Kings-Nuggets PBP for Dec. 6

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

Okay, the big question - at least right now - is who will be in the starting lineup and will Theus utilize the kids or will he focus on attempting to defeat the red-hot Nuggets and break the losing streak at home?

The Kings had a nice rest after Tuesday's loss, and they don't have another game after this one until they face the Lakers next Tuesday, so we shouldn't have to worry about players using up their minutes like cheap calling plans.

I want to see... all together now... "heart and hustle, energy and enthusiasm." I want - and I think the fans in Arco want - to see excitement and exuberance from the guys wearing the Kings jerseys. I want to see the coaches involved and interacting with the players, especially the kids.

Tonight's PBP, and everything else here at Kingsfans.com, is possible because of the dedication and generosity of our board owner. We're all very proud of the Internet community we've created here as the place to come if you want to talk Kings basketball. If you would like to help defray the costs of keeping Kingsfans.com up and running, please consider becoming a Contributing Member. There is no obligation, of course, but every contribution helps keep us around.

We've got the game discussion thread going so be sure and check it out. And we'll have Bricklayer's grades after the game, along with his "Question of the night" poll.

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

GO KINGS!!!

 

[VF21]

First word from Grant and Jerry - Reggie Theus has a full roster to work with tonight.

Brad Miller on playing with Spencer Hawes - "It's different playing with him down there in the post. He's got like 2500 moves..."

Kings starting lineup:

Udrih, Martin, Salmons, Hawes and Miller

At least that's what I got from Grant and Jerry, because they specifically mentioned Moore as being part of the bench.

If that's true, that's step one...

 

[VF21]

On opening night, Rev Theory sang the new theme song for the Kings, "Light It Up!" It's the tune we hear at the beginning of the game coverage each night. And so, I'm adding another slogan to my repertoire...

LIGHT IT UP!

 

[VF21]

Billups, Jones, Anthony, Balkman, and Nene for the Nuggets

You know, as odd as it might sound, the Kings just might have enough motivation and focus to take this game away from Denver. Heart and hustle, energy and enthusiasm...

GO KINGS!!!

Miller with the tip to Salmons.

Udrih cuts around a nice pick set by Hawes, and is fouled. Beno to the line. Foul on Billups. 1PF

Makes first; and second.

2-0 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Nuggest miss; Nene tries for the rebound but Hawes ended up with it. Udrih, to Salmons, kick over to Hawes, miss. Martin and Jones for the rebound, Jones has it.

Billups for two.

2-2

Martin over Balman doesn't fall; Carmelo with the rebound. Kings called for kicking the ball; Denver will inbound.

Oh good lord. Billups pulls up right outside the arc; brush foul by Salmons, the bucket goes and Chauncey heads to the line.

5-2 Denver

KIngs ball. Nene blocks the shot and it goes oob. Kings inbound, over to Beno for two.

5-4 DEN

 

[VF21]

Nuggets ball.

Anthony gets past Salmons and Martin for the pullup jumper.

7-4 DEN

Udrih drives inside in traffic, ball stripped.

Nuggets inside for two more.

9-4 DEN

So much for my motivation theory.



Kings miss; Nuggets rebound. Udrih called for non-shooting foul. Nene gets by Miller for two.

11-4 Denver

8;53 left

Theus calls 20 second time out.

 

[VF21]

Reggie is NOT happy. He's gesturing with a LOT of animation, and rightly so, about the "lack of defense" being exhibited thus far...

Theus is still snarling at the Kings as they retake the court. Again, I think he's exactly right.

Kings inbound. Well, kind of. Nene is right there, covering Hawes and he wrestles the ball away, and runs the court for the slam.

13-4 Denver

Kings ball... Oh wait. Nene steps in for a pass interception, runs the court again and gets another stupid dunk.

15-4 Denver

It's gonna be a very long night.

Hawes for two as he puts the left-handed hook up over Nene.

