Kings-Jazz PBP for Jan. 25

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

Apparently the French Vanilla coffee, purple slippers and garlic chowder combination lost their voodoo so I've made some changes. Tonight it will be the Dark Chocolate Mint coffee, purple slippers and split pea soup combination (with, of course, added garlic for anti-vampire protection).

HORRIBLE game in Los Angeles. In fact, after a game like that I have to believe the Kings will come out tonight focused and playing hard to remove it from our and their memories.

Remember, 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 KF up and running as the #1 Sacramento Kings online community, please consider becoming a Contributing Member. There's no obligation, of course.

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

GO KINGS!

 

[VF21]

And once again, Reggie tells it like it is. When asked about the loss to the Clippers, Theus quipped:

Saying anything other than 'We got our butts whipped' would be an excuse.

I don't know about anyone else, but the honesty is certainly refreshing.

 

[VF21]

Kings lineup: Bibby, Martin, Salmons, Artest, Miller

Jazz lineup: Williams, Brewer, Kirilenko, Boozer, Okur

Nice pre-game chat with Ronnie Price and, as always, they show "THE DUNK"... When asked if he talks about it with Boozer, Ronnie said, "No, it isn't mentioned. He's a big dude. We just don't talk about it." (Of course, Ronnie was smiling at the time.) IMHO Price is one of the nicest young men to wear a Kings uniform in a long time and I wish him a long and productive career in the NBA.

 

[VF21]

Very interesting lineup to start for the Kings. Looks like Ron is gonna be playing the 4, regardless of what he may have said about it.

 

[VF21]

Tip to the Jazz.

AK miss; Artest rebound.

Bibby to Miller, bounce to Artest, who goes right at Boozer, gets past him and opens the scoring for the Kings.

2-0 KINGS

Jazz miss; Kings board.

Miller to Artest, jumper doesn't go. Jazz on the run for the long rebound and the pass to Brewer for 2.

2-2

10;41 left

Artest already with WAY too much one-on-one, he gets lucky with 3 seconds left on the clock as he snags a non-shooting foul from Brewer. Kings inbound with 14 on the clock. Over to Martin, who misses from the side. Jazz rebound.

Okur miss; Bibby rebound.

 

[VF21]

Bibby miss; Boozer rebound.

Williams from the corner for three.

5-2 Jazz

Good ball movement but ANOTHER jumper by Artest doesn't go. Kings are already settling for perimeter shots.

Jazz miss but Boozer gets the second chance bucket.

7-2 Jazz

8;43 left

Miller dump inside to Martin for a nice dunk and two points.

7-4 Jazz

Okur miss, Bibby knocks the rebound to Miller. Forward to Bibby, and then Salmons saves the bad pass and gets the hoop.

7-6 Jazz

 

[VF21]

Boozer for two.

9-6 Jazz

Bibby to Salmons, has a shot but tries to pass and Utah intercepts.

Luckily the Jazz miss at the other end and Kings have the ball back...

Miller pass intended for Martin is deflected and Jazz have it on the run. ANOTHER miss and Kings with the rebound.

Bibby tries a bad shot with AK all over him and it misses; AK with the board.

Ball oob off Kings, still Jazz ball. 9 on the shot clock. Brewer wide open miss; Kings rebound.

Bibby to Martin, who drives inside, it rolls and Artest tips it in.

9-8 Jazz

AK for three.

12-8 Jazz

 

[VF21]

MIller bounce pass to Bibby, who is fouled by Deron Williams.

Time out and commercial.

5;42 left

Kings ball after the break.

 

[VF21]

Grant has announced that the Kings media staff told him Mikki Moore is on his way to the arena. And Jerry Reynolds says his (JR's) voice might sound a little odd because he had dental work done today...

Meanwhile on the court the Kings lose a scrum for the ball and Utah converts at the other end.

14-8 Jazz

Hawes in for Miller.

AK lay-up rolls around about three times before dropping in.

16-8 Jazz

Artest kick out to Martin, over to Salmons who gets by everyone and puts up the reverse lay-up for two.

16-10 Jazz

4;00 left

AK two more at the other end.

18-10 Jazz

 

[VF21]

Artest settling for his stupid jumper - tries again over AK and misses. Ball oob. Kings retain possession. Williams in for the first time. Martin dish inside to Williams for the dunk.

