Sacramento Kings Thread

[CKR13]

Rookie Demarcus Cousins scoring a career high 28 points alongside 8 rebounds, 6 assists and a block to lead the Kings past the Phoenix Suns 94-89.

Francisco Garcia scored a season high 20 points and had 11 rebounds. 2 Kings players off the bench that had notable double-doubles are Omri Casspi with 14 points, 10 rebounds and Carl Landry with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

[CKR13]

Sacramento Kings 102 Atlanta Hawks 108

Tyreke Evans tried to lead the team with his impressive game consisting of 29 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks. Rookie Demarcus Cousins scored 24 points alongside 7 rebounds.

The Kings managed to cut the Hawks' lead to four with Cousins and Evans hitting back-to-back three pointers to pull within 106-102. Unfortunately, the comeback fell short.

[CKR13]

Dalembert's growing frustrations

Center Samuel Dalembert has expressed frustrations over his diminishing playing time and perhaps diminishing team role. Dalembert in an interview with the Sacramento Bee has issued the following statements:

"They have to let me know which direction they want to go. They know what I do best. I block shots, rebound, get us in the fast break. Am I going to play the next five years in a place that is a contender, or am I going to be here, helping this team get better? It's up to them. But I am not going to lie. This is very frustrating."

"They brought me here to help, and when I see my team getting destroyed defensively, it's hard."

Now when the Kings acquired Dalembert from the Philadelphia 76ers, it was expected that Dalembert was brought in to start for the Kings with Dalembert bringing his expertise in defense, shot-blocking and rebounding alongside the intangible things like veteran leadership for the young front court of the team. However, Dalembert's start with the Kings have been derailed due to an Inner Thigh injury that have caused him to miss majority of the training camp as well as miss the first two weeks of the team's games. But when Dalembert was activated to the roster, his poor physical conditioning became detrimental where he does not have the mobility to play a part in the offense or be effective on the defensive end. Which was why the Kings made do with youngsters like Thompson and Cousins to start at center, with Dalembert being a reliever.

2 factors have played out that have caused Dalembert's slight fall-off with the team:

1. Dalembert's non-contribution to the offense where the Kings have struggled with not only points but offensive execution down the stretch in close games. Dalembert is shooting 40% from the field and Dalembert did seem lost in the offense of the Kings where head coach Paul Westphal tend to bring in offense oriented players in hopes of jump-starting the points production in the 4th quarter of games, in which a player with a defensive forte like Dalembert would be benched.

2. Rookie, Demarcus Cousins' emergence, of which Cousins have been productive on the court for the pass three games and Cousins was starting at center; the position of Dalembert where majority of the playing time goes to Cousins while Dalembert is on the bench. Cousins have been also on the best behavior as of late and have been listening to the coaching staff's lectures.

Westphal commented on the issue of Dalembert:

"The way DeMarcus has progressed, it's not like I'm going to split those 48 minutes. At the same time, I think Sam can be valuable if DeMarcus picks up early fouls, or we need somebody in particular guarded. But there are other nights when I'll play Thompson as the backup center."

Currently, Dalembert has been active in the Community Service for the Sacramento Kings and it is lauded despite the uncertainty of his future with the team where Dalembert could stay with the team past the trade deadline and depending on the management and Dalembert's decision could either re-sign or leave the team this summer with his contract expiring at the mentioned time.

Or Dalembert could be dealt to either playoff teams looking to bolster their frontline with a veteran presence or teams looking to shed salary and players with Dalembert's expiring contract.

[CKR13]

Sacramento Kings 122 Denver Nuggets 102

The Sacramento Kings winning their best game for the losing season. Lead by star Tyreke Evans who lead five other Kings in scoring double figures with 27 points, dished off 12 assists with 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

Rookie Demarcus Cousins scored 20 points and adding 6 rebounds. Beno Udrih scored 17 points and Francisco Garcia added 14 points.

Off the bench, Carl Landry had 14 points and Omri Casspi with 13 points including 3-5 from the three point area.

Both teams shot above .500 with Denver having a team total field goal percentage of .507 while the Kings were on target as a team with .564. Denver shot just .250 as a team from three points but the Kings were shooting .500 as 9/18 three point attempts were converted.