15-6 Denver

Nene miss on the jumper but Balkman saves the ball, puts it up and Nene flies in for ANOTHER STUPID DUNK and the +1 to add just a little more insult - if possible - to injury.

18-6 Denver

Hawes for two.

18-8 Denver

 

[VF21]

Balkman half-hook for two.

20-8 Denver

The "crowd" looks and sounds stunned, to say the least. Martin to Miller at the top of the key, Miller looks for cutting Martin and passes to ... a Nugget.

Balkman on the run for two more and the +1 from Miller.

22-8 Denver

Bonus actually msses and Kings get the rebound.

Martin brings the ball cross court and a very angry looking Reggie Theus calls time out. I'm glad they do not allow flogging as I strongly suspect Theus would have the entire starting five tied to the mast.

Arco honoring the Pearl Harbor survivors as they do each year. This year, there are four.

 

[VF21]

Brown jumper doesn't fall; Nuggets rebound.

Brown now in, along with Thompson, for Udrih and Miller.

Nuggets with another basket.

24-8 Denver

Martin misses from the corner. Brown with the rebound, back to Martin who gets the off-balance one-legged off-the-glass lay-up to fall.

24-10 Denver

Nuggets miss; Brown rebound. Miss; Denver snags the ball by sending it oob off Brown's leg.

Denver inbounds; Brown called for foul. Billups to the line as Kings are already in the penalty.

5;24 left

 

[VF21]

CB makes both.

26-10 Denver

Brown taking a long time, finally cuts inside, kicks out to Hawes in the corner, airball. THompson with the rebound, miss, but Jason fights hard for the board again. Balkman gets it; miss. Kings rebound and Salmons gets two.

26-12 Denver

4;32 left

28-12 Denver

Salmons off the dribble, runs into the defender and they both go to the floor. Foul called on Denver; Kings inbound.

Miller overhand pass to Martin, and he's fouled. Kings inbound and turn it over. Nuggets on the run - Jones fouled and to the line.

28-12 Denver

 

[VF21]

Jones makes first; Garcia comes in for Brown. Jones makes second.

30-12 Denver

Nice determination by the Kings, Jason touches the ball three times and finally gets in position for the dunk.

30-14 Denver

Denver ball. Turnover. Kings ball.

3;16 left

Long jumper by the Kings doesn't fall; Denver rebound.

Not sure what happened because the camera shifted to George Karl, walking well onto the court to yell at the officials in the middle of the play. Grant is livid, demanding a technical...

Time out and as they go to commercial, George Karl is again in the middle of the court, almost at the Kings logo, yelling...

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

Salmons mid-range jumper for two.

30-16 Denver

Much better Kings defense inside, but Denver kicks it out and they get a three as there was no one on the perimeter guarding anyone with four white jerseys in the paint.

33-16 Denver

1;59 left

 

[VF21]

Carmelo lay-up for two.

35-16 Denver

Denver shooting 82%...



Moore in for Hawes.

Salmons with the ball, hops inside, looked like he walked but no call, misses the layup. Denver misses on the other end; Kings ball. They miss; Nuggets ball.

Nene miss; Kings rebound. Kings miss; Garcia called for foul on Nene, sending him to the line.

42.5 seconds left

"Boy," VF21 said. "I'm sure glad we're back at full strength or the Nuggets would really be making us look bad."

Nene misses both and Salmons has the rebound.

 

[VF21]

Salmons to Garcia to Thompson, who misses the close hook. Loose ball foul called on the Kings and the Nuggets head back to the line...

sigh...

28.4 seconds left

Carter at the line. Makes first; and second.

37-16 Denver

Udrih, Garcia, Salmons, Thompson and Moore for the Kings.

Udrih miss; Kings rebound. Thompson with his second dunk of the night.

37-18 Denver

Nuggets with the ball, Garcia blocks the shot at the buzzer.

Mercifully, it's the end of the first quarter.

 

[VF21]

They have a little mini-feature, showing "first year assistant coach" Shareef Abdur-Rahim talking about how he's working with Jason Thompson.

