Kings-Lakers PBP thread for March 22

[VF21]

Welcome, fellow Kings fans!I just got home. My house is cold, my cats haven't been fed, but priorities are priorities!

Here's what the Bee had to say this morning about today's game:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14233357p-15055244c.html

KINGS UPDATE
Status: They gained their revenge against the Lakers, beating them 114-98 March 14 after a 106-85 Lakers victory Feb. 23. Now it's back to Staples Center, where the February rout took place. The Lakers are hot and cold at home - just as they are on the road - winning six of their last 11 games at Staples.

Trend: Too bad the "Yoda" reference in regards to assistant coach Pete Carril is only in jest, as the Kings truly could use an expert of "the force" these days. They have been lacking focus in all the ways a team looking to make a playoff push shouldn't, resulting in the sort of sloppy play that drives guys like Carril batty.

Injury report: None.

LAKERS UPDATE
Status: The Kings were one of four teams to hand the Lakers a setback since March 12, as they've won just two of their last six. For all the talk of Kobe Bryant being a one-man team, the loss of center Chris Mihm was no small setback. With guard Devean George already out, they're limping to the finish.

Trend: As "off" months go, Bryant's March was about as good as they get. Still, his average is on the rise again -from 31.5 points in March to 34.8 today. He scored 43 points in a victory over Boston on Monday.

Injury report: Devean George, severely sprained right wrist, probable; Aaron McKie, slightly torn left quadriceps tendon, probable; Chris Mihm, severely sprained right ankle, out.

Best matchup: Artest vs. Bryant - Ding, ding, ding. Round 3 comes quickly, the third time the game's best scorer and its best defender have faced off since Feb. 23. The battle is tied at one each, with Bryant scoring 36 points in the Lakers' win and 30 points on 12-for-28 shooting in the second meeting - a Kings victory.

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I'm looking for a GOOD game! And I'm hoping the Kings wipe the smile right off Jack Nicholson's face early.

GO KINGS!!!!!

 

[VF21]

Kings lineup: Bibby, Martin, Artest, KT and Brad

Lakers lineup: Bryant and 4 other guys

 

[VF21]

Heheheheeh. Kobe didn't shake Ron's hand. I'm sure Artest is crushed...



Tip to the Lakers.

Smush for three.

3-0 LA

 

[VF21]

Bibby inside, kicks out to Martin, three misses. Ball oob, LA ball.

11:15 left

Cook inside, hands to Brown - lane violation when Brown is smothered by 4 purple jerseys. Turnover.

Kings ball.

Bibby to Miller, out to Kevin. Another miss. LA board.

LA pass slapped away by Artest, Parker chases it down.

Brown posts and can't get the lay-up to go, Miller board.

Good ball movement, Miller wide open at the elbow - jumper good.

3-2 LA

10:07 left

 

[VF21]

Cook miss, Kings ball.

Bibby three won't go; LA ball.

Bryant smothered by Artest, passes to somebody who misses. Kings board.

Martin "turns on the accelerator", goes inside, miss. LA board.

Parker for two.

5-2 LA

Bibby miss, transition by Brown for two more.

7-2 LA

I'm hoping maybe the Kings will start to hit something soon.

8:25 left

Miller miss; Brown board.

 

[VF21]

Brown pass outside to Kobe, who is able to get around ARtest and get the up and under to fall.

9-2 LA

Adelman calls time out...

and commercial.

7:56 left

 

[VF21]

Good group forming at Mr. S£im's CHAT PARTY LIVE. mIRC, server irc.bludgeon.org, channel #kingsfans.

Oh, BTW?

DIE LAKER SCUM!!!!!!!

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

MIller jumper no good; LA board.

Ball oob off Kwame Brown. Kings ball.

7:15 left

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

Whew!!!

9-5 LA

 

[VF21]

Cook miss; Brown board.

Gives to Kobe, who drives inside and is fouled by Miller.

6:43 left

Non-shooting foul. Still LA ball.

Parker pass to Brown fumbled by they're able to get it back. Cook from the corner for two.

11-5 LA

 

[VF21]

Artest with the ball, Brown guarding him, Bryant steal from behind.

13-5 LA

Kobe doing a lot of smart-arse razzle dazzle.

Kings ball. Another Laker steal and two more in transition.

15-5 LA

CRAP!!!!

 

[VF21]

Bibby miss on quick pull-up jumper.

LA miss; Miller board.

Bibby pass forward to KT, who sees Martin and gets the ball to him. Kevin for two.

15-7 LA

KT called for foul on Kobe. 1PF. Non-shooting. Still LA ball.

4:44 left

Wells in for Martin. Covering Cook.

Odom for three.

We are so screwed.

18-7 LA

 

[VF21]

Kobe with an underhand pass to Odom. 3 assists for Kobe.

