Kings-Mavericks PBP for Nov. 29

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

I'll be honest...I'm approaching tonight's game with more than a little trepidation. I never like watching the Mavericks play in Arco. Their attitudes, going back to the playoff days when Nash was still on thekr team, are disgusting and downright rude... and it's just not what I like to think this game we love is supposed to be about.

The Kings are a team in total disarray. They have no real leader on the court; they have no real sense of who they are or even who they should be. They seem more like the neighborhood kids who found the box of nice new uniforms and decided they could play as a team than a group of young NBA players.

Anyone who's read my PBPs at all knows I'm usually upbeat and hopeful. I've talked all season about heart and hustle, energy and enthusiasm. Those are the traits I want from our kids, and there's reason to hope. They HAVE those traits; the problem is they aren't being allowed to showcase them or have an opportunity for growth.

We aren't going to the playoffs. We aren't going to win a ton of games and surprise the league. It is NOT going to happen this year. So why, in that case, are veterans like Brad Miller and Mikki Moore seeing major minutes that take development time away from Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes??? Those two players are young and they are the future. THIS is the time to develop their skills and help them get the education they can only get by playing.

Okay, I'm done with my soap box oratory...at least for now. I'm going to go into this PBP with the same hope for our team that I look for before every game. I want to see a good game, with energy and excitement, a game that gets the Arco crowd involved early.

Now, for the commercial break:

Kingsfans.com is a great place to come to catch up on the latest discussions, talk about your hopes and/or fears for the team, etc. We have some fantastic members who really know the game of basketball and we have newcomers who are able to join in and learn more about the game we love. All are welcome to our family-friendly board.

All this is possible because of the generosity and dedication of our board owner. If you would like to help defray the costs of keeping Kingsfans.com up and running as the #1 Sacramento Kings internet community, please consider becoming a Contributing Member You're under no obligation, of course, but our Contributing Members do receive things like larger avatars, custom user titles, and first chance at tickets to group events, such as attending the opening night game at Arco with some of your favorite KF posters.

If the game is too lopsided or is a repeat of the second half of last night's game, I'll be switching over to the Planet of the Apes marathon on the Fox Movie Channel. If anyone asks, I could probably do a PBP of that.

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

And, to paraphrase myself:

Die Mavericks scum!!!!

You know, that actually makes me feel better!!!

GO KINGS!

 

[hoopsfan]

Die Mavericks scum!!!!

Nice!!

*ducks out of PBP thread now*

 

[VF21]

Kings start Udrih, Salmons, Greene, Moore and Miller

Mavericks start Kidd, Wright, Green, Nowitzki, Dampier


To prevent confusion, I'll probably refer to their Green as GG and our Greene as DG.

 

[VF21]

Francisco is gathering the team together on the sidelines and giving them a brief pep talk. I LIKE OUR CISCO!!!

Ready for the tip...Horrible toss and Mavs finally get control of it.

Very easy pass inside to a wide open Dampier who starts the game with a clean one-handed dunk.

2-0 Mavs

Beno from the baseline, beats Kidd, and Beno goes off the glass with a reverse for two.

2-2

11;02 left

Wright driving inside, fouled by Salmons and heading to the line. 1PF for Salmons.

 

[VF21]

Wright makes first; and second.

4-2 Mavs

Kings with good ball movement, dish from DG tro Udrih, over to Miller, then to Moore and kick out to DG who airballs a mid-range jumper without getting set. Ball oob; Mavs ball.

10;38 left

DG called with a foul away from the ball; 1PF. Mavs will inbound as Reggie Theus is yelling instructions to DG, who is able to prevent GG from scoring and Kings have the ball back.

Udrih pass inside to Moore. Dampier called for foul on Moore, non-shooting. 1PF. Three attempt by DG doesn't go; Miller takes the rebound away from everyone else, gets it to Beno and Kings have two more.

4-4

Dampier with the ball; DG steals it. Pass forward to Salmons, who goes right at Dirk, misses the first time but cleans it up and gets the second attempt to fall.

