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Memphis Grizzlies vs. Sacramento Kings Game Preview

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Coming off of last night's tremendous win against the Portland Trailblazers, the Grizzlies hope to perform well on the second night of a back-to-back against a Sacramento Kings team who is dealing with injuries to some of their key players.

2013/2014 NBA Season
at
23-20 (11-7 road)
Won 3
15-29 (9-15 home)
Lost 4
January 29th, 2014
Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, CA
9:00 PM CDT
Fox SportsSouth/ 92.9 FM ESPN
Possible Starters
Mike ConleyPGIsaiah Thomas
Courtney LeeSGMarcus Thornton
Tayshaun PrinceSFTravis Outlaw
Zach RandolphPFJason Thompson
Marc GasolCDerrick Williams
2013/14 Advanced Stats
92.4 (30th)Pace97.3 (11th)
102.7 (19th)OEff104.0 (T-13th)
103.0 (T-14th)DEff106.8 (29th)

Injury Report-

Memphis: Quincy Pondexter (Out, Foot), Tony Allen (Out, Wrist)

Sacramento: Rudy Gay (Day-to-Day, Achilles), DeMarcus Cousins (Day-to-Day, Ankle), Isaiah Thomas (Day-to-Day, Stomach Ailment)

For the Kings perspective, visit Sactown Royalty

The Memphis Grizzlies are in Sacramento tonight, playing the second half of a back-to-back against the Kings. After a huge win against one of the top teams in the Western Conference in Portland last night, it would only be natural for the Grizzlies to possibly come in to this game a bit flat.

After all, tonight's contest could be against a Sacramento team that looks much different than the team that pushed them to the brink in Memphis a couple weeks ago. Isaiah Thomas left Monday's game with a stomach issue and is listed as Day to Day. Rudy Gay was a game time decision Monday night and wound up not playing. DeMarcus Cousins is coming off of an ankle injury and is the most likely of the three Kings stars to not play. This Sacramento roster is banged up and depleted.

These are the games that the Grizzlies need to find ways to win. The second half of back-to-backs are tough, and the Kings before all of the injuries were playing better basketball, so a win is not guaranteed. They have an opportunity to steal a game that they were possibly going to struggle with and get another step closer to the playoff picture.

How can it be done? Three keys.

Feed the Bigs

If Boogie Cousins does indeed sit this one out, that could mean a starting Power Forward/Center tandem for Sacramento of 6'8" Derrick Williams and 6'11" Jason Thompson, with Quincy Acy, Carl Landry and Aaron Gray getting increased burn. If Rudy is able to play, he could get minutes at the 4 as well. The Kings will be playing small throughout the evening and are thin talent wise at the front court spots without Boogie.

Domination in the paint and on the glass would go a long way against the depleted Kings front court.

This bodes well for the Memphis Grizzlies, who have two of the top 10 bigs in the NBA when full strength in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Add in to that arguably the best back-up center in the NBA in Kosta Koufos and a tremendously athletic and long back-up PF in Ed Davis, and you create all sorts of mismatch problems for the Kings. Against the Kings small-ball lineups, even James Johnson can play some stretch 4 and force the Kings to contend with his presence and intensity on defense.

The Kings' weakness on this night will be against the Grizzlies' greatest strength. It needs to be attacked and exploited throughout the evening.

Time for the Bench to Shine

On nights like tonight, where the starters go from playing a current Western Conference power in the Portland Trailblazers to the lowly Sacramento Kings, chances are that energy will be low to start with. This is where players such as "Dr. JJ" James Johnson, "Big Boss" Ed Davis and company can have a tremendous impact. Energy can be infectious, and if these two and their bench cohorts can attack the game with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind, it will feed into the game of their starting counterparts.

Attack the rim, attack on defense, attack the game. The bench will be depended on for production and fire on this night.

Conley vs. Thomas: Efficiency Reigns Supreme

Isaiah Thomas, while not a guarantee to play, is probable as his stomach problem seems to not be a serious issue long term. Thomas has been a scoring machine this season, averaging 22 points per game in the month of January. he also is averaging 7 assists and 3 rebounds per game. While Thomas has been on a tear, Mike Conley has been just as impressive this month, averaging almost 20 points per game along with 6 assists and 3 rebounds.

Mike Conley will have to out-efficient Isaiah Thomas in order to win that individual battle.

The difference between the two is efficiency. Thomas is getting his points on 41% shooting, while Conley is shooting 47% this month. The point guards are also a bit difference in terms of turnovers, as Thomas is averaging 1 more turnover per game than Conley this month. If Mike is able to force Thomas into mistakes and to score his points via volume shooting, it will make the speedy Kings' guard less effective and therefore less dangerous.

The Prediction

Second night of a back-to-back games are always tough to predict. However, if this Grizzlies team is truly back on their way to the top they should take this game against a Kings roster struggling with injury at the moment. Expect a big game from the bench and Mike Conley, with minutes for Jamaal Franklin and Jon Leuer in the 4th quarter.

Memphis 101, Sacramento 89.

Poll
Which key to tonight's game will be most important to a Grizzlies victory?

  51 votes |Results


Kings vs. Grizzlies Fan Predictions

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It's Prediction Time!

Link to The Leaderboard

Below are a series of prediction questions for tonight's game. The first four questions will be asked every game, while the 5th will change each game.

Point value for predictions are listed next to the questions. If you believe that more than one player will lead a category, you can vote for multiple players, and this is worth double points if you are correct, but zero if you are wrong. Alternately, if you only guess one player when multiple players are tied, you get zero points.

All submissions must be input before tip-off. Any submissions after tip-off will not count. You are allowed only one submission and may not change unless specifically stated.

Questions:

1. Who do you think will win the game, and what will the final score be? (1 point for guessing winner. 2 points for guessing winner and correct score of one team. 5 points for guessing winner and exact score)

2. Who will be the game's leading scorer? (1 point for guessing scorer, 2 points for guessing exact points scored)

3. Who will be the game's leading rebounder? (1 point for guessing rebounder, 2 points for guessing exact rebounds)

4. Who will be the game's leading assist man? (1 point for guessing assist man, 2 points for guessing exact assists)

5. Predict Zach Randolph's Offensive Rebounds, Mike Conley's steals and Marc Gasol's assists (1 point for right answer, 3 points for two right, 5 points for all right)

From Waterworld to JCVD: Grading the Raptors at the Half, Part III

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Kyle Lowry as Humphrey Bogart? Sure, why not.

We conclude our evaluation of the Raptors' first half of the season with a look at the final 5 players on the roster. As a reminder, each player's performance is compared to a Hollywood flick. In other words, enjoy the most confusing 1700 words you're ever likely to read.

Landry Fields: Waterworld (1995)

Somewhere amidst the lukewarm, soaking mess (see what I did there?) that is Waterworld -- amidst the crappy dialogue, stupid costumes, and poorly thought out plot-line -- there is a half-decent movie begging to come out. Seriously, the concept is cool. Maybe if director, Kevin Reynolds, had a second shot at making this film in 2014 (and we had all magically forgotten about the first go around) a better film would emerge; perhaps a film with a better cast, something less cartoon-ish. Then again, it would probably just be derided as leftist, global warming propaganda.

Oh, and it would probably cost even more money. That's right, at $172 million Waterworld was the most expensive movie ever made when it was released 19 years ago. It wasn't worth it.

Which brings us to Landry Fields. Fields doesn't cost the Raptors quite as much as Waterworld cost to produce (Joe Johnson is making Waterworld-esque production money, however); but Fields, for a team that needs to be flexible salary-wise, costs too much. And while Fields, like Waterworld, has shown glimpses of promise, he's just not that good.

We can blame his struggles on nerve damage (injuries to Landry, are what expensive set collapses were to Costner's movie), but it's frustrating watching Fields perform like a shell of the player he once -- briefly -- was. Fields did look like a solid rotation player in New York. But not in Toronto. Not last season, and definitely not so far this year.

There's a decent basketball player in there somewhere. But as in the case of Waterworld, the positives exist in the hypothetical realm only.

Amir Johnson: Elysium (2013)

I won't lie: I was really excited to see Elysium. And okay, I'll admit that I was somewhat in denial. I'd read the reviews that said it was fairly mediocre; that Jodie Foster's character was absurd, and that the story was weak. But I had blinders on, mainly because I LOVED District 9. Absolutely loved it.

Neill Blomkamp, Sharlto Copley, a dystopian future; I was all in.

And, of course, I was disappointed. I was entertained; it wasn't a terrible movie by any means, just disappointing. The concept was cool, and the performances (except for Copley's ridiculous Kruger) were fine; but it was a film that was missing something. It seemed rushed, lazy, and lacked the soul of Blomkamp's previous film.

And just like Blomkamp's flawed blockbuster, something is missing with Amir Johnson this year. He hasn't been terrible, just disappointing when you consider how well he performed last season.

Amir was awesome last year. He was the Raps' best player and it wasn't even close. But this season Amir has been good in small doses. The consistency just isn't there. His numbers are similar to last season's (points are slightly up, rebounds slightly down, per 36 minutes). But the fact is, he just looks slower, and less engaged on the floor right now. Someone appropriately described him, during Monday night's game against the Nets, as "dragging his ass around". Sad, but true.

