Kings-Blazers PBP for Jan. 6

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

Very COLD here in the forest. It got down to about 20 degrees last night and could do so again tonight.

After the game Thursday, I am only glad about one thing - at the end, it was clear the young men wearing the Kings uniforms weren't just strangers who happened to be picked out of the crowd. They were a TEAM. I hope it continues.

Let's see what the Bee says about tonight's game:

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/103794.html

Tonight's Game: Portland (13-20) at Kings (14-16)
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer

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.

KEY MATCHUP - Kenny Thomas vs. Zach Randolph - The Blazers forward is clearly McMillan's go-to guy, but Thomas will need his teammates to defend just as well as he can. The Blazers are 9-12 when Randolph scores 20-plus points, meaning they have plenty of depth.

Probable starters

Kings - Bibby, Martin, Artest, Thomas, Miller

Trail Blazers - Jack, Roy, Udoka, Randolph, Pryzbilla

Williams might NOT be activated? Yeah, that's smart. Go out and get someone who can actually swat a ball away from the hoop and then keep him in reserve? For what? He's on a 10-day contract.

The key matchup is Thomas vs. Zack? Man the lifeboats, dear friends, because we're going down... glub, glub, glub...

I think Amick might be smoking what Mo Taylor hid.

Not much in the mood for chatter tonight so I'll just say I do love this team. I'll be honest, though. I'm not real impressed with Stat Boy.

GO KINGS!!!!!

 

[VF21]

Miller not playing; SAR gets the start at center again.

Both Grant and Jerry have jumped onto the "Kings need to call more plays for Martin" bandwagon. Now maybe if Eric sees the parade going by, he'll feel obligated to jump on...



Getting ready for the tip-off...

 

[VF21]

GO KINGS!!!!!

Tip to TB.

Zack miss; Bibby board and he goes all the way into the paint and up for two.

2-0 KINGS

Pryz miss; SAR board.

Bibby to Thomas to Martin, to THomas for two.

4-0 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Przy airball; Kings board.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!

7-0 KINGS

10;17 left

Ball oob off TB; Kings to inbound.

Martin three off front of rim; TB board.

Jack drives inside for two and the +1.

Bonus good.

7-3 KINGS

 

[VF21]

SAR jumper no good; Jack board.

Zack in and out; Bibby runs it down.

Bibby out to Artest and back in to Thomas who doesn't get the roll. TB board.

Udoka for two.

7-5 KINGS

8;42 left

Bibby to SAR inside to ARtest for the teardrop two.

9-5 KINGS

Roy for two.

9-7 KINGS

8;10 left

 

[VF21]

Martin three off slightly to the right; TB board.

Zack for two.

9-9

7;42 left

Artest inside to KT, kick out to Martin for long two from the corner.

11-9 KINGS

Roy for two.

11-11

 

[VF21]

Kings miss; TB board

Jack in and out; KT board.

Bibby to KT, back to MIke.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

14-11 KINGS

6;02 left

And yes, it's Bibbylicious!!!

TB ball, stolen by Kings. Kings ball.

Martin beats Roy off the dribble, draws the foul AND gets the bucket.

16-11 KINGS

Time out and commercial.

Kevin will shoot his bonus after the break.

 

[VF21]

Kevin gets the freebie.

17-11 KINGS

Udoka miss; Bibby with the rebound.

Martin to Bibby for two on the sweet catch-and-shoot.

19-11 KINGS

5;02 left

Uhoka miss; Pryz knocks ball oob. Kings to inbound.

 

[VF21]

Artest to SAr, inside to KT who misses jump hook. TB board.

Roy for two.

19-13 KINGS

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!!!!!

22-13 KINGS

Zack really tough shot for two.

22-15 KINGS

Artest beats Roy off the dribble and gets inside for nice two off the glass.

24-15 KINGS

Zack called for illegal screen.

Brad in for KT.

 

[VF21]

Miller with the ball, stripped from behind. Roy for two.

24-17 KINGS

Suh-weet!!!!

Bibby to Kevin, who takes off inside and gets two.

26-17 KINGS

Roy for two at the other end.

26-19 KINGS

2;31 left

SAR pass stolen. TB ball.

 

[VF21]

Zack miss; Brad board.

SAR inside, shot blocked from behind by Pryz and oob. Still Kings ball.

Time out.

They're showing more about Francisco at home in New York City.

 

[VF21]

RIP Frank Lukenbill. He was the father of Greg Lukenbill.

Pryz called for over-the-back foul on Miller who gets one of two.

27-19 KINGS

Kings playing zone D. Roy miss; Zack putback good.

27-21 KINGS

1;32 left

Salmons miss; Roy board.

Artest on the bench.

Roy for three.

27-24 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Miller pass inside to cutting Kevin Martin for two.

29-24 KINGS

Illegal screen called on Aldridge.

Kings ball.

Miller jumper from the elbow for two on nice assist by Bibby.

31-24 KINGS

TB ball. Kings with a foul to use, but they don't use it and TB gets a dunk.

31-26 KINGS

Kings turnover. TB ball with 2.2 seconds.

Zack shoots, Webster tips it in as the buzzer sounds.

31-28 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Bibby, Douby, Salmons, SAR and Miller to start the second quarter.

Bibby with the ball, being smothered by TB - drives inside and draws the foul. Corliss in for SAR.

Miller to Douby, shot blocked. TB ball.

Webster for three.

