Kings @ Grizzlies PBP for Jan. 29

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Greetings, fellow Kings fans!!

Beautiful day here in the forest. Unfortunately right about now I'd sure love to see a few not-so-beautiful days. We have had virtually NO rain or snow since December and that's not good for this time of year. If this drought-condition continues we could be facing a devastating fire season that could start as early as March...

Well, our Kings at least looked like a team against the Mavericks and that, IMHO, was heart-warming even if they didn't get the W. And yes, I know for some it's all about the W... But right now we're to the point where, as Ailene Voisin writes in her column today, we'd better face getting some L's now to be able to get some consistent W's next year and the years after.

Here's what Scott Howard-Cooper had to say in today's Bee about our matchup against the Grizzlies:

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/115059.html

Kings (17-25) at Memphis (11-34)

KINGS OUTLOOK - They have lost 10 of the last 13, but six of the defeats were by five points or less, most recently a 106-104 heartbreak Saturday in Dallas. Three also were in overtime. It isn't necessarily a sign the Kings are that close to respectability, though. Three of the close losses in the stretch that began Jan. 4 were against opponents projected to be in the lottery -- Portland, New York and New Orleans -- in missed opportunities to capitalize on other struggling teams.

GRIZZLIES OUTLOOK - They're going from bad to worse. Beginning the season without the injured Pau Gasól led to an early downfall. Then Mike Fratello was fired as coach. Then a bid by Brian Davis and Christian Laettner to buy the team failed with a thud, and then Gasól's trade request became public. Memphis has the fewest wins in the league, even with five victories in 15 games since Tony Barone replaced Fratello.

KEY MATCHUP - Ron Artest vs. Mike Miller - Gasól might have the name recognition, but Miller has been very good since the Grizzlies made the coaching change and emphasized an up-tempo approach. He is 6-foot-8, can handle the ball and is a three-point threat, forcing defenders to keep in constant contact.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Kings - Bibby, Martin, Artest, Thomas, Miller

Grizzlies - Stoudamire, Jones, MMiller, Johnson, Gasol

We'll have chat going during the game at mIRC, server irc.bludgeon.org, channel #kingsfans. In addition, PIKSI is back with his always entertaining game discussion thread. Big props to Venom_7 for the great job he did stepping into the starting slot for piksi with the Mavericks game.

I've mentioned it often, but I think it bears repeating: Everything here at kingsfans.com is possible because of the dedication and generosity of our board owner. If you would like to help defray the costs of keeping our board up and running as the #1 Sacramento Kings Online Community, there's an easy way to do it. Just consider becoming a Contributing Member As an expression of gratitude for your contribution, CMs receive larger avatars, they can create their own custom user titles, and they get first access to things such as our annual group attendance at the home opener.

I've decided to stay with the Gevalia French Vanilla, since it almost did the trick on Saturday. Now I'm going to make sure I've got all my routine stuff done around here so I can be ready for the 5 p.m. (PST) tip-off.

GO KINGS!!!!

 

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And, for the third game in a row, the Kings are wearing the luxurious gold lamé jerseys. I have a couple of thoughts:

1. They're going to wear them the whole road trip and get the mandatory wearings over with.
2. They're hoping the "aroma" from the uniforms will help stop their opponents from getting too up close and personal.

Those uniforms do not get any better looking. I still detest them and think they should have matching gold lamé shoes and rhinestone headbands to complete the ensemble. If you're going to make a professional athlete look totally ridiculous, might as well push the envelope all the way.

 

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Interesting. First time I've seen the new Grizzlies coach, Tony Baroni. He looks even more like a mafia guy than Fratello did...

 

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Tip to Mem.

Poor ball handling by Mem results in steal by KT.

Airball on partially blocked shot by Miller.

MM for three.

3-0 Mem

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!

3-3

Looks like about 2,000 people in FedEx Forum...

 

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Mem miss. Kings ball.

Miller jumper for two.

5-3 KINGS

Roberts to line on foul by Brad.

Makes first; and second.

5-5

 

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Martin miss; Gasol board.

Gasol over Brad for two.

7-5 Mem

9;50 left

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!

8-7 KINGS

Stoudamire miss; Roberts rebound. Jones for two and the +1 from Bibby.

Bonus good.

10-8 Mem

 

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Artest miss; KT board, to Bibby and over to Martin for two.

10-10

Jones for two.

12-10 Mem

8;25 left

Roberts called for leaning on KT. Still Kings ball.

Bibby for long two.

12-12

 

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Gasol inside for two.

14-12 Mem

7;56 left

KT too hard off the glass; Mem board.

Gasol called for charging as Martin was set in the paint.

Kings ball.

Artest jumper off to the left; MM board.

Gasol for two more.

16-12 Mem

 

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Ron inside for two.

16-14 Mem

Stoudamire to MM for two.

18-14 Mem

6;39 left

Time out ... and commercial.

Grizzlies shooting 87%...

 

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Watching a game with virtually NO crowd noise is a little like watching paint dry. I don't know what the capacity of FedEx is, but it looks like it's only about 35-40% full at most...

 

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Kings inbound.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!

18-17 Mem

Two misses by Mem; Artest board.

Bibby teardrop doesn't go. Mem ball.

Jones to Roberts, shot blocked by Miller. Kings ball.

Martin against MM, lots of contact. No call. Mem ball.

MM another miss; Brad board.

5;20 left

Brad jumper in and out. You could actually hear one of them say, "Oh, sh**!" because, as I said, there is very little crowd noise.

Stoudamire to MM for two.

20-17 Mem

 

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Martin fouled by MM. Non-shooting.

Corliss in for KT. Pass intended for Kevin goes oob. Mem ball.

Mem turnover; Kings ball.

Shot blocked, Mem ball but they give it right back.

