Kings-Wizards PBP for Dec. 21

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

First, a warning. I am in the middle of a "heavy snow warning" for all day and most of the evening. The snow hasn't started at my elevation yet, but they're expecting it. If I suddenly disappear, it will be because I've either lost power or the snow is coming down so heavily my satellite signal is unable to get through. (The latter has only happened once in all the years I've lived up here, so I'm hopeful that won't be the case...)

Anyway, about tonight's game. Here's what the Bee has to say:

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/96010.html

Tonight's Game: Washington (12-12) at Kings (10-13)
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:11 am PST Thursday, December 21, 2006

Where: Arco Arena. When: 7:30 p.m. TV: TNT Radio: KHTK (1140 AM)

KINGS OUTLOOK - The scheduling reprieve is finally here, and it's time to see if the Kings can recover. Beyond the poor shooting of Mike Bibby, the injuries, the chemistry issues, the porous defense or any other contributing factor to the Kings' slow start, they have undoubtedly faced a brutal schedule when it comes to quality of opponent. But in the next six games, only one foe (Denver) has a winning record. The Wizards are the next closest thing, coming in at the .500 mark, and a potent trio in Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison will challenge a Kings defense that has fallen to 20th in the league in points allowed (100.2 per game).

WIZARDS OUTLOOK - Don't let the record fool you. The Wizards have rediscovered some magic lately, winning eight of their last 11 games after a 4-9 start. They are the league's fourth highest-scoring team (104.9 points per game), and Arenas (29.1 points per game) has continued to play at the high level he did last season (29.3 ppg). He scored a season-high 60 points in an overtime win at the Lakers on Sunday, then hit just 10 of 30 shots in a loss at Denver on Monday. Butler is having a career season, averaging 19.3 points per game and grabbing 8.2 rebounds from his small forward spot. A hot team, as coach Eddie Jordan has learned, can keep you off the hot seat.

KEY MATCHUP - Ron Artest vs. Caron Butler - Butler is a pit bull to begin with, feisty in every way as he plays the game better than ever. Artest might be tempted to help with the monumental task of guarding Arenas, but Butler is fully capable of burning the Kings if Artest ignores him.

Lineups:

Kings - Bibby, Martin, Artest, Thomas, Miller

Wizards - Arenas, Stevenson, Butler, Jamison, Haywood

I like piksi's intros MUCH better. Speaking of piksi, be sure you check out the game discussion thread. We Kings fans need each other right now. Kind of a support group to get us through the tough times...

We also have CHAT at mIRC, server irc.bludgeon.org, channel #kingsfans.

Reading the articles in today's Bee, I think the team is getting as frustrated as we are about everything. After all, we're on the outside looking in. These guys are there day in, day out, and when they aren't winning, it has to be pretty tough. It's their chosen careers we're talking about, and I'm pretty sure they want to win even more than we want them to.

We're all sharing in the frustration of not knowing who the team is. They don't know who they are... but I think they'll figure it out.

One thing I do know for sure is that, win or lose, I LOVE THIS TEAM! When I think back to how it used to be in the days before there was a Sacramento Kings, I can't even begin to imagine how I survived - a Boston Celtics fan in the middle of Sacramento. No ESPN, no TNT, no League Pass, no satellite TV, no message boards, etc. It was all about radio and the newspapers... and the rare game on TV. Those weren't the good old days, but we didn't know it.

Today's beverage of choice is Gevalia Hazelnut with a little peppermint added in. I've got a batch of clam chowder (with lots of garlic) simmering on the stove and I'm ready for a good game!

GO KINGS!!!!

 

[VF21]

Well, at least the first game didn't go to overtime.



Kevin Martin is playing.

 

[VF21]

BUT... Artest is not playing. Salmons will start at the 3.

 

[VF21]

Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins warming up to make a lot of derogatory comments about the Kings.

Tip to Wiz.

MIss; Miller board and outlet to Martin. Good ball momvent by the Kings, finally out to an open Miller who misses a jumper. KT with the board but he throws it away.

Arenas for three.

3-0 WIZ

KT inside, half-hook blocked by Haywood.

Arenas for two.

5-0 Wiz

SALMONS FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!

5-3 WIZ

 

[VF21]

Butler miss; Bibby with the rebound and the toss all the way down the court to the lurking Martin for two.

5-5

Haywood misses but gets his own rebound, puts it in and is called for technical as he slaps the backboard in celebration.

