Kings-Lakers PBP thread for Jan. 4

[VF21]

Welcome fellow Kings fans!

And it's a Laker game. Even with the teams nowhere near the level they have been in the past, this is still something that stirs the heart of every Kings fan.
First, let's see what the Bee says...

Lakers (20-11) at Kings (14-15)

KINGS OUTLOOK - What better time to leave the ranks of teams with losing records than aqgainst the rival Lakers? After dropping nine of 11 games to fall to 10-14, the Kings have won four of the five and could reach .500 tonight. As could have been predicted, the return to winning largely has coincided with the revival of Mike Bibby's offensive game. The point guard has been shooting like himself again, as has center Brad Miller. And with Ron Artest's career night against New York on Tuesday and Kevin Martin's consistent output, the Kings' offense is looking formidable.

LAKERS OUTLOOK - Better to face this Lakers squad than the one of three weeks ago when they were running out to a 15-6 record that came with both high hopes and health. But since beating Houston on Dec. 12, the Lakers have gone 5-5 and lost Kwame Brown in the process. The starting center injured an ankle in a victory over Philadelphia on Sunday and is out indefinitely. Which says nothing of the Kobe Bryant factor. The star guard is having another phenomenal season, ranking fourth in the league in scoring (28.7 points per game).

KEY MATCHUP - Kevin Martin vs. Kobe Bryant - Though Artest likely will guard Bryant, the Lakers guard likely will be the one guarding Martin. And though Artest's 39-point outing aginst the Knicks was impressive, he'll be busy on defense, and the need for Martin to produce on offense becomes only more important.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Kings - Bibby, Martin, Artest, Thomas, MIller

Lakers - Parker, Bryant, Walton, Cook, Bynum

I can't post a link because I couldn't find it on the website. I typed it out myself so forgive any typos.

After the impressive display by Ron Artest on Tuesday, and the apparent return of the Mike Bibby we know and love, we have every reason to expect a good game tonight.

I'd like to apologize if I've seemed overly cynical lately. It's not that I don't love this team; it's just that I've been really concerned (and still am) about all the stuff swirling around Ron Artest. I really want to embrace him as an integral part of our team, but I'm really honestly scared that it's just a matter of time until what happened in Indiana happens here. So forgive me if I'm a bit reluctant to show too must joy.

Okay, now that that's out of the way...

We are liable to have a visit from some of the Laker trolls that seem to delight in coming here and making fools of themselves. If one of them appears, PLEASE use the "refer a post" option to get the message to the mods.

If you haven't done so already, be sure and check out piksi's game discussion thread. The intro is pure piksi... which should be enough to get you over to that thread immediately.

We'll have chat going at mIRC, server irc.bludgeon.org, channel #kingsfans. Great place to come to share the game experience.

Now for the bad news... As you've probably heard, tonight's game on TNT is being called by Marv Albert. So far so good, right? Well, the bad part is that Steve Kerr called in with a back problem (he does know he wasn't going to play, right?) and so none other than Charles Barkley is going to be doing the color commentary. It's times like this that make me actually appreciate Grant and Jerry Reynolds. I'll take the "hick from French Lick" any time over Barkley.

So, let's get ready for an instant classic. Kings-Lakers games are never boring and this one should be no exception.

The Bee says the best matchup is Martin-Bryant. I have to disagree. I'll be watching to see if Musselman can possibly match the skills of the master...

I may not like Phil Jackson but you have to give the devil his due.

GO KINGS!!!!!

 

[VF21]

Brad is out with the flu; SAR will most likely get the nod to start at the 5...

TNT guy in the studio: Hey, come on, Ken. This is gonna be good. (He means watching Barkley do color commentary for game).

Kenny Smith: Yeah, if you like train wrecks.

Pretty much sums it up for me...

 

[VF21]

And the game has started during a commercial...

BLEEP!!!!

Walton for two.

2-0 LAL

Artest in the low post, draws foul from Walton. Bavetta made the call. Still Kings ball.

Bibby miss; Kings get it back. Artest miss; SAR board. Over to Artest, who goes to the bucket and is hacked by Parker.

Ron at the line...

 

[VF21]

Misses first; and second.

2-0 LAL

Cook for two.

4-0 LAL

10;52 left

Martin miss; Bynum board.

Parker miss; Martin called for loose ball foul. Still LAL ball.

