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Violet Palmer, Ted Bernhardt and Ken Mauer discuss, before
the game, which sounds and smells will constitute a foul.
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"THREE BLIND REFS, SEE HOW THEY RUIN..."

Fireplug

No cowbells tonight... I was there, so don't believe everything you hear from the media. And I thought the crowd got plenty loud, especially directed toward the refs who were putrid. I am told that mold is sort of a living thing, and I am sure that the scum in the bottom of my garbage can outside could have called the game better than those three officials.

Webber had another great game, and he drove to the basket a number of times only to be clobbered with nary a call. One thing is for certain... he still doesn't get much respect from the refs. To the Kings credit, no technicals were given them, and they had many opportunities to complain. The Kandi Man was flummoxed by the whirling dirvish that was Vlade tonight. Once again he doesn't let pain stop him.

Well, it seemed like the Clips had made the decision, "the Kings may beat us, but it wont be because of Peja's shooting." They pretty much surrounded him even when he didn't have the ball. They took a page from the Rick Fox Little Golden Book on Defense and pretty much grabbed or slapped at his arms all night. You could often see the frustration on his face as several times he would stop, look directly at a ref with a look of disbelief as if to say, "surely you are going to call THAT one."

Oh, and one other thing about the refs, Ted Bernhardt was the ref that Coach George Karl said should be taken out and shot a while back.

Bonsy

Cowbells: No cowbells this year. Scot the Human Billboard brought a big one especially for the Laker's game, but that was it. None at the other games. I think people had fun with it last season but have gotten tired of it now. Usually it's only the Jazz who earned the cowbells, but I don't think even they'll get much this season.

Crowd noise: It actually was the loudest it's been in over a month. With so much dominance on the home court, the crowd isn't needed as much. Most of the loudest moments last night were booing the refs.

Refs: Awful, awful, awful. Someone asked why Peja didn't score more. Everytime he drove to the basket, he was hammered - no call. He finally gave up. When he was on the perimeter one time dribbling, Odom slapped him on the arm. Peja just stopped, picked up the ball and stared down the ref. Violet. She just stood there silent. Peja then passed off to Webber.

Personal fouls: Kings 22, Clips 14.

Usually such a disparity is because one team is shooting all jumpers and the other driving to the hoop. But last night everyone was driving to the hoop strong, but only the Kings were not allowed to defend their turf. After every Kings run, it's like the refs had some agreement to start calling the ticky tackys to get the Clips back in the game. This game should have been a blow out in the 2nd quarter.

ANd the penalities were timely. The Kings went on a big run to end the half, and someone, Odom I think, had the ball at mid-court with about a second left. Hedo or Bobby were trying to defend and grab the ball and after the whistle, Odom flailed toward the hoop, the ball going backwards. Tweet. 3 free throws. The crowd went ballistic.

At the end of the third quarter, Peja had a similar short second but was closer across mid-court and actually managed to get the ball going toward the basket, and was knocked on his rear. Silence. The crowd went double ballistic screaming for a foul. Not necessarily because there was a real foul, but in demonstration that it was at least as much a foul as the one they called earlier.

The Kings react much differently to bad calls than they have in prior years. They've grown up a lot. You might see one or two of them question the officials during a break but rarely have we seen them get frazzled by the refs. This is a big change in maturity this year. Unlike the Clippers who seemed to scream at every call they thought didn't go their way. McInnis even got a T for language at one point.

Finally, the Kings made another big surge in the 4th and this time the refs backed off and the Kings had a 20 point lead. Unfortunately the Chalupa Stoppers came in and gave up 6 points and 2 turnovers to ruin all our good stats.

NEW HBO ORIGINAL SERIES

Hallama

"The Referees"

Logline: A secret society of NBA referees use their day jobs as a cover for their evil, underworld transgressions, until they are turned upside down by a renegade group of NBA fans, funded by the billionaire Mark Cuban.

Adult Content
Nudity
Adult Language
Cowbells

THOUGHTS FROM THE GAME

Jeff

Mateen needs to just let the big plays from Wallace come with the flow of the game. they work too hard to setup the spectacular plays, and they just end up throwing the ball away and making themselves look horrible.

Obviously, if someone in the Chalupa crew is going to setup Wallace, it has to be Cleaves, since the other guys don't seem very interested in passing. But, Cleaves needs to learn that you can't try an alley oop on every

single offensive play. Earl Boykins was really working Bobby last night. That short guy was all over the court; very active. Offensively, defensively, and on the boards. I don't get why the Clippers didn't give him more PT last night.

