Kings@Clippers PBP for April 15

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

I'm not sure how much detail I'll go into for today's PBP. It's not a matter of us winning; it's a matter of seeing how much time the kids get and whether or not our lame-dunk coach (okay, maybe that's wishful thinking on my part) bellows at the players on the court.

Watching Jim Kozimor on HousePartyLive, he says it's NOT about pride and knocking another team out of the playoffs as much as it should be about developing the young players and giving them more time. And he said he talked to Musselman, who says he's hoping to see the young guys get more minutes.

Memo to Musselman: IT'S YOUR DECISION!!! If you would like to see the young guys get more time on the court, PUT THEM IN! WBAT PART OF THAT IS SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND???????? !@#$^)@!#$^&U!)$^\

Sorry for swearing, but some of the comments Musselman has made recently simply define logic. He's sounding more and more like he's been an innocent bystander all year and he cannot understand why the kids didn't get more playing time, etc.

I'd love to be able to listen in to the meeting he's requested with the Maloofs immediately after the game. There's a good article about it posted from today's Bee that speaks volumes. The quotes from the Maloofs are pretty clear, even for them...

It's a cold day up here in the forest, BTW. The north wind is whistling through the pines so strongly it sounds like trucks driving by.

Let's hope for a good game by the youngsters to make it interesting and a nice little lin for the record books.

 

[VF21]

The two bozos with Scott in HPL (Koz is in LA to do the radio broadcast since Gary Gerould is doing race stuff) still want to talk about the Kings being spoilers for the Clippers and/or the Lakers.

"Oh, wouldn't it be something if the Kings could knock the Lakers out of the playoffs?"

At this point, I cannot believe people pretending to be knowledgeable sports analysts would even be uttering that comment. If I, one of the long-time resident Kings homers on this board, know the fallacy in that statement why don't they? Blech...

As part of the rebuilding process, I certainly hope they look to get people with a little better basketball acumen and the ability to see the BIG picture for future HousePartyLive co-host duties. Henry and Franklin just don't cut it. I liked Tank and Kara much, much, much, much better.

 

[6th]

Thanks for the comments about HPL. Not only do I agree with them, but it told me that the game was on CSN and not on ABC.

 

[6th]

Did you just hear Justin Williams say, "Oh yeah, most definitely...?" He may quickly become my new favorite Kings player.

He just said, "most definitely" again. I so miss Bobby.

 

[VF21]

Ronnie Price won't play because of a hip contusion. Grant interviwed Justin Williams. I love the kid's attitude despite the usual dumb questions by Grant.

Our starting lineup is: Bibby, Martin, Artest, SAR and Miller

Clippers: Hart, Mobley, Maggette, Brand and Kaman

If the Clippers win, they're in...that simple.

Tip to the Clippers.

 

[VF21]

LAC turnover; Kings ball. Bibby miss...

Grant says he talked to Brad, and his foot is feeling really, really good today.

...sigh...

Why is it Musselman simply still doesn't get it? I cannot think of even one reason for starting the above 5 players. Not one.

2-2

4-2 LAC

Look for Jason Hart to try and do everything just so show us what we lost.



4-4

 

[VF21]

6-4 KINGS

Brand airball; Kings turn again.

Artest miss. LAC ball.

Miller rebound on Maggette miss.

Martin miss; another LAC board.

Foul on SAR, who is showing a little disgust early. Brand at the line.

 

[VF21]

Makes both.

6-6

8;30 left

Bibby miss; LAC ball.

Steal by Martin.

Drop off to SAR for two.

8-6 KINGS

Kaman for two.

8-8

 

[VF21]

Artest in to SAR for two more.

10-8 KINGS

7;14 left

ARTEST FOR THREE!

13-8 KINGS

Time out and commercial.

6;48 left

 

[VF21]

Artest causes turnover. Kings ball.

Bibby for three.

16-8 KINGS

CAT miss; Bibby rebound.

Martin miss; Kaman and Miller fight for the rebound. Oob off Kaman. Kings ball.

Miller right over CAT for two.

18-8 KINGS

5;48 left

Lord help me, but I'm hoping Musselman has made the kool-aid.

LAC for two.

18-10 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Miller miss; LAC ball.

CAT for two and the +1 on foul by Miller. And Grant says again "Sacramento is trying to spoil the Clippers' playoff hopes."

Bonus good.

18-13 KINGS

Miller lucky bounce for two.

20-13 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Brand miss; Miller tips the rebound to Martin. Martin three misses, Artest finds the rebound and kicks it out to Bibby.

BIBBY FOR THREE!

23-13 KINGS

Kaman jumper for two.

23-15 KINGS

 

[VF21]

3;51 left

I may have to serve myself up a small portion of crow. It certainly looks as though SAR would have been the better starting PF all year. Of course, it's too little, too late but he at least looks like he wants to be out there. Why - WHY? - couldn't the Kings have brought this kind of effort and focus when it mattered?

25-15 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Martin inside, but misses; Brand board.

Hart jumper for long two.

25-17 KINGS

Kings miss; LAC board.

CAT miss; Miller board.

Artest three misses, but Martin goes airborne for the putback.

27-17 KINGS

Kaman off the glass for two.

27-19 KINGS

1;57 left

 

[VF21]

Justin Williams at the scorer table...

BIBBY FOR THREE!

30-19 KINGS

Clippers crowd is NOT happy.

Hart miss; Miller rebound.

