Kings Blog and Q&A
Kings coach Keith Smart couldn't be happier for DeMarcus Cousins.
The Kings center was selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge Feb. 24 as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.
"General managers" Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal will draft from a group of 18 players (nine rookies, nine sophomores) Feb. 16 on NBA TV to comprise Team Shaq and Team Chuck.
MINNEAPOLIS - When Jimmer Fredette gets into a rhythm on offense, it's fun to watch.
But what also stood out besides Fredette's fourth-quarter scoring (13 points) was his defensive activity in the Kings' 86-84 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday night at Target Center.
Fredette had two steals that led to baskets in the fourth quarter.
FINAL
Timberwolves 86, Kings 84
MINNEAPOLIS - Donte' Greene missed a three pointer at the buzzer and the Kings' winning streak ended at three games.
The Kings rally in the fourth was led by Jimmer Fredette, who scored 13 of the first 15 points for the Kings in the quarter.
Greene tied the game at 82 with at three pointer with 1:09 left in the game only to have Minnesota rookie Derrick Williams make a three with 56.8 seconds to play.
Nikola Pekovic led Minnesota (13-12) with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus Thornton led the Kings (9-15) with 22 points.
THIRD QUARTER
Timberwolves 69, Kings 60
MINNEAPOLIS - The Timberwolves used an 8-1 run to close the quarter after the Kings had cut a lead that was 15 down to two.
Marcus Thornton scored 10 of his 21 points in the third but there hasn't been much else in terms of offense from the Kings. Tyreke Evans has 11 points, but the Kings also have 15 turnovers and are shooting 38.1 percent.
Nikola Pekovic has 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Timberwolves. Ricky Rubio is up to 13 assists.
MINNEAPOLIS - The Kings go for their fourth win in a row tonight, which would be their longest winning streak of the season.
Here are five things to monitor when the Kings play the Minnesota Timberwolves"
1. Keep it 100
The Kings are 4-0 when scoring 100 points or more. When the Kings score like that, it usually means DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton are all having good games.
2. Consistency to start
The starting lineup of Cousins, Evans, Thornton, John Salmons and Jason Thompson is 5-0.
3. Road cushion
The Kings were resilient in rallying Monday night against the New Orleans Hornets. But even without suspended star Kevin Love, the Timberwolves are better than the Hornets. So falling behind wouldn't be a good idea.
4. Run, Ricky, Run
The Kings are in the second of back-to-back games. The Kings are 3-4 in the second of back-to-backs, but expect Minnesota to test the Kings' legs led by guard Ricky Rubio pushing the pace.
5. Isaiah, Chuck and....?
Who else will step up from the bench tonight? Isaiah Thomas and Chuck Hayes have become reliable reserves but the rest of the bench needs to play better.
NEW ORLEANS - Having figured out his starting lineup, Keith Smart wants to solidify his bench rotation.
"I want to be consistent with the bench guys and establish a rotation there and at one point have all five bench guys in the game and they are doing a great job," Smart said. "I've set aside several plays that they will only run that I though would fit them and keep the floor balanced."
Isaiah Thomas has been the most reliable bench player, sparking the Kings to comeback wins. Chuck Hayes is still the "arm and hammer" man as Smart calls him - a glue guy
The next step is figuring out how to best use the rest of the reserves.
Jimmer Fredette could play a big role in the improvement in the bench.
"I think (Fredette) can be a catalyst in that next group to where he can be one of the focal points in that second unit to where he's not locked in with other guys who are going to be mainstays when he's on the floor with the rest of the starting lineup," Smart said. "Him playing in that role will probably help him so when he does come in and play with some of the starters down the road. That's the plan, that's the vision."
Smart, however, isn't promising anyone playing time even if his vision is for the bench to thrive.
"That's what I want but they've got to produce," Smart said. "Because if not they'll sit over there and we'll watch the game all together from the sidelines."