Maybe our expectations for Amir this season -- like my expectations for Elysium -- were too high. We expect him to have more energy on the floor than anyone; to be in 5th gear all game, every game. And the fact is, as a result of his constant ankle issues, he's probably been playing at less than 100%, thus far. But the team needs a more consistent second half of the year from Johnson. They need the put-back dunks, hard screens, and the offensive rebounding. They need more energy; more of last season's Amir.

They need less Elysium and more District 9.


Kyle Lowry: Casablanca (1942)

Let me start by reiterating the comments of many Raptors fans and writers, in saying that if Kyle Lowry -- the best point-guard in the Eastern Conference this season -- doesn't make the All-Star team, it'll be a travesty. We'll get mad, he'll get madder, he'll probably play even better, and then...well..okay sure, I can get my head around Lowry not making it.

So, Lowry's season has been like the classic movie, Casablanca. How's that, you say? Well, let's start with a very banal observation: Both Lowry and Casablanca are awesome. I won't bother trying to convince you that Casablanca is awesome because, A. I'm not a movie critic (can't you tell?) and therefore wouldn't do the film justice, and B. You already know that it's awesome, right?

But digging deeper -- and making a very big, and probably difficult to follow, stretch -- Lowry resembles Rick Blaine, Humphrey Bogart's character in the film. Lowry, like Blaine, owns a seedy club isn't the easiest guy to get along with. Cynical and bitter, both have had a somewhat sketchy past: Blaine ran guns in the Spanish Civil War, Lowry feuded with Kevin McHale. Same thing. Both (prior to this season for Lowry) had begun to drift in life. But Bogart's character, as the movie progresses, gradually becomes less cynical and finds catharsis in assisting his ex-flame (the cause of his misery), Ingrid Bergman, and her husband, in their escape from Morocco.

Lowry is still playing ball with that Monsieur Rick-like chip on his shoulder, but he's now channelling that energy in the right way. Since the Gay trade he's gone through his own catharsis of sorts. He's stopped gambling for steals, become an elite help defender, a better facilitator, and is now a good teammate -- a true leader. Like Blaine, he's moved beyond aimlessly and angrily shaking his fist at the world...and Dwane Casey.

And here's a clip of Bogart Lowry trying to convince some NBA coaches that they should ignore his previous misdeeds and pick him for the All-Star game:


Patrick Patterson: Predator (1987)

Sometimes you go back and watch a film that you really enjoyed when you were a kid (usually one you enjoyed when you were a teenager) and upon giving it a nostalgia-yearning re-visit, you reluctantly conclude that it stinks. I remember at age 12 or 13 watching Con Air and thinking that it was a great movie. Note: Con Air is not a great movie.

One film I did re-watch a few months back was Predator -- a film that,growing up, was one of my favourites. It was also frequently reenacted in my household (My brother and I had the scene below down to perfection). And you know what? You can watch Predator at age 12 and really enjoy it; and watch it 16 years later at age 28, and still be throughly entertained. Predator is a really solid movie.

And speaking of solid (get ready for this segue): Patrick Patterson is a really solid basketball player, and after coming over from Sacramento in December, he's had a very impressive 2 months with the Raptors. Like Arnie's flick -- which never attempts to be high-brow cinema -- Patterson does a lot of things really well. He stretches the floor, rebounds, and can be trusted to make the right basketball play (HavlicekPatterson stole the ball!), without stepping out of his comfort zone, and trying to be a player that he isn't.

As a Raptor, per 36 minutes, Patterson is averaging 15 boards and 8 rebounds. He's been the perfect 3rd big man off the bench, even stealing some of Amir's minutes. If he can continue his form through the second half of the season, he'll surely give Masai Ujiri pause for thought during the summer when he'll be entertaining offers as a restricted free agent.

Patrick Patterson isn't Hakeem Olajuwon, and never will be; just as Predator will never be more than a B-minus movie in a science fiction genre full of classics. But both fulfill an important niche; in Hollywood, and on an NBA roster.

Oh, and when Patterson runs into Boogie Cousins, his ex-Kentucky and Kings teammate, on February 5th, it'll go down like this:

John Salmons: JCVD (2008)

So, what do Jean-Claude Van Damme and John Salmons have in common?

Well, both men are veterans of their profession, and both and have tasted the highs and lows of Hollywood and the NBA, respectively. In the 2008-09 season, Salmons averaged 18 points per game and shot over 40% from beyond the arc. 5 years later he was wallowing in Sacramento, averaging 5 points per game and shooting a putrid 35% from the field.

In 1992, at the height of his popularity, The Mussels from Brussels made Universal Soldier -- not a good film, but a box-office hit, nonetheless.Just 5 years later Van Damme made Double Team with Dennis Rodman (as bad as it sounds) -- a film that grossed just a third of what Universal Solider made. And it would continue downhill from there.

Now I'll be honest; I grew up a huge Van Damme fan. Even at 12 years old I knew his movies were ridiculous, but I didn't care. Kickboxer, Blood Sport, Hard Target: I loved those flicks. Entering adulthood, and growing out of my Jean-Claude phase, I felt a tinge of sadness for my childhood hero, who was making straight-to-DVD movies filmed in Bulgaria. And then I stumbled upon the critically acclaimed JCVD, a brilliantly acted, and very poignant (yes, poignant) movie, in which Van Damme plays himself. Bitter, tired, and emotionally drained after a nasty custody battle, Van Damme returns to his native Belgium, only to get caught up in a bank robbery. Hilarity ensues.

And holy crap, Van Damme can act!

And you know what? John Salmons can still play professional basketball. Kings fans were more that happy to part ways with Salmons in the Gay trade, and no Raptors fan was expecting much from the supposedly washed-up swingman. But Salmons has pleasantly surprised everyone with his steadying influence, timely scoring, and solid perimeter defense. I wasn't a fan of the idea that Salmons might potentially take minutes away from Terrence Ross (it happened initially), but like the rest of the ex-Kings, he's provided the kind of bench production that the Raptors were sorely lacking during the Gay era.

Salmons might go back to playing crappy basketball next season, or even during the second half of this year (Van Damme is back to making crappy movies). But like Van Damme in JCVD, Salmons is showing us that he's not washed-up just yet.



STOP files lawsuit against City Clerk in attempt to reverse disqualification of petitions

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The anti-arena coalition has officially filed a lawsuit against the City Clerk and the City to try to reverse the Clerk's decision and get their initiative on the the June ballot.

The anti-arena coalition isn't going down without a fight.

Last Friday, City Clerk Shirley Concolino rejected STOP's petitions on the grounds that they were fundamentally flawed and did not meet state election code.

The next step in the process came today, as STOP has elected to file a lawsuit against Concolino and the city.

Nick Miller of the Sacramento News & Review reports:

Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork and Voters for a Fair Arena Deal-the two groups vying to put the initiative on the June ballot-submitted an application in Sacramento Superior Court this week challenging the city's ruling. They argue that their signature-gathering efforts amount to "substantial compliance" with election requirements.

But there's more: The legal challenge also accuses the city clerk of bias and misconduct.

Initiative proponents, and even a few City Hall insiders, are calling the city clerk's decision a "calculated political move" that had little to do with the law.

STOP claims that the City Clerk rejected the petitions for political reasons along with other claims of misconduct, including losing a form that stop said it filed in June.

The decision on whether to uphold or reject Concolino's decision will now be put in front of a judge, and due to the March 7th deadline for initiatives in order to get to the June Ballot, it's likely a decision will come sooner rather than later.

In his piece (which you should read in its entirety), Miller cites a couple of election-law experts regarding STOP's chances:

Steve Churchill, a local attorney and election-law expert, says that while judges are supposed to default to the initiative proponents in these types of cases, he has little clue how a legal challenge will play out.

On one hand, "the court must jealously guard the initiative process," he said. But "the problem with [the STOP] petition is they're trying to get an overall, horseshoes and hand grenades pass" when there are multiple mistakes, he added.

Rick Hasen, a law professor at UC Irvine, says a judge will foremost ask: "Were voters likely to be mislead?"

"The courts will sometimes excuse minor imperfections in petitions on grounds that the will of the voters, or the will of the petition signers, should be followed," he explained, then adding, "But they're not willing to cut too much slack."

This lines up with what myself and others have heard:  judges tend to give leeway to the voters, but won't forgive all mistakes if they're too egregious.  Whether that is the case this time will be up to whichever judge hears this case.

Court Jester #1: The Maloofs Want Back in NBA, Introduce NBA 3.1

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Court Jester posts are satire. Not actual news, so don't take it too seriously!

In light of the recent announcements by Kings' ownership that is bringing the NBA into phase 3.0, disgraced former Sacramento Kings' owners, the Maloof family, have let it be known that they want to get back into the NBA. While they do not have a team in mind, they have quite a few interesting ideas on how to get the league moving into the future. The Maloofs called a special event at a Las Vegas Hooter's to show off their plans.

"It came to me in a dream," said Gavin, "After a night of Zing Vodka and Never Hungover, it came to me in a vision. A new league. A league that is looking toward the future. I decided to call it NBA 3.1"

Gavin denied having heard of NBA 3.0.

It was at this point that George Maloof came out with their lawyers to present his PowerPoint presentation outlining the look of "NBA 3.1"

What followed was a series of interesting ideas that were sure to raise a few eyebrows and ruffle some feathers:

1. All teams would play in high school gymnasiums, thus eliminating the pesky cost of building arenas, maintaining them, fixing broken toilets, and having to pay employees. The tickets, due to limited availability, would then cost $2,000 a seat.