6-4 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Kings force another turnover as Wright cannot get a clean shot, and Kings have the ball back. Udrih fouled and heading to the line.

Beno makes first; and second.

8-4 KINGS

9;24 left

Beno playing Jason Kidd very well so far...

Udrih with the pass interception but Moore is called for a non-shooting foul away from the ball and Mavericks will inbound. Theus again giving instructions to DG...

Mavs inbound. Miss; and Moore has the rebound.

DG sets his feet and gets the nice long two to fall with nothing but net.

10-4 KINGS

Now this is the kind of ball I like...

Kidd for three.

10-7 KINGS

Moore on the run, hustles down and gets the reception and two points.

12-7 KINGS

Dirk for three.

12-10 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Kings ball, Salmons kick out to Miller, who misses the jumper and Dampier gets the rebound.

GG miss; long rebound goes right back to the Mavs.

7;32 left

Wright drives inside, ball stripped but Dampier saves it and gets two more.

12-12

Kings ball.

Udrih with the ball, shot blocked by Kidd but Beno gets it back. Kings miss; Dirk rebound.

Kidd to the line on foul by Udrih. 1PF.

6;57 left

 

[VF21]

Misses first; makes second.

13-12 Mavs

Kings ball. Udrih to Moore, back to Udrih, who drives inside, tries to get past Kidd and has the ball knocked away. Mavs on the run...Kidd for two more.

15-12 Mavs

6;23 left

Miller nice feed inside to Salmons for two.

15-14 Mavs

Dirk tries to get clear but he's wearing Mikki; he kicks out to Kidd, who gets by Beno and has two more.

17-14 Mavs

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

5;43 left

Time out and commercial break...

 

[VF21]

And our first check-in with our courtside reporter...

Oh good grief. I cannot even begin to repeat the drivel she's spewing. And Grant is acting as though they are pearls of wisdom suitable for carving into the side of Arco Arena. BLECH!!!

Kings lose ball oob; Mavs will inbound.

Grant and Jerry saying they were talking to Kevin's dad and they're hopeful he'll return during this home stand...

Dirk called for traveling. Kings have the ball back.

Salmons miss; Dirk rebound.

Jason Terry in for the Mavs and he quickly gets two.

20-14 Mavs

4;34 left

Mid-range jumper by Mikki for two.

20-16 Mavs

Reggie bellowing, "Go high, low!!!"

Foul on Dampier and he heads to the line. Foul charged to Salmons. 2PF.

Dampier misses first badly; Bobby Jackson in for Salmons. Crowd reacts nicely, as usual.

 

[VF21]

Dampier makes second.

21-16 Mavs

4;05 left

Garcia is also into the game, and he's fouled on the baseline by Wright. Non-shooting. 3 team fouls. Kings will inbound.

Miller to Moore, whose jumper this time is short. Udrih with the rebound, kicks out to Garcia, who muscles inside but cannot get the shot off the glass to fall. Dampier with the rebound but he steps oob and Kings have it back.

3;44 left

Miller, Jackson, Moore, Udrih and Cisco for the Kings

Jackson for two.

21-18 Mavs

 

[VF21]

Miss; Moore rebound. Kidd tries for the steal from Jackson, but Bobby gets right past him. Kings try to go inside, Miller to the floor - no call. Mavs with the ball.

Kings totally collapse on Brandon Bass in the paint and they call a jump ball.

2;50 left

Time out. They'll toss it up after the commercial break.

 

[VF21]

It's very nice to see Cisco out there, even if there are obvious cobwebs. He's a match for Bobby as far as energy, hustle and heart go, and I LOVE to see it!

 

[VF21]

Jump ball - Moore and Bass. Hawes in for Miller. Tip is bobbled by the Mavs and Jackson ends up with it.