There will be plenty on this issue in the upcoming weeks, but since the Sacramento arena issue has been part of the arena discussion these past few days in Seattle, here is the latest from the Northern California end: David Stern absolutely wants another franchise in Seattle - the Sonics' departure four years ago remains a sore spot within his administration - but he doesn't want it to be the Kings, which would tarnish his legacy after a brutal offseason, protracted labor dispute and his personal attempts to solidify the Kings future here these last several years.
Also, the last thing Stern (and his fellow owners) wants is the relocation of another team with a history of stability and success - albeit, of late, addled by some serious mismanagement. Thus, he continues to work behind the scenes with Mayor Kevin Johnson on the financing of a new sports and entertainment complex in the downtown Railyards. Assuming the community and Sacramento politcal/business leaders continue making progress toward the financing of a new facility, I keep hearing Stern will remain committed to Sacramento. Given the stunning last-minute reprieve when the Kings appeared head to Anaheim last April, nothing would surprise me. I keep hearing whispers that Stern has a dramatic play yet to come - something "up his sleeve," as they say.
By the way, the Kings are winning
A few thoughts on the Kings' impressive comeback victory Monday at New Orleans:
* DeMarcus Cousins has come up with 20 and 16 rebounds in the last two games, while playing 40 and 38 minutes, respectively. I will say it again: Contrary to what a number of national NBA writers suggested when Paul Westphal was fired, the second-year center wasn't the problem. The Kings' faster pace under coach Keith Smart has played to Cousins' strengths and improved his conditioning. Smart actually communicates with Cousins and his teammates - not a novel concept. It will be interesting to see how he responds Tuesday night in Minnesota in a back-to-back situation.
* John Salmons has been a different player under Smart. Even when he struggles with his outside shot, he is making quicker decisions, taking the shot or moving the ball, instead of overdribbling and killing the shot clock.
* Isaiah Thomas is quickly emerging as a fan favorite. On a team known for its sluggish, one-on-one play, his energy and tempo are driving the Kings out of their dreadful offensive style.
* Ricky Rubio awaits Tuesday night in Minnesota. Even with Kevin Love unavailable because of his two-game suspension, one suspects the Timberwolves' point guard will try to run the Kings into exhaustion. I would love to see Evans defensively challenge Rubio; with his long arms, quick hands, strength and anticipation, Tyreke has the potential to be a special defender.
* For those who might have forgotten, the Kings' last four-game win streak occurred last season between March 23-March 29. Seriously, in a 24-win season, who cared?
* The Oklahoma City Thunder visit Thursday, in the Kings' only scheduled appearance on TNT. Of course, that all changes if they start winning a few games. Chris Webber will be back to provide commentary.
Kings coach Keith Smart discusses the win over New Orleans. At the 4:20 mark Smart discusses Jimmer Fredette's role.
FINAL
Kings 100, Hornets 92
NEW ORLEANS - Sparked by strong second-half play from DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas, the Kings overcame an 18-point deficit to win 100-92.
It was the Kings (9-15) third win a row, their longest winning streak of the season.
Cousins finished with 28 points and 19 rebounds. He had 18 points and 14 rebounds in the second half.
Thomas finished with 17 points and six assists. Thomas scored 14 points and has five assists after halftime.
Greivis Vasquez led the Hornets (4-21) with 20 points and nine assists.
The Kings outscored the Hornets 31-14 in the fourth quarter.
For years the talk has been about how deep the Western Conference is and the lack of depth in the Eastern Conference.
But this season we've seen Philadelphia and Indiana make strides and possibly start to change that since Miami, Chicago, Boston, Orlando and Atlanta have remained competitive.
It's fun to debate now, but there are a lot of games to be played before we know which conference is best.
NEW ORLEANS - The Kings are looking for a three-game winning streak for the first time this season after a season-worst five-game losing streak.
Here are five things to look for as the Kings attempt to win their ninth game this season.
1. The Century Club
Can the Kings score 100-plus points in consecutive games for the first time this season? The Kings have topped 100 points only three times this season.
2. Inside advantage
DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson have played well together. If they can come close to matching their rebound total from last Saturday (36 combined) the Kings will be in good position to win.