"If there's one thing our family represents, it is the people, and we know that, as people, there is nothing worse than being stuck in a fancy new arena with 20,000 screaming lunatics, the 'Arena-less league' gets rid of most of those pesky fans that may feel the need to bully the owners and players."

2. To counter the Kings' latest announcement that they would be accepting bitcoin, the Maloofs proposed accepting used casinio poker chips at team stores. Though team gear would only be available at one location, one day a week, between the hours of 3AM and 5AM. Furthermore, ATM machines will be switched with Slot Machines that only take ATM when a patron needs money.

"It teaches people to be smart and carry cash, which they can also use at one of the many poker tables and roulette wheels at the location. All proceeds will go to the "Zing Foundation", a foundation that provides money to privileged kids who waste their parents fortune. It is really close to our heart, as we pride ourselves in being hard working, blue collar philanthropists."

3. An ownership "Dream Team" that would partner with them was announced. This team consisted of The Maloof brothers themselves, Power Balance CEO Keith Kato, Hustler Magazine founder Larry Flint, Food Network personality Guy Fieri, and former NBA player Dennis Rodman.

"It was great to find a group of people that have the same values as we do. We feel that this group can really change things for the better. Dennis especially told us he has some connections that could really prove useful in the future."

4. A teams' owner has final say over all things written about them. All news will be released by official media that is handpicked by each team. Anyone found writing unauthorized information about the team or its owners will be justly punished.

"This was all Dennis' idea. He said that he had a friend who ran his business the same way, and it seemed like the most fair way to do things."

5. The salary cap will be reduced to $15.72. Contracts are also not guaranteed. It is a hard cap, as no team will be allowed to go over it.

"We all know players are overpaid, and the owners are what makes the NBA. This gives the owners the power back. If players really love the game, they will accept these changes, or they can find another line of work. The Maloof family believes that everyone needs to work hard to earn money, and playing a game is not work."

6. Each team will be provided with a spokesperson that will be able to announce that there are no comments on any news stories that may leak.

"The owners shouldn't have to waste their time not commenting on developing stories. It only makes sense that they pay someone else to do it."

7. All games will now be Pay Per View. $500 dollars for normal games, with the price doubling for marquee match-ups. A special league pass will be offered for the low price of $25,000 dollars, with that price raising as a team gets worse.

"Fans shouldn't keep supporting a team that clearly does not want to be there. By charging up for bad teams, this keeps these fans from being able to taint the league with their presence. We are tired of these fans being able to support their team through hard times. This helps weed out these pesky rodents."

8. Government officials are not allowed at or near games.Furthermore, basketball is not allowed in towns that have former NBA players in positions of power.

"We do not believe that these people have integrity, and want all of the games to be free of snakes. The Maloof family demands some integrity from the crowd. If a basketball player sells out, and becomes one of these government snakes, then their town does not need to corrupt a family organization like the NBA."

More details are said to be coming in the next few days.

After this announcement, the Maloofs all raised hands with their ownership group in the middle of the restaurant to a quiet crowd. They then refused to let anyone out of the restaurant until everyone cheered loud enough to break the current standing indoor noise record at a Hooter's restaurant.

"We feel that his is the logical next step by the NBA, and hopefully with a new commissioner, this dream can become a reality," eldest brother Joe Maloof stated, sporting a big smile on his face.

Ben McLemore not invited to the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend

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The Kings rookie was left off the roster and as such the Kings won't be represented in the game for the first time in 4 years.

The 18-player pool for the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge was announced today and in a somewhat surprising twist, Kings rookie Ben McLemore did not make the team.

The teams are as follows:

Rookies: Steven Adams, Pero Antic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trey Burke, Michael Carter-Williams, Tim Hardaway Jr., Victor Oladipo&Kelly Olynyk

Sophomores: Harrison Barnes, Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Terrence Jones, Damian Lillard, Mason Plumlee, Jared Sullinger, Jonas Valanciunas&Dion Waiters

McLemore has definitely struggled this season, but he did win the Western Conference Rookie of the Month in November and has been playing better as of late.  Ben is fifth among rookies in Points Per Game (8.0), 3rd in 3PM (53) and 9th in Total Rebounds (124).

It also should be noted that this year's Rising Stars Challenge features just 18 players when traditionally it has been played with 20.  There have been late additions in the past, including last year, when Isaiah Thomas was added to the player pool before the teams were drafted.  We'll see if that's the case for Ben, but if not, this will be the first time since 2009 that the Kings aren't being represented at this game.

Final score: Rockets hang on in Dallas, 117-115

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Another game, another wild finish between Dallas and Houston.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 38 points, passing 26,000 for his career in style, but didn't get a chance to hoist the shot in the final possession.  Frankly, it was amazing the game was that close at all.

With 2:53 seconds left, Jeremy Lin split a double-team for an easy layup that made it 116-104.  It appeared that might be the dagger after Dallas had hung in there for most of the game.

An 11-1 run from then on made it just a two point game with 22 seconds left, and Dallas had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead, but a pair of Calderon jumpers went astray, leaving Houston ahead when the final buzzer went off.

As disappointing as any loss at home to a division rival is, it's hard to be too despondent, given how improbable the final score ended up being.  Dirk had the ball in his hands on the final play, but Houston was clearly intent on making someone else beat them.  They doubled Dirk, leaving Calderon -- one of the NBA's best shooters -- wide open.

If nothing else, it was a shame simply because this had all the makings of a classic Dirk performance.

Dirk opened strong, scoring 11 points in the first quarter.  DeJuan Blair -- who entered the game after starter Samuel Dalembert picked up two fouls in the first two minutes -- also tossed in 11 points, and all told the Mavericks put a 30-spot on the board to start the contest.  Unfortunately, the Rockets went for 32, despite playing without James Harden for the second straight game.

Houston opened up a slightly wider cushion at the start of the second quarter, and would hover around a six or seven point advantage for a while.  In response to Dirk's fast start, Houston started to go at Dirk more often, making him work on defense, first with Terrence Jones, and then with Donatas Motiejunas.  Both teams fed on a steady diet of free throws, but Houston's major advantage was a hot hand from outside.  At the half, Houston was shooting 63% from the field and 50%(5/10) from three.  Dallas managed 50% from the field but was a somewhat shocking 0/7 from deep.

In the third, Houston scored the first six points of the quarter, stretching their lead to 12, but an 18-6 run by Dallas(half of which came from Dirk, including six straight points) tied it at 75.  Dirk would sit back down after this, and Houston would again build a six point margin while he rested, and entering the final quarter, Houston had a whopping 91 points.

In the fourth, Houston's relentless attack continued and looked to have perhaps finally opened the floodgates.  Rick Carlisle dug into his bag of tricks and tried out the "hack-a-Dwight" strategy midway through the quarter, but Dwight responded by making 7 of 8 freebies, quickly dousing that idea.  The Jeremy Lin layup that made it 116-104 definitely had the look of a coffin-nail, as Houston had just about everything working.

Then a curious thing happened.  Houston wouldn't score another field goal for the final three minutes.  And, at the other end, they began fouling Dallas on three point attempts, netting six at the line for Vince Carter and Devin Harris.  Then an actual Vince Carter three, followed by a pair of Dirk free throws after a loose ball foul on Dwight Howard, and suddenly Dallas was within two points at 117-115.  A single Motiejunas free throw was all that had kept it from being 11 unanswered points.

Some fine hustle defense from Calderon(he might be terrible at this end, but it isn't for lack of trying) forced a turnover off the inbound, which gave Dallas the ball with 19 seconds left and a chance to tie or even win, in absolutely stunning fashion.

Unfortunately, two decent looks from Calderon rimmed out, and so Dallas can only take credit for a near-incredible comeback.  As I said above, a double-team forced the ball out of Dirk's hands, and although one could perhaps make the argument Dirk should have shot before the double had a chance to come, I would maintain it was the right basketball play that resulted in an open look for one of the league's best shooters.

