Bee: Tonight's Game: Portland (13-20) at Kings (14-16)

[Gtronic]

KINGS OUTLOOK

Arco Arena is, for the time being, the Kings' version of Heartbreak Hotel. Considering their sluggish play early this season, chemistry woes and off-target shooting -- and general inability to create a buzz with their play -- Thursday night's 132-128 overtime loss to the Lakers will hurt for a while. Recovery could begin with the Trail Blazers, though, as the Kings are still in position to win for the fifth time in the past seven games. Center Brad Miller missed the Lakers game with flu-like symptoms and will be a game-time decision tonight. Forward Corliss Williamson missed Friday's practice with a sore back but should be available. Newly signed center Justin Williams might not be activated.

TRAIL BLAZERS OUTLOOK
There have been rumblings Portland coach Nate McMillan deserves mention for Coach of the Year. McMillan's team - 21-61 in 2005-06 in his first season -- started 12-14 in his second. But the Blazers have lost six of their past seven games. Forward Zach Randolph is still putting up big numbers (24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds), but he was among three starters benched for sluggish play Wednesday in the fourth quarter of Portland's loss to New York.

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wonder what's going on

 

[DocHolliday]

They are listing Justin as a center? I mean I figured he could play back up Center, but thought he was more of a Power Forward.

 

[LMM]

Maybe he hasn't passed Muss's suicide test yet?

 

[Bricklayer]

They are listing Justin as a center? I mean I figured he could play back up Center, but thought he was more of a Power Forward.

On our team? He's a center.

So is Douby.

So am I.

 

[Entity]

Uhm why sign a gut for 10 days and not activate him? Just to let him practice with the team for 10 days? How stupid is that.

 

[6th]

On our team? He's a center.

So is Douby.

So am I.

Hey, so am I. I am, after all, 5'5". That should qualify as a center when we play our midget ball.......which is far too often.

 

[AriesMar27]

Hey, so am I. I am, after all, 5'5". That should qualify as a center when we play our midget ball.......which is far too often.

you would definitely be our center in muss' "BIG" lineup.... hell you might be traded because you are too tall for petrie's taste....

 

[SacKings384]

I sincerely hope this isn't one of our "Hey we're too small let's sign a tall athletic big and let him rot on the bench until his contract runs out." type things.

 

[Kingzrool]

Uhm why sign a gut for 10 days and not activate him? Just to let him practice with the team for 10 days? How stupid is that.

The only reason to not let him play would be that they have already made a decision.

 

[AriesMar27]

I sincerely hope this isn't one of our "Hey we're too small let's sign a tall athletic big and let him rot on the bench until his contract runs out." type things.

as opposed to signing all of the undersized tweener forwards to play back up center....

 

[fnordius]

They are listing Justin as a center? I mean I figured he could play back up Center, but thought he was more of a Power Forward.

He played C in HS and JC, F/C at Wyoming, and PF in the DL.

I expect he'll play C at first, since that's where the need's greatest, but if he's around for a while, I would expect to see him going back to F/C. That would spare us from some of the matchup nightmares we've been having, like whether it's better to defend against a 6'11" PF with a 6'7" guy, or with no-D SAR.