Artest inside, gets the hoop and hit in the mouth again. Heading to the stripe for the +1.

20-20

4;13 left

 

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MM for three.

23-20 Mem

Corliss bodies inside, gets the bucket and draws the +1 from Johnson.

Salmons in for Martin.

Bonus good.

23-23

Gay for long two.

25-23 Mem

Artest off the glass for two more.

25-25

 

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MM miss from downtown, but second chance by Rudy Gay is good.

27-25 Mem

Kings ball. SAR and Garcia in for Brad and Bibby.

Artest to the line.

Makes first; misses second. Mem ball.

27-26 Mem

Chucky Atkins wide open for three.

30-26 Mem

Corliss inside again, and heading to the line again on another foul by Johnson.

Time out and commercial.

Corliss to shoot after the break.

 

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Corliss misses first and makes second.

30-28 Mem

2;26 left

Warrick miss; Corliss called for foul. Warrick at the line.

I have to revise my estimates. I doubt if the arena is more than 20% full. There are virtually NO people in the highest level.

Warrick misses both.

Kings ball.

 

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Garcia to the line to shoot freebie on illegal defense call on the Grizz.

Cisco makes it.

30-29 Mem

1;59 left

Kings ball.

Kings turnover. Mem ball.

MM for two more.

32-29 Mem

Artest to Corliss, who is called for traveling.

 

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MM miss; Salmons board.

Kings set their offense. Salmons to Corliss, miss. Mem ball. Stolen by Artest, who is fouled. Clear path foul called. Artest to the line.

First is short; second misses off back of rim.

Kings retain possession with 41.9 seconds left.

Kings inbound.

Salmons hand off to Corliss for two.

32-31 Mem

 

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Warrick for two and the +1 on foul by Corliss.

Bonus no good. Kings rebound.

34-31 Mem

SALMONS FOR THREE!!!! from the corner.

34-34

End of the first quarter.

 

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Grizz ball to start the second quarter.

Turnover. Kings ball.

Corliss miss; Mem board.

Mem knocks ball oob on good D by the Kings. Kings ball.

11;15 left

Salmons spins and fadeaway jumper hits the mark.

36-34 KINGS

Gasol baseline jumper for two.

36-36

Ball knocked oob by Mem. Still Kings ball.

 

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Martin to Salmons, nice pass to cutting Corliss for two more.

38-36 KINGS

Martin with the steal and the breakaway for two.

40-36 KINGS

Jerry says, "Jones was martinized by Kevin." Hehehehe...

Memphis calls time out.

 

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They're showing a clip about Justin Williams. I like the attitude of this young man, who says he might be a bit of a "garbage man"

Ooops. Must have been mandatory time out.

Kings ball.

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!

43-36 KINGS

9;24 left

Memphis pass ends up in Garcia's hands. To Martin, back to Garcia, in to SAR, whose shot against Gasol is short.

Mem board.

Roberts to the line on foul by Garcia. 1PF.

Misses first; makes second.

43-37 KINGS

 

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Cisco, Martin, Salmons, SAR and Corliss on the court.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!!

46-37 KINGS

Jones miss; Martin board.

SAR miss; Mem board.

MM to the line on foul by Garcia, 2PF.

Makes both.

46-39 KINGS

7;40 left

Martin pullup is short; ROberts board.

 

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MM short; Martin board.

Corliss barrels in for two more.

48-39 KINGS

Gasol for two.

48-41 KINGS

Salmons blows by Roberts for two.

50-41 KINGS

Mem miss; SAR board.

Martin shot partially altered; Mem ball.

 

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Jones called for over-the-back; Kings ball.

Brad in for Corliss.

SAR half-hook is way too soft; Mem ball.

Jones for two and the +1 on foul by Brad.

50-43 KINGS

Time out.

Jones to shoot FT after the break.

 

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NOTE: The Wednesday game will start at 5 p.m. PST, not 6 p.m. as previously advertised. Start time has been changed.

Jones makes bonus.

50-44 KINGS

Brad miss; Mem board.

Martin called for foul on Jones.

Jones makes first; and second.

50-46 KINGS

4;59 left

Artest fallaway jumper from the low post is good.

52-46 KINGS

4;43 left

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

Mem miss; Kings board.

 

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Artest mid-range miss; Mem board.

Artest with the steal. Kick out to Kevin.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!!

55-46 KINGS

3;51 left

Gasol for two.

55-48 KINGS

Kings ball. Salmons blows by MM, who fouls him.

Salmons to the line.

 

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Makes first; and second.

57-48 KINGS

3;27 left

Steal by Martin.

Martin's pass, intended for Mike Bibby, ends up going to Jerry Reynolds.



Mem ball.

Gasol gets around Brad for one-handed dunk.

57-50 KINGS

Offensive foul called on Artest. 1PF.

Mem ball.

Time out and commercial.

 

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Mem miss.

Kings miss.

Gasol dunk.

57-52 KINGS

2;12 left

Bibby miss; Miller actually leaves the ground for the rebound over Warrick and is fouled. Non-shooting. Kings ball.

Martin cuts inside, Miller finds him and Martin gets the dunk.

59-52 KINGS

Jones blocked; KIngs ball.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!

62-52 KINGS

 

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Mem miss; Kings board.

Another nice assist ends up with Martin getting two more points.

64-52 KINGS

Warrick inside, Memphis called for offensive three seconds. Kings ball.

Miller bounce pass stolen, Memphis to the line on good foul by Artest.

43.3 seconds left.

Atkins misses first; makes second.

64-53 KINGS

Cutting Martin found AGAIN by Brad Miller for two more.

66-53 KINGS

Gasol for two.

66-55 KINGS

 

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Miller jumper at the buzzer doesn't go.

End of the first half.

66-55 KINGS!!!