20-7 LA

Oh, crap. Another bleeping turnover as the Lakers record another steal.

Brown inside, draws foul from Miller. Shot doesn't go. Brown slams the ball to the floor, it bounces about 10 feet in the air...no call.

Brown to the line for two. Miller out, SAR in.

Brown makes first; misses second. Artest with the board.

21-9 LA

3:16 left

Artest drives inside, ball knocked oob. Still Kings ball.

 

[VF21]

SAR has the ball stolen. LA ball.

Odom in and out; Brown knocks rebound oob.

2:51 left

Time out and commercial.

Kings ball after the break - at least until the Lakers steal it again.

This is EMBARRASSING and you won't see me say that very often. If the Kings are going to play that kind of unfocused, uninspired ball they do not DESERVE to go to the playoffs.

 

[VF21]

KT pass inside to SAR for two.

21-11 LA

Bibby, Wells, Artest, KT and SAR on the court.

Bryant runner good even though Artest is all over him.

23-11 LA

Artest in the post, passes out to open Bonzi. Jumper misses; putback attempts by SAR and KT also miss. LA ball.

Brown to the line.

Makes first; and second.

25-11 LA

 

[VF21]

Oh good. ANOTHER bleeping turnover on a mishandled pass.

Kobe for two at the other end.

27-11 LA

Bonzi for two at the other end.

27-13 LA

50 seconds left in the first quarter.

SAR called for foul away from the ball. 5th team foul on the Kings.

46.5 seconds left.

POTATOHEAD into the game!!!



Brown to the line.

 

[VF21]

One of two from the line for Kwame.

28-13 LA

Kings ball...Oh wait. Lakers ball.

Artest with the steal when Kobe starts doing between the leg dribbles, taps the ball to Bibby.

Mike drives inside, draws the foul.

Bibby to the line for two.

Misses first; makes second.

28-14 LA

Kobe runs around Vitaly like he's nailed to the floor.

KIngs ball, but Parker steals it. Three at the buzzer doesn't go...

End of the first quarter.

Maybe if we're lucky there will be an earthquake or something.

 

[VF21]

Artest, Cisco, Wells, KT and Vitaly on the court.

Artest inbounds, full court press, he's tripled. LA gets the ball and two more bleeping points.

32-14 LA

Artest shot blocked by Bynum, ball oob. Still Kings ball, but only 3 seconds on shot clock...

KT jumper misses; oob off Bynum. New clock for the Kings.

Miller in for KT.

11:17 left

 

[VF21]

Vitaly with a sloppy half-hook but it goes in.

32-16 LA

Bryant miss; Cisco board.

Artest pull-up three doesn't go; LA board.

Cisco called for foul. Non-shooting. Still LA ball.

Sasha miss; Artest board.

Wells airball from the corner; LA gets it. Forward pass to lurking Walton for easy two.

34-16 LA

9:37 left

Vitaly hook doesn't go this time; LA board.

 

[VF21]

LA miss; Miller board.

Good lord. What a bleeping train wreck.

Miller nearly has ball stolen. It goes oob off LA.

Time out and commercial...

 

[VF21]

I have to take a break and get the fire started in my house. The thermometer says 52 degrees and I'm having trouble typing. Be back in a couple...

 

[VF21]

3:49 left in the first half.

44-27 LA

At this point, there is very little good that can be said about this game.

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!!

44-30 LA

 

[VF21]

Time out and commercial.

Kobe to the line after the break.

 

[VF21]

Okay, I had to stop again and get the fire going in the woodstove. It seems that the more it started to heat up, the better the Kings started to get.

Score now:

50-40 LA

20 seconds left.

 

[VF21]

Kobe with a dagger for three.

53-40 LA

End of the first half.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the second half.

Bibby, Martin, ARtest, KT and Miller on the court

Bibby miss; ARtest board.

Artest drives inside, draws a crowd and passes to KT for easy hook.

53-42 LA

Parker inside for two and the +1. Bibby takes a bad step, turns his ankle and is in pain.

Adelman takes a 20 second time out...makes it a full time out. Youngman looking at Bibby's right ankle.

...

...

...

 

[VF21]

Bibby appears to have suffered a knee to the calf or something. He's still on the floor.

56-42 LA

Kings ball on an Artest rebound.

Ball oob, knocked out of Bibby's hands. Still Kings ball.

Another Kings turnover. LA ball.

10:16 left

I give up. sorry, guys, but it's too cool and this game stinks too badly for me to sit here freezing and doing a PBP. I've going to go stand by the stove and get warm.

58-42 LA

9:00 left

 

[piksi]

70 - 55 LA with 2:17 to go in the 3rd

 

[piksi]

72-58 after 3