Also, Sacramento did better on the rebounding edge as compared to the previous meeting of both teams last week where the Nuggets out-rebounded the Kings. On this game, the Kings held the advantage in rebounds with a 33-30 team rebound comparative.

The Kings are now 8-25.

Evans

[giljr]

Sacramento being the last in their standing in the western devision seems to be so young as a team. they need to have much more good players to win over teams. they have 8-25. that is too bad for a team. hopefully they can win more games.

[CKR13]

Sacramento Kings 112 Toronto Raptors 118

The Kings losing tonight minus Tyreke Evans. Beno Udrih top scored for the team with 25 points. Rookie DeMarcus Cousins had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Power forward Jason Thompson scored 19 points alongside 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.

Evans is questionable for the next game versus the Washington Wizards.

[CKR13]

Sacramento Kings 133 Washington Wizards 136 OT

The Kings playing their second consecutive game without Tyreke Evans and losing to the Wizards in overtime. Beno Udrih and Francisco Garcia both had a team high 26 points. Carl Landry had 23 points off the bench. The Kings were out-rebounded badly 55-40. Eugene Jeter made the game tying lay-up that forced overtime. Jeter finished with 8 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds.

[CKR13]

Sacramento Kings New Arena Name

Power Balance, a company that manufactures wristbands and sports straps have struck a 5 year accord with the Maloof family. The whole terms of the deal were not disclosed but the Kings Home Court Arena, known as the ARCO Arena will be known as the Power Balance Arena effective on March 1, 2011.

[CKR13]

Sacramento Kings 95 Boston Celtics 119

The Celtics proving too much for the Kings. Carl Landry scored a team high 17 points and Beno Udrih scored 16 points on the losing effort.

[CKR13]

Sacramento Kings 93 New York Knicks 83

Beno Udrih scored a team high 29 points. Rookie Demarcus Cousins had 16 points, 10 rebounds and had 3 blocks. Carl Landry had 15 points and 9 rebounds off the bench.

Tyreke Evans made his return to play after missing three games with an ankle injury. Evans struggled with his shot, going 4-15 enroute to a 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists game. Evans added 3 steals.

[CKR13]

The Detroit Pistons denying the Sacramento Kings on what would have been the Kings' 10th win of the season via a 110-106 game where the Pistons won.

Tyreke Evans lead the team with 23 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Jason Thompson scored 25 points.

[CKR13]

The Sacramento Kings lost another close game against the Atlanta Hawks 100-98. Demarcus Cousins lead the team with 20 points and 8 rebounds alongside 2 blocks. Jason Thompson with 16 points and 8 rebounds.

The back-court of Beno Udrih and Tyreke Evans also played well with Udrih scoring 17 points and Evans with 16 points.

[CKR13]

The Sacramento Kings being denied again for their 10th win of the season by the heavily depleted Portland Trailblazers 94-90 in overtime.

Beno Udirh continued his offensive stretch for the past games by scoring 20 points in the game. Tyreke Evans had 16 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds as well as 3 steals and a block. Omri Casspi and Samuel Dalembert were very productive off the bench with both having double-double games.

Dalembert had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Omri Casspi with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals.

[CKR13]

Francisco Garcia out on Friday night's game and for several weeks

Guard Francisco Garcia re-aggravated his left calf injury and will not play for tomorrow night's game against the Golden State Warriors. The Kings have yet to announce a timetable of return for Garcia; With the latter could be out for a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, with Garcia inactive for the roster, the Sacramento Kings have activated rookie center Hassan Whiteside, who may or may not play based on head coach Paul Westphal's decision.

[CKR13]

The Sacramento Kings self-destructed on the game against the Golden State Warriors where the Kings lost eventually in overtime 119-112. The Kings were leading 99-90 with three minutes left in the 4th quarter. Eventually, the Warriors converted on their offense as the Kings' defense faltered, including the manner of shooting one's foot; hence on this matter, missed free throws that caused the Kings the game eventually.

In overtime, the Kings were outscored by the Warriors. Quite similar to what has transpired on their previous meeting. The Kings then appeared to have the game won, but it cost them with defensive lapses, missed free-throws and inadequacies in the offense.

Tyreke Evans scored a career high 35 points on the loss. Rookie Demarcus Cousins scored 21 points alongside 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Jason Thompson had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds despite fouling out of the game.

Once again, the Kings denied themselves of what would have been their just tenth win of the season.