Kings-Timberwolves PBP for Dec. 15

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans! And welcome to our new head coach, Kenny Natt!

There are a lot of other discussions going on about Reggie, so I won't take up too much space here. I'll just thank him for his effort and wish him well wherever he goes. He'll always be my first favorite Sacramento King.

Tonight's game is a real puzzle. Absolutely no idea how the players will react to the coaching change. My best guess, though? I suspect we're going to see a TEAM pull together out there tonight to show they are, in fact, still a team who wants to do their best.

I have about 18 inches of snow on the ground around my house. It's not snowing now, though, and I hope it stays clear long enough for me to watch the game.

Let's get ready for some Kings basketball!

GO KINGS!!!

 

[VF21]

Sorry, I missed the Twolves starting lineup. Kings starters are:

Udrih, Garcia, Salmons, Hawes and Miller

GO KINGS!!!

Tip to the Wolves.

Wolves miss, Kings miss, Wolves miss, Kings miss, Wolves inside for two.

2-0 MTW

10;50 left

Garcia three doesn't go; Jefferson rebound. Wolves miss, Hawes rebound.

Hawes misses the alley-oop but Garcia saves the ball. Cisco tear drop barely touches the glass - goes nowhere. MTW ball.

10;00 left

Ball oob; MTW to inbound.

 

[VF21]

Jefferson over Hawes, misses the dunk. Kings ball. Oob off MTW. Hawes half-hook just will not fall. MTW rebound.

9;26 left

MTW long jumper doesn't fall either; Hawes rebound.

Salmons on the edge, starts to cut inside and is called for the travel. BOTH teams are ice cold...

MTW inbounds.

Foye heads inside, fouled by Garcia. Foye to the line.

9;01 left

What's the record for lowest combined score in the NBA? I think that should be the Jerry Reynolds trivia question tonight.



Foye makes first; and second.

4-0 MTW

 

[VF21]

Garcia pullup jumper over Miller doesn't fall. MTW rebound...

Jefferson for two after almost losing the ball.

6-0 MTW

Garcia runs the baseline, gets underneath and it misses. Miller putback misses. MTW rebound.

Kings block the shot, Hawes saves it and gets it to Garcia who finally gets the Kings on the board after 4 1/2 minutes.

6-2 MTW

7;26 left

MM misses, but he strongarms the rebound away from Brad and gets the putback.

8-2 MTW

 

[VF21]

Ball to Hawes inside in traffic. He tries and misses and tries and misses but finally is able to buy a foul.

Spencer at the line...

Misses first; makes second.

8-3 MTW

For those who might be interested, Rex K. is sitting next to Kenny Natt.

Smith for two and the +1 on foul by ... Brad? Hrm. I thought it should have been charged to Cisco. This doesn't make Brad smile...

Smith misses the bonus.

10-3 MTW

It's gonna be a long night at Arco if they don't manage to wake up. Salmons jumper doesn't add to the three points the Kings have managed to scrape out.

MMiller for three.

13-3 MTW

Time out and commercial break...

Has a coach ever been fired before the first quarter of his first game has been completed?

 

[VF21]

Oh, goodie, goodie, goodie. The CSR has some in-depth commentary about Kenny Natt, basically saying he doesn't want to make too many changes right away and confuse the players...

...

...

...

Erm, okay...

Wow, just wow. Her basketball acumen stuns me.

 

[VF21]

Kings miss again. MTW rebound.

Jefferson adds to the MTW point total. Jerry comments the Kings should score some points. I think I may know where AT got her insight...

15-3 MTW

Grant Napear asks Jerry about the 40-4 quarter that happened under Jerry Reynolds' watch...

BMiller to the line. He nearly doubles the Kings score.

15-5 MTW

5;21 left

MTW with two more.

17-5 MTW

Jerry Reynolds says it's so tough because Natt hasn't had a chance to practice with the team. WTF???? It's not like it's a new team - or they've been on vacation on Mars or anything...

Face it, Jerry. We still suck...

 

[VF21]

Jason Thompson off the glass for two. He's out there in place of Hawes apparently.

17-7 MTW

Gomes miss on good D by Salmons. Kings rebound.

4;00 left

Garcia for long two.

17-9 MTW

Jefferson inside and off the glass for two more.

19-9 MTW

Miller elbow jumper for two.

19-11 MTW

The Kings may have awakened from their Sleeping Beauty-like trance.

Jefferson prone on the court...Kings miss at the other end. MTW comes back and Jefferson staggers to his feet. MTW does not call time out... Kings lose the ball oob, I think, and there's a mandatory time out on the court which allows Jefferson to head to the bench...

Commercial break.

 

[VF21]

Kings didn't lose the ball oob, BTW. GArcia was fouled. He went to the line and got one of two.