3. Backcourt scoring
The Kings are 3-0 when Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton each score 20 points. Surely Thornton will be motivated playing against the team that traded him last season.
4. Bench points
The Kings need to get some scoring from the reserves. Outside of Isaiah Thomas, scoring from the bench hasn't been reliable lately.
5. Steady Salmons
John Salmons is coming off two solid games. If he keeps this up, expect the rotation to stay tight, which could mean Jimmer Fredette might not play again.
Marcus Thornton said he "wasn't tired at all" while logging nearly 47 minutes in the Kings' win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
Neither did forward Jason Thompson, who played more than 40 minutes, exhibit any overt signs of fatigue.
As the Kings closed out their 114-106 win over the Warriors, it was their five starters on the floor for the entire overtime period. All five played the entire third quarter and at least 40 minutes, led by Tyreke Evans, who played 48 minutes and 23 seconds of a fast-paced game.
If anything positive came out of Chuck Hayes' injury last month, it was Jason Thompson finding his game and re-establishing himself as a contributor with the Kings.
"I'm loving this guy with how he's playing, under control, staying within his strength, and doing a great job on the low post," Smart said. "When we need a bucket, he comes through, not with his right hand, but his left hand. He's working on that in practice, and it's paying off for him."
Thompson's role was uncertain before the season. Hayes was starting and J.J. Hickson was the first big man off the bench.
Thompson began to show signs of being a consistent contributor after Hayes' injury and worked his way into the starting lineup. In his first eight starts Thompson averaged 10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds.
Thompson had 15 points and 16 rebounds in Saturday's 114-106 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors at Power Balance Pavilion.
"J.T. did an incredible job (Saturday) on both ends of the floor," said DeMarcus Cousins after the game. "I know I had a career stat (20 rebounds) but J.T. did a lot tonight. It was just a great feeling; everybody stepped up tonight."
Guard Marcus Thornton talks to reporters following the Kings' 114-106 win over the Golden State Warriors in overtime at Power Balance Pavilion.
It had been a long time since the Kings scored 100 points in a game and, apparently, that was hovering in the back of head coach Keith Smart's mind.
Before the Kings beat the Golden State Warriors, 114-106, on Saturday night, they set a new Sacramento-era record by going 14 consecutive games without scoring 100 points.
The Kings hadn't broken the century mark since beating the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 5, 103-100. That was the day Smart took over as head coach, saying he wanted the Kings to adopt a running style, the likes of which usually makes for higher-scoring games.
"I've been trying to get us to get to 100 points for the longest time," said Smart, under whom the Warriors averaged 103.4 points per game last season.
Head coach Keith Smart addresses the media following the Kings' 114-106 win over the Warriors at Power Balance Pavilion.
Marcus Thornton scored a game-high 28 points for the Kings, DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and a career-high 20 rebounds and the Kings bounced back in overtime after stumbling in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden State Warriors, 114-106, at Power Balance Pavilion.
The Kings started the overtime period on a 9-0 run, and Tyreke Evans' three-pointer with 50.6 seconds left iced the win as the Kings improved to 8-15.
Evans finished with 26 points and nine assists, and Jason Thompson added 15 points and 16 rebounds. Cousins and Thompson combined to equal the Warriors' rebounding total as the Kings dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Warriors, 55-36.
As the Kings announced Friday, center Hassan Whiteside is back with the team tonight for their 7 p.m. game against the Golden State Warriors at Power Balance Pavilion.
Head coach Keith Smart said the Kings decided to recall Whiteside from the Reno Bighorns of the Development League "because he needs to start seeing some of the things we're doing, going through some of the plays, going through some of the offensive and defensive things."
These teams met just five days ago in Oakland, with the Warriors' bench leading them to a 93-90 win. They play again tonight at 7 p.m. at Power Balance Pavilion. Here are a few things to keep an eye on during the game:
1. Keith Smart feels the Kings are making strides on defense. The Kings' head coach said the team finally had "everybody on one page" defensively Thursday night against the Trail Blazers. Players were talking to each other on the court and anticipating where they needed to move in coverage.
