Kings-Rockets PBP for Sunday, April 8

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans! And Happy Easter!

An overcast day here in the forest, and actually a lot cooler than recent days. Looking out at my oak tree, however, I just noticed the leaves are finally starting to appear so I guess spring has come to this part of the Sierras at last...

Lots of strange stuff going on in the sports pages. First, Marcos Breton's final sports column is a hoot. I posted it in the General forum so check it out if you want a laugh...

In other areas, it seems the local media is finally realizing the Kings aren't going to make the playoffs. Thank God for them. How many of us could have been tricked into buying expensive playoff tickets had they not let us in on the secret?



I'm going to be focusing most of my attention on the kids. Their heart and hustle alone is what makes watching the Kings the rest of the season even bearable. That and the hope that I'm seeing the rapidly-approaching end of the "Musselman era" of the Sacramento Kings...

I love this team! And, delusional as it might seem, I know they're going to be better next year. The excitement will be in finding out just who we draft, who we get rid of and who our new coach is gonna be.

Now the commercial break...

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Now for today's totally trivial observation: Anyone think Slamson won't be dressed as the Easter Bunny at some point today????

 

[piksi]

And, delusional as it might seem, I know they're going to be better next year.

I wish - I could believe that. I really do.

 

[kennadog]

I wish - I could believe that. I really do.

Whether I believe it or not, I can hope. At least until reality hits me upside the head again. And reality was a lot like your avatar this year.

 

[VF21]

Ah, but we're the polar opposites on the glass spectrum, dear piksi. I would no more expect you to be optimistic than you would expect me to worry that I'm going to break the glass, cut my lip, have it get infected and die of blooding poisoning.

We're the yin and the yang; without one, the other just doesn't seem to be in balance with the universe.

 

[piksi]

Ah, but we're the polar opposites on the glass spectrum, dear piksi. I would no more expect you to be optimistic than you would expect me to worry that I'm going to break the glass, cut my lip, have it get infected and die of blooding poisoning.

We're the yin and the yang; without one, the other just doesn't seem to be in balance with the universe.

we both also hope that You will end up being right

 

[fnordius]

Well, we do have a couple of things to be happy about this year. We lost Bonzi, but between Kevin's scoring and Justin's rebounding, we sort of made up the loss.

We may not get a great draft pick, but he will still be better than we're used to.

Our vets are one year closer to the ends of their contracts.

Muss probably won't be around next year, and whoever replaces him can't be any worse.

In short, to quote Douglas Adams (The Ancient Betelgeusian Death Anthem in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), "After this, things can only get better."

 

[piksi]

Well, we do have a couple of things to be happy about this year. We lost Bonzi, but between Kevin's scoring and Justin's rebounding, we sort of made up the loss.

We may not get a great draft pick, but he will still be better than we're used to.

Our vets are one year closer to the ends of their contracts.

Muss probably won't be around next year, and whoever replaces him can't be any worse.

In short, to quote Douglas Adams (The Ancient Betelgeusian Death Anthem in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), "After this, things can only get better."

not even close

 

[VF21]

Okay, back to the PBP.

HPL is on. They showed Tracy Mac showing up for the game. They didn't say he wouldn't be playing...

 

[VF21]

Update: According to Jim Kozimor, "the Kings will have to find a way to slow him (Tracy) down tonight."

Unless they're talking about him borrowing a car and roaring around the parking lot, I'm assuming they mean he will play.

 

[VF21]

Further update: Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady will both be starting for the Houston Rockets.

 

[VF21]

Starters for the Rockets: Alston, McGrady, Battier, Hayes and Ming

Starters for the Kings: Bibby, Martin, Artest, SAR and Miller

 

[VF21]

Miller starting but they're not sure how long he can play because of the ongoing foot problems. Grant says Bibby has back problems and he might also not play as much as usual...

Tip to the Kings.

Kings for two.

2-0 KINGS

TM for two.

2-2

Grant and Jerry are both saying Bibby and Muss had a long talk before the game and Mike is more than willing to let Ronnie Price get increased minutes. They say Bibby is still hurting from a variety of problems ... Sounds like the "official" taking the vets off the court line to me.

10;47 left

 

[VF21]

Yao miss; Bibby board.

SAR jumper from the top of the key misses. Hou board.

Battier long miss; Kings rebound.

Bibby long miss; Miller rebound.

Another long miss by the Kings; Houston rebound.

Apears as though both teams are just going to go one and done...

McGrady long miss; rebound oob. Kings ball.

 

[VF21]

Bibby miss; Hou rebound.

Corliss will NOT play tonight because of his heel injury.

Ball oob; still Rockets.

Yao for two.

4-2 HOU

8;55 left

Martin inside, kicks over to Artest, back to Martin in the corner. Miss. rockets board.

McGrady miss; Yao tries for the putback. Fouled by Miller.

Yao at the line.

 

[VF21]

Makes first; and second.

6-2 Houston

SAR pass intended for Bibby is way off the mark; Rockets run it down.

McGrady pass inside to Yao, who gets the bucket and the +1.

8-2 Houston

Time out and commercial.

Yao to shoot the freebie after the break.

 

[VF21]

Freebie good.

9-2 Houston

bibby miss; Hayes board.

This game is being carried on NBA-TV, according to Grant...

Houston miss; ball rolls around on the court as if neither team wants it. SAR WALKS over and picks it up.

SAR to the line on continuation foul by Yao.

Misses first; makes second.

9-3 Houston

 

[VF21]

Yao over Miller for two more.

11-3 Houston

Kings called for offensive foul. Houston ball.

Okay, I'm a bad person but I just don't have the energy to keep up the PBP right now... If the kids come in and things get interesting, I may be back. For right now, however, I'm just going to go curl up on the coach with my Kings blanky and think about the upcoming draft.