Kings-Clippers PBP for Jan. 23

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

Last night was fun! So good to see the team following Reggie's lead and taking care of business with our "starters" actually starting together as a unit for the first time this season. And major props to Beno and Garcia for bringing it off the bench. We hope to see the same of Salmons tonight, as his ankle tweak is reportedly not serious.

Still snow on the ground up here, but it's dry powder so there's not much slush or yuck to wade through.

The charm of coffee, purple slippers and garlic chowder continues. Luckily we don't have a game tomorrow as I don't think I could have garlic chowder THREE days in a row.



Now, let's get ready for some Kings basketball!!

 

[VF21]

For whatever it's worth, watching the head coach of the Kings smile and chat with Grant almost makes Howdy Doody tolerable.



Once again I'm very glad we have Reggie Theus at the reins of our Kings.

Starting lineup:

Kings: Bibby, Martin, Artest, Moore and Miller

Clippers: Cassell, Ross, Magette, Thomas and Kamin

You know, an odd thought just occured to me and, as usual, I'll share. What if the main reason for getting Mikki Moore was to get Kenny Thomas out of the starting lineup? If that was, in fact, the plan then I'm even happier Moore is with us.

 

[VF21]

Okay, getting ready for the tip. And the predictable comment about Sam Cassell. The dude really looks like ET...

Onto the game...

Tip to LAC.

TT for two.

2-0 LAC

Bibby to Miller, back to Bibby. Back to Miller, whose jumper doesn't go. LAC rebound.

ET miss; Kamin called for loose ball foul over Miller. Kings to inbound. 1PF on Kamin.

10;56 left

 

[VF21]

Bibby to Martin, out to Artest. Misses the three; LAC rebound.

Kamin inside for the kiss off the glass and 2.

4-0 LAC

Martin miss; aRtest rebound. Kicks out to Mike.

BIBBY FOR THREE

4-3 LAC

Ross miss; Artest with the rebound, brings the ball up, dishes inside to MIller for two.

5-4 KINGS

LAC lose ball oob; Kings to inbound.

 

[VF21]

Martin floater miss; LAC rebound but Artest steals it. Kamin with the blocked shot and LAC has it back.

LAC for three.

7-5 LAC

Miller to Artest, to Moore and then out to Bibby. Three in and back out; LAC rebound.

ET miss; Kamin rebound, miss. Miller rebound.

Bibby fallaway jumper for two.

7-7

7;57 left

 

[VF21]

Ross miss; Martin tips the rebound to Bibby.

Artest three in and out; LAC rebound.

Maggette turnover; Kings to inbound.

Kings really need to start working inside and quit settling for the quick outside shot - but they didn't do it this time and LAC has the ball again with another Kamin rebound.

TT for three.

10-7 LAC

Bibby to Martin, and then to Miller. Back to Mike for long two.

10-9 LAC

Martin doing okay on defense but looks really passive on offense.

LAC miss; Bibby rebound.

Bibby bounce pass to running Moore, who gets the bucket and the +1. Bonus misses on three bounces.

11-10 KINGS

 

[VF21]

LAC miss, Miller rebound.

Kings another long miss and Kamin with another rebound.

LAC miss and Kings rebound.

Martin called for offensive foul and a delay of game warning. LAC ball.

6;01 left

Kamin with 9 rebounds in 6 minutes.

ET jumper good.

12-11 LAC

Kings ball.

ARtest to Miller, cross court pass to Mike who drives inside and gets two off the glass.

13-12 KINGS

 

[VF21]

ET called for traveling, which of course he disagrees with - to no avail.

Time out and commercial.

5;12 left

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

Bibby pass inside intended for Martin but goes behind him and LAC grab it.

TT miss; Bibby slaps rebound to Artest.

Miller to Bibby, and back to Miller. Jumper no good; TT rebound.

Cat to Maggette for the dunk.

14-13 LAC

Bibby shot misses and bounces oob; Salmons in for Moore.

LAC ball.

3;56 left

 

[VF21]

ET over Bibby for two more.

16-13 LAC

Bibby inside, kicks out to Artest, who passes to Miller, Brad fakes Kaman out of his shoes, drives inside and heads to the line on foul by Kaman. 2PF.

Miller makes both.

16-15 LAC

3;20 left

ET doubled, kicks to Cat and cross-court to Kaman for elbow jumper.

18-15 LAC

 

[VF21]

Artest with long two.

18-17 LAC

2;39 left

Cat pass knocked away; Kings ball.

Udrih in for Bibby. Udrih airball; LAC ball.

