GAME PATTERNS

Critic

I don't pretend to have any single explanation that would hold up to much analysis, but here are some patterns that are facts: So far,

the Kings are 10-1 in the first halves of games;

their second half record is 3-7 (not counting tonight, which is still live as I write this).

At the 3/4 mark, they are 10-1 (I'm assuming they'll hold their lead tonight to at least the 3/4 mark).

At the end of the game (the only time that matters), they are 7-3.

There could be a lot of different reasons for this pattern (e.g., coasting in easy games where stars rest or get bored at the end, tiring in tough games where stars play too many minutes, choking at the end, or just randomness due to basketball having a serious element of luck). Most likely there are some games where one explanation covers it and others where another covers it. But, they do seem to start faster than they finish, with a 10-1 "record" at the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 mark but 3-7 (plus whatever happens tonight) at the final.

I don't know whether CWebb improves their steadiness in the close games, makes it worse or is neutral, but he sure gives them major minutes that may keep them from tiring at the ends of games. When he returns, Vlade's, Pollard's, Turkoglu's and Fundy's minutes should decrease, especially at the end, and Peja's minutes may reduce a little bit too.

Feistyfan

113 - 77. This is a really nice win against an opponent who has been playing very well against quality opponents as of late. Doug Christie and Scot Pollard had excellent all around games with rebounding and scoring. The assists were good tonight, and the Kings absolutely killed the rockets in rebounding and points in the paint. Houston is no slouch in the rebounding department either.

I must say that it was impressive to see the Kings come back from the Laker game with such vigor. It was the Rockets who looked like they were in the second game of a back to back instead of the Kings, who actually were.

Very nice game. Low Turnovers. Good Freethrows and almost 50% from 3-point land.
Huh..what a difference a day makes. If the Kings did any of those things against the Lakers, we'd have won handily.

I found it interesting that in the second half of the fourth quarter, Rocket's color commentator Calvin Murphy became agitated with the Kings' play.

He was watching Mateen Cleaves, Brent Price, Gerald Wallace, Jabari Smith and Lawrence Funderburke on the floor. Price had hit a three and Cleaves had hit a shot.

Their main announcer made a positive comment about the Kings' play and Calvin says "Yeah, and there's also such a thing as payback". Indicating that the Kings were running up the score.

What is the bench supposed to do? Use the whole shot clock and make a last minute desparation shot that won't go in? Are they supposed to run down the court, pass for 23 seconds and then hand the ball over to the Rockets? It isn't like the Kings were just trying to hit 3-pointer after 3-pointer.

When the St. Louis Rams make an onside kick in the 4th quarter while up by 30 points.. THAT is unsportsmanlike play and trying to run up the score.. but what the Kings did last night was just continue playing basketball.

Reno Lady

I agree Feisty - it was great to see the Kings come out with a lot of good energy tonight after the loss last night. Seems as if they took it in stride and didn't let it bother them too much. I was surprised at the Rockets' play - they've been doing well and have had some "surprise" wins - but not tonight. At the same time it didn't look as if the Kings played that great, but their shooting was definitely better than last night. Christie especially - 23 points tonight, most of them in the 3rd quarter. Does it look to anyone else like Peja's shot is getting better (smoother) every game he plays? Almost reminds me of a machine at times, it seems so automatic & so effortless.

I have to agree that Cleaves' shot is one of the ugliest I've seen in a while. A few people around me tonight mentioned it as well. I was happy to see all the bench guys play - and all of them scored too; Price hit a couple of beautiful 3s. Wallace is very, very quick - almost a blur at times. Seemed as if he was a little afraid to shoot the ball as he had about 3 open looks and passed off to someone else - but he too scored and it was great to see the starters yelling and clapping for him. There was someone who reads this board at the Peppermill tonight because I heard them say "Go Flubber!" when Wallace made his basket. I looked around but couldn't tell who it was or I would have gone over to talk with them.