Bynum called for travel.

Kings ball.

 

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Artest kicks over to SAR, who misses long jumper. Blech. LAL ball.

Walton miss; oh wait. Official calls Thomas for offensive goal-tending and the Lakers get two more points. On replay, even Barkley admits Kenny didn't come close to touching the bleeping ball. Crap.

6-0 LAL

Parker foul; still Kings ball.

KT for two.

6-2 LAL

 

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Cook for two.

8-2 LAL

9;18 left

Martin with the ball, knocked oob by Kobe. Still Kings ball.

Bibby for two.

8-4 LAL

Cook for two off the glass.

10-4 LAL

 

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Lord, give me strength. Bibby to Thomas, back to Bibby and back in to Thomas who kicks out to SAR who lets fly with a horrible jumper off the rim.

Musselman FINALLY calls a time out.

10-4 LAL

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

Bibby for two.

10-6 LAL

LAL miss but putback good.

12-6 LAL

According to Craig Sager, Bibby went after his teammates in the huddle during the time out and called them out about "playing scared."

Hrm. Score jumped and I'm not sure why.

14-6

Cook for three.

17-6 LAL

 

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Artest shot altered by Bynum; LAL board.

Cook for two more.

19-6 LAL

Musselman calls another time out.

 

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Bibby from the corner for two.

19-8 LAL

Now Albert is reporting that Musselman yelled at the Kings for the lack of effort.

21-8 LAL

Oh, crap. Bibby drives inside, has a nice chance but passes to SAR, who misses the half hook but does go to the line on a foul.

SAR makes first; Salmons in for Thomas. Misses second.

21-9 LAL

Cook miss; Martin board.

5;22 left

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!!!

21-12 LAL

 

[VF21]

Barkley actually being complimentary about the fans and Arco.

Bynum for two and the +1.

Bonus good.

24-12 LAL

Artest drives inside hard, blows past Cook, gets the bucket and the +1.

Bonus good.

24-15 LAL

 

[VF21]

Cook in and out; Kings board. Ball knocked oob by LAL. Still Kings ball.

Bibby for long two.

24-17 LAL

Walton fallaway doesn't go but Bynum gets the board, the putback and the +1 on foul by Bibby.

Barkley says, and I have to agree, that SAR simply cannot guard Bynum.

3;56 left

Bonus miss, Artest board.

26-17 LAL

 

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Bibby three doesn't go; LAL board.

Taylor in for SAR.

LAL miss; Kings board.

Artest with the ball, called for offensive foul. Crowd boos the official. Barkley calls it a flop by Evans.

LAL miss; rebound oob off Lakers. Kings ball.

3;01 left

Bibby kicks to Salmons, miss. Second miss; LAL board.

Evans miss; Bynum board kicks back out to Evans, pass over to Walton, who gets the bucket and the +1 from Salmons.

Bonus good.

29-17 LAL

 

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Taylor to the line on foul by Turiac. Lakers in the penalty.

2;10 left

Makes first; misses second.

29-18 LAL

Kobe miss; Farmar board. Kicks to Bryant, who drives inside and dishes to somebody for two more.

31-18 LAL

Kings ball. Offensive foul called on someone. LAL ball.

Barkley blathering away... ... ...

Garcia in for Martin.

 

[VF21]

STUPID PLAYS!!

Salmon inside, has a shot but hands off to Taylor, who misses. LAL ball.

LAL for two more.

33-18 LAL

Kings ball. Bibby steps oob. LAL ball.

Lakers try something fancy as the clock is winding down but they blow it and it's - thankfully - the end of the first quarter.

 

[VF21]

Salmons for two and the +1.

Bonus bounces around a lot and finally drops.

33-21 LAL

LAL ball. Steal. Bibby kicks to Salmons, who drives inside and draws another foul.

Thomas, Corliss, Salmons, Garcia and Bibby on the court for the Kings.

Salmons misses first; makes second.

33-22 LAL

As Barkley says - and I hate to keep quoting him - the Kings need to speed the tempo of this game.

Mo Evans flying dunk for two.

35-22 LAL

 

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Salmons called for palming. LAL ball.

10;52 left

Jackson has his entire starting five on the bench.

LAL for two.

37-22 LAL

BIBBY FOR THREE and the +1 on foul by Farmar.

Good.