2;08 left

Martin with the steal from TT, who turns around and fouls Martin.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Kings inbound. Garcia in for Martin.

Artest ... Artest ... Artest ... Backs down Thornton, puts the ball up on the glass. It hits nothing, and he grabs his own rebound but they call him for traveling. AFter review, they release his shot DID hit the glass so the ball remains with the Kings.

Artest inside, Thornton blocks his shot into the photographers. Still Kings ball.

Kings inbound, only 2 on the shot clock. 24 second violation. LAC ball.

18-17 LAC

1;33 left

Kaman inside and off the glass with two more.

20-17 LAC

 

[VF21]

Salmons gets right past Maggette, gets the kiss of the glass and the trip to the stripe. Bonus in and out. LAC rebound.

20-19 LAC

LAC turnover; Kings ball.

1;04 left

Udrih, Garcia, Salmons, Moore and Artest for the Kings.

Kings miss; LAC rebound.

ET pass knocked oob; still LAC ball.

39.8 seconds left

Cat floater knocked away by Moore, who saves it and gets it to Salmons. Udrih at the top of the key, working the clock, kicks to Salmons, who works against Maggette but takes too much time and we have another 24-second violation.

Theus is NOT happy!!!

LAC ball with 2.4 seconds left.

Kaman for two at the buzzer.

22-19 LAC

End of the first quarter

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the second quarter.

Bibby, Salmons, Martin, Garcia and Moore for the Kings

Three misses but Moore saves the rebound. Over to Garcia and then Martin, whose three bounces twice and drops.



22-22

LAC ball.

11;17 left

Thornton inside, shot altered by Garcia, tries again, miss. Kings rebound. May not have been Thornton... Moore loses Bibby pass. LAC ball.

Maggette to the line. Makes first; and second.

24-22 LAC

 

[VF21]

Martin blows by Powell and draws the foul.

Kevin at the line.

Makes first; misses second but gets his own rebound and pops the floater in for two. Making a nice three point play.



25-24 KINGS

LAC miss; Salmons rebound.

Good ball movement and spacing, Moore kicks out to Salmons and John spots Garcia in the corner.

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!!

28-24 KINGS

LAC shot blocked by Moore, goes oob. LAC inbounds.

Cat from the corner.

28-27 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Kings ball knocked oob, still Kings.

Garcia inbounds to Salmons, Theus yelling "spacing!!!" Salmons inside, handoff to Moore is lost but Salmons finds it, miss. LAC rebound.

LAC almost turns the ball over but TT grabs it and Moore is called for the foul. Technical foul called on Cat. Martin shoots it and walks back to the other end.

29-27 KINGS

Miller back in for Salmons; Kaman in for LAC.

TT at the line. Misses first; makes second.

29-28 KINGS

8;55 left

Garcia to Bibby, who works on Maggette, dishes back to Cisco.

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!

32-28 KINGS

LAC ball. Foul on Miller.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

8;23 left

Thornton at the line.

Makes first; and second.

32-30 KINGS

Bibby to Miller, to Martin and inside to Bibby who is fouled by TT. TT out, Maggette in. Artest back in for Martin.

Bibby one of two.

33-30 KINGS

LAC ball.

Knight miss; Kaman rebound. Dish inside to Thornton for two.

33-32 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Miller to Cisco.

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!

36-32 KINGS

7;21 left

Thornton for two.

36-34 KINGS

Martin still in, BTW. Bibby three off the rim; Maggette rebound.

Bibby, Martin, Artest, Garcia and Miller for the Kings

LAC miss; Miller rebound.

Martin airball with Cat in his face. LAC rebound.

Thornton to the line on foul by Garcia.

6;19 left

 

[VF21]

Makes first; and second.

36-36

Kings ball.

Garcia to ARtest, who goes inside and dishes to Miller for two.

38-36 KINGS

Traveling called on LAC.

Time out and commercial.

5;55 left

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

Miller to Artst, who drives inside and Thornton simply cannot stop him. Artest for two more.

40-36 KINGS

CM off the glass for two.

40-38 KINGS

Bibby inside, drops off for Miller and two more for Brad.

42-38 KINGS

LAC miss; Miller rebound. Martin inside against Kaman, shot doesn't go. LAC rebound.

Thornton for two on the other end.

42-40 KINGS

4;17 left

 

[VF21]

Bibby pass inside to Artest, who is held by Thornton. Non-shooting foul. Still KIngs ball. Miller pass forced and oob. LAC ball.

4;02 left

Miller knocks down the LAC pass right into Bibby's hands. Mike to Artest for two.

44-40 KINGS

Big mismatch as Kaman was being "covered" by Martin. MIller's help defense arrives too late and Kaman has two more.