Bibby misses the technical.

7-5 WIZ

Martin off the screen by Miller, miss. Jamison board.

Stevenson for two.

9-5 WIZ

KT inside misses another half-hook. WIZ board.

 

[VF21]

Butler shot, Butler miss, Miller board.

Kings ball, Martin passes up jumper, starts to drive inside, is fouled, puts up shot - it bounces and goes in. Martin at the line for the +1.

Good.

9-8 WIZ

Butler to Arenas for two.

11-8 WIZ

 

[VF21]

Bibby inside, shot won't go. WIZ board.

Butler miss; Miller board.

Martin quick shot doesn't go; WIZ board.

Stevenson at line on foul by Salmons.

Misses first; misses second. Rebound captured by Bibby.

Kings ball.

11-8 Wiz

 

[VF21]

Miller shot partially blocked, Wiz recover.

Haywood spins and shoots over Miller. Good.

13-8 Wiz

Miller for two at the other end.

13-10 Wiz

7;07 left

Arenas jumper over Salmons doesn't go; rebound oob. Kings ball.

KT tries to pass to Miller, goes hard off the backboard, KT gets it back but loses it.

Wiz miss; Salmons board.

Miller jumper good.

13-12 Wiz

 

[VF21]

Jamison inside, tries half-hook and is fouled by KT.

I HATE TNT!!!!!

Jamison makes both.

15-12 Wiz

Miller with another open jumper.

15-14 Wiz

Miller with the steal. "Runs" with Kevin, who takes the ball and gets the dunk.

16-15 KINGS

5;29 left

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Artest took himself out at the last minute with "sore knees." Craig Sager said Musselman was NOT happy because if he had known earlier he could have put ARtest on the inactive list for tonight and activated Taylor, who has reportedly had very good practices...

Miller for two more off the pick and roll.

18-15 KINGS

Wiz miss; KT board.

 

[VF21]

Miller works inside and draws the foul from Jamison.

Brad to the line. First is good; second is good.

20-15 KINGS

Douby in for Martin.

Wiz miss; Haywood gets the board and is fouled by Miller.

3;54 left

Still Wiz ball. Arenas misses jumper; Kings ball.

Salmons loses it, Douby called for foul to prevent breakaway basket. Wiz ball.

Salmons tips the ball to Bibby, who runs with Salmon on the give and go. Salmons for two.

22-15 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Stevenson shot blocked by Miller to Douby. To Bibby and to Salmons inside for two.

24-15 KINGS

Jamison tries to shoot over Miller and misses, Haywood misses, Butler finally gets it to go.

24-17 KINGS

2;24 left

Bibby miss; Wiz board.

 

[VF21]

Douby called for foul. Not sure on who...

Time out and commercial.

The Kings look energized, they look focused and I'm really impressed with their TEAM play.

 

[VF21]

Bibby with 5 assists in 10 minutes...

Butler at the line. Misses first; makes second.

24-18 KINGS

Kings miss; Wiz board.

Martin back in. Wiz miss; Bibby alley to Martin OOP!!!

26-18 KINGS

1;20 left

Jamison at the line. Makes first; SAR in for KT. Makes second.

26-20 KINGS

 

[VF21]

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!

29-20 KINGS

1;00 left

Jamison over SAR for two.

29-22 KINGS

Bibby cross-court to Martin, who moves inside and dishes out to Brad for...another jumper!!!

31-22 KINGS

Arenas to Haywood for two.

31-24 KINGS

Excellent ball movement by the Kings. Douby takes a three and misses it. Wiz ball.

Jamison called for offensive foul on Douby, who stood there and took the charge.

Miller at the buzzer from half-court is about an inch too long.

End of the first quarter.

I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the second.

Inside to SAR, passes cross court to Douby, who bobbles the ball and Wiz pick it up.

Daniels to the line on foul by Martin.

31-27 Kings

But I don't know how the Wiz got three... Oh well.

Kings ball.

Garcia in; Garcia miss; Wiz ball.

Garcia, Martin, SAR, Corliss and Salmons for the Kings. Wiz have their starters in still...

Wiz miss; Kings board.

SAR dishes inside to Salmons for two.

33-27 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Daniels slashes inside, gets the bucket and draws the +1 from Corliss.

10;21 left

No idea WHY Muss has that lineup on the court.

Bonus no good; SAR board.

Salmons over to SAR, jumper no good. crap...