I thought the Kings did a great job of obtaining positioning for rebounding (at least defensive) all night long, but those damn Clippers are just so active and athletic. The would wait for the last possible moment, and just crash right through the Kings and take the rebound away. The Kings just could not stop them from getting the ball last night if they wanted it.

I don't know if the ownership there is going to make a change in direction and make a commitment to keeping these kids together, but their team athleticism is going to make them pretty scary once they all learn to play together.

Dennis

I think the loudness thing may have something to do with the fact that the Kings haven't had a close home game since the Pistons were in town. I have honestly been kind of bored with the blowouts we've been seeing lately. None of the Kings opponents seem to have even been in the games during this homestand.

SWEEtness

I'm happy the Kings were able to string together 5 wins in a row. We've got a "test" coming up on the road. Hope the King's break their 4-game skid on the road. I haven't been able to get through all of the messages, but I hope the Webber doubters have been quieted. I think this long homestand has helped him. It gave him time to start re-gelling with the team in the practices and the games. I didn't get the see the past three games, so correct me if I am wrong about that.

Dennis, Wins are never boring to me. I'll take them however they come. I guess that shows how much I hate losing. Must be because I'm an only child. I guess that more "meaning" can be put to a hard fought victory, or a close game can keep you on the edge of your seat with your heart thumping out of your chest, sweat dripping from your brow, and your hair standing so straight that it starts to fall out... That can be exciting, but sometimes the 'ole ticker needs a rest and watching the Kings cruise past their opponents is just fine by me and just as fun to watch and watch and watch (thank goodness for video tapes).

Critic

It seems likely to me that the Kings passing and screening offense this year may be helping shooting percentages. With the disciplined offense replacing watching Jason jack 3's and with Peja now getting LOTS of defensive attention and Bibby being a primary outlet-pass concern when they double Peja, I would think that DC is getting better and longer looks at the basket. I haven't seen enough to be doing more than guessing on that, but it would seem logical that an opponent would try to use DC's man to help out on Peja (and CWebb not that he's back). DC is the weakest scoring threat on the team once Pollard is back on the bench. Off what I saw in parts of 3 games and off what I've read here, there is a LOT more ball movement and a LOT less one-on-one this year and that should benefit Christie as much as anyone.

Also, as a frequent critic of CWebb, I don't think I or others have ever said CWebb was selfish or couldn't or wouldn't pass. His ability and willingness to pass is always listed among the STRONG parts of his game. His assists are balanced out some by 3.00 turnovers per game, giving him an assist-to-turnover ratio that isn't as good as the team as a whole. Still, that isn't as bad bad as it sounds -- he handles the ball in traffic a lot and is doubleteamed very frequently and turnovers happen more in traffic and when double-teamed than when outside facing one loosely guarding defender.

Feistyfan

I never watched Webber much before he came to Sac., but it is hard for me to imagine that he just decided one day to become less selfish. CWebb - in his time here - has always demonstrated the willingness and ability to make a pass for the better shot. The only thing that makes people think he's "selfish" is (was?) seeing him have the ball all the time in the 4th quarter. 4-down, 4-down, 4-down.. partly due to plays called by the coach and partly due to teammates willing to stand around and let him be the only guy with the ball.. nay, MAKING him be the only guy with the ball.

This year, finally, hopefully, they have learned that they have lots of options. I don't doubt that Webber will have the ball a lot at Crunch time and during the playoffs - but I also think Vlade, Peja, Hedo and Bibby will also be clutch shooting options and be more active at the end as well.

kingboy00

Gotta give the team props, how about only 1 turnover in the entire first half, and only 7 for the game (I think Cleaves had 6). Vlade is a true warrior. We don't call him Vlade the body for nuttin!!! I've noticed this year the Kings doing a much better job swinging that ball to the weak side. Before it would be either Vlade or CWebb and Peja on one side of the floor, and the ball would stay on that side of the floor. This year you are seeing a lot more using of the weak side, swinging the ball around the horn so to speak, and it's that kind of ball movement that leads to open shots.

Now it's payback time. I know we did extract some element of revenge on the Suns a couple of Sundays ago. But what can I say, I'm vindictive. Now I want to beat them by 30 on their own floor!!

GO KINGS!!!