Some observations:

  • Obviously, the big story of the night is Dirk, who went for 38 points on 13-21 shooting and pulled down a season-high 17 rebounds.  It came on a milestone night, when the Big German went over 26,000 points for his career.  He now stands 374 points shy of passing John Havlicek for 12th in NBA history. Dirk did it without the aid of the three-point shot tonight, although there was one play late in the game where it appeared Montiejunas hit Dirk on the arm during his follow-through, causing a very rare air-ball.  You wonder if the fact that Dallas had already received a pair of fouls on three-point attempts made the refs reluctant to make that call a third time.
  • Speaking of the three-ball, Dallas didn't have it tonight, going 5-19.  And while Dirk had the hot hand, he didn't get much help from his fellow starters, as Monta Ellis, Jose Calderon and Shawn Marion combined to shoot 8-32.
  • Contrast this against Houston, who shot 55% from the field and 43% from three.  One thing that really stands out about their offense(even moreso with Harden in the lineup) is how nearly all their shots come either at the rim or behind the line.  The midrange game is almost a non-factor for them.  Dallas had some success with the zone, but in man on man were eaten alive by dribble penetration that resulted either in points in the paint(56) or open threes.
  • Another strange game from Samuel Dalembert.  He picked up two fouls in as many minutes to start the night, sending him to the bench.  Then, at the start of the third quarter, an extremely bizarre sequence saw him temporarily lose his mind and try to rip a rebound away from teammate Shawn Marion.  This drew the ire of Rick Carlisle, who immediately signaled for DeJuan Blair to come in.  Perhaps noticing this, Dalembert responded by violently rejecting a Patrick Beverly layup, and then grabbed an offensive rebound and putback at the other end.  Having seen this before, you might have thought this would light a fire under Dalember for the rest of the night, but instead he reverted back to being invisible, and was on the bench most of the rest of the game.  He finished with 3 points and 3 rebounds in 12 minutes.  If there is a magic word to activate the productive Samuel Dalembert we see briefly in flashes every now and then, please inform Rick Carlisle of what that word is.
  • In related news, it was another terrific night for the bench.  Blair scored 13 points(11 coming in the first), Devin Harris continued his stellar play of late with 14, and Vince Carter had some huge plays down the stretch en route to a 22 point, 5-9 shooting night.
  • This brings us to a question I will tease as I expect it to be the subject of future writings here: should Devin Harris start?  And, if so, who for?  On the one hand, you like his defensive versatility in combination with Monta, who despite a bad night is still a very big part of the Maverick offensive engine.  On the other hand, you might prefer the floor-spacing Calderon provides and would prefer to see Devin start next to him.  Either way, I think it's a move that could very well happen within the next week or so, as Harris is playing about as well as anyone could have hoped for after missing the first few months of the season.
A Dallas loss coupled with another Memphis win means the Mavericks are just a half-game up on the Grizzlies, with the two scheduled to meet in a week's time.  Hopefully, Dallas can gain some cushion in the race for the 8th and final playoff spot in the West before then, as they host the Kings Friday night.

Rockets vs Mavericks coverage

The Dream Shake



Kings don't have an answer for Mike Conley, lose 99-89 in Gay's return

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Rudy Gay came back and had a nice game but it wasn't enough to overcome Mike Conley's 27 points and the Grizzlies' tough defense.



The Kings dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday night as the Kings offense slowed down in the second half and Sacramento's defense got ripped apart by Mike Conley and company.  Conley finished with a game-high 27 points and 10 assists.  Memphis as a team shot 54.7% from the field.

Sacramento was led by Isaiah Thomas and the returning Rudy Gay, who had missed the last few games as he rehabbed the Achilles injury he suffered last week in Houston.  Thomas got off to a slow start but finished with 24 points on 10-21 shooting while Gay added 23 points on 10-16, including two highlight posters.  Gay did have two costly turnovers down the stretch that allowed Memphis to keep the Kings at bay.

On a lighter note, the Kings possibly had the first female PA announcer in NBA history as Jaime Coffee took the mic for the ailing Scott Moak.  Jaime had called the Monarchs games from 2001-2009.

DeMarcus Cousins warmed up prior to the game but was not activated to play.  The hope is that he will be back on Friday as the Kings take a short road trip to Texas to play a back-to-back against Dallas and San Antonio.

For the opponent's perspective, visit Grizzly Bear Blues


Taking Positives From The Sixers' Win In Boston

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The Sixers won and many cried. But let's look on the bright side.

With the clock reading 20 seconds and the Boston Celtics holding a 94-93 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, head coach Brad Stevens called timeout to regroup his squad. The shot clock only gave Boston 9 seconds to extend its lead of the visiting Sixers to three and after the huddle, Kris Humphries found himself wide open from 16-feet out of the left baseline. His shot clanked off the back iron, Michael Carter-Williams grabbed the loose rebound and began racing down the floor.

"It’s one of the most difficult decisions because it seems like life is in slow motion," Sixers coach Brett Brown said of whether to call a timeout when MCW streaked down the parquet. "Do you call a timeout, don’t you call a timeout? Do you call a timeout, don’t you call a timeout? I feel like I’ve learned through the ages that the busted play, the broken play, the random play is probably as good a play as you’re going to get."

Carter-Williams slowed as he crossed half-court and the rookie, who has still only played 34 games in the NBA, made a veteran decision and passed the ball to a teammate with a mismatch.

"When I got it I can’t remember who was on me, but I saw ET had a smaller defender on him so I got him the ball and he made a great finish to get us the win and at the end of the day it’s all about giving us the best chance to win," Carter-Williams said. "We had some movement, he was able to get into the lane and hit a nice pull-up jump shot.

Of course, many Sixers fans groaned as Turner sprinted around the TD Garden court after his shot ripped through the net. With the victory, the Sixers moved to 15-31 on the season and the Celtics fell to 15-33, swapping the two teams in the standings and lowering the Sixers’ odds are receiving the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, if the season the ended today. Brown’s club is now just a half game behind up on the Sacramento Kings in holding onto fourth place in the inverted standings.

But this is another classic example of a moment that is much bigger than the literal outcome. Brown’s comments post-game show just how much he’s learned and meticulously reviewed his tactics during his first season at the helm of the Sixers. That’s what you want from a long-term head coach. Carter-Williams’ recognized his shots weren’t falling and noticed one of his team’s best scorers had a size advantage and deferred. That’s what you want from a franchise point guard.

Yes, the win stings now. It burns just like the bitter whip of the Boston winter wind. But just as spring is around the corner, so is the team’s ever-bright future.

Celtics Executive: Expansion Not Likely Within Five Years

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Assistant GM for Boston Celtics says expansion not likely within five years, but more likely in five to ten years. Says relocation is more likely in the five year window.

According to Mike Zarren, the assistant general manager of the Boston Celtics, Seattle is in for a longer wait than any of us had hoped for in the pursuit of an NBA franchise.

Participating in a forum at the Sports Lawyer Association conference, Zarren was asked by panelist and sports law expert Mike McCann about the possibility of expansion to Seattle. An article at lawinsports.com, which you can read here, describes the exchange:

McCann asked about NBA expansion, and specifically, whether the NBA will expand to Seattle. Zarren believes that Europe will be the next frontier. Domestically, he thinks that Seattle will remain the top candidate for expansion, but noted a specific team's destination is usually up to the team's owners, rather than to the league as a whole. Zarren cautioned, however, that he does not envision NBA expansion within the next five years. He thought the possibility of NBA expansion was somewhat higher within the next 10 years, but had no specific information on any expansion. Zarren reasoned that in the short term, it would be more likely for a team to relocate to Seattle than it would be for the NBA to add a team there.

That doesn't feel good to read, but we promised to cover the good and the bad in the quest to get our team back.

Let me address a couple things.

"A specific team's destination is usually up to the team's owners?" Don't make me laugh. The Kings saga taught us that a team's destination is completely up to the league. The fact that he even said that makes me shake my head.

When he says that relocation is more likely in the next five years, what team might that be? The Bucks situation will take years to play out to a point where relocation might not even be an option. I still think expansion is the most likely and best option.

Also consider that this is one guy talking and that others, such as Mark Cuban, have seemed more open to expansion in recent statements.  Owners tend to know more than assistant general managers in my experience.

So let's converse. Let the Eeyore's say the sky is falling and let the sunshine and rainbowers tsk tsk their pessimism. Let the rest of you sort this out in your own way. Share your thoughts with us!

Michael Malone wants defensive players, so who is available?

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Michael Malone says he's only going to play guys that play defense but the problem is he doesn't have many good defensive players. With the trade deadline coming up, who is available that does?

Another loss, another terrible defensive effort and Michael Malone made his displeasure clear:

From the Bee:

"I've been a hypocrite all year," Malone said. "I preach defense, that's what I believe in and we're one of the worst defensive teams in the league. So for me, if you don't play defense, it's not just Marcus Thornton, if you don't play defense I can't play you."

I definitely understand Coach's frustration.  The Kings are currently dead last in the NBA in defensive rating at 109.6 following yesterday's loss.  Before DeMarcus Cousins' injury, they were 26th, which was still bad.

The thing is, the Kings definitely have guys who try on defense, but they don't have many guys who are actually good on defense.  Defense is more than just effort, it's also knowledge of defensive schemes and experience.  Under Pete D'Alessandro, the Kings have gotten younger and more talented, but they've also lost almost all their defensive players (Luc Mbah a Moute, John Salmons, Chuck Hayes, Tyreke Evans, Toney Douglas).

Team defense can improve with time, but it helps if you have a couple of good individual defenders.  With the trade deadline coming up, the Kings can definitely look to fill this area of need by acquiring a defensive player or two.  If they can block shots or handle the ball, that's a bonus.  So what guys that might be available would help the Kings become a better defensive team?

Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have reportedly been trying to shop Lowry as of late since he's an expiring contract, but they're asking price is high.  Lowry is having an All-Star caliber year in Toronto, leading them to the 3rd best record in the East since the Rudy Gay trade.  It would take quite a bit to get Lowry (like probably trading Isaiah Thomas), so the Kings probably wouldn't give up an asset unless they thought they could keep him long term.  Lowry could be a possible target in Free Agency this summer as well, although the Kings will be pressed for cap space if Rudy Gay doesn't opt out.

Thaddeus Young, F, Philadelphia 76ers

It's well known that basically everybody on the Philly roster aside from MCW and their picks are available for the right price.  The price for Young, who has developed into a very good combo forward, is high.

Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics

If Sacramento wants to swing for the fences, they could probably get Rajon Rondo.  It would likely mean giving up Isaiah Thomas and Ben McLemore and maybe even this year's draft pick (apparently we can trade it according to Pete D'Alessandro, it's just complicated).  The Celtics aren't going to trade Rondo unless they get quite a bit back.  I'm not sure it'd be totally worth it either given his recent injury history.