37-26 LAL

Oops. They've changed the score.

37-25 LAL

Bibby's shot must have been ruled a two.

 

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Turiaf at the line.

Makes first; makes second.

39-25 LAL

Artest back in.

Corliss hook doesn't go; LAL board.

Evans to the line. Garcia, I think - Barkley talking about Iverson and Melo, and has been for about two minutes.

Evans misses both. Corliss snags the board.

9;40 left

Artest works past one defender, draws up in front of Kobe. Gets Bryant off his feet AND draws the foul.

Artest to the line.

 

[VF21]

Makes first; and second.

39-27 LAL

They're saying Kerr wasn't at the early game; that he's at home in San Diego with back spasms.

Laker miss; Rad board. Turnover by Kobe on "pull the chair" move by Corliss, Kings ball.

Artest drives it inside, draws the foul.

Makes first; and second.

39-29 LAL

 

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Kobe cuts around Artest, starts to drive inside and is fouled HARD in the paint by Corliss.

WTG, BIG NASTY!!!!!

Time out and commercial.

Kobe jawing at Corliss as they go to break.

 

[VF21]

Kobe at the line.

MISSES first.

Bibby on the bench. Martin back in.

Kobe makes second.

40-29 LAL

Artest, Garcia, Thomas, Corliss and Martin on the court.

Corliss miss; LAL board.

Kobe to the line again on foul by Artest. 3PF for Artest. Uh oh - Musselman will yank him and put Hart in or something...

 

[VF21]

Kobe makes first; and second.

42-29 LAL

Good ball movement by the Kings. Corliss goes for the half-hook, good and draws foul by Bynum.

Bonus good.

42-32 LAL

Kobe off the glass for two.

44-32 LAL

7;55 left

Lakers draw dumb foul on the inbound. In the penalty.

Bibby at the line.

Makes first; and second.

44-34 LAL

Barkley AGAIN talking about the loyalty and heart of the Kings fans.

Parker for three.

47-34 LAL

 

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Martin starts to work inside, draws foul from Mo Evans.

Kevin at the line for two.

Makes first; misses second.

47-35 LAL

LAL ball. Kings with the steal, Martin on the run, gets the dunk.

47-37 LAL

LAL for two at the other end.

49-37 LAL

Martin with two more.

49-39 LAL

 

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Bynum in the post, being guarded by Thomas, draws the foul.

Bynum at the line.

Misses first; makes second.

50-39 LAL

6;28 left

Salmons to the line on foul by Mo Evans.

Bibby, Salmons, Corliss, Thomas and Martin on the court for the Kings.

First good, second good.

50-41 LAL

 

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Walton inside, miss. Bynum putback good.

52-41 LAL

Corliss miss; Walton board.

Kobe miss; gets the ball back and is fouled by Bibby. Kobe, of course, has on his "Why are you letting them beat me up like this?" look as they go to commercial...

Kobe at the line after the break.

 

[VF21]

Kobe must have made both, but we didn't see them.

54-41 LAL

Salmons turns the corner to go around Walton and is fouled...

Salmons to the line.

5;36 left

Makes first; and second.

54-43 LAL

Kobe for two.

56-43 LAL

thomas shot blocked by Bynum, he gets it back and puts it in for two.

56-45 LAL

 

[VF21]

Kenny is really putting his heart out there. He gets back down the court, is trying to cover Bynum who is able to go right over him and draw the +1.

58-45 LAL

Kings ball.

Bibby in the corner, defensive three second call on LAL.

Bibby to the line.

Miss...

58-45 LAL

Still Kings ball.

Martin to inbound.

SAR dishes to cutting Martin, who gets inside and draws the foul.

 

[VF21]

Barkley critical of Kings coaching for not running more plays for Martin!

OMG. I agree with Charles Barkley.

Martin makes one of two.

58-46 LAL

Walton called for traveling.

Kings ball.

Salmons spin inside, but too soft. Bynum board.

Kobe inside, dishes out to Walton in the corner. Miss. Kings called for loose ball foul.

Bynum to the line.

One of two.

59-46 LAL

 

[VF21]

SAR off the glass for two.

59-48 LAL

Cook miss; Walton miss; Cook putback finally good.

61-48 LAL

SAR for two more.

61-50 LAL

2;52 left

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

They just showed Doug and Rick Fox again.

Warmed my heart.