44-42 KINGS

Kings miss; Kaman rebound.

Kaman with two more -12 pts, 15 boards.

Kings ball.

44-44

Miller to Garcia, back to Miller. Jumper takes lucky bounce and drops.

46-44 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Thornton turnaround doesn't go; Kings rebound.

Kings miss; LAC rebound.

Bibby breaks up the LAC fast break and ball goes oob.

Time out and commercial.

1;59 left

 

[VF21]

Bibby, Udrih, Salmons, Artest and Miller for the Kings

LAC inbounds to Kaman. What a surprise. CM fallaway for two.

46-46

Kings ball. Udrih at the point, Bibby playing the 2. Non-shooting foul on CM; Kings to inbound.

1;31 left

Kings turn it over; CM inside, fouled hard by Udrih.

Maggette at the line.

Makes first; and second.

48-46 LAC

Kings ball.

Udrih inside, kick out to Miller who dishes to Salmons.

SALMONS FOR THREE!!!!

49-48 KINGS

Thornton floater for two.

50-49 LAC

 

[VF21]

Miller fakes Kaman again, drives inside and loses the ball oob in traffic.

LAC ball.

ET miss; Udrih with the rebound.

3 seconds left.

Buzzer shot doesn't go.

End of the first half.

50-49 LAC

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the third quarter.

Bibby, Martin, Artest, Moore and Miller

Bibby to Miller, over to Martin, inside to Artest, who is called for double-dribble. LAC ball.

Good pressure D by the Kings, ball knocked oob. LAC to inbound with 3 seconds left on the shot clock.

Inbound pass intercepted by Miller. Passes to Bibby who is fouled by ET. Kings to inbound.

11;26 left

Bibby to Martin, inside to Miller. Hand off to Moore for two.

51-50 KINGS

10;59 left

Kaman inside and off the glass for two more.

52-51 LAC

 

[VF21]

Kings ball. Bibby inside, kicks out to Artest. Long jumper no good. ET rebound.

MAggette for two.

54-51 LAC

10;14 left

Miller to Artest, back to Miller. Pass to Moore deflected. LAC on the run and two more by Kaman.

Kings ball. Theus NOT happy; calls time out.

56-51 LAC

9;40 left

 

[VF21]

Artest to Moore, pass slapped away. LAC gets it.

LAC miss, Moore called for loose ball foul on TT. LAC new possession and two more points.

58-51 LAC

Grant mentions that Ross has been totally smothering Kevin tonight and taking him out of the offense.

Bibby jumper doesn't go; Moore goes high and slaps the rebound back to Bibby, who passes it back inside to Moore for two.

58-53 LAC

Tehcnical foul called on Moore who thought Kaman fouled him ...

ET shoots the freebie.

59-53 LAC

 

[VF21]

LAC ball. Maggette strolls by Miller and Artest for another easy two.

61-53 LAC

Kings with a turnover and LAC has the ball again.

8;19 left

Maggette miss; Moore tips the board to Miller. Kings ball. Uh oh. Lots of trouble brewing as Moore is furious and screaming at one of the Clippers. Garcia in for Martin. Moore heading to the line on foul by ET.

Moore misses first; misses second.

61-53 LAC

Kaman turnaround jumper doesn't go; Miller rebound.

Bibby floater inside for two.

61-55 LAC

 

[VF21]

Maggette called for traveling. He looks down at his feet after the whistle as if they belong to someone else.

Kings ball.

Ross called for foul as he runs over Garcia. LAC to inbound. Bibby to Miller, who again mysteriously passes up the jumper, heads inside and loses the ball on a bad pass.

LAC with two at the other end.

63-55 LAC

Artest for two after the goal-tending call.

63-57 LAC

ET miss; Garcia with the rebound.

 

[VF21]

Artest barrels over Thornton for the offensive foul. Udrih in for Bibby.

Grant and Jerry are saying what I'm thinking - TOO MUCH FREAKING ONE-ON-ONE!!!

LAC ball. Maggette for two.

65-57 LAC

5;44 left

Udrih to Artest, who is fouled. Time out called. Technical called after the whistle. It's on Ron Artest.

Fade to commercial.

This game is rapidly getting out of control. Moore is about to lose it big time, ET has held Bibby countless times, Artest is really getting testy and the whole thing could easily erupt if the officials don't take control of this game and Reggie Theus doesn't get control of his team.

I'm nervous - Reggie Theus is yelling at one of the officials.

66-57 LAC (Not sure how)

Artest long miss; LAC rebound.

Maggette with another freaking three.

69-57 LAC