C.J. Miles, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers

Miles is an expiring contract, but he's become an underrated 3 and D guy.  I don't even see him as a trade target as much as a possible FA target this summer.

Larry Sanders, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks

Sanders has had a tumultuous season after breaking out last year and earning a big contract.  Now he's stuck on the worst team in the NBA and is going nowhere fast.  The Bucks would love to get rid of him but they're not going to just do it for pocket change.  The Kings would also need to consider if his talent (especially on the defensive end where he led the league in blocks last year and holds opponents to a relatively low rim %) trumps the potential issues that could arise from him being in the same locker room as DeMarcus Cousins.  Offensively, he's also not a great fit next to Cousins because he can't shoot the ball outside of the paint, but offense hasn't been an issue with the Kings this season, defense has.

Bismack Biyombo, PF/C, Charlotte Bobcats

A poor man's Larry Sanders with none of the attitude problems.

Omer Asik, C, Houston Rockets

Asik, somewhat surprisingly, still hasn't been traded by the Rockets.  They've passed several self-imposed deadlines without making a deal, and now likely will wait until the real trade deadline before they make a move.  Houston has made it clear they won't let Asik go for cheap, and the Kings haven't shown an interest in him as of yet, but that could change as Feb. 20th approaches.

Tony Allen, SG, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have been doing great lately without Allen, and the recent addition of Courtney Lee could spell the end for Allen in Memphis.  Allen is a solid roleplayer and a fantastic defender, but he probably won't play much the rest of the season as he rehabs a broken hand.  Allen's locked in for 3 more years after this though.

***

Those are just some options.  Most of the ones I listed will require the Kings to make substantial offers in order to get guys they want.  In the meantime, we'll likely see more instances of bad defense, although it should be somewhat improved (still bad) with DeMarcus Cousins coming back.

Reminder: Sactown Royalty Night III is Saturday!

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StR is hosting it's first road game at O'Mally's in Old Sac this Saturday!

Friends, countrymen, & you in the corner,

This is just a quick reminder that this Saturday, February 1st, we will be hosting Sactown Royalty Night III, the first ever StR night road game.  The event will be hosted at O'Malley's in Old Sacramento at 1109 2nd street.

Thanks to our good friend HumboldtCPA (whose parents own O'Mally's) we will have the whole downstairs of the pub to ourselves as we watch the Kings crush the Spurs on four tv's.  The game starts at 5:30 pm so we encourage you guys to get there by around 5 pm.

If you didn't already RSVP in the original thread, do so in this one or e-mail asksactownroyalty@gmail.com.  As of last count we have 40 or so RSVPs so it should be a good crowd.

For those that want the "two-second advantage" when ordering, HumboldtCPA has provided us pictures of O'Mally's menu below:

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I hope to see many of you there.

DeMarcus Cousins left off Western Conference All-Star Team

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NBA coaches didn't select Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins as an All-Star reserve, but there is still some hope that he might make the team as an injury replacement.

DeMarcus Cousins will be an NBA All-Star ... but it is not this day.

The NBA announced it's All-Star reserves today and DeMarcus Cousins was not selected by the Coaches as a reserve.  Instead, he will have to hope for a spot as an injury replacement to either Kobe Bryant or Chris Paul, and even that isn't a certainty as there are other deserving players in the West that were left off like Tim Duncan, Mike Conley Goran Dragic and Anthony Davis.

Cousins has been putting up All-Star numbers this year.  In terms of league-leaders, Cousins is 10th in Points Per Game (22.6), 6th in Rebounds Per Game (11.6), 9th in Steals Per Game (1.8) and 6th in Player Efficiency Rating (26.5).

One big factor against Cousins (aside from the fact that the West is loaded with talent) is the Kings record.  They're 15-30 and last in the West.  Coaches don't like selecting players from losing teams, even with big numbers.

DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, if they continue to keep their PERs above 25 and do not make the All-Star team as replacements, will be the first healthy players in NBA history to have a PER that high and not be selected as an All-Star.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal are the only others, but those were different circumstances: Abdul-Jabbar missed the first 20 games of the season with a broken hand, and Shaq did it in 1998-99 when there was no All-Star game due to lockout.

Personally though, I'm not too upset.  I'm just glad that the Kings have a player that's actually worthy of All-Star consideration.  That didn't seem like it would be the case last year.  DeMarcus has taken a big leap forward this year as a player, and as a fanbase, we're no longer talking about his potential but rather his production.  That's progress that I can live with.

Check here for the full NBA All-Star game rosters.

The Sactown Royalty Show Ep 33: Answering your questions!

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This week I was flying solo. I answered questions from Twitter, and had a chance to chat with Kevin Fippin.

The Sactown Royalty Show is back! This week I went in without a planned guest, instead focusing on answering your questions.

I answered questions from Twitter, and took a call from StR's own Kevin Fippin.  Apparently he got tired of hearing me talk to myself.

This show still managed to cover a variety of topics.  We spent a lot of time discussing Jason Thompson, team defense, Derrick Williams and his future with the team, trade possibilities, and much more.  Check it out.

Popular Sports Internet Radio with The Sactown Royalty Show on BlogTalkRadio

Thanks to Kevin for calling in, and a huge thanks to everyone who submitted questions on Twitter!  And, as discussed on the show, chime in on today's poll question.  Vote in the poll and discuss in the comments.

Like the show? Subscribe to us on iTunes or on Stitcher! Leave us ratings, leave comments, let us know how we're doing. Ratings and comments on iTunes really help us out with promoting the show. And of course, continue the discussion in the comments below.

As always, thanks for listening.

Poll
Who is the greatest Sacramento King of all time?

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What I'll Remember From David Stern's Reign

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David Stern has been the Commissioner nearly as long as I've been alive. His career was twice as long as Michael Jordan's. What follows is not a comprehensive history of his rule. It's just what, and how, I will remember the greatest Commissioner in the history of professional sports.

I've watched David Stern's reign from afar. The Memphis Grizzlies rarely gave cause to draw the eye or ire of the Great Commissioner David, of the House Stern, First of His Name, Ruler of the Conferences East and West, and Protector of the NBA. These next few words, I write as a plebe who never knew his king.

I love David Stern

Basketball is littered with characters. It's one of the reasons it's my favorite sport. Kobe Bryant, Tony Allen and Javale McGee largely don't exist in football. One of my favorite characters in basketball has been David Stern.

When Stern is in front of the microphone, he is not talking. Not really. He is a trapeze performer, cutting long arcs in the air with his words, extemporizing filibusters, before he eventually swings back to his point. His wit cuts. His smile is a muscle which he can clench into benevolence, or flex so weakly it barely covers whatever-it-is that lays beneath.

From the above clip: {Calibrates smile to the perfect depth} "I think its... great.... that our players have become leaders in fashion." That gets me every time. I've never had the pleasure to meet David Stern, or see his audial acrobatics. Perhaps that is why I love him so much. It's much easier to watch someone else be the subject of his scorn, than be the subject yourself.

The Law of the Land

Stern, a lawyer by trade, loved making rules. From the Byzantine Salary Cap to the Dress Code, Stern's rules criss-cross every facet of the NBA. And where other Commissioners seem to make it up as they go allow themselves lee-way in matters of judgement, Stern's Law lives apart from him.

So when Amare Staudemire and Boris Diaw took a handful of steps onto the court in response to thisduring the 2007 Western Conference Finals, there was no room for equivocation. The stage didn't matter. Neither did the fact that Amare and Diaw both did nothing to escalate the situation. They violated the law. They were both suspended. Phoenix lost the ensuing game, and eventually, the series.

Stern bore that criticism like he did all others. With a smile and a shrug. To him, his hands were tied. Once he set the Law he wasn't above it.

He Can Charm a Booing Crowd with a Handful of Words

No, seriously.

The above clip is proof that there are multiple Sterns. Game of Thrones would be a boring show with Stern on the throne. He wouldn't have to wait for his dragons to be grown. He is the best parts of Ned Stark (slave to his Law), Renly Baratheon (garners the love of the people), Tywin Lannister (cunning politician), and like another character, everything he has done, he has done for the good of the realm because....

Stern Loves the Game

I believe that. I really do. If sports is your job, it can drive the fan out of you, but I never doubted that every decision David Stern made, he made for the good of the game. Perhaps it is a well-crafted persona that serves his interests, but I think not.

I'll end with this. I can't remember when Stern said it, but upon being asked what his greatest regret was during his reign as Commissioner, he said not being able to keep the Grizzlies in Vancouver. This wasn't a shot at Memphis, or even in response to poor attendance numbers. It was an open acknowledgement of a mistake. Vancouver is a great city, one of my favorites. I feel bad that the reason Memphis has an NBA team is because Vancouver does not. Apparently, so does Stern.

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Maybe that's why, in recent years, he not only brought basketball back to New Orleans, he fought to keep it there by convincing the other 29 NBA owners to buy the team, rather than find a buyer that would move the Hornets. The Kings, beyond all comprehension, are somehow still in Sacramento.

That doesn't happen if you view your job as merely "expanding your global footprint," or "making my constituency richer." It happens when you aren't prioritizing the bottom line. It happens when you care about the game.