Ball oob off LAC.

1;23 left

Time out. Kings ball...

 

[VF21]

Williams in for SAR.

Martin inside, fouled hard and heading to the line.

Makes both.

32-19 KINGS

Kaman shot misses with Williams right in there fighting; Miller rebound.

Artest miss; LAC board.

Brand for two.

32-21 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Williams inside, battles for space and gets the half-hook to fall.

34-21 KINGS

LAC ball. Oob. Still LAC ball. Garcia in for Martin.

8.5 seconds left.

Salmons in for Miller.

Tim Thomas for two.

34-23 KINGS

End of the first quarter.

 

[VF21]

Salmons, Artest, Garcia, Williams and Bibby on the court for the Kings. Get well soon wishes to Ronnie Price, BTW...

Bibby for two more.

36-23 KINGS

Cassell in for Hart. Go alien!!!

TT miss; Artest board.

Williams inside, but too close to the hoop. LAC rebound.

Brand inside, fouled by Williams.

Makes first; misses second. Williams rebound.

36-24 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Artest shakes off Bibby, looks but cannot pass elsewhere so shoots...and misses.

Douby at the table for the Kings.

LAC miss; Kings ball.

GARCIA for three.

39-24 KINGS

Kings with 13 assists and only one turnover.

Brand for two.

39-26 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Garcia inside, a little out of control, loses ball oob. LAC ball.

Musselman on the sidelines yelling. Douby in for Bibby.

LAC turnover. Dunleavy looking as though he ate bad clams or something...

Kings inbound.

Salmons dish to Williams, for two AND the +1.

41-26 KINGS

Bonus miss.

LAC ball.

 

[VF21]

Garcia partially blocks the shot, Williams goes straight up and snags the ball out of the air.

Salmons forward pass to Cisco.

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!

And the boo-birds are out in Staples.

44-26 KINGS

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Word in the game thread is that ABC just announced Kevin Martin as the Most Improved Player of the year. Could someone confirm??? Grant and Jerry haven't said anything...

Douby blocks shot of Cassell; Kings ball.

Pass inside to Williams, nice catch on bad pass BTW. Williams fouled and heading to the line. Justin does NOT back down from Brand, etc.

Williams misses first; makes second.

45-26 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Another steal by the Kings and Cisco does a great circus shot for two more.

LOTS of booing from the Staples crowd now...

47-26 KINGS

Brand for two.

47-28 KINGS

7;18 left

Artest for two.

49-28 KINGS

Okay, editorial point here... If I wasn't already in the "fire Musselman's butt" camp before this game I sure would be now. What the bleep is going on? If the team had played like this during the year, we wouldn't be sitting out of the playoffs for the first time in 9 years.

Salmons for two.

51-28 KINGS

Brand for two on broken play.

51-30 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Artest miss; Williams grabs the rebound, putback is slapped into Artest's hands. Over to Cisco, off-balance shot misses. LAC ball.

5;05 left

Cassell hammers Artest in the mouth with an elbow, called for offensive foul. Good call but of course Cassell is trying to plead innocence.

Time out and commercial.

Kings ball after the break.

 

[VF21]

Salmons inside to Williams, too hard off glass. LAC ball.

Williams guarding the paint like he's being charged for lay-ups fouls Clipper guy and sends him to the line.

Misses first; makes second.

51-31 KINGS

4;07 left

Please check out my new custom title.

Artest loses the ball, picks it up and fires. Miss; LAC ball.

Another LAC turnover, but Salmons can't convert.

Artest strips the ball from Ross, but is called for the foul. Sure didn't see it.

Oh, Ross is the "guy" referred to above.

 

[VF21]

Martin in for Artest.

Ross makes both. Replay shows Artest DIDN'T foul but c'est la vie.

51-33 KINGS

Williams with even MORE hustle, but called for traveling.

LAC ball.

3;12 left

Garcia with the steal, kicks out to Douby.

DOUBY FOR THREE!!!

54-33 KINGS

Defensive three second called on the Kings.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Cat shoots the freebie. Good.

54-34 KINGS

Boy, without Hart on our bench it might be hard for us to lose a 20-point lead.

Cat shot blocked by Douby. Oob. Still LAC ball.

2;35 left

24-second violation on LAC. Kings ball.

Douby, Garcia, Williams, Martin and Salmons on the court - for the rest of the game, I hope.

Cisco for two but he takes a bad step on the way down after the dunk.

Cat for three.

56-37 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Cisco falls, tries to signal for the time out but is tied up for the jump.

Cisco's nose is bleeding a little so he's being seen to on the sidelines. Appeared as though Cat hit him with the ball trying for the tie up.

1;41 left

Garcia and Cat to jump...

Ball to Hart.

Maggette shot off by about a foot to the left, partially blocked by Douby.

Kings ball.

 

[VF21]

Martin miss, Douby up high for the rebound, draws the foul and heads to the line.

ATTENTION ERIC MUSSELMAN: LET THE KIDS PLAY. PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION.

In fact, I think it would be very good for the Kings if Eric Musselman came down with the flu or something for the rest of the year.

Martin dish inside to Williams for two more.

58-37 KINGS

Brand at the line at the other end.

 

[VF21]

58-39 KINGS

Garcia inside, dishes out to Martin for two more.

60-39 KINGS

LAC with 15 seconds left in the first half.

Lay-up good.

60-41 KINGS

End of the first half.

20 assists, 3 turnovers for the Kings.