The Nets lost one to the Nuggets by 1 point in OT; I think they said Kidd had 17 assists tonight! What a difference his being on that team has made. I had a chance here and there to see Kidd and Van Exel going at one another - great match-up to watch.

A day's rest and then the Blazers are in town - I expect them to play better against the Kings than the pre-season games so I hope our guys bring their A-game on Wednesday.

Sure looks like Mobley is trying to push Bibby's hand away from the ball in that photo doesn't it? I'm sure he wouldn't do anything like that so it must just be the camera angle of something. lol!

Bonsy

D-O-U-G C-H-R-I-S-T-I-E!!!!

Anyone else notice he's stepped up his game this year? He was phenomenal last night. If you only heard the radio, than I'm sorry you didn't get to see him. He was everywhere on defense, and making drives to the hoop where he actually finished instead of just picked up a foul.

There was about 10 seconds left in the half and the Rockets were trying to inbound the ball. Christie simply wouldn't let them throw it to his man. He fouled him the first time (foul to give), then the next TWO inbounds, Christie got his arm around to knock the ball away. The second one he almost had the steal but it took a bad bounce and went out of bounds. They finally switched his man, I think it was Mobley, so that Mobley was the guy throwing the ball in! LOL!!

It was just incredible to watch this guys effort night in and night out.

I'm also reminded of the Bulls game where the Kings were killing them and instead of letting up, Christie had that intense look on his face in the 3rd quarter!

He's also the best interview on the team.

S-C-O-T P-O-L-L-A-R-D

He had a blast last night. He played well but it was easy since he had no match on the Rockets.

The Rockets announcer (not Murphy, the other guy) was whining about - get this! - Pollard never getting called for lose ball fouls. The refs let him get away with hanging all over Thomas' back all night.

Is it true? Is Pollard FINALLY getting respect? By the way, the announcer was a homer. I didn't see any fouls committed by Pollard that weren't called. He's been called for so many phantom calls in the past I can't believe he's finally being allowed to play.

Reno Lady, the flagrant was just frustration by Willis because he and Thomas looked like guards trying to play against Vlade and Scot. What Willis did (and Houston TV didn't replay it either) was grab Scot by the arm and throw him HARD to the floor. They were going for a rebound.

Pollard just laughed. He got up off the floor and was laughing that he got in their heads and they just blew themselves up.

Of course, the announcer said "Willis was certainly justified because Pollard just never gets called.

ADELMAN

Jeff

It could be possible that last season Vlade was sitting to close out games because the dude was out of shape and had no gas left. Let's see what happens this season with an in-shape Vlade....

Here is somethings Adelman needs to get credit for...

1) He outcoached Sloan in the playoffs 3 years ago almost knocking off a much

more experienced team still playing at a very high level with a young, raw team.

2) He outcoached Jackson in the playoffs 2 seasons ago putting the screws to Shaq and neutralizing him with a phantom zone that had Shaq totally frustrated, and it took the refs to save the Lakers from an early exit.

3) He has worked with his coaches to implement a form of the triangle offense that has produced some of the best ball movement and highest scoring in the league. It took Shaq and Kobe about half a season to learn the triangle from Jackson, but the Kings basically had their version down by game one of the season. This team that had serious troubles scoring in the half-court, now is one of the best half-court teams in the league.

Sioux32

I guess I don't see any reason for Vlade to be sitting at the end of the 4th because he's in foul trouble. What are you saving the fouls for? The game is almost over.

On the bench in foul trouble or foul out of the game and go to the bench? I don't see much difference....you can't use your remaining fouls from the bench.....especially against Clank-Fu. Neither can Pollard.

Also, Vlade shouldn't be tired at the end of a game. That's poor management of a player.....both he and Webber should have enough blows during a game that they can play well at crunch time.

Vlade is the only guy on the team that can consistently draw fouls and get himself to the line. Pollard is better than Funderburk.