Purple Ties: A Farewell to David Stern

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After 30 years as NBA commissioner, David Stern is retiring. His replacement, Adam Silver, will be attending the Kings' Feb 5th game, a night we've dubbed Forever Silver Night. Today around SB Nation's NBA blogs, we're covering what Stern meant to our franchises.

David Stern became NBA commissioner on February 1, 1984. A few months later I was born. A year later the Sacramento Kings came into existence. Stern is the only commissioner that I or the Sacramento Kings have ever known. On February 1, 2014, that association comes to an end.

The story of how the Kings stayed in Sacramento has been told time and time again around here, but I can think of no more fitting story to explain what David Stern meant to the Sacramento Kings. I hope you'll indulge me once more.

The Kings needed a new arena for a long time. A very long time. Sactown Royalty's first post filed under the arena section is dated August 3rd, 2006. Sactown Royalty has only existed since late 2005. That section has over 450 entries.

Throughout the process of Sacramento attempting to get a new arena plan in place, David Stern's watchful eye was never far away. There were times when he seemed resigned to the inevitable, washing his hands of the process. Other times he was in the heart of the fight. He sent his top people to review the situation in Sacramento. One of them, Chris Granger, is now the President of the Sacramento Kings.

NBA fans in Seattle are happy to see Stern go. They view him as the guy who took the Sonics away, and then wouldn't let them take the Kings. I'm still uncertain as to how much Stern may or may not have fought for the Kings to stay in Sacramento. Time will tell. But I don't give him full credit for the Kings staying. There are too many other people who had a hand in that. Kevin Johnson, VivekRanadive, Mark Mastrov, Ron Burkle. Hell, the entire current ownership group. The fans. Oh, the Kings fans. To say that Stern is single handedly responsible for the Kings being in Sacramento is too narrow-minded, too simplistic a view of an extraordinarily complex process that led to a rather improbable outcome.

But I can say for certain that we wouldn't have the Kings today if it wasn't for Stern.

What David Stern gave Sacramento was the chance to fight. It's easy to forget now, but the NBA never had to allow Sacramento an opportunity to present a counter option against relocation. We weren't owed an opportunity to assemble an ownership group. None of that was a given. That was David Stern.

Why he did it is unclear. Did he hear the fans? Did he want to avoid another franchise relocation right before his retirement? Did he believe in the Sacramento market? Did he really just despise the Maloofs and what they had done to franchise in his league? Again, time may tell, or we may never know.

But David Stern gave us a chance.

Four-Pointer: Previewing the Sacramento Kings

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The Sacramento Kings traded for Rudy Gay earlier this season. Since then, the Kings have been playing better. Unfortunately, Gay is hurt and the stalwart DeMarcus Cousins is also on the mend. With their two stars out, Sacramento has struggled.

What has Sacramento done lately?

The Kings have lost five in row. In those games they have given up 113 points per game while only scoring on average 102.8 points. They did manage to take the Oklahoma City Thunder to overtime but the rest of their games haven't been especially close.

Of course, a lot of this is the result of injuries. DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay have missed a number of games. Cousins is on the mend after spraining his ankle and is questionable for tonight's game against the Mavs. Gaywas dealing with a strained left Achillies but returned to the lineup on Wednesday. He is listed as probable for tonight's game.

Cousins and Gay are Sacramento's leading scorers averaging 22.6 and 20.3 points per game respectively. Losing Cousins is an especially difficult pill to swallow. Before his injury he was simply a beast.

What is the Kings' biggest strength and weakness?

Sacramento isn't necessarily good at anything in particular. They are decent at getting to the free throw line and grabbing offensive rebounds. However, a lot of that stems from the play of Cousins. The team does score 14.3 points on the fastbreak per game. That should be a plus as the Mavericks are woeful when it comes to defending the fastbreak.

As for their weaknesses, well, for starters, they are poor defenders. Sactown gives up 104.7 points per game with opponents making 52 percent of their shots. Not only that, but the Kings do not move the ball well on offense.

Also, the aforementioned injury to Cousins is a huge weakness.

What player might surprise you on the Kings?

I had the opportunity to see Isaiah Thomas play the summer he was drafted. It was in Josh Howard's Celebrity All-Star Game, or whatever it was called, back in 2011 during the lockout. One of the things that that I took away from that bizarre game was the speed of Thomas. He could simply fly. I think he dunked some too.

Coming into this season, Thomas was widely thought to be the backup point guard as the Kings had brought in Greivis Vasquez after a stellar season in New Orleans. However, Mike Malone, the Kings' head coach, inserted Thomas into the starting lineup after Vasquez's performance was marred with inconsistency.

Thomas is averaging 19.9 points on 44.6 percent shooting. He is also connecting on an astonishing 38.5 percent of his 3-point attempts. On top of those numbers, he dishes out 6.3 dimes per game.

What do the Mavs need to do to be successful against Sacramento?

They need to learn from the disaster that was Wednesday's game. Did you watch Carlisle's presser video? I was scared to be in that room.

Hell, what more can the Mavs actually learn at this point? They do not have the personnel nor do they have the effort to mount anything that resembles a defensive stand. Look, the offense is fine. It's going to remain fine. The question is: When will this team focus on both sides of the floor and play like a cohesive defensive unit? All they have to do is play mediocre defense! That would be a major step forward.

Luckily, the Kings are banged up, a bad team, and scraping the bottom of the Western Conference. Dallas should win but we just really don't know at this point, do we?

The Downbeat #1264: The Jerry Sloan Edition

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Tonight the Utah Jazz will honor the Hall of Fame coach, Jerry Sloan. Jerry was head coach of the Jazz for over 22 years, reaching 1223 wins (regular season and playoffs) with the team. Sloan is the only NBA coach in NBA history to reach over a thousand victories with one team.

The amazing coach, Jerry Sloan will have a jersey retired tonight by the Utah Jazz. The ceremony will take place during halftime of the Utah Jazz vs Golden State Warriors game. Remember the game starts at 8:30 p.m MST. The game is on both ROOT Sports and ESPN.

There also will be a press conference featuring Jerry Sloan, John Stockton and Karl Malone today at 5:00 p.m. streamed live on utahjazz.com.

Many have speculated what number will be on the jersey that honors Jerry. Jerry wore #4 for the Chicago Bulls as a player in the NBA. The Jazz already have #4 retired for Adrian Dantley.

The Jazz, unsurprisingly after seeing Hot Rod's new banner, has decided to have the number 1223 on Jerry's jersey. As reported by Jody, here is what Randy Rigby had to say:

"Incorporating both his regular season and playoff victories, the number 1223 was selected to embody all of Jerry’s accomplishments and his countless contributions to the Jazz franchise and state of Utah," Jazz president Randy Rigby said in a press release statement.

"This banner will serve as a symbol of the enduring legacy of Jerry Sloan, one of the greatest coaches in NBA history and forever a member of the Jazz family."

Amazing accomplishment to have 1223 wins with one team, its just incredible. The loyalty that Jerry showed to the Jazz and the Jazz showed to Jerry is unheard of today.

I liked the old retired jerseys. I loved the character and history they showed. I understand the need for uniformity but if the decision was mine I would have kept the old jerseys. I think Hot Rod's microphone was awesome and am a little sad they changed it. The new banners do look nice however and it will be excellent to see Sloan's banner right up there where it belongs.

If you were able to choose what number/symbol to retire on Jerry's banner what would it be?

Current Jazz players are fortunate to have Sloan back with the team as a consultant. Marvin Williams was in fact sad last year when he came to the team and Jerry was not a part of it.

Marvin on Jerry (via Moni)

You know what? When I first got traded to Utah, I'll be 100 percent honest: Coach Sloan was the only person that I actually wanted to sit down and meet. And I was really disappointed because I didn't have a chance to get to meet him last year. Didn't get a chance to sit down and talk to him, 'cause he wasn't around the team as much. But this year when I heard they were bringing him back as a consultant, he's been around the team; he's always at practice. I get a chance to sit down and speak to him a little bit, and it's been really good. He's been awesome, man. He's been nothing but first class. To kinda see him get honoredon Fridaynight, even though I didn't play for him, to know what he's accomplished throughout his career, it's gonna be a special night not just for him but for everybody in this Utah Jazz community, because he has done so much for the community and done so much for this team. So I think everybody's excited. He's definitely well-deserving of everything he's accomplished, and I think we're all looking forward to Friday night.

I think its great that Jerry is back in the day-to day business with the Jazz. Jerry has so much to offer our players and coaches.

While I did not think it was possible for me to love Jerry anymore than I did, watching this interview with Jerry however increased my love for him by leaps and bounds. (HUGE thanks to Moni for sharing this video with me)

Jerry was interviewed in 2012 when his high school gymnasium was named after him. It is a half hour long interview, please watch the entire 30 minutes. It is just incredible to learn more about Jerry and his interesting life.

Some highlights for me:

  • The admiration Jerry holds for his high school, college and NBA coaches. Jerry learned hard work from every single one of his coaches, he learned to play the game the right way.
  • When Jerry left the University of Illinois to go home, he worked at a Whirlpool factory for five weeks before the new quarter at Evansville began. On his fifth or sixth day of work on the assembly line building fridges at Whirlpool, the foreman came down to Jerry to talk to him to ask how he was doing, it turns out Jerry was doing the job of two men. Jerry said he had never been so tired in his life. Listen to this story its about 7 minutes into the interview, I am not giving justice to it.
  • How he came to work for the Jazz thanks to Phil Johnson. (Who was leaving for the Kings)
  • Jerry reminiscing about the the Finals, showing respect to the Bulls when all of the sudden he says

If Bryon Russell would have been holding the ball and shoved Jordan down they would have called a foul.