Right now the Kings, who are still allowing an NBA-worst 101.4 points per game, need their defense to be stout. They've gone 14 consecutive games without scoring 100 points themselves.
Head coach Keith Smart talks about gauging the growth of his team and how he deploys his rookies following the Kings' practice Friday.
Kings guard Isaiah Thomas discusses trying to be a vocal presence as a rookie and his role on defense.
The Kings announced today they have recalled center Hassan Whiteside from the Reno Bighorns of the Development League.
Whiteside will be with the Kings in Sacramento for Saturday's 7 p.m. game against the Golden State Warriors.
Since being assigned to the Bighorns on Jan. 1, Whiteside has played in 11 games and averaged 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and three blocks in 18.9 minutes. Whiteside has yet to appear in a game for the Kings this season.
At the end of practice today, the Kings gathered around a TV set up alongside one of their practice facility courts and had a brief film session.
It's part of the strategy of head coach Keith Smart -- a big believer in using film to reinforce his critiques and teachings to players -- to combat the dangers of having an early film session in the usual dark room.
"Players sometimes come over in the morning, they just got up, you put them in a dark room and they're half asleep, and then you've got to come on the floor," Smart said.
Guard Isaiah Thomas addresses the media following the Kings' 95-92 win over the Trail Blazers.
Keith Smart is confident in Isaiah Thomas' confidence.
It's one big reason why Smart said he feels comfortable having the rookie guard on the floor. Thomas played a little over 17 minutes in the Kings' 95-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.
With Marcus Thornton returning to the starting lineup, Smart used a rotation of three guards against the Trail Blazers, with Thomas the lone guard coming off the bench.
John Salmons played his best all-around game of the season for the Kings Thursday night.
Salmons had season highs in points (19) and rebounds (eight) in the Kings 95-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
It was just the sixth time this season Salmons scored in double figures.
It's been a rough season offensively for Salmons as he's averaging just 7.6 points while a career-worst rate of 37.1 percent.
Kings coach Keith Smart has never wavered in supporting Salmons. Here's what Smart said about Salmons Thursday night:
Kings rookie Isaiah Thomas is listed at 5-foot-9. Talk about a stretch. I'm 5-foot-6, and when I talk to Thomas, we're eye to eye. All of which makes his late-game block against Portland's Wesley Matthews - listed at 6-foot-5 - all the more impressive. Matthews, who was preparing to score on an assist from Gerald Wallace on the break, was surprised by the Thomas, who chased him down, elevevated, and with his left arm extended, swatted the ball away.
A few other post-game thoughts:
• This was easily John Salmons' best game of the season. And while Salmons has struggled - even defensively - the one thing he isn't doing is over-dribbling.
• The Kings won this game with their defense. Their decision-making was terrible for much of the fourth quarter.
• DeMarcus Cousins only played 14 minutes after getting in early foul trouble, but while Keith Smart said he went with the "rhythm of the game" - and there is a lot to be said for that - the second-year center was pretty effective during his brief appearance with eight points, six rebounds and two assists. I just think Cousins needs to be on the floor.
Guard Marcus Thornton talks to reporters following the Kings' 95-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.
When the Kings and Trail Blazers played in Portland on Jan. 23, the Kings trailed by a score of 33-31 halfway through the second quarter. The Trail Blazers then scored 11 consecutive points, encountered little resistance and stretched the lead to 20 before halftime.
Thursday night, the Kings trailed Portland 32-30 early in the second quarter. The Trail Blazers then scored 11 consecutive points -- and the Kings responded immediately, putting together an 8-0 run of their own to keep the game from getting out of hand.
At times this season the Kings have seen a stretch of several bad minutes take on a kind of snowball effect. As forward-center Chuck Hayes said Thursday night, "Once teams usually get going on us, when it rains it pours."
Head coach Keith Smart addresses the media after the game.
Marcus Thornton scored a team-high 20 points in his first game back after missing four games with a thigh injury, John Salmons added 19 points and the Kings erased an early 13-point deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, 95-92.