I think you use your best players to close games. Fundy has his moments, but he's not a power player nor a cruch time player. He should be on the court early in the 4th to give someone a blow. Also, even shaq whined about not having someone to cover his back---vlade's handicapped without another power guy beside him.

In '99 CWebb & Vlade were awesome in the post together. With their passing ability ...playing in the paint...if 1 drew a double, the other got the basket or the foul. I just don't like the reliance on the "quick perimeter shooting team" at the end of games. I think you go with your high % chances.

....and no, I dont' think there's a similarity between the Rockets game and the Lakers as far as coaching is concerned. The Rockets are a team the Kings should beat.......and there's no reason to question a lineup on the floor at crunch time during a blowout.

I just dont' like the way the Kings close games against top teams...and I think it's a stuctural flaw----not a flaw in the players themselves.

The Kings have an incredibly talented team. If there's a flaw, it's at the guard positions.....no one who'll take a game by the horns and start to consistently drive and draw fouls when things break down (see Max & Delk) I also think that flaw is countered by Vlade and Chris if they are both playing close to the basket.

Why was Vlade out beyond the 3 point line so he could take that shot? I like to see the best big men in the paint going for the high % or the foul.

I mean, VLADE driving (lumbering) to the basket....why? We see that with Chris too (but he's smoother).

It's just not rocket science. Get the ball to the power players....if they are blanketed, pass it out....if everything breaks down, the guard starts driving to the basket UNDER CONTROL and drawing fouls. The Kings have such an advantage with Vlade & Chris in the paint----the 2 best passing big men in the league. If one gets doubled, the other one has the shot. Pollard has developed into a respectable "poor mans Webber" if he's close enough to the basket.

We haven't seen that much since 99. Instead it's that outside shooting team with the power players at the top of the key....off in the corner...or somewhere...

Some people blame the players for that. If they are that hard headed and ignore the coach on a consistent basis, there's something very wrong, and I just can't believe they do that. If they do, the coach doesn't demand enough respect.

I don't consider the Kings a "young team"...despite the revolving door on trades. They've been together long enough to start expecting control in the 4th ....an end game strategy that can be relied on.

Players or coach? Who to blame? I think the buck stops with the coach when a team is as talented as the Kings.

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE
John114AAA

The family was at the game last night and enjoyed seeing the Kings blow the Rockets off the court. I was worried about this game. The Rockets were coming off a great game against Dallas and seemed to be playing with passion and with patience and had a day off to get ready for this one. The Kings were on another of our many back to backs this year after losing a very tough game to the Lickers. And, without Webber, I was worried that we would not match up well against Houston (as you may recall, it has been Webber the last three years who has been the dominant force in our games against Houston). Well, all of my fears were laid to rest early and the second half explosion was fun to watch.

Wow! The Kings are really a good team. We are so fortunate to be able to watch this team in action and be able to call them ours. They are, without question, the most entertaining team in the NBA. They dominate the home court like only a few great teams have over the years, and it is getting more so this year. We have now blown out three very good teams, San Antonio, Toronto and Houston in tough situations. Remember, the San Antonio game was Sunday after a Saturday night game in Denver, a team that has gone 4 and 1 at home since we beat them that night. The Toronto game was the first game home after a tough eastern road trip and after a stretch of 6 games in 8 nights. Toronto was on a 4 and 1 streak and had the day off before the game.

After sitting though many seasons in which the Kings were essentially out of it by Thanksgiving, I feel so blessed and will surely include it in my many thanks as we gather around the table for this Thanksgiving. And all this without our best player and arguably one of the top 5 players in the NBA. This team now knows that they can play night in and night out without Webber if they have too, no panic, just good solid basketball.

Portland on Wednesday, and this time, finally, someone else is coming off a back to back to play us. Should be a great game as Bonsi Wells is a tough matchup for us, as is Rasheed Wallace, when we are without Webber. If our inside, outside game is rolling, then we have nothing to worry about.