  • Jerry sharing how honored he feels when he watches NBA games and he sees a team running one of his plays. He says its like a pat on the back.
  • The admiration and respect he shows when talking about John Stockton, Karl Malone, Frank Layden and Larry Miller.
If you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hear Jerry tell the story of his life, watch this video! I shared maybe a 10th of the notes I took when watching it, there is so much more to enjoy.

Moni in 2010 wrote one of the greatest posts on Jerry Sloan. Moni in her magical way found amazing stories and tidbits about Jerry's playing and coaching career.

An excerpt from that post:

During Jerry’s fourth year in Chicago, the Bulls were fighting to keep their season alive and had to win four out of five games in five nights to make the Playoffs. They won their first three games, but Jerry broke two ribs and separated his sternum when Lew Alcindor [i.e. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar] knocked him down with just seconds to go in the third game.

"[The doctor that met the team at the airport that night] told us that Sloan shouldn’t go, that he should stay home. But Jerry insisted on going just to be with the team. We just needed one more win. The next day I went to the arena, and Sloan was there. He said, ‘I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been walking around. I’ve found this little corset thing. Let me warm up.’

"I said, ‘No, I’m not gonna let you,’" Motta recalled. "He said, ‘Coach, you gotta let me warm up.’ So he warmed up … Later…he came up to me and said, ‘You know I’ve never asked you to do one thing. I’ve never told you to do one thing. I’m gonna ask one favor now.’

"I said, ‘What’s that, Jerry?’

"He said, ‘If I were you, I’d start me.’

"I started him," Motta said, "and he couldn’t raise his arm. Chet Walker and I had to stretch the uniform to get him in it. His ribs were broken, but he just wouldn’t quit. We were down three early in the second half, and Cincinnati called a quick timeout. In the huddle, Jerry said, ‘C’mon guys, let’s go. We’ve come from 33 down before.’

"I looked up at the clock and said, ‘Jerry, what’s wrong?’

"He said, ‘Oh, I thought we were down 33.’

"The pain was so excruciating that he was incoherent," Motta said. "He was going on an empty tank. We won the game in overtime, and made the playoffs. I was able to rest Jerry the last game, and he played in the playoffs."

("Stockton to Malone: The Rise of the Utah Jazz" by Roland Lazenby)


Jerry, the toughest of them all.

A brilliant gif of Jerry

Jerry__1__medium

WOW.

Read the rest of Moni's post it is fantastic, perfect for Jerry Sloan Day.

I am going to the game tonight. I am so happy it worked for our family to make the trip to Utah and attend the game. Jerry Sloan is one of the main reasons I am as avid of a Jazz fan that I am today.

Jerry stood by the Jazz when Stockton and Malone left, when most HOF coaches would have looked for greener pastures. Jerry stood by the Jazz when Larry had to be conservative with his money and was unable to build contending teams around Stockton and Malone. Jerry stood by the Jazz when the locker room was being torn apart by a backup point guard. Jerry stood by the Jazz when they changed GMs. Jerry stood by the Jazz when his wife died and Jerry stood by the Jazz when Larry died.

Jerry may be the toughest of them all but he also is the loyalist of them all.

If I had the opportunity to thank Jerry for all he did I don't know if I could possibly say all that I am grateful for that he did for the Jazz. I would not appreciate the game if it was not for the way Jerry coached the game. I would not understand how it was played if not for Jerry's beautiful offense. Jerry being the coach of the Jazz was a staple in my childhood and early adult life. Jerry was the coach when I was a child and he was the coach when I had children. It was comforting to have something so consistent in my life. Jerry was part of the Jazz's original Core Four. I cannot thank Jerry enough for helping to keep the Jazz in Utah, helping the Jazz to consistently win and of course helping the Jazz to be one of the most respected NBA franchises.

I have only been star struck twice in my life and meeting Jerry Sloan was one of those times. After a preseason game about five years ago, we were walking around the ESA to get to our car. We happened to walk by where the players and coaches leave their parking lot. We of course paused and enjoyed watching players drive by with the other fans. Most players waved but didn't stop. I can understand that, they want to get home. Andrei Kirilenko stopped and signed autographs, he was incredibly nice to my children, who were young at the time. Kirilenko is probably the nicest Jazz players I have ever interacted with. Jerry Sloan was the only other person to stop. Jerry signed autographs and talked to every fan who wanted his attention. Jerry was very friendly, so kind and very nice. Jerry made everyone who talked to him feel special. How many prestigious coaches like Jerry would stop and talk to fans like he did?

Jerry deserves every honor he receives tonight.

If you could tell Jerry thank you, what would you say to him?

Weekly Conversation

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SARR and Seth C discuss #bloglyfe, managing VTM, USA Today "borrowing" content and the the new proposed player's union.

Seth C: We've talked a bit through email about how time can become a commodity that's hard to come by when you spend as much time blogging as you and I do. I mentioned that I pretty much gave my wife my time for Christmas. I bought her Downtown Abbey and my present to her was to be unplugged and sit there and watch something with her.

I've actually enjoyed watching it and I've enjoyed putting my computer and my phone down and just hanging out with her. What about you? How have you balanced #bloglyfe and #familylyfe?

I have a tendency to get lost inside my own head -SARR

SARR (Travis): You know, it’s still something I struggle with. My wife is great, and very understanding, but sometimes it just gets to be too much for her. I have a tendency to get lost inside my own head and that’s where her frustration understandably comes in. Usually if I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing or trying to put together a story in my mind and get distracted. And by distracted I mean I can’t hear anything going on around me.

And now that I’m covering the Spurs, I’m usually away for a couple of evenings a week and then working on the story until 2 or 2:30 in the morning when I get home. That tends to make the next day no so great so you get into this cycle of not being the most "in the moment" husband and dad. Writing has just become such a passion for me and it’s very difficult to turn it off. It was four years ago this month that I wrote The House that Leach Built and since then things have really snowballed (in a non professional, writing as a hobby, blogging in my sweats kinda way).

It’s a work in progress because I don’t want to miss out on things at home so I’ll usually try to write after everyone goes to bed. Last Sunday was great because we spent most of the day unplugged, outside, weathering the cedar and just hanging out as a family. It’s definitely something I need to continue to work on and be a better manager of my #familylyfe.

So we’ve joked about me being the squirrel that parties all summer and starves in the winter while you’re the worker ant, going about your business and always planning things out. I’ve always struggled with looking at things long term, which probably contributes to the struggles I described above. I want to post all the stories and close all the deals and have all the fun today, just in case I get hit by a bus on my way home.

Have you always been a planner, and someone that has the patience to take a long term approach, or is that a skill you perfected since you created DTN/VTM? Any tips for those of us that run out of nuts in the winter?

Seth C: There is a part of me that obsesses about everything. So I think this is just who I am. I obsess about whether I'm making the right decisions about moderating. I obsess if I have made people angry at me for those decisions. I obsess about making sure that everything is running as smoothly as they can be.

Maybe you can change the word "obsess" to "worry", but I more than anything I want everything to be as professional as possible and offend the fewest people as possible and try to put out a quality product.

I just can't last that much longer with such a large community. It's just not possible. -Seth C. discussing our biggest fear

I very much worry about giving everyone as much time on the front page and the first slot as much as possible. At one time, it didn't really matter because it was just me, but I REALLY want for other writers to shine and do well and get some comments going.

I realize that going the way that I go, worrying about story placement, to content to the members at large, to whether or not I'm doing an okay job, I just can't last that much longer with such a large community. It's just not possible. Plus, at some point, I will have made everyone mad at me for something that I've done, so I'll be friendless by the time it's all said and done.

But to your original question, the expansion of the writers for VTM was in anticipation of me adoption two years from when I thought that I might be adopting. So yeah, I sorta plan things out because I want things to be able to operate when I'm not around. VTM has gotten to be so big that it's not just a one man operation. I also think that eventually, every blogger gets burned out and can't go forever and I'm sure that day is coming sooner rather than later. I'm not ready to hang it up yet, but I'll be 40 in March (Mike Leach and I share the same birthday) and with two young kiddos out there, time will be even more of a premium. The new kiddo is going to be three by the time we pick him up and he'll know French and I don't know any French, so communicating will be strained at best just because of the language differences.

So, I feel like I owe it to everyone that reads VTM to be able to put out a quality first-rate product even if I'm not around. That's the goal.

Awww, hell. You asked me for tips. So here goes.

I operate better with a schedule, so I try to make life easier for me by creating formats for posts that are relatively easy to duplicate. I want to get the reader the information in a visually pleasing way and I also want to get out new content. I also write when I have any moments of free time, which is why I typically write at 4:00 am. I have no distractions or televisions or anything else on to distract me. Just me and the Chromebook. I'm also a pretty heavy user of Evernote, where I use it to clip ideas and take long-term notes and thoughts.