31-31

11;21 left

BIBBY for long two.

33-31 KINGS

 

[VF21]

TB ball. Kings strip it and Douby finds it. Passes ahead to Bibby. Over to Miller, who shoots and misses. TB board.

Dixon for two.

33-33

10;20 left

Corliss gets the ball, drives inside and gets the foul call. Corliss at the line...

Artest in for Bibby.

10;13 left

Corliss makes first; and second.

35-33 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Webster miss; Miller up for the rebound.

Corliss miss; TB board.

Dixon for three.

36-35 TB

DOUBY FOR THREE!!!!!

38-36 KINGS

9;03 left

Salmon called for ticky-tack breathing foul on Dixon.

Time out and commercial.

Grant and Jerry talk to Gary Gerould...

 

[VF21]

TB to inbound.

Dixon miss; Douby gets yelled at for not going after the board. Still TB ball. Ball oob. Kings ball.

Miller jumper in and out; TB board. Good ball movement by the Kings but shot just didn't go.

TB miss; Corliss board.

Corliss dishes to Artest for two.

40-36 KINGS

7;35 left

 

[VF21]

Rodriquez long shot misses; Kings called for loose-ball foul. TB to inbound.

Rodriquez for three.

40-39 KINGS

Artest powers inside past Zack for two.

42-39 KINSG

6;35 left

Dixon from the corner for three.

42-42

 

[VF21]

KIngs miss; Zach board.

Turnover by TB; Kings ball.

Martin back in, Douby out.

5;57 left

Kings ball. KT called for three-second violation.

time out.

Once again, IMHO, Eric Musselman's substitution "patterns" are TOTALLY destroying the flow of the game for our team.

It's almost impossible to keep track of who's in, who's out, who's subbing for whom, etc.

 

[VF21]

TB ball.

Salmons, Martin, Artest, KT and Corliss on the court.

Zack for two.

44-42 TB

Salmons to the line.

The Arco crowd was huge at the beginning of the game but have now been pretty much taken out...and it's because there is NO kind of rhythm to the game whatsoever.

Yes, I'm an unhappy camper.

Salmons makes both.

44-44

Salmons called for breathing foul. Bibby back in. Still TB ball. Miss and Bibby board.

 

[VF21]

Salmons miss; TB board.

Artest strips the ball; forward to Bibby, who dishes to Martin.

Kevin at the line for two.

Makes first; and second.

46-44 KINGS

4;10 left

Jack miss; Salmons board.

Fast break, Salmons inside and kicks out to wide open MIke B.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!!

49-44 KINGS

3;36 left

Zack for two.

49-46 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Artest miss; TB board.

Zack for two and the +1.

Bonus good.

49-49

3;05 left

Bibby, Martin, Artest, Salmons and KT on the court.

Kings pass knocked away; TB ball.

Artest breaks up a sure thing, but called for foul.

Time out and commercial.

Udoka to the line after the break.

 

[VF21]

2;44 left

Makes first; and second.

51-49 TB

Kings ball.

ARTEST for long two.

51-51

 

[VF21]

Udoka nice fallaway at the 24-second.

53-51 TB

Kings ball. Martin going to the line on foul by Udoka.

1;55 left

TB in the penalty.

Makes first; and second.

53-53

Jack for three.

56-53 TB

 

[VF21]

Bibby to Martin, who dishes to Salmons. Salmons can't decide which foot to pivot on so he chooses neither. Traveling called.

TB ball.

Roy tries to get cute and do some razzle dazzle, but Artest blocks the shot all ball. Oob. Still TB ball.

Salmons blocks the next shot, and Kings get the ball.

Great ball movement by the Kings, Bibby to Salmons, who goes up and is nailed by Magloire who is assessed a flagrant foul.

Salmons misses first; makes second. STill Kings ball.

56-54 TB

59.8 seconds left.

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!!!!!

57-56 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Zack goes inside, hit by Artest. To the line.

Makes first; and second.

58-57 TB

Bibby to the line for two.

31.2 seconds left.

Makes first; and second.

59-58 KINGS

TB ball. Roy for two inside.

60-59 TB

Bibby smothered, shot goes oob.

TB ball with 1.2 seconds left.

 

[VF21]

Roy airball at the buzzer.

End of the first half.

Bibby with 17 points; Martin with 16 points.

60-59 Trailblazers

 

[VF21]

Bibby, Martin, Artest, KT and SAR for the Kings

Kings ball.

SAR to Artest in the low post. He turns, moves inside and draws the foul. Artest to the line.

Makes first; and second.

61-60 KINGS

TB ball. Whistle but no idea why because Grant and Jerry are blathering about Przybilla. Still TB ball.

Artest with the steal, bounces oob off Jack. Kings ball.

SAR jumper from top of the key doesn't go. TB ball.

Udoka miss; Bibby board.

 

[VF21]

Brad back into the locker room. Will not return; he looked green...

KT to the line.

Uh oh. Kenny's FT looked like his "bad" shot...

Misses first; makes second.

62-60 KINGS

10;38 left

Zack off the glass for two.

62-62

 

[VF21]

Bibby inside, SAR shot blocked by Przy but SAR gets the putback.

64-62 KINGS

Udoka miss; Artest board.

Artest cuts around Udoka and draws the foul. Non-shooting.

Still Kings ball.

KT over to Martin, three misses but Artest goes up and tips it in.

66-62 KINGS

Time out and commercial.

9;20 left