Kings-Sonics PBP thread for March 21

[VF21]

Welcome, fellow Kings fans!!!

Cold and overcast here in the forest. Snow bombs dropping from the trees make it a good day to stay inside even though the precipitation has, at least for now, ceased.

Here's what the Bee had to say about tonight's game:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14232927p-15054960c.html

Kings update
Status: From soaring right along and chatter of securing something grand, such as the sixth spot in the Western Conference playoff race, to now trying to stop the bleeding of a woeful two-game skid, the Kings are back on that roller coaster. Better ballhandling and better shot selection will help cure the ills. Trend: Blowing 15 layups against Indiana was bad enough, then following with a season-high 28 turnovers at Minnesota made for a sour flight home. Kings players and coaches are bemoaning the fact that they're beating themselves.
Injury report: Francisco García, ankle, game-time decision.

Sonics update
Status: Hard to believe this is the same club that beat the Kings in five games in the first round of the playoffs last spring. Actually, it's the same franchise with a lot of new faces, though Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Luke Ridnour are back, and the Kings know well how dominating Allen can be.
Trend: The Sonics haven't been able to defend all season, and that cost Bob Weiss his job as coach, though the team isn't defending much better under Bob Hill. The teams have split this season, with Allen scoring 28 and 24 points, respectively.
Injury report: Danny Fortson, knee, out.

Best matchup: Wells vs. Allen - Allen will draw Kevin Martin initially, but Wells will also have his chances to contain one of the game's top shooters.

As usual, you'll have piksi's game discussion thread and Mr. S£im's CHAT PARTY LIVE to help you enjoy the whole Kings fan experience!

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My guess is that we're going to see a good game tonight with a minimum of turnovers and lots of good KINGS basketball.

GO KINGS!!!!!

 

[BigWaxer]

Its a W tonight... I can feel it in the air

 

[VF21]

Not a lot of people behind Koz and Tank as they do their little "pre-game" stand-up routine from the concourse. They talk a little about the Sonics, then they talk about sports teams and traveling. The Sonics log more miles a year than ANY other team in the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and one other that I didn't catch. The Kings are #6.

Tank said that by March teams are really starting to get tired of traveling. He said it's not uncommon for guys to play a game, travel to another city and then wake up the next morning not sure where they are...

Grant and Jerry going over the standings at the moment. Our next six games are three back-to-backs. Sonics and Lakers, two days off and then Jazz and Warriors, one day off and then Wizards and Trailblazers.

The games in italics are the home games.

 

[VF21]

Cisco is going to play tonight...

 

[Prophetess]

woohoo! thanks as always vf!

 

[VF21]

Kings line-up: Bibby, Martin, Artest, KT and Miller

Sonics line-up: Ridnour, Allen, Lewis, Wilcox, Petro

GO KINGS!!!!

 

[VF21]

Getting ready for the tip... Arco seems fairly quiet so far.

Horrible toss up, tip to the Sonics.

Artest guarding Lewis. Wilcox miss; Martin board.

Kings ball.

 

[VF21]

Miller jumper misses; SS board.

Miller with the steal on bad Wilcox pass. Kings ball. Kings shot blocked, ball back to Martin. Sees Bibby open in the corner.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!

3-0 KINGS

Wilcox miss; ball oob. Kings ball.

10:31 left

 

[VF21]

Good spacing by the Kings, Martin drives inside, ball slapped away. No foul call. Sonics ball.

Petro for two and the +1 from Miller.

Bonus no good. Kings ball.

3-2 KINGS

10:00 left

Miller jumper from top of the key is good.

5-2 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Lewis good.

5-4 KINGS

Kings miss; Sonics miss.

Kings ball.

9:06 left

Artest hook airballs, Artest catches it, called for traveling. Sonics ball.

 

[VF21]

Allen strolls inside for easy two.

6-5 SS

Bibby jumper in and out; Allen board.

Luke miss; Martin board.

Kings ball.

Nice inlet pass from KT to Artest, bucket good.

7-6 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Allen miss; Miller board.

Artest three is short, Bibby runs down the board. New shot clock. Petro called for foul. Non-shooting. Stil Kings ball.

Martin three off the rim; Sonics board.

Sonics miss; Martin tries for the board but Sonics get the putback.

8-7 SS

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!!

10-8 SS

 

[VF21]

Wilcox finger-roll is good.

10-10

6:17 left

KT jumper for two.

12-10 KINGS

Allen inside, fouled by Martin. 1PF.

Allen to the line for two.

 

[VF21]

Makes first; and second.

12-12

Kings called for three-second violation.

Time out and commercial.

Sonics ball after the break.

5:47 left

 

[VF21]

Sonics inbound in the backcourt.

Petro miss; Miller board. Gives to Bibby.

Bibby miss; Sonics board.

Ridnour to Lewis for two.

14-12 SS

Ridnour on Bibby like flies on dooty.