I also heavily use Google Docs for pretty much all of my writing. It ensures that I have something at my fingertips whether or not I'm at work or at home or somewhere else. I've got the format ready to go. As far as the scheduling aspect of it, I want to make sure and communicate that everyone gets a share of the stage and just communicate that to everyone. Sometimes I think the folks at SBN really want a handful of articles each day, while I think that 3 is a pretty good number. I want for people to develop conversations during the day and work things out rather than just crank out stories for page views.

One other thing that I think helps me is that I don't edit what everyone writes. I like to spend my time writing. I want VTM to be as professional as possible, but I also realize that we're all human and our writing isn't going to be perfect. We're all working on our craft and I think the writers on VTM are pretty reflective about what they write and it never ceases to amaze me how much better everyone is writing than when they first started.

National Signing Day is right around the corner and you don't seem to get much involved in the recruiting aspect of college athletics?

By the time VTM is the biggest site on the internet you might be friendless, but you will be the pug champion. You can have business cards made that say "Seth C.- Champion of the pugs." -SARR, trying to make Seth feel better

SARR (Travis): By the time VTM is the biggest site on the internet you might be friendless, but you will be the pug champion. You can have business cards made that say "Seth C.- Champion of the pugs."

I really don’t have a cut and dried answer on the recruiting thing. It’s just something that I haven’t ever really gotten into. Sure it’s very important when building a program but I’d rather just step back and hope the coaches can convince kids that want to be at Texas Tech to come to Texas Tech. I read all the arguments and understand where most are coming from when discussing number of stars versus finding a player to fit the system, but again, it’s just not anything that I ever wanted to get knee deep into. So, that and not having an Instagram account will guarantee that I’ll never be as cool as Wescott Eberts.

So our recently retired area manager at work was on the Alamo Bowl committee for years and had an interesting take on the playoff system coming up next year. He wonders how schools are expected to fill those stadiums for consecutive weeks. Think about it: Would you hold off buying a ticket to a semi-final game in hopes of reaching the championship game? Would you go to the semi-final game and not be able to afford the championship game? Or would you just mortgage the house and say Roll Tide. It was an interesting observation and one that I hadn’t thought of before. The majority of fans can’t afford to make it to one bowl game, much less two. What are you thoughts on this, and the new system overall as we head into a new area of college football playoffs?

Seth C: My dirty secret as a college football writer is that I don't have a clue about playoffs or BCS standings or if Team A wins, then Team B vaults Team C because of the strength of schedule. So the whole concept of this newfangled "playoff" is about as foreign to me as anything else other than the top four teams are supposed to play in a playoff and Jerry Jones is going to make a lot of money.

I think, because I'm totally conservative, that I'd take my money and run with the semi-final game. I'd think that there would be a handful of fans that would be wanting to dump their tickets because their team didn't make it to the championship game and just beg them for tickets if it came down to it. Truthfully, I'd be totally stoked to go to either game. I haven't been to an actual game in person in a few years because of the whole adoption stuff and I don't want to spend any extra coin when I don't have to.

If I was smart, I'd bank on just getting the championship tickets and be like Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy in Trading Places when they're doing their business in the New York Stock Exchange as they're banking on the futures of pork bellies. I'd play the field and sell to the highest bidder. -Seth C.

If I was smart, I'd bank on just getting the championship tickets and be like Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy in Trading Places when they're doing their business in the New York Stock Exchange as they're banking on the futures of pork bellies. I'd play the field and sell to the highest bidder.

On Tuesday, news broke that the players are considering forming a union. Let's pretend that the players can legally form a union (I have no idea that they can or cannot) do you think this is a good idea? I'm leaving this completely open-ended intentionally.

SARR (Travis): Man there are so many spokes on that wheel I don’t even know where to start. I just don’t see how it could work in the long run. I understand players wanting to have a sense of unity that would allow them to have a voice in the decision making process, but I don’t see how it could fit into the system the way things are structured now. Are we going to have collective bargaining agreements? If they form a union, who will be on the other end of the negotiating table. Is it the AD? Is it the NCAA? Is it a combination?

To me this just seems to be another step down the slippery slope of entitlements and "gotta get mine." I understand the arguments about how much money the schools are making on these kids and how hard they work to be successful, but who wouldn’t trade places with them in an instant?

Maybe I’m naïve, but thinking back on my time in school, it didn’t really seem as if guys like Zebbie Letheridge, Rob Peters, Bam Morris, Sammy Morris and Zach were really struggling. It seemed as if they were having a great time going to school and playing football. I never once had Robert Johnson or Donald Harris ask to borrow money from me for lunch.

Look, I know it’s a lot more complicated than that, but it just seems as if this is all getting out of control. Make sure they have housing and food and school is paid for and let them be BMOC. I still don’t see why that’s such a difficult life.

Seth C Ed. Note: SARR and I intend on taking a much deeper look into the proposed player's union and that we hope to dive into after National Signing Day.

Seth C:I'm totally beating you down with more questions, but that's okay. You interviewed Kliff Kingsbury and in your interview, you brought to light how Kliff's brother, Klint, likes to hunt things from helicopters and blow things up. That very day, USA Today then just "happened" to interview Klint and the writer for that story didn't even credit you for maybe thinking of the idea of contacting him and things like that. Then, it just so happened that I ran across thisarticle about how USA Today is essentially trying to just get hits for the sake of getting hits with this pretty awesome line that describes the USA Today's tactics:

Many of the posts are repackaged content that has appeared elsewhere."

How does it feel to be ripped off by USA Today?

SARR (Travis): You know when you sent me a text pointing it out I really couldn’t believe it. I showed it to my wife and she was actually a little upset about it too. It’s sort of a hard knocks lesson I guess and you really learn how the business is lacking integrity. Somehow we’re not worthy of credit or mention because we’re just bloggers. I’d read about instances of this in the past but it was pretty surreal to see it first hand.

But we are creating original content and if lazy "professionals" want to come in and lift our content I guess I’ll have to find a way to be ok with that. -SARR, on his shit getting stole

It’s the nature of the game I guess, particularly in today’s media where the lines are so blurred around what constitutes journalism. Am I a journalist because I landed an interview with Kliff? Are you a journalist because you interviewed Caitlin and Kirby?

In the classical sense, no, of course we’re not. But we are creating original content and if lazy "professionals" want to come in and lift our content I guess I’ll have to find a way to be ok with that.

I remember a line you had in your story about the day you interviewed Kirby where you said it seemed like several of the people you met were surprised to see you there, and were surprised that you were going to interview Kirby. At some point that surprise will wear off and reality will set in.

And next week we’ll have some additional opportunities for a large publication to generate hits off of our content. Bet on it.

Kings vs. Mavericks Preview: Stop the bleeding

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Sacramento have lost five straight, almost all of them coming without DeMarcus Cousins available. Cousins should be good to go tonight, as will Gay, so tonight's a good chance for Sacramento to get back on the right track.

The Kings head to Texas looking to snap a five game losing streak tonight in Dallas (5:30 pm on Comcast SportsNet California and KHTK 1140) in the first game of a back-to-back.  DeMarcus Cousins should be available for action after missing 4 and a half games and he'll probably have a big chip on his shoulder after being left off the Western Conference All-Star team yesterday. (Cousins probably won't play, he was only able to play half-court in practice yesterday per Sean Cunningham)

MATCHUP OF THE GAME

Jason Thompson vs. Dirk Nowitzki

Just going by the eye test, it feels like to me, Jason Thompson has actually done a pretty good job defending Dirk Nowitzki throughout his career.  The numbers from the last three years seem to back that up:  Dirk has averaged just 15.7 points on just 41% from the field.  In fact, Dirk hasn't scored more than 18 points against the Kings since Dec. 4th, 2010.  It also should be noted that the Kings have lost 6 of those 9 matches, so stopping Dirk isn't the only thing the Kings need to worry about, although I like our chances a lot better if Dirk isn't putting up his usual Dirk numbers.

3 THINGS

1. The Kings crushed the Mavericks earlier this season in one of their better defensive efforts of the season.  Dallas just just 38.9% from the field, and just .185 from three. Meanwhile the Kings were hitting on all cylinders and both Derrick Williams and DeMarcus Cousins scored over 30 points.  Sacramento will need to provide the same kind of defensive effort to have a chance to win this game on the road as Dallas probably won't miss as many wide open shots as they did back then in this game.

2. There's still no official word on whether or not DeMarcus Cousins will play tonight but I think he will.  He apparently looked pretty good warming up before the last game against Grizzlies, but still felt a little soreness.  By today I think he'll be fine, and especially wanting to play after not getting selected to the All-Star team. UPDATE: Apparently Cousins had a little trouble getting up and down the court in practice yesterday and was only able to go half court so his chances of playing today probably aren't great.  The Mavericks will be without Shawn Marion.

3. The Kings will have to value the ball; Turnovers have been an issue lately and the Mavericks lead the NBA in total steals.  Monta Ellis, Shawn Marion and Jose Calderon all have a nose for the ball in passing lanes, and if the Mavericks get out in the fast break, it's not going to be pretty.

PRE-GAME HAIKU

DMC got snubbed.
Dallas is first on the list,
to face Boogie's wrath.

I was wrong 'bout Cuz.
He's probably not playing.
Messed up my haiku.

PREDICTION

Kings 0, Mavericks 0 as DeMarcus Cousins, unable to play, comes out and sets the court on fire. Literally.  Surprisingly he was not arrested for arson but he did get whistled for a technical foul.  Dallas was unable to take the free throw, because again, the court was on fire.

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