19-12 MTW

Jackson, Moore, Thompson, Udrih and Garcia for the Kings

MTW miss; Jackson takes the rebound away from Kevin Love and Kings have it. Moore fouled and heading to the line after a nice dish by Udrih.

2;21 left

Mikki makes first; and second.

19-14 MTW

MTW miss. Love gets the rebound but Cisco bullies him out of it and gets the foul call.

Cisco at the line.

Makes first; Brown in for Udrih. Makes second.

19-16 MTW

 

[VF21]

McCants from outside for three.

22-16 MTW

1;36 left

Jackson loses the ball inside, Ollie has it. Garcia fouls him. 2PF for Cisco. MTW inbounds.

McCants misses, Jackson spun around like he was clotheslined but no call. Cheap bucket by Love inside.

24-16 MTW

Bobby J. fallaway jumper FOR THREE!!

24-19 MTW

 

[VF21]

MTW turnover; Kings ball.

49 seconds left.

Salmons back in...

Brown to the line. Makes first; misses second. Love with the rebound.

24-20 MTW

NICE block by Jason. Ball oob and MTW will inbound. Kings knock the inbound back oob. MTW will inbound again...

30.4 seconds left

Foye inside, reach-in foul called on Jason Thompson. Foye to the line.

Makes first; and second.

26-20 MTW

 

[VF21]

Brown drives the lane, miss. Thompson putback miss. MTW at the buzzer...shot falls but it was too late.

End of the first quarter.

Kings shooting an eye-gouging 23%.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the second quarter...

Thompson, Jackson, Brown, Salmons and Moore for the Kings.

Brown to Jason inside, he tries to body up on Love and is called for travleing. He drags his pivot foot...I've watched it more than once. Coach Natt yells at THompson to quit worrying about it and get down the court and play defense.

MTW returns the favor when Telfair called for the walk.

Kings ball.

Jason inside, loses the ball but dives to the floor, gets it and manages to call time out to keep from having it taken away.

20 second time out...

11;15 left

26-20 MTW

 

[VF21]

Kings inbound. NICE pass by Jason Thompson to cutting Jackson for reverse off the glass.

26-22 MTW

Telfair miss; Love with the rebound, and his butt knocks Jackson onto the floor. No call on Love's butt. MTW turnover; Kings ball.

Bobby Brown airball, Jackson snags it. Back to Brown, miss. MTW rebound.

Salmons with the steal and breakaway. He strolls right through the defense until Kevin Love fouls him.

Salmons to the line. 2PF on Love. Did I mention Kevin Love has a rather large posterior?



Salmons makes first; and second.

26-24 MTW

9;59 left

 

[VF21]

Jefferson battles inside and gets the hook over Moore.

28-24 MTW

Salmons for two more.

28-26 MTW

Kevin Love with the ball, almost loses it and gets it back. Called for double-dribble and Kings have the ball.

9;06 left

Jackson fallaway off Moore screen won't fall; Love rebound.

Dunk by Jefferson right over Mikki Moore.

30-26 MTW

Salmons splits the defense and gets the bucket but it doesn't count as they call him for traveling.

8;21 left

Time out and commercial break.

 

[VF21]

MTW do nothing, Kings ball. Salmons for two more.

30-28 MTW

7;49 left

Jefferson over Thompson for two more.

32-28 MTW

Garcia for long two.

32-30 MTW

GO KINGS!!!

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

MTW ball.

EXCELLENT defense by Jason Thompson on Al Jefferson forces a 24-second violation. Kings ball.

Hawes in for JT. Kings miss, Hawes with the putback.

32-32

 

[VF21]

Jefferson running hook for two more.

34-32 MTW

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!

35-34 KINGS!

Whooooooo!!!

MTW responds at the other end with an easy lay-up by Olie.

36-35 MTW

MILLER FOR THREE!!

38-36 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Jefferson jumper is good despite good Kings D.

38-38

Garcia tries to cut behind Miller screen and he's grabbed and held.

Time out and commercial break.

Cisco at the line when they come back.

 

[VF21]

Oh, I almost forgot. There was another stunning report from the CSR. Unfortunately, like many lectures back in school, it did nothing to merit retaining space in my memory and is thus gone forever...

Hrm. It wasn't a shooting foul so Kings inbound. Foul on Gomes, and Kings will inbound again.

5;03 left

NICE pass by Udrih to cutting Brad Miller, who goes right at Al Jefferson and Brad has two points.

40-38 KINGS

Jefferson shot partially altered by BMiller; Kings ball.

Salmons with two more.

42-38 KINGS

No stopping us now!!

GO KINGS!!!

 

[VF21]

MTW with the bucket and +1. Olie converts the bonus.