18-12 Jazz

3;15 left

Brewer inside to try for the dunk and Williams blocks it very impressively. Martin on the other end for the one-handed dunk.

18-14 Jazz

Millsap miss but gets his own putback.

20-14 Jazz

2;30 left

Bibby with the ball, slapped away by Hart who appeared to have also slapped Bibby but no call.

Jazz ball. Whistle.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

And they show my all-time favorite NBA player's jersey in the Utah rafters - #7 - Pistol Pete Maravich who actually played with the New Orleans Jazz.

Utah with two from the line.

22-14 Jazz

Martin, looking MUCH better, drives inside for two more.

22-16 Jazz

Hart miss; Martin rebound. Martin to MIller, who drives inside against two defenders and draws the foul.

1;28 left

Miller at the line. Makes first; and second.

22-18 Jazz

Kings showing the zone. Garcia forces Millsap to commit the dreaded "up and down" - Kings ball.

Udrih, Mat, Garcia, Artest and Miller for the Kings

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!!

22-21 Jazz

 

[VF21]

Boozer for two inside.

24-21 Jazz

Udrih driving inside, NICE pass to Miller who hits the bucket but Udrih was fouled and heads to the line.

35.6 seconds left.

Udrih misses both.

Jazz ball.

Boozer in for two more.

26-21 Jazz

Martin with the ball, breaks for the inside and is fouled.

Martin at the line with 5.3 seconds left.

Martin makes both.

26-23 Jazz

 

[VF21]

End of the first quarter.

Grant says Moore has arrived at the arena. He also says it's "well documented" about Mikki Moore's fiancé and her miscarriage... then he starts to stumble on his words like he may have said something he really shouldn't have, and they cut to commercial.

Very odd.

 

[VF21]

Jazz for two and then Martin dishes to Garcia open in the corner.

Okur is at the line. First is good, second isn't and Martin has the rebound.

29-27 Jazz

Udrih with the ball, stolen and Harpring for two at the other end.

31-27 Jazz

Martin drives inside and draws a foul from a totally stunned Ashton K ... oops, I mean Kyle Korver.

Martin makes first; and second.

31-29 Jazz

10;30 left

Korver for three.

34-29 Jazz

 

[VF21]

Kings ball. Korver steals it but then tries to dribble by Artest, who knocks it oob OFF Korver's foot.

Kings ball.

Artest from the corner doesn't go; Jazz rebound.

Williams to Korver, miss. Kings rebound.

Miller quick jumper doesn't go; Korver rebound. If I scream SLOW DOWN at the TV, do you think the Kings might hear me???

Jazz inside, Miller called for foul on Millsap, sending him to the line.

9;25 left

Millsap makes first; misses second. Rebound on the floor, lots of scrambling. Oob off Jazz. Kings ball.

35-29 Jazz

Artest strong move inside is productive ...

35-31 Jazz

 

[VF21]

Harpring inside, greeting by Salmons and Artest. Salmons called for the foul.

Time out and commercial.

Harpring to the line after the time out and commercial.

8;50 left

 

[VF21]

Mikki now on the bench with his team, and he's greeted by all of them. He sits down between Kevin and Ron... The Kings made a tribute to Mikki on the court before the game. Nice...

Harpring one of two.

36-31 Jazz

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!

36-34 Jazz

Harpring for two.

38-34 Jazz

8;12 left

 

[VF21]

Oh look!

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!

38-37 Jazz

Gotta love the effort of the bench by our Cisco.

Korver miss; Jazz save the rebound. Williams miss, loose ball foul by Williams on Salmons.

Kings ball.

Kings to inbound.

Garcia to the line on foul by Korver. 2PF.

Jazz in the penalty.

7;12 left

Garcia makes first; misses second. Jazz rebound.

38-38

Williams alley intended for Korver but it's OOPS and not oop as Korver loses it oob. Kings ball.

6;54 left

Salmons splits the defense of Boozer and Okur for easy two.

40-38 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Jazz miss, Miller rebound.

Three Kings on the break and Salmons ends up with the floating lay-up off the glass for two more!!!

42-38 KINGS

6;23 left

time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

The variety of quickness we have available right now is sure fun to watch.

Williams inside for two.

42-40 KINGS

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

Udrih miss; Jazz rebound.

AK to Boozer for two.

42-42

Miller inbound pass very sloppy and Jazz grab it, kick it to Okur in the corner for three.

