA!Beat LA!

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 6:54 PM PST   0 recs

is there.....
really a need for player introductions for a 27-32 team
"I think the Shaq trade will be the biggest mistake since movie execs cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze based on box office reputation"

by CrownUs93 on Mar 4, 2008 7:09 PM PST   0 recs

tyronne lue
Got picked up by the Mavs. Not that we care.
Muff rules. http://vegaskings.blogspot.com

by Muff209 on Mar 4, 2008 7:10 PM PST   0 recs

there's a lot of laker fans at arco tonight
"I think the Shaq trade will be the biggest mistake since movie execs cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze based on box office reputation"

by CrownUs93 on Mar 4, 2008 7:23 PM PST   0 recs

wow
2 of our starters have 2 fouls

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 7:24 PM PST   0 recs

First Artest flex sighting
after he schools Odom 5,2,1 for Ron Ron.

by SavageBeast on Mar 4, 2008 7:25 PM PST   0 recs

Martin schooling the lakers
Lakers turn the ball over again

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 7:28 PM PST   0 recs

Why
are there a lot of lakers fans in our building?

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 7:31 PM PST   0 recs

Salmons tells Gasol
"Not in our house!"

by SavageBeast on Mar 4, 2008 7:32 PM PST   0 recs

Urdih and Martin
with the most shot attempts for Sac. Good sign.

by SavageBeast on Mar 4, 2008 7:34 PM PST   0 recs

Kings lead by 6
at the end of the 1st

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 7:39 PM PST   0 recs

Kobe 1 of 5 Mrtin 5 of 9
Will it last? Does it ever?

by SavageBeast on Mar 4, 2008 7:41 PM PST   0 recs

Shawes looking like a Rookie.
Get Miller back in there, now! Tie game.

by SavageBeast on Mar 4, 2008 7:43 PM PST   0 recs

When Salmons gets going in the open floor
nobody can stop him, but himself.

by SavageBeast on Mar 4, 2008 7:45 PM PST   0 recs

What happend to Salmons?
He's our superbenchman again
Martin, for the win!!!

by Kjack on Mar 4, 2008 7:46 PM PST   0 recs

Salmons
keeps on scoring fro one end to another

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 7:49 PM PST   0 recs

Kings up by 9
woot
17 fast break points

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 7:53 PM PST   0 recs

Kobe
2-9

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 7:53 PM PST   0 recs

Please bring Miller back
but keep Salmons on the floor. he looks amazing.

by SavageBeast on Mar 4, 2008 7:55 PM PST   0 recs

Yeah, don't understand this one
guess he's resting him while Gasol rests, but Miller's been on the bench for 8 minutes or so.

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 4, 2008 7:57 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

9 TOs for the Fakers
that's a good thing

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 4, 2008 8:01 PM PST   0 recs

so weird
Spencer and Miller minutes are almost alike.
Martin, for the win!!!

by Kjack on Mar 4, 2008 8:18 PM PST   0 recs

What's weirder
is Johnson having more minutes than Garcia :o

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 8:24 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Sorry
I thought you mean John Salmons, my bad.
Martin, for the win!!!

by Kjack on Mar 4, 2008 8:45 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

anthony johnson...
i never thought we would actually have beetlejuice on our team
"I think the Shaq trade will be the biggest mistake since movie execs cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze based on box office reputation"

by CrownUs93 on Mar 4, 2008 8:34 PM PST   0 recs

wow
we are outreboundig the lakers.

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 8:43 PM PST   0 recs

I can't tell which team Gary is routing for...
It's polite to comment on your opponets now and then... But damn I don't want to hear about how great every shot by the Lakers are!

by dkons21 on Mar 4, 2008 8:47 PM PST   0 recs

I really wish I could watch this game...
Though as many no-calls as Gary is announcing maybe it's a good thing I'm not.

by dkons21 on Mar 4, 2008 8:48 PM PST   0 recs

Beat LA!
Beat LA!

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 8:51 PM PST   0 recs

Salmons sighting
why only now?

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 8:52 PM PST   0 recs

john has 15 points
"I think the Shaq trade will be the biggest mistake since movie execs cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze based on box office reputation"

by CrownUs93 on Mar 4, 2008 8:54 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Exactly
so why did Theus wait for the last 2 mins of the 3rd before he put John back in the game?