Denver ball to start the second half...

Martin back in for the Kings. Thompson and Moore in the frontcourt. Garcia miss from outside; Nuggets rebound.

Two more for Denver.

39-18 Denver

Kings ball, Thompson fouled as Nuggets try to wrestle the ball away. Non-shooting. Kings have a couple of chances but don't capitalize. Nuggets miss; Kings with the ball back... and back to the Nuggets.

41-18 Denver

And the boo-birds start to make a little noise here and there.

10;08 left

Martin to the line.

 

[VF21]

Kevin makes both.

41-20 Denver

Udrih, Martin, Salmons, Hawes and Miller back on the floor for the Kings

Denver ball; Martin called for non-shooting foul. Nuggets inbound, Birdman to the line on foul by Miller. I didn't realize Chris Anderson was back in the NBA. I really should pay more attention, I suppose.

One of two and Garcia has the rebound.

42-20 Denver

9;43 left

Udrih drives inside, heads to the line on foul by somebody.

Makes first; and second.

42-22 Denver

 

[VF21]

Melo miss; Kings rebound.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!

42-25 Denver

9;07 left

Miller takes the ball away from Anderson, forward pass and each King touches it. Hawes cannot get the hook to fall. Denver rebound.

Time out and commercial break.

8;46 left

 

[VF21]

Oh, joy of joys and revelry unbridled. Our CSR has another in-depth interview with a couple in Kings Row, because we can all identify with people who pay $1,500 a night to go to Kings games, don't we???

...

43-28 Denver

I'd try and tell you what happened, but I have no clue. I had my eyes closed so I wouldn't have to gaze upon Ms. Tsai as she conducted that fascinating bit of broadcast journalism.

7;34 left

 

[VF21]

Grant is referring to our play as "matador defense." Ole!!!

45-32 Denver

 

[VF21]

I created a new "Fire Reggie Theus" poll. It will be available right after the game... I figured it might not be fair to have it during the game as some people might vote and then, because of something good or bad that happens in the game, want to change their votes.

I don't know what to say in this PBP.

5;54 left

45-32 Denver

 

[VF21]

Udrih misses and Spencer gets the hard slap putback. Smith is called for goal-tending as he yanked on the netting.

45-34 Denver

Denver gets two. Kings do nothing.

Balkman shot knocked into the seats by Hawes. Billups inside for two.

49-34 Denver

3;53 left

And you can hear some lady in the crowd yelling, No, no! Nene!"

...

Did I mention it's going to be a very long night?

Garcia at the line.

Makes first; Salmons in for Miller. Cisco gets the second FT.

49-36 Denver

 

[VF21]

This is gonna get ugly.

Balkman was on the run, ready for another running dunk, and Garcia caught him and fouled him hard, sending him into the stanchion but not trying to hurt him or anything. Balkman turned around and went after Garcia. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed before there could be anything more.

Time out.

Balkman will be at the line after the commercial break.

I don't even know what the score is any more.

 

[VF21]

Balkman has been called for a technical, which I think was totally appropriate. Now, though, it appears as though Garcia has also been called for a flagrant one. Watching the replay it was clearly NOT a flagrant.

Martin is at the line and misses the technical freebie.

Denver at the line for two and the ball on the flagrant one. HORRIBLE call!

Heheheheh. Balkman misses the first; makes the second.

54-36 Denver

2;59 left

Grant says the officials will review the call during half-time and might, in fact, reverse the flagrant designation.

...

 

[VF21]

54-37 Denver

Excuse the lapses in continuity. I had some minor moderator duties to perform.



1;21 left

We do have one hope for the second half. The Nuggets might just wear themselves out...

Another Nene dunk. That's about 73 of them, I believe.

Kings with two and Nuggets with two more.

58-39 Denver

 

[VF21]

Oops. I looked away and missed it. The first half is mercifully over...and I'm a little embarrassed to say I don't even know the score. I just know the Nuggets have totally and completely dominated the game.