Artest in, kick out to KT who sees cutting Martin and bullets it in for Kevin. Easy lay-up.

14-14

Sonics ball. Oob off Kings; still Sonics ball.

 

[VF21]

4:25 left

Allen miss; Artest board.

Ridnour out. Wilkes in.

Artest drives inside, gets lay-up.

16-14 KINGS

Wilcox for two more.

16-16

3:41 left

KT jumper off the rim; Allen board.

 

[VF21]

Wilcox from the foul line for easy jumper.

18-16 SS

Martin landing gear up jumper is good.

18-18

Lewis with long two.

20-18 SS

2:42 left

Whistle. I think a foul on Artest by Lewis, but Grant doesn't say and I'm not sure.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Bonzi and SAR in. Artest and KT on the bench.

Bibby at the line shooting a technical. No idea why...

Good.

20-19 SS

Kings ball, Bibby to the line on foul by ???? Grant really falling down tonight.

Makes first; and second.

21-20 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Wilkes miss; Wells board.

Bonzi double-dribbles. Sonics ball.

2:10 left

Allen miss; Miller board.

Oh lord. MIller to Wells, another bad pass and Sonics get the ball again.

Wilkins for two and the +1.

Good.

23-21 SS

 

[VF21]

Martin three off the rim; Sonics board.

Wilkes to the line on foul by ???? Grant and Jerry are talking about John Stockton...

Makes first;

Cisco in to a very nice round of applause.

Makes second.

25-21 Sonics

Cisco in for Kevin.

Offensive foul called on Bonzi. 2PF. Adelman does NOT look happy.

Sonics ball.

Sonics offensive foul. Kings ball.

 

[VF21]

SAR drives inside, misses lay-up. Sonics ball.

Wilks to the line for two on foul by Bibby.

First is good; and second.

27-21 Sonics

Less than a minute left...

 

[VF21]

Miller hesitates then takes jumper - misses. Sonics ball.

Wilkins for two.

29-21 Sonics

Bibby three off the front of the rim; Wells with the rebound and the miss; SAR finally gets the putback.

29-23 Sonics

Kings ball but buzzer ends the quarter.

There's just a sense of lethargy to the game. No real excitement; the crowd isn't in it; Grant and Jerry keep talking about stuff other than what's happening on the court; etc.

 

[VF21]

Start of the second quarter. Kings ball.

SAR works on Swift, gets inside and draws the foul. Non-shooting. STill Kings ball.

Cisco, Wells, Artest, SAR and Miller on the court.

Artest works inside, loses ball on the uptake, it hits the shotclock. Sonics ball.

Artest with the steal.

Cisco running the point, takes a errant three. Artest board. Back over to Garcia.

CISCO FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

29-25 Sonics

 

[VF21]

Swift off the glass inside for two.

31-25 Sonics

10:30 left

Artest passes to SAR, who is fouled. Non-shooting. Still Kings ball.

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

31-28 Sonics

Sonics miss, Swift tip in.

33-28 Sonics

9:57 left

 

[VF21]

Artest muscles in, Moore fouls him but Ron still gets the bucket and the +1.

Bonus is good.

33-31 Sonics

GO KINGS!!!!!

Wilkins three off the rim; MIller board.

Miller three off the rim; Sonics board.

Swift for two on third chance opportunity.

35-31 Sonics

 

[VF21]

Artest drives inside, draws another foul.

8:42 left

Time out and commercial.

Ron to the line for two after the break.

There's finally a little feeling of energy coming from the game...

 

[VF21]

Trivia comment: Big Nasty has won a high school state championship, a national college title AND an NBA title.

Artest at the line...

Makes first; and second.

35-33 Sonics

Swift for two.

37-33 Sonics

Wells jumper is short; KT puts it up and misses; Wells hustles for the board, gets it and draws the foul.

Bonzi to the line for two.

Makes first; and second.

37-35 Sonics

 

[VF21]

Allen jumper for long two.

39-35 Sonics

7:45 left

Bibby back in, Cisco out.

KT drives the lane and gets the lay-up.

39-37 Sonics

Sonics miss; Wells board.

Bonzi from the corner is off the rim; Sonics board.

Wilcox runs the floor and gets the easy two.

41-37 Sonics

Sonics love the transition and Kings are not playing any kind of transition defense.

Artest to the line for two.

 

[VF21]

Artest makes first; Oh, God - shoot me now. Jerry is using a telestrator. ACK!!

Artest makes second.

41-39 Sonics

Sonics for two.

43-39 Sonics

Artest for two on sweet inlet pass.

43-41 Sonics

Allen for two.

45-41 Sonics

 

[VF21]

SAR with the ball, hit hard on the hand. Loses the ball. No call. Sonics ball.

Bonzi basket hanging. Sonics miss, Bibby grabs the ball and forward passes it to Bonzi for two.

45-43 Sonics

Sonics lay-up for two more.

47-43 Sonics

SAR for two.

47-45 Sonics

DEFENSE!!!!!