Tyreke Evans added 18 points and Jason Thompson had 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Kings snapped a five-game losing streak and beat the Trail Blazers for the first time in their third meeting this season.
The Trail Blazers had two chances to tie the game as the clock wound down after Gerald Wallace stole the ball from Thornton with under 10 seconds left. But Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford's three-point attempts both clanked off the iron, and the announced crowd of 11,740 at Power Balance Pavilion breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The Kings will have Marcus Thornton back tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers, though head coach Keith Smart said he doesn't know how much Thornton will play.
"It'll be good to see where he's at," Smart said. "He hasn't had a chance to play five-on-five, conditioning up and down the floor with the team, but he's had a chance to be on the floor, play some four-on-four."
Smart did not say whether Thornton will start.
The Kings (6-15) and Trail Blazers (13-9) must be getting downright familiar with each other. They play tonight for the third time in the Kings' first 22 games.
Here are a few things to keep an eye on when the game tips off at 7 p.m. at Power Balance Pavilion, with the Kings looking to avoid their sixth consecutive loss:
1. Will Marcus Thornton return to the lineup? The Kings' guard, who has missed the last four games with a significant hematoma in his left thigh, said he hopes to play tonight -- with the approval of team doctors. Thornton is averaging 16.4 points a game. More than that, head coach Keith Smart said yesterday, the Kings have missed his veteran-type presence and "savvy" on the court, and his ability to be a creative and explosive scorer. If Thornton does play tonight, it will be interesting to see how many minutes he logs and how quickly he can shake off the rust, having not appeared in a game since Jan. 21.
2. The Kings haven't been able to contain Gerald Wallace. Wallace, the Trail Blazers forward, has had his way around the basket in the teams' first two meetings. Wallace was 17-for-23 (74 percent) from the field in those two games, averaging 22.5 points and 8 rebounds. Much of the responsibility for slowing Wallace down tonight will probably fall to Kings forward John Salmons.
PHOTO CREDIT: Forward Donte Greene looks at a screen before the team's game against the Orlando Magic on January 8, 2012 at Power Balance Pavilion. Hector Amezcua. Sacramento Bee.
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Kings forward John Salmons talks about where the Kings must improve from their first two losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and other topics following Wednesday's practice.
Guard Tyreke Evans discusses taking on a leadership role.
Kings head coach Keith Smart addresses the media following Wednesday's practice.
The Kings play the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday for already the third time this season, having lost their first two meetings by double-digit margins.
This time, forward John Salmons said, when push comes to shove, the Kings need to do both.
"We've got to match their physical presence," Salmons said. "The first two games they were very physical with us, so we have to match that play."
Guard Marcus Thornton (left thigh hematoma) said he wants to play Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers, but that the decision will be up to team doctors.
Thornton has missed the Kings' last four games. The team announced on Jan. 25 that tests had revealed a significant hematoma in his left thigh, and that Thornton would miss one to two weeks.
Thornton participated full-contact during the window of today's practice that was open to media -- a high-energy half-court scrimmage -- and appeared to be moving without much hesitation. Afterward, he said he "felt good out there for the most part."
PHOTO CREDIT: Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans falls to the floor in pain during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday in Oakland, Calif. Ben Margot, Associated Press.
We're here to feed your need for Sacramento Kings news. Each day, we'll highlight news, features and analysis from around the Web.
OAKLAND - Isaiah Thomas is becoming the Kings go-to guy in the fourth quarter.
Thomas has 24 points in his last two games. All of his points have come in the fourth quarter and nearly led to wins for the Kings.
Thomas ran the offense in the Kings win at Toronto on Jan. 11 and played a big role in the Kings' comeback against Indiana on Jan. 18
Thomas has looked like one of the Kings better decision makers late in games, knowing when to look for his shot and when to set up others.
"I'm building confidence each and every game," Thomas said. "Whatever it is the team needs me to do - make shots, make plays for others, that's what I'm going to try and do. That's what I've been doing and I've been shooting the ball pretty well the last couple of games, but we still haven't won. I'm a winner and I don't like anything about losing."