45-42 Jazz

Kings ball, Cisco almost loses it, MIller picks it up but 24-second violation.

 

[VF21]

Korver miss; Salmons rebound.

Bibby to MIller, over to Salons, who goes inside and shot is altered by AK. Jazz rebound.

Jazz miss; Garcia rebound.

Garcia kicks to Udrih, and shot is AGAIN altered by AK. Jazz ball.

Deron Williams with the miss and he may be hurt as he's limping badly as the Kings are on the run and Miller gets the one-handed dunk.

45-44 Jazz

3;55 left

Jazz call time out as Williams limps to the bench, with what might be a hamstring problem.

Commercial.

 

[VF21]

Moore in for the Kings.

Defensive three-second call on Garcia. Williams to the line. Makes the bonus. Apparently Deron Williams is okay as he's still in the game.

46-44 Jazz

Utah inbounds. And Williams for long two on nice stepback jumper.

48-44 Jazz

3;15 left

Salmons pass intended for Martin is picked off. Jazz ball.

Jazz for two.

50-44 Jazz

Garcia miss; Boozer rebound.

2;47 left

 

[VF21]

Jazz pass picked off by Garcia, who breaks with Martin. Dish to Martin, who is fouled.

Kevin at the line.

Artest in for Salmons.

Martin makes first; makes second.

50-46 Jazz

Martin with 15 points, 3 reb, and 3 asst. so far.

Jazz ball.

Boozer for two more.

52-46 Jazz

2;11 left

 

[VF21]

Pass inside to Garcia, who is shoved oob by Boozer. Officials call it a travel by Garcia and give the ball back to the Jazz. Blech...

AK bobbles the ball, almost losing it oob. Garcia called for foul on AK, sending #47 to the line.

Misses first; makes second.

53-46 Jazz

1;48 left

Bibby, Moore, Artest, Martin and Garcia for the Kings.

Artest with another errant outside shot; Jazz rebound.

Bibby with the steal, on the run and fouled at the last second by Okur.

Mike to the line.

1;18 left

 

[VF21]

Makes first; and second.

53-48 Jazz

Okur shot tipped in by AK.

55-48 Jazz

Martin drives inside, ball knocked oob by Jazz. Kings will inbound with 13 on the shot clock.

Bibby for two right over Jason Hart. Heheeheheh.

55-50 Jazz

Boozer fouled and heading to the line.

39.2 seconds

Makes first; misses second.

56-50 Jazz

 

[VF21]

Kings turnover; Boozer tries to play PG on the fast break and gives it back to the Kings.

Martin to the line.

Makes both.

56-52 Jazz

22 seconds left

Hart holding for final shot and he hits the long two.

58-52 Jazz

Bibby drives the court, gets inside but cannot get the shot off before the buzzer.

End of the first half.

 

[VF21]

First half observations:

Martin is looking very good and we should make sure he continues to get the ball in the second half. Artest, on the other hand, needs to be slapped in the head and forced, if necessary, into driving inside. Boozer and Okur both act as though they're very wary of being in his path.

I LOVE THIS TEAM!!! (but I hate, hate, hate settling for perimeter jumpers by Ron Artest.)

 

[VF21]

In Reggie's film clip during halftime he talks about the trust that has been building among the players and the sign they have posted: "It's not about you." I've said it before and I'll say it again...I am very impressed with what Reggie Theus has brought to the Kings thus far and I'm getting excited to think about what could be with some fresh faces in the future.

This is Kings basketball.

 

[VF21]

Rex Kalamian, the assistant coach spokesman for tonight, commented to Grant and Jerry that one of the main things they need to do is push to the inside and NOT settle for jumpers. Hrm. Where have we heard that? ..









Oh yeah, I SAID IT.



Think maybe they read the PBP and game discussion thread?



Kings ball to start the second half.

 

[VF21]

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

Bibby to Miller, inside to Artest who bodies up against Boozer. Okur drops down to help and is called for the foul.

Artest to the line. Makes first; and second.

58-54 Jazz

11;43 left

Utah ball.

Nice defense by the Kings. Artest ties Okur up and forces the jump ball. I don't think Mehmet likes Ronnie much.

Tip to the Jazz. Brewer miss but Okur with the putback.

60-54 Jazz

Miller miss, Artest rebound. Pass to Bibby, then to Artest who drives inside, kicks out to Martin. Miss but Kings get it back and kick it out to Mike.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!

60-57 Jazz