Once more for good measure:
The Spurs may not be the behemoths they used to be, but they will still show no mercy. Hitting our free throws will be a necessity.
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The Kings suffer another close loss on the road. Say what you will, I'm firm in my belief that they could have, and should have, won. The little things are turning into very big things. FT% for the game: 47%. Tyreke went all Tracy McGrady and started to dismantle the Hornets in crunch time by himself. He scored the final nine points for the Kings. His only mistake came during the Kings's final possession. Evans broke everybody down, got close enough to the basket to force up what looked like a good layup attempt that bounced out. Nocioni (here we go) rebounded the ball and was immediately fouled. In the future Evans will be able to notice that he has four players guarding him on such late game takeover attempts, and will shovel a pass to his PF or C, whoever is standing on the low block without a defender on him, so they can go up for a dunk. Nocioni ended up choking from the line in the final second, costing us a shot at the game in overtime. But you can't place all the blame on one player. You can place all of the blame squarely on the team's collective suckitude from the stripe.
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This Kings team is different from versions past, it has shown an ability to address major concerns and adapt to adversity. Give credit to a competent coaching staff. This propensity has been shown by their ability to respond well to injury. With Martin, Garcia, and Casspi all injured they picked it up and played well. When Evans took a nose dive (*&%^*# Okafor), the remaining players kept us watching by playing well enough to actually close their deficit to the Hornets. Now that's perseverance. Given the competitive spirit of this team, I make the assumption that we will begin seeing adjustments made and road wins in the very near future.
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Awards:
TDM - Darius Songaila. Give him credit, he was solid for the Hornets in crunch time, even more important to them than Paul.
LW-VC - Hilton Armstrong. Wasn't he hyped for something once?
JHA - Donte Greene. *sigh* Udoka had more of an impact in fewer minutes off the bench.
RA&1 - Do I dare? Chris Paul? Yes I do, and it's a direct result of one play alone: a late game drive from the left, where it seemed as though he was trying to counteract Evans's dominance by himself, resulting in his being stripped of the ball. I did not view Paul's play as stellar. I felt like the game would have been more secure for the Hornets had the ball been in David West's hands more in the closing minutes.
SAR/Methuselah - Nocioni. Shooting 30% from the field and 33% from the stripe warrants a poke at your "seasoned veteran" status.
WTF moment of the game - Every moment that Evans was in the locker room after his fall I sat repeating to myself WTF!? WTF!? WTF did we do to deserve this?! WHY NAISMITH?! WHY!? Then he came out looking good and the aneurysm was averted.
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The Spurs are on a three game skid. Richard Jefferson has been struggling, and the play of the Spurs has finally begun to suffer due to their old age. They held a 15 point lead in their latest loss to Utah. They came out with no energy and fell behind by twelve after the half, necessitating a struggle to come within three at the end of regulation. Tim Duncan will still get his 20pts and 10rbs. Parker will still get his 18pts and 5ast. Their inconsistency lies on the wing, Michael Finley may not play (ankle) and Jefferson and Ginobili will hopefully continue to struggle.
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Kings 99 Spurs 90
Pts: Evans 25 Parker 22
Rebounds: Thompson 12 Duncan 12
Assists: Evans 8 Parker 7
Blocks: Hawes 2 Duncan 3
This game will be slower, more structured, better suited to both teams style of play. If the Kings can control the ball well and commit less than 12 turnovers I can see them taking advantage of a struggling Spurs team. The Key will be Thompson's play. If he can stay out of foul trouble and keep Duncan occupied while Evans attacks the rim, the Kings may come away with a win.
GO KINGS!!
The Spurs may not be the behemoths they used to be, but they will still show no mercy. Hitting our free throws will be a necessity.
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The Kings suffer another close loss on the road. Say what you will, I'm firm in my belief that they could have, and should have, won. The little things are turning into very big things. FT% for the game: 47%. Tyreke went all Tracy McGrady and started to dismantle the Hornets in crunch time by himself. He scored the final nine points for the Kings. His only mistake came during the Kings's final possession. Evans broke everybody down, got close enough to the basket to force up what looked like a good layup attempt that bounced out. Nocioni (here we go) rebounded the ball and was immediately fouled. In the future Evans will be able to notice that he has four players guarding him on such late game takeover attempts, and will shovel a pass to his PF or C, whoever is standing on the low block without a defender on him, so they can go up for a dunk. Nocioni ended up choking from the line in the final second, costing us a shot at the game in overtime. But you can't place all the blame on one player. You can place all of the blame squarely on the team's collective suckitude from the stripe.
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This Kings team is different from versions past, it has shown an ability to address major concerns and adapt to adversity. Give credit to a competent coaching staff. This propensity has been shown by their ability to respond well to injury. With Martin, Garcia, and Casspi all injured they picked it up and played well. When Evans took a nose dive (*&%^*# Okafor), the remaining players kept us watching by playing well enough to actually close their deficit to the Hornets. Now that's perseverance. Given the competitive spirit of this team, I make the assumption that we will begin seeing adjustments made and road wins in the very near future.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awards:
TDM - Darius Songaila. Give him credit, he was solid for the Hornets in crunch time, even more important to them than Paul.
LW-VC - Hilton Armstrong. Wasn't he hyped for something once?
JHA - Donte Greene. *sigh* Udoka had more of an impact in fewer minutes off the bench.
RA&1 - Do I dare? Chris Paul? Yes I do, and it's a direct result of one play alone: a late game drive from the left, where it seemed as though he was trying to counteract Evans's dominance by himself, resulting in his being stripped of the ball. I did not view Paul's play as stellar. I felt like the game would have been more secure for the Hornets had the ball been in David West's hands more in the closing minutes.
SAR/Methuselah - Nocioni. Shooting 30% from the field and 33% from the stripe warrants a poke at your "seasoned veteran" status.
WTF moment of the game - Every moment that Evans was in the locker room after his fall I sat repeating to myself WTF!? WTF!? WTF did we do to deserve this?! WHY NAISMITH?! WHY!? Then he came out looking good and the aneurysm was averted.
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The Spurs are on a three game skid. Richard Jefferson has been struggling, and the play of the Spurs has finally begun to suffer due to their old age. They held a 15 point lead in their latest loss to Utah. They came out with no energy and fell behind by twelve after the half, necessitating a struggle to come within three at the end of regulation. Tim Duncan will still get his 20pts and 10rbs. Parker will still get his 18pts and 5ast. Their inconsistency lies on the wing, Michael Finley may not play (ankle) and Jefferson and Ginobili will hopefully continue to struggle.
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Kings 99 Spurs 90
Pts: Evans 25 Parker 22
Rebounds: Thompson 12 Duncan 12
Assists: Evans 8 Parker 7
Blocks: Hawes 2 Duncan 3
This game will be slower, more structured, better suited to both teams style of play. If the Kings can control the ball well and commit less than 12 turnovers I can see them taking advantage of a struggling Spurs team. The Key will be Thompson's play. If he can stay out of foul trouble and keep Duncan occupied while Evans attacks the rim, the Kings may come away with a win.
GO KINGS!!
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