Kings-Grizzlies PBP for March 10

[VF21]

Welcome, fellow Kings fans!

I'm on the way out the door for work, but I fully plan to be back in time to do tonight's PBP.

Here's what Joe Davidson had to say this morning in the Bee about tonight's game:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14228431p-15051831c.html

Kings (30-31) vs. Grizzlies (34-27)

KINGS UPDATE

Status: Now they're road warriors, bounding back into Arco Arena after a 4-1 trip and itching to extend their home-court winning streak to 11 games. The victories continue to be paramount as the Kings pursue the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth - or better. Expect Arco to be as rabid as it has been all season, especially when fans are reminded this will be the 300th consecutive sellout.

Trend: A good one, finally, for the Kings in that the road didn't spell late-game collapse. Mike Bibby had a fabulous trip (he averaged 22.8 points a game, shooting 43.8 percent from the floor), and the Kings continue to jell with Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim playing well off the bench, which suddenly speaks volumes about team depth.

Injury report: Francisco García, ankle, day-to-day.

GRIZZLIES UPDATE

Status: Memphis holds steady behind Dallas and San Antonio in the stacked Southwest Division, with the Mavs and Spurs out of reach for the rest of the conference. Pau Gasól (20.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game) is playing well and Bobby Jackson ever the wild card. The ex-Kings guard dazzled late in his first return to Arco on Feb. 7, scoring 24 points in 24 minutes. He'll surely want similar results.

Trend: The Grizzlies, still jockeying for a prime playoff position, are coming off of a 99-74 wipeout of Seattle on Wednesday. Winning at Arco is a different story. The Grizzlies have lost 15 consecutive games there.

Injury report: Eddie Jones, foot, day-to-day.

Best matchup: Bibby vs. Jackson - So far, it's been back and forth, one trying to top the other, like so many of those spirited practices of years past. Bibby will have a head start, however, as he starts and Jackson comes off the bench.
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Arco will be rockin' and it should be a good one!!!

Remember, you can discuss the game in piksi's game discussion thread AND you can join the folks at Mr. S£im's CHAT PARTY LIVE at mIRC, server irc.bludgeon.org, channel #Kingsfans.

It's snowing outside but not very hard. Hopefully the road won't be too icy and I'll get home in plenty of time to start the wood stove, get something to eat, AND be ready for the tip-off.

GO KINGS!!!!!

 

[VF21]

I made it home in time...

Roads are horribly icy, with snow down very low already and getting lower.

One slight disappointment - my pipes are frozen and I have no water. But living up here you learn to adapt - I do have several gallons of water available so I should be okay until tomorrow when I'll have to get my hair dryer and extension cord out and thaw the pipe. I generally leave the water running just a tiny bit so this doesn't happen but apparently I forgot...

All that is now forgotten, however. It's time for
KINGS BASKETBALL!!!

 

[VF21]

Atkins, Jones, Battier, Gasol, and Tasakalidis for the Grizzlies

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

They're showing the introductions. And now the dance begins - and Slamson is in the middle.

Crowd is hyped!

This is gonna be fun.

In case I haven't mentioned it lately, I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!

 

[VF21]

Getting ready for the tip-off...

Miller with the ugly toss up, tip to Bibby.

Miller miss; KT board. Miller bounce pass inside to KT, off the glass for two.

2-0 KINGS

Martin steal, fast break to KT who gets pass from Miller, bucket and +1.

KT bonus good.

5-0 KINGS

Gasol miss; KT board.

10:58 left

Artest for long two.

7-0 KINGS

Whoooooo!!!

 

[VF21]

Gasol miss, rebound bounced around, saved by Gasol.

Jones for two.

7-2 KINGS

Kings miss; Gasol board.

Atkins bounce pass inside to Jake, who gets the hook and the +1 on foul by Miller. Bonus good.

7-5 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Good ball movement, Miller jumper misses, KT with the board. Miller pass goes oob. Grizz ball.

9:20 left

Gasol inside for two.

7-7

9:10 left

Good movement again, out to Artest for another long two.

9-7 KINGS

Gasol miss; KT board.

 

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Bibby pass inside to Artest in the low post, Ron draws foul.

Artest at the line. Makes both.

11-7 KINGS

Jerry kids Grant about how they shouldn't say Artest's name so much.



Jones turnover on Martin hassle.

Kings ball.