42-41 KINGS

4;09 left

Udrih, Garcia, Salmons, Hawes and Miller for the Kings

Salmons inside, fouled. Non-shooting. Kings inbounds.

Brad drives inside against Jefferson again and gets two more points.

44-41 KINGS

Apparently Al Jefferson's biggest weakness is he cannot defend the paint. He can, however, shoot buckets and he gets two more points.

44-43 KINGS

Kings lose the ball oob; MTW inbound.

3;26 left

 

[VF21]

Smith miss on sloppy lay-up off the glass; Hawes rebound. Pass to Udrih, who drives the lane and gets the hoop.

46-43 KINGS

MTW ball. Jefferson fallaway jumper with one hand is good.

46-45 KINGS

Udrih responds with two more driving right past the MTW "defense" like he's out for a Sunday drive.

48-45 KINGS

MTW ball. Foul called. I believe MTW will be at the line after the time out and commercial break...

 

[VF21]

MTW at the line... Misses first; makes second.

48-46 KINGS

2;25 left

Udrih to Salmons, out to Miller. Jumper is good as Jefferson just stares at him.

50-46 KINGS

Mike Miller miss; but he gets his own rebound - and misses again. Kings rebound.

Brad miss; MTW rebound.

1;34 left

Jefferson over Miller for two.

50-48 KINGS

Hawes three doesn't go; MTW fast break gets the game tied again.

50-50

54 seconds left.

 

[VF21]

Hawes shot in and out; MTW rebound. Shot blocked by Donte Greene, Brad comes down with it. Kings don't convert and MTW will inbound after 20 second time out.

30.9 seconds left

Mike Miller running lay-up doesn't go; Kings rebound.

BOBBY BROWN FOR THREE!!!

53-50 KINGS

End of the first half.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the third quarter. Nice assist by Udrih to Hawes for two.

55-50 KINGS

Foye miss; Hawes rebound.

Salmons for two more.

57-50 KINGS

11;11 left

Smith inside, misses the dunk but heads to the line on foul charged to Brad Miller.

Smith misses first; makes second.

57-51 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Kings ball. Stupid Arco music is clearly audible... Salmons to the line.

Misses first; makes second.

58-51 KINGS

Smith switches hands and gets tough lay-up to fall.

58-53 KINGS

Grant and Jerry mention that all the coaches fired this year have been represented by the same agent BUT there are probably only two or so agents who actually represent coaches, according to Jerry...

Kings miss; MTW rebound. Smith barrels over Miller and gets the bucket.

58-55 KINGS

Garcia gets inside, hands off to Hawes for two more.

60-55 KINGS

Smith for two more.

60-57 KINGS

 

[VF21]

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!

63-57 KINGS

MTW ball.

Garcia with the steal, runs the court, hands it off very nicely to Hawes for the dunk. Much sweeter play - totally unselfish - than it sounds on paper. NICE JOB, CISCO!!!

65-57 KINGS

Time out and commercial break.

 

[VF21]

MTW ball.

8;30 left

Jefferson miss; Brad and Garcia go for the rebound. Jefferson knocks it oob. Kings inbound.

Salmons with long two.

67-57 KINGS

Foye inside for two.

67-59 KINGS

7;37 left

Kings ball. Non-shooting foul away from the ball. Kings inbound.

Miller inside, balled knocked out of his hands and oob. Kings will inbound again.

 

[VF21]

Kings for two.

69-59 KINGS

Long shot doesn't go; BMiller hustles for the board. Kings ball.

Hawes hook over Jefferson for two.

71-59 KINGS

MTW miss; Kings rebound.

Salmons inside for two.

73-59 KINGS

MTW ball.

Jefferson tries to split our defense inside, Garcia and Hawes meet him and knock it away. Kings ball.

Loose ball foul called on MMiller. Kings inbound.

Salmons with two more.

75-59 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Kings bench up on nearly every play, cheering on their teammates.

MTW ball. Smith to the line on foul by ???

5;30 left

Misses first; Moore in for Hawes, which leads me to believe the last foul was on Spencer.

Smith makes second.

75-60 KINGS

Salmons outside jumper doesn't go; MTW loses the ball oob. Kings inbound.

5;17 left

MMiller called for foul before ball is inbounded. That makes 5th team foul. Garcia to the line.

Makes first; and second.

77-60 KINGS

 

[VF21]

MTW ball. MMiller from outside for three.

77-63 KINGS

4;55 left

GARCIA FOR THREE!!!!

80-63 KINGS

I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!

MTW ball; turnover. Kings try the full-court pass, but it goes oob. MTW ball. Kenny Natt NOT happy with the last play.

Salmons with the steal after Garcia nearly steals it. Garcia on the run, he's fouled and heading back to the line. Foul on Jefferson.

80-63 KINGS

4;36 left