Wiz ball. Salmons with the steal. Non-shooting foul on Wiz. Still Kings ball.

Corliss with the ball, moves inside, gets the bucket and draws the foul. At the line for the bonus.

Freebie good.

36-29 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Wiz ball.

Daniels miss; Corliss board.

Salmons miss; loose ball foul on Garcia.

9;27 left

Wiz ball.

Hayes for two.

36-31 KINGS

Salmons to Martin, to SAR - who goes against Haywood and gets two more.

38-31 KINGS

Haywood spins, has ball knocked away AND Wiz are called for three second violation.

Kings ball.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

SAr for two.

40-31 KINGS

Daniels for two.

40-33 KINGS

Martin three won't go; Jamison board.

Jamison inside, getst the bucket and the +1 from SAR, I think.

Bonus good.

40-35 KINGS

Kings ball. Garcia, Martin, Salmons, Crliss and SAR on the court still.

Corliss miss; Wiz board.

Jamison for three.

40-39 KINGS

Nice going, Musselman. We've now lost that nice lead.

Time out and commercial.

AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

 

[VF21]

Bibby back in... whew.

Corliss hook doesn't go but he gets his own board, goes off the glass and gets two.

42-39 KINGS

Butler for two.

42-41 KINGS

Martin inside to SAR, who thinks about one-on-one, kicks out to Bibby, miss but Kings save the board.

Corliss inside against Butler, non-shooting foul. Still Kings ball.

Martin floats inside and gets a sweet layup off the glass.

44-41 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Hayes miss; Salmons board. Outlet to Kevin, who passes to Bibby. Mike drives inside and gets one of his up and unders to go...

46-41 KINGS

Jordan takes a time out.

 

[VF21]

Wiz ball.

Kings starters back in with exception of SAR for KT.

Wiz miss; Salmons ball.

Turnover by Kings; Wiz ball.

Jamison misses off Haywood screen. Kings board.

Martin from the side spins and starts to move inside, Arenas tries to steal the ball but ends up oob. Kings ball.

Salmons right over Arenas like he wasn't there for two.

48-41 KINGS

Arenas airball but Stevenson salvages it and gets two.

48-43 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Miller sets the screen and Kev takes advantage of it.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!

51-43 KINGS

Wiz miss; ball oob. Kings ball.

3;05 left

Apparently Harlan and Collins think Martin might eventually amount to something.



Salmons off the glass for two more.

53-43 KINGS

Kings look like a team!!!!!

 

[VF21]

Arenas for three.

53-46 KINGS

2;21 left

Salmons miss; Wiz board.

Arenas quick three doesn't go; Martin board.

Miller at the top of the key, over to Mike.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!!!!!!

56-46 KINGS

MIke's shot looks suh-weet.



Daniels for two.

56-48 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Bibby three doesn't go; Wiz board.

Arenas with the ball, starts to cut inside and is fouled by SAR. Arenas at the line.

55 seconds left

Makes first; and second.

56-50 KINGS

Salmons brings the ball up, works around three Wiz and gets ANOTHER layup.

58-50 KINGS

Wiz ball.

Stevenson from the corner for three.

58-53 KINGS

Miller to Bibby, who cuts around the corner and draws foul from Haywood.

Mike at the line for two.

 

[VF21]

16.6 seconds left

Mike makes first; misses second. Wiz ball.

59-53 KINGS

Daniels throws the ball oob.

0.6 seconds left.

Kings take quick time out.

 

[VF21]

Kings to inbound. Salmons in to Bibby, who turns, shoots and barely misses.

End of the first half.

Now THIS is Kings basketball.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the third.

Martin jumper off the rim; Wiz board.

Butler for two.

59-55 KINGS

Martin miss off KT screen; Wiz board.

Wiz for two.

59-57 KINGS

Salmons for two.

61-57 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Stevenson for long two.

61-59 KINGS

Bibby inside, kicks out to Salmons, who misses. KT board and he gets it to Kev.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!!!!!

64-59 KINGS

Wiz ball, steal by KT. Miller jumper miss; Butler board.

Butler to the line on foul by Salmons. Makes first; misses second. Wix get the rebound, miss but they get another board and Jamison gets a three.

64-63 KINGS

Martin drives inside for two more.

66-63 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Jamison over KT for two.

66-65 KINGS

KT called for offensive foul against Jamison. Wiz ball.

Jamison for three as KT wasn't anywhere near him.

68-66 Wiz

Musselman calls time out.