Miller works inside nicely, puts ball up. Goes 2/3 down and comes back out. Grizz board.

Battier miss; Kings board.

Artest pass inside to Miller, half-hook miss. Grizz board.

 

[VF21]

Gasol loses control of ball, it goes oob, but KT called for foul.

7:26 left

Still Grizz ball.

Jake shot blocked by Battier gets the putback for two.

11-9 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Good ball movement again but KT misses easy jumper. Grizz board.

KT with the steal on the other end. Kt to Bibby, who goes up, gets the lay-up and Jones gets called for goal-tending.

13-9 KINGS

Gasol strolls in for two at the other end.

13-11 KINGS

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!!!

16-11 KINGS

6:01 left

Jones long two won't go, KT board.

More excellent ball movement looking for the open man - this time it's KT who gets the jumper.

18-11 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Atkins miss; Jake board.

Battier from the corner for three.

18-14 KINGS

5:00 left

Miller misses wide open jumper; Grizz ball.

Atkins for two.

18-16 KINGS

Bibby over to Artest, whose three barely misses; Miller board. Over to ARtest, shot blocked by Battier. Grizz ball.

Martin with the steal, runs the court and puts up the sweet two-handed dunk.

Yeah!!!!

20-16 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Ball oob off the foot of Jones. Kings ball.

Time out and commercial.

 

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Wells and SAR in for the Kings. Miller and Martin out. They said Miller just went to the locker room, but Pete Youngman still on the bench...\

Bibby miss; Grizz board.

Grizz miss; SAR board.

SAR misses lay-up; Grizz board.

Atkins for two.

20-18 KINGS

2:23 left

Wells in the low post, passes out to KT, who sends a bullet pass in to SAR, who draws a foul from Jake. 2PF.

Time out and commercial.

2:09 left

SAR to the line for two after the break.

 

[VF21]

Bobby in for the Grizz. Gets a nice welcome.

SAR makes both.

22-18 KINGS

Bibby and Bobby jawing at each other.

Ball oob off Bibby's leg. Still Grizz ball.

Mike Miller for three.

22-21 KINGS

Bobby, Miller, Wright, Gasol and Battier for the Grizz.

Bonzi miss; Grizz board.

3 second violation on the Kings.

Miller to shoot the freebie.

22-22

 

[VF21]

Still Grizz ball.

Wells with the steal. Bibby pull-up three doesn't go; Grizz board.

Bobby for two.

24-22 Grizz

Nice feed by KT inside to Bibby for the lay-up.

24-24

Bobby floater doesn't go but Gasol puts it in for the final score of the quarter.

26-24 Grizz

End of the first.

 

[VF21]

Miller for long three to start the second.

29-24 Grizz

Kings ball. Wright called for non-shooting foul on SAR.

Wells jumper short; Grizz ball.

Gasol bounce pass to Wright.

31-24 KINGS

This is looking ugly. Bad lineup, IMHO.

Bibby pass inside to KT, who misses a point-blank lay-up.

Artest block on Gasol shot, Wells gets it. SAR for two. KT called for a technical foul - carry-over from play before according to Jerry. KT out.

Grizz get the freebie at the other end.

32-26 GRIZZ

Miller and Martin back in for KT and Bibby.

Grizz miss; Kings ball.

SAR to the line. Misses first; makes second.

32-27 GRIZZ

 

[VF21]

Bobby miss over excellent defense by Maritn, Miller board.

SAR drives inside, blows by Gasol for easy two.

32-29 GRIZZ

Grizz ball, Wells with the steal.

Artest entry pass to Miller, who gets the floater to go and draws the +1.

32-31 Grizz

Time out and commercial.

Brad to the line for the bonus after the break.

 

[VF21]

Miller ties it from the line.

32-32

8:49 left

Miller miss; Kings board.

Wells powers in hard and draws foul.

Bonzi makes first on about four bounces, makes second.

34-32 KINGS

Kings in the bonus for the remainder of the quarter.

Battier for two.

34-34

 

[VF21]

Excellent ball movement again, miss by Artest, Grizz board.

STEAL by Artest, picked up by Martin who is fouled by Bobby.

Kevin to the line for two.

Martin makes first, misses second.

35-34 KINGS

Wright pass off the backboard, salvaged by Bonzi. Kings ball.

Martin inside for lay-up, shot blocked by Wright. Grizz ball.

Grizz oob, Kings ball.