OAKLAND - Ok, this was a strange one: the Kings dominated most of the statistical categories tonight in their loss to the Golden State Warriors, except one: turnovers (21 to 8). That will definitely get you beat.
Here are a few other late-night thoughts:
• Despite the disappointing record, the Kings have two easily identifiable pieces around whom to build - Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins. You can't say the same when you look at the Warriors. They have to be worried about Stephen Curry's recurring ankle problems; he just isn't right. Monta Ellis is an undersized shooting guard, and he wasn't thrilled about being on the bench during the Warriors comeback. David Lee? Very productive, but do you want that contract?
• Evans remains an immense talent, an intense competitor, and someone who is truly receptive to coaching and direction. Is he a point guard? Absolutely not. But he is a unique and powerful player, at times a dominating player, and he clearly is responding to Smart's insistence that he pass ahead, play faster, move without the ball, and cease with the one-on-one dribbling displays. And, yes, I continue to believe he can (and should) be a lockdown defender.
• Cousins is maturing almost by the minute. He played 36 minutes, scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and engaged in a calm, thoughtful conversation with the refs after he was called for a turnover on the baseline. His conditioning continues to improve, which is a crucial factor as he moves along in his career. Additionally, while he scored on some patient, crafty moves down low, we are seeing him positioned more often at the elbows, where he can face the basket, square up for his feathery jumper or make a one or two-step dribble to the rim.
• Geoff Petrie's immediate challenge: Finding players with complementary skill sets to Evans and Cousins. He still needs a floor leader and that small forward who can hit the deep jumper (a la Brandon Rush of the Warriors) and open the inside for Cousins. The lack of dynamic on-court leadership was apparent once again during this latest meltdown.
• Jason Thompson quietly is re-emerging as a factor, doing what he should be doing: rebounding, running the floor, providing energy, understanding his role.
• Jimmer Fredette is suffering from the rookie blues. He is passing up open shots, trying to penetrate against multiple defenders, and making the game much too hard. He is probably the Kings' best outside shooter. Take the open shot to stretch the floor, and when you aren't open, move without the ball. Of course, he would benefit immensely from the presence of a few more ball movers. Bad habits are contagious. Hope he doesn't go there.
• The diminutive Isaiah Thomas has the potential to be a more consistent version of Nate Robinson.
• How about guarding the corner three's? Rush converted four of his five attempts. That's what he does.
OAKLAND - Before tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors, Kings rookie Isaiah Thomas asked about Grant High football star Shaq Thompson, who earlier in the day tweeted his plans to accept a scholarship to the University of Washington. "I've never seen him play," said Thomas, "but I keep hearing about him. And any time someone like that (top recruit) becomes a Husky, I'm happy about it."
FINAL
Warriors 93, Kings 90
OAKLAND - The Kings were done in by the Warriors bench, which played almost the entire fourth quarter and built a 12-point lead before holding on late to give the Warriors the win.
It was the fifth consecutive loss for the Kings (6-15), who for the second game in a row, lost by three points on the road.
Brandon Rush came off the bench to lead the Warriors (7-12) with 20 points. Rush scored 15 of the Warriors' 26 fourth-quarter points. Stephen Curry made a free throw for the only point for the Warriors that didn't come from a reserve in the quarter.
The Kings trailed 91-90 with 2.8 seconds to play, but Rush made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left in the game. Tyreke Evans heave at the buzzer from inside halfcourt was high off the backboard.
Evans finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and 14 rebounds.
The Kings committed as season-high 21 turnovers that led to 21 points for the Warriors.
OAKLAND - The NBA's two Northern California teams are at the bottom of the Pacific Division.
So this isn't the marquee game for the league, but it's important for both squads. My focus (of course) is the Kings, so here are five things to look for when the Kings play the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena.
As reported several times in The Bee and on sacbee.com -- most recently in Ailene Voisin's column on Jan. 18 -- Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie's future with the team appears increasingly uncertain.