Brown, Jackson, Garcia, Moore and Hawes for the Kings

Cisco inside, miss and Mavs have the rebound. Grant says Garcia is limping as he goes up the court. Mavs miss; Kings ball. Garcia pullup jumper doesn't go.

Wright miss; Brown rebound. Kings get upcourt but Brown backs out and resets. Brown three doesn't go; Mavs rebound.

Mavs miss a three; and Moore gets the board.

1;28 left

Hawes jumper doesn't go; Mavs have it back. Run, run, shoot, miss. Run, run, shoot, miss.

Mavs break the monotony and get two more.

25-18 Mavs

There was a Mavs basket in there somewhere that I missed apparently...

Kings for two.

25-20 Mavs

 

[VF21]

Terry dishes inside to Dampier, and Cisco tries to block him out but no luck. Dampier to the line on foul by Garcia.

Thompson in for Moore.

Dampier at the line. Makes first; misses second and THompson has the rebound.

26-20 Mavs

34 seconds left

Brown to Thompson, miss. Hawes putback doesn't go. Thompson putback doesn't go. Mavs with the ball. They'll hold for final shot.

Jason Terry for three at the buzzer.

29-20 Mavs

End of the first quarter.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the second quarter...

Thompson goes inside and is fouled. Non-shooting. Kings inbound, Hawes miss. Mavs rebound.

Ball oob but Mavs retain possession.

11;34 left

Mavs miss trying to get past the zone; Kings rebound. Jackson to Brown for two. Delay of game warning to the Kings...didn't see why.

29-22 Mavs

Bass able to body up inside and get the reverse to fall despite good coverage by Thompson and Hawes.

31-22 Mavs

Hawes called for traveling and Mavs have the ball right back...

Salmons back in; Cisco trying to catch his breath on the bench.

 

[VF21]

Mavs ball.

Hawes does good job covering Dirk, who takes a bad shot but ball goes oob off Kings. Mavs to inbound again.

10;03 left

Salmons with the steal, good ball movement by the Kings. Jackson calling the action. Drops over to Brown, but jumper is short and Bass has the ball.

Dirk WIDE OPEN in transition for very easy two.

33-22 MAVS

Hawes passes up jumper, puts the ball on the floor to get around Dirk but drags his pivot foot and is called for the travel. Mavs have it back.

 

[VF21]

Dirk miss; Hawes rebound. Outlet to Salmons, who is called for traveling.

Time out and commercial break.

As they go to commerical, Grant says that Salmons saw Udrih walking back to the scorer's table and that's why he traveled.

...

...

...

Erm...

...

...

Okay.

 

[VF21]

Oh joy of unfettered joys... Angela Tsai is reporting on Cisco's conditioning. And doing her usual job of it.

Mavs inbound.

8;51 left

Terry pullup jumper for two more.

35-22 Mavs

Udrih, Jackson, Salmons, Thompson and Miller for the Kings

Jackson starts to dish inside, lots of contact inside and ball goes oob. Meanwhile, at the other end of the court, Bennet Salvatore falls down...

Mavs inbound.

 

[VF21]

Hehehehe.

Dirk tries to drive inside with his usual wussiness and Jason Thompson smacks him on the head.

Dirk makes both from the line.

37-22 Mavs

Kings ball.

8;03 left

Salmons inside, recognizes traffic and kicks out to Jackson. Miss; Udrih rebound. Miss; Miller rebound. Miss, but he's going to the line because of a foul by Bass.

 

[VF21]

Miller makes first; and second.

37-24 Mavs

7;43 left

Dirk tries again to work on Jason, and has to dump off to Barea, who loses ball out of bounds as Thompson dropped onto him and forced him to lose the ball.

Jackson fouls Terry, non-shooting. 4 team fouls on the Kings. Mavs inbound. Turnover and Beno and Bobby break loose. They reset, Miller passes up an open jumper and Kings called for non-shooting foul, losing the ball right back to the Mavericks.

6;59 left

Dirk pullup jumper doesn't go; Udrih rebound.