7:11 left

Artest three doesn't go, Bonzi gets the board, puts it up for two AND draws the +1.

Wells at the line for the freebie. Good.

38-34 KINGS

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Grizz ball. Warrick miss, SAR board.

SAR works inside, gets past Wright and draws another foul. 3PF for Wright.

SAR to the line for two.

Makes the first; and the second.

40-34 KINGS

Whoooooooo!!!

Martin, Bonzi, Artest, SAR and Miller for the Kings.

Warrick goes around Miller and gets inside. Foul called on Miller. Non-shooting. Still Grizz ball.

Atkins shot at the buzzer tipped in by Warrick.

40-36 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Artest pass inside to Wells, shot blocked.

Grizz ball.

Atkins miss; Miller board.

Kevin three won't go; Gasol board.

4:50 left

Grizz turnover on sloppy pass; Kings ball.

SAR three doesn't go, Kevin grabs the rebound and FLIES up for the soaring dunk.

42-36 KINGS

Gasol off the glass for two.

42-38 KINGS

4:00 left

Time out and commercial.

Kings ball after the break.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

Martin inbounds to Bibby, on the court with Miller, SAR and Wells.

Ball over to Martin for long two.

44-38 KINGS

3:30 left

Grizz miss; Wells board.

Wells to SAR, out to Kevin who drives inside and draws the foul.

Kevin to the line again...

First goes in and rims out. Makes second.

45-38 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Jake inside for lay-up.

45-40 KINGS

Miller with a steal from Bonzi, and Bonzi called for a foul. Non-shooting. Still Grizz ball after the steal. 4th turnover for the Kings.

2:30 left

Atkins from the corner for three.

45-43 KINGS

Miller passes up shot, gives ball to Bonzi who works inside, tosses up an ugly teardrop. Miss, and Bonzi called for another foul.

Grizz ball.

Jake for two more.

45-45

 

[VF21]

Bibby miss but SAR tips in for two.

47-45 KINGS

Jones for two on the other end.

47-47

Wells, SAR out; KT and Bibby back in.

Miller for two.

49-47 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Grizz jumper doesn't go; Miller board.

Miller with the ball, passes up another WIDE open jumper. Sloppy pass to Bibby, who misses. Grizz board.

Atkins with a shot at the buzzer, good for three.

50-49 Grizz

 

[VF21]

Nice half-time feature on Kevin. I'll tell you - the kid is QUICK!!! You really notice it when they show highlight reels.

They also showed a clip from Bonzi. "He's a great kid and he's doing a great job starting. I'm a team player so as long as we're winning and doing good, I'm fine coming off the bench or starting. Whatever it takes..."

Fellow Kings fans, this is a TEAM!!! Not just a bunch of guys who found a box of matching uniforms.

 

[VF21]

They just showed Cisco on the sidelines. Looking good. Still limping quite noticeably.

Getting ready for the second half.

Grizz ball to start...

 

[VF21]

Atkins miss; Artest board.

Bibby, Martin, Artest, KT and Miller on the court for the Kings.

Artest inside, he may have traveled but no call. Ball oob off Grizz. Still Kings ball.

Bibby for two.

51-50 KINGS

Grant saying Artest may have reinjured his hip, that he's been limping since the first quarter.

Grizz miss; KT Board.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!!

54-50 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Gasol tries to drive inside, is met by a brick wall with "93" on it.

Gasol to the line for two.

Makes first; and second.

54-52 KINGS

Pau Gasol looks like a 12-year-old kid with a fake Abe Lincoln beard on.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!!

57-52 KINGS

Grizz shot misses, ball oob off Jake. Kings ball.

KT to the line on foul by Battier. Generous call.

10:00 left

Thomas makes first; and second.

59-52 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Grizz ball. Martin called for blocking call, as he didn't quite get set. Good call although fans didn't agree. Non-shooting. Still Grizz.

Grizz turnover; Kings ball.

Miller turnover; Grizz ball.

 

[VF21]

9:22 left

Atkins miss; Miller board.

Artest to Martin in the corner, miss off the rim. Grizz ball.

Gasol one-hand dunk on assist by Battier.

59-54 KINGS

Battier called for kick. Still Kings ball. Brad miss; Battier board.

Gasol miss, Jake with the putback.

59-56 KINGS

Bibby works inside, bullet pass to cutting KT for the one-handed dunk.

61-56 KINGS