But a report that surfaced Monday night in a fan blog, Sactown Royalty, attributed only to sources - that Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof have considered relieving Petrie of his position and have contacted a management agent - has been denied forcefully by Joe Maloof.
"No, this is not true," Maloof texted The Bee. "I had heard about (the rumor). We will be fine. We have had the toughest schedule in the league by far."
PHOTO CREDIT: Sacramento Kings head coach Keith Smart argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Salt Lake City. Jim Urquhart. Associated Press.
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Head coach Keith Smart addresses the media following Monday's practice.
Kings forward-center Chuck Hayes said today that his left shoulder "slightly popped out" in the final seconds of the Kings' loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
The first thing Hayes said he thought: "Don't panic." Then: "Not again."
"Just breathe slowly, move your arm so it can pop back in," he recalled thinking. "And it did."
Hayes, who missed 11 games after dislocating the left shoulder on Jan. 5, said he expects to play Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. He said he is aware that the shoulder might be a recurring issue while he continues to rehabilitate and strengthen it.
The story for Monday's newspaper is about Tyreke Evans and his work to become a better facilitator on offense under Keith Smart.
The debate over whether Evans is a point guard seems to have gone on even before the Kings drafted him in 2009.
Some have suggested Evans should be moved to small forward and force him to play off the ball.
Smart doesn't agree that is the best thing to do with with Evans.
"He can't play the three," Smart said after Sunday's practice. "That guy was born with a basketball in his hand - got to keep that thing in his hand. I've tried that one time and that doesn't work so I'm not going to go back to that one because he's not a small forward."
There are other reasons why Evans wouldn't make the best small forward on a regular basis.
Listed at 6-foot-6, Evans would struggle defending a lot of small forwards that are stronger than him. That would potentially keep Evans in foul trouble.
And Evans isn't a spot-up shooter, which he'd need to be in a lot of situations playing small forward.
The Kings will use Evans there in some situations, but don't expect Smart to move Evans and make his backcourt too small by starting any combination of Marcus Thornton, Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas.
If the Oklahoma City Thunder have all it takes to reach the NBA Finals is a mystery. The only player on the roster they count on that's been to the Finals is center Kendrick Perkins. And if the Thunder are going to win the West, it will be up to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
For now the Thunder looks like the best team in the NBA ... at least that's how I see it.
So here are my power rankings for you all to laugh at. Enjoy.
Chuck Hayes' return to the lineup looked as if it might be a one-game deal when he left the court in the final seconds of Saturday night's loss at Utah.
Hayes was holding his left arm after missing 11 games because of a dislocated left shoulder.
But Hayes won't miss any time.
"(Hayes) just got treatment today but i think he's going to be OK and ready to go," said Kings coach Keith Smart.
Hayes grabbed eight rebounds and had two steals in 20 minutes against the Jazz. His return as a "glue guy" on the court that doesn't need to score is expected to help the Kings, especially on defense.
The Jazz had 96 points last night. The Kings had allowed 117 points per game in their previous three losses.
SALT LAKE CITY - Isaiah Thomas did it again.
The Kings rookie came into a game and energized the team. Thomas scored 13 of the Kings' 26 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's 96-93 loss to the Utah Jazz.
Thomas accounted for all 13 bench points for the Kings against the Jazz.
THIRD QUARTER
Jazz 78, Kings 67
SALT LAKE CITY - This game was tied at 56 before the Jazz used a 9-0 run to pull away. Earl Watson's three pointer at the buzzer gave Utah its biggest lead of the night.
Four of five Kings starters have scored I double figures but the Kings have zero bench pints. Meanwhile the Jazz have gotten 18 points off the bench from C.J. Miles.
Utah has 31 bench points.
Tyreke Evans leads the Kings with a game-high 22 points and eight assists. Gordon Hayward leads Utah with 20 points.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Kings forward/center Chuck Hayes will play tonight against the Utah Jazz. He's missed 11 games after dislocating his left shoulder Jan. 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Hayes was a starter when he injured his shoulder but will not start tonight. The Kings will stay Jason Thompson playing Hayes' spot along with Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette, John Salmons and DeMarcus Cousins in the starting lineup.