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 8:59 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Johnson
missed a wide open layup

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 8:54 PM PST   0 recs

Kobe Harping on Refs?
According to Gary!  But no T for him~

by dkons21 on Mar 4, 2008 8:54 PM PST   0 recs

beetlejuice beetlejuice beetlejuice
"I think the Shaq trade will be the biggest mistake since movie execs cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze based on box office reputation"

by CrownUs93 on Mar 4, 2008 8:55 PM PST   0 recs

Ugnhh
Johnson is killing me

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 8:56 PM PST   0 recs

Salmons
again!

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:08 PM PST   0 recs

welcome again udrih
Martin, for the win!!!

by Kjack on Mar 4, 2008 9:08 PM PST   0 recs

nice run
with kobe in the bench

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:08 PM PST   0 recs

Garcia
is way better than Johnson

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:09 PM PST   0 recs

I don't care if lose the rest of our games
I just want to win all the games against the Lakers. Please win!

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:14 PM PST   0 recs

Artest
good D against Kobe

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:17 PM PST   0 recs

Why oh why
I walk in the door and the Kings are up 8, two minutes later, they trail by 1.

Maybe its better if I dont watch.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 4, 2008 9:20 PM PST   0 recs

Artest
is a chucker

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:24 PM PST   0 recs

Ron Artest
with the missed isolation jumper.
Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 4, 2008 9:24 PM PST   0 recs

Shotclock violation
this is killing me

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:26 PM PST   0 recs

Refs+missing easy shots=
Lakers win.  Thanks lop-sided paid off faker refs... I fucking hate all of you! directed at david stern's goons

by dkons21 on Mar 4, 2008 9:26 PM PST   0 recs

kobe 360
aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh
this is over

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:26 PM PST   0 recs

Since I can't blame it all on the refs...
Why hasn't martin shot in... 8+ minutes?

by dkons21 on Mar 4, 2008 9:29 PM PST   0 recs

nononono
Thats not the way you should look at it!!

Martin need to LEARN how to be the man one day! You can't blame another player for trying to take charge when you have a young talented player who doesnt show up late in games. (save a few last second (dare I say lucky) gamewinners)

This is my #1 problem with the young man!!!!!

by Hoops916 on Mar 4, 2008 9:35 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Its also
hard to justify that big raise when you tend to shy away from the ball in crunchtime!!

by Hoops916 on Mar 4, 2008 9:39 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I can't watch the game here
So what you're saying is Kevin was asking them to not pass him the ball?

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 4, 2008 9:41 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

No
Im definentaly saying that! I dont know where you found the formula for correlating a player "shying" away from the ball with a player "asking" them not to pass him the ball.

He just HAS to take the initiative of getting open and GETTING the damn ball. Ball should be brought up by the PG and then distributed to one of the wings (cause our Bigs are "littles"). I did not see the final few possesions, but why is no one blaming Beno (or whoever was playing PG late) for not running the offence through Martin

You can blame Artest all day long... But Martin/Theus/Beno are just as much at fault!!

by Hoops916 on Mar 4, 2008 9:45 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Meant
NO Im definentaly NOT sayin that!!

by Hoops916 on Mar 4, 2008 9:46 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I didn't blame Artest
I don't care who's to blame, Kevin needs the ball. If the ball never touches his hands, I don't see how you can say he's shying away from it. Maybe he needs to demand it more aggressively, but that's not shying away.

by Kfan in Korea on Mar 4, 2008 9:50 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Well
If it not shying away....It sure as hell isnt being the man and taking charge!

You wont see ANY all-stars or big time players get frozen out (allow themselves to be frozen out) in the manner in which he has ALL season long

Thats what frustrates me!

by Hoops916 on Mar 4, 2008 9:53 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

That point would be valid if
Martin got the ball and passed it back to Artest. Alas, Martin never got the ball

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:41 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

If
thats true, then thats sad!!

Who the hell was the 1.. I didnt see. Was it Beno?

by Hoops916 on Mar 4, 2008 9:47 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Well
it's really hard when Artest is in a shoot-first mentality. Isolating artest is usually not a good idea when you're in a close game

by kingme on Mar 4, 2008 9:39 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Agreed
Maybe its not Martin's demeanor....but he has GOT to go get the ball or bitch at Theus if he isnt involved in the calling of set plays

I do agree with you though

by