GO KINGS!!!!

Salmons fallaway jumper falls off the rim; Mavs rebound.

Miss; Kings rebound.

Pass to Jason inside, and he's called for traveling again. Mavs ball.

 

[VF21]

Mavs get two more.

39-24 Mavs

Jackson for two.

39-26 Mavs

5;42 left

Udrih, Jackson, Salmons, Moore and Miller for the Kings.

Mavs miss; Salmons rebound.

 

[VF21]

Pass to Miller in the low post. He's fouled.

Time out and commercial break.

Miller at the line when they return...

 

[VF21]

Miller at the line.

5;16 left

Brad makes first; and second.

39-28 Mavs

Jason does have a bad habit of dragging his pivot foot. They're really going to have to work on that. I sure wish we had a couple of spare assistant coaches who could do that.



Mavs miss; Kings rebound.

Udrih for long two.

39-30 Mavs

 

[VF21]

Mavs all over the place, miss but Dampier snags the board. Kick out and Mavs miss; this time Udrih has the rebound. Kicks to Salmons, who puts it on the glass and Dampier is called for goal-tending.

39-32 Mavs

3;48 left

Mavs miss; Moore rebound.

GO KINGS!!!!

Miller kicks to Salons, over to Jackson. Back to Miller and the elbow jumper is flat. Mavs rebound.

Bass miss; Miller rebound.

Udrih drives by three defenders and gets the nice layup off the glass.

39-34 Mavs

Whooo!!!

3;02 left

Mavs call time out...and they head to commercial.

 

[VF21]

Mavs ball.

GG miss as Salmons partially deflects it; Kings rebound.

Salmons miss; GG called for loose ball foul as he shoved Moore out of the way. Kings to inbound. 4 team fouls on Mavs.

Kings ball. Jackson miss; Dampier rebound.

2;10 left

Dampier shot blocked by Miller, Moore comes up with the ball. Udrih blows by Kidd, kicks out to Moore and he's got two more.

39-36 Mavs

Arco is coming alive...

Circus shot inside by Dirk and the +1 ...

41-36 Mavs

bonus is good.

42-36 Mavs

1;22 left

 

[VF21]

Horrible play... Beno loses the ball on a bad pass, Terry runs down for the layup ... AND MISSES IT! Unfortunately Beno had given up on the play and was turned around to blame whomever made the bad pass or he'd have gotten the rebound. Terry didn't miss the second time.

44-36 Mavs

Kings for two.

44-38 Mavs

Moore called for a technical foul. Dirk converts...and then heads to the line to shoot free throws. No idea why...

45-38 Mavs

Dirk misses first; makes second.

46-38 Mavs

38 seconds left.

 

[VF21]

Miller nice pass inside to Jackson, but his reverse lay-up refuses to fall. Mavs rebound.

Kidd miss; Salmons with the rebound and he runs the court. He gets to the basket but cannot convert before the buzzer sounds.

End of the first half.

46-38 Mavs

 

[VF21]

As a bit of an expansion on the Beno fiasco, someone inside - I think Mikki - was kicking out to Beno but it was a HORRIBLE pass and Jason Terry picked it off. He ran down the court with Beno covering him. As he approached the basket, Beno turned around to yell at Mikki (I think) about the bad pass. In that instant, Jason MISSED the easy lay-up and Beno could have had the rebound but his back was turned and he was about 10 feet away. Because of that, Terry got his own rebound and covered his own mistake...

I have mixed feelings. I think Beno was within his right to yell at a teammate about a horrible pass BUT he should never have assumed the play was over until the ball was in the hoop.

 

[VF21]

Another frustrating half of basketball by the Kings. Way too much Mikki Moore and Brad Miller, IMHO, even though Jason Thompson had a couple of dumb traveling calls. I think you learn not to do that by doing it and having your teammates ridicule you, but I could be wrong. (Although I don't think so...)

Hawes apparently became invisible as he only had about 6 or 7 minutes, I believe.