SALT LAKE CITY - The embarrassment from Wednesday's loss to the Denver Nuggets should still be fresh on the minds of Sacramento Kings players and coaches.
The 92 points the Kings allowed in the paint were a record since the NBA began tracking points in the paint in the 2000-01 season.
The Kings have given up a lot in the paint all season via offensive putbacks, dribble penetration and easy baskets in transition. Perhaps how the Nuggets had their way will be enough to embarrass the Kings into putting forth a better effort.
One thing that has come up more than once in conversations with Kings players over the last couple of seasons is scouting reports - namely the players need to do a better job of studying them.
Good teams know the nuances of their opponents and the Kings have struggled with that
When I spoke to Chuck Hayes earlier in the season about the Houston Rockets' 22-game winning streak during the 2007-08 season, Hayes noted how everyone knew the opponent.
Sacramento Bee database reporter Phillip Reese has looked at the Sacramento Kings payroll, one of the lowest team payrolls in the NBA. See his "Kings' low payroll offers clue to current struggles," which ranks teams based on total wins and payroll.
PHOTO CREDIT: Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins sits on the bench after coming out of their game against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter in Sacramento, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. The Nuggets won 122-93. Steve Yeater. Associated Press.
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Kings coach Keith Smart keeps running into obstacles when it comes to implementing the running style of play he wants with the Kings.
First, there's the overall lack of conditioning of the team. Secondly, injuries have prevented Smart from finding continuity.
Perhaps the most important things is this season, the Kings just can't shoot well.
Kings forward Jason Thompson addresses the media following the Kings' loss to the Denver Nuggets.
One statistic that may not have received much outside attention as recently as Wednesday afternoon: The Kings went into their game against the Denver Nuggets allowing the most points in the paint per game of any NBA team (50.4).
The Nuggets, of course, illuminated the issue by scoring 92 points and making all but four of their 50 field goals in the paint in their 122-93 win over the Kings at Power Balance Pavilion. The loss prompted forward Jason Thompson to say that the Kings need to "look ourselves in the mirror" on defense.
"You've got to look at it as, is it just points in the paint in the half-court or is it points in the paint from fast-breaks?" Thompson said. "You break it down to, is it from help or is it just from one-on-one? That's why I say everybody's got to look ourselves in the mirror. Obviously points in the paint, it comes down to the bigs, obviously we'll take the fall for that. But it's all five of us (starters) and guys coming off the bench as well."
The Nuggets, who lead the NBA in fast-break points per game, scored 26 fast-break points. They scored 25 points off of 18 turnovers by the Kings.
Guard Jimmer Fredette reacts to the Kings' most lopsided home loss of the season.
Head coach Keith Smart addresses the media following the Kings' loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Written and circled on the white board in the Kings' locker room after their loss to the Denver Nuggets were a number and three words: "90 pts in paint."
Such was the Kings' undoing Wednesday night at Power Balance Pavilion. The Nuggets, finding easy looks under the basket on fast-breaks and in the half-court alike, scored 92 points in the paint en route to a 122-93 win.
The Nuggets led by three points, 32-29, early in the second quarter, then went on a 34-14 run to close out the quarter and led by as many as 35 points late in the game.
"We didn't have any resistance in the paint," Kings head coach Keith Smart said. "Of course we knew the fast-break was going to be a tough issue for us anyway, the way they get out and push the ball, they're No. 1 in the league. But we just got broken down too many times.
The Kings, missing guard Marcus Thornton and forward-center Chuck Hayes to injury, will play a likewise shorthanded opponent tonight in the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets will be without injured guards Arron Afflalo and Rudy Fernandez, as well as center Timofey Mozgov, who is away for the birth of his first child.
Kings head coach Keith Smart declined to say who will start in Thornton's stead. John Salmons started at shooting guard on Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, while rookie Jimmer Fredette is another option.
Smart did say he would like to get to a point where he has an established starting lineup -- something that has been complicated by Hayes' absence and Thornton's nagging injury.
