Sacramento Kings News

Thompson fills reserve role nicely
Comment
March 16
Sacramento Bee
 
"If Jason Thompson needs proof that being a productive reserve in the NBA is a valuable role, he only has to look across the Kings' locker room. That's where he'll find Carl Landry, who was a leading candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award in Houston before being traded to the Kings on Feb. 17. Landry is now the Kings' starting power forward, Thompson's job until last month. Coach Paul Westphal started going in a different direction before Landry arrived, using a lineup that included Omri Casspi and Donté Greene in early February. Then came Thompson's injury on Feb. 23 that led to a five-game absence. Since his return five games ago, Thompson has provided the sort of impact coming ..."
Evans' roll continues as he leads Kings over Minnesota
Comment
March 15
Sacramento Bee
 
"Two of the five Evans brothers stood outside the Kings' locker room Sunday night at Arco Arena. While Tyreke got dressed inside and answered questions about his near triple double in the Kings' 114-100 win over Minnesota, Reggie and Doc waited for the CEO of Blueprint Inc. while chatting with Timberwolves rookie Jonny Flynn. For anyone who was watching closely in June before the Kings drafted Evans fourth overall out of the University of Memphis, this moment was a fitting time to reflect on what could have been. By all accounts, Flynn would have been a King if Evans weren't still on the board. Alas, Evans was still there, with the Clippers taking Blake Griffin as expected, and Memphis and ..."
Kings: As lineup shakes down, one job still up in air
Comment
March 14
Sacramento Bee
 
"With 16 games to go in this semi-successful season, the Kings are confident about their future in a number of areas. They know Tyreke Evans is their centerpiece, with veteran Beno Udrih looking like a worthy complement in the backcourt. They know newly acquired forward Carl Landry is the go-to scorer they so badly needed in the frontcourt and plan for him to team with Spencer Hawes or Jason Thompson down low unless an upgrade is possible via trade or free agency. But when it comes to the small forward position, coach Paul Westphal continues to stare into a cloudy crystal ball. Donté Greene is the latest to fill that role, as he has started the last four games. But as Westphal sees it, he ..."
Kings Notes: Team bounces back at rebounding
Comment
March 13
Sacramento Bee
 
"One of the Kings' goals this season was to improve on rebounding. The team couldn't get much worse after finishing 29th out of 30 teams in rebounds per game. Well, the Kings won't be among the worst rebounding teams this season. The Kings entered Friday night's game 10th in the NBA averaging 42.6. But Kings coach Paul Westphal isn't satisfied with Sacramento's rebounding. "Our rebounds is something I'm not positive we can count on every night yet," Westphal said. "It's been good this year. It's been a lot better than it was last year. We need to find a way to be a little more dominant." The team's average margin on the glass is plus-0.50. So while the Kings might be winning their fair ..."
Kings can't hang onto ball in loss to Blazers
Comment
March 13
Sacramento Bee
 
"There really was no question as to which team was much further away from being among the Western Conference elite. The Portland Trail Blazers looked like a team trying to find its way up the standings for better playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the Kings were just trying to find their way. The Blazers dominated from the start and dismantled the Kings 110-94 Friday night at Arco Arena. On the second night of back-to-back games, the Blazers looked fresh and relaxed. It doesn't hurt when Brandon Roy is rolling for the Blazers. He shot 10 of 13 for 28 points. The Kings didn't know what to do with Roy, nor could they figure out the Blazers' defense. Sacramento committed 20 turnovers that led to 21 ..."
Brandon Roy scores game-high 28; Blazers rout Kings
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March 13
Oregonian
 
"Bad sign for the rest of the Western Conference: Brandon Roy is back. Big time. One day after a 41-point masterpiece at Golden State, Roy on Friday was dominant again, scoring 28 points and leading the Blazers to a 110-94 win at Sacramento, their sixth win in seven games. Roy hit 10 of 13 shots, mixing pump-fakes and stop-and-go moves with a nothing-but-net jumper, all the while showing a strut and steely stare that seems to be setting a business-like tone for the rest of the Blazers. "Just trying to give this team a spark, man," Roy said. "Trying to tune myself up and play with a confidence and swagger, to give this team some swagger.""
Roy, Blazers sack Kings
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March 13
Portland Tribune
 
"Brandon Roy hit 10 of 13 shots and scored 28 points to lead the Trail Blazers over the Sacramento Kings 110-94 Friday night at Arco Arena. LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and Andre Miller 15 for the Blazers (40-28). Portland leads the season series 3-0. The Blazers' next game is 6 p.m. Sunday against Toronto at the Rose Garden. Portland led the Kings 31-24 after one quarter, 61-46 at the half and 87-66 through three periods. After what he called an "emotional win" the night before at Golden State, Roy said the Blazers "came into this game with a lot of confidence. Not a lot of playing around, but a lot of focus.""
Blazers will face energized Kings
Comment
March 12
Oregonian
 
"As if their last game against the Kings wasn't enough to think about, the Blazers will face the Kings for the second time in three days tonight. One big difference: This time the game will be played at the Kings' Arco Arena. The Blazers squeezed by the Kings 88-81 at the Rose Garden Tuesday night, but rallied to defeat Golden State 110-105 behind Brandon Roy's 41 points at Golden State Thursday. The win against the Warriors snapped the Blazers' nine-game losing streak at Golden State. Sacramento snapped a three-game losing streak with a 113-90 thumping of Toronto Wednesday. Not surprisingly, the Kings play much better at home (16-15) than on the road (6-28). The Kings have won three of ..."
Evans is double trouble
Comment
March 11
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kings rookie Tyreke Evans once told assistant coach and Princeton legend Pete Carril that he didn't know who Boston Celtics coaching great Red Auerbach was. Carril shrugged, chalking the somewhat astounding moment up to the fact that Evans was born when Auerbach was in his seventh decade. And besides, the focus as far as the Kings were concerned was that Evans work hard on making a name for himself. But as the fourth quarter of the Kings' 113-90 blowout over Toronto played out at Arco Arena on Wednesday, it was clear that Evans wasn't entirely out of touch when it came to the game's history. As he sat one assist from his first triple double - a feat that would be timely considering the ..."
Garcia an important piece of puzzle
Comment
March 11
Sacramento Bee
 
"Francisco García has been proving his value on a young team lately. He has played at least 23 minutes in each of the Kings' past six games. He's been a much-needed help as an extra perimeter shooter and ballhandler. Kings coach Paul Westphal, however, isn't one to wonder what the season might have been like if García hadn't been out until Feb. 16 because of a broken wrist suffered in a weightlifting accident before the season. Westphal managed to find the positive in the time García missed. "Probably, if we had 'Cisco, we wouldn't have gone down the road with Omri (Casspi) and Donté (Greene) as far as we have gone," Westphal said. "We're glad to have (García), and he's helping us.""
Evans sorry for criticizing teammate Nocioni in public
Comment
March 10
Sacramento Bee
 
"Even the leading Rookie of the Year candidate makes rookie mistakes. And while the Kings' Tyreke Evans doesn't typically apologize for every slip-up on the floor, he offered a mea culpa Tuesday for an off-floor flub. Evans, who made comments critical of teammate Andres Nocioni to The Bee after Sunday's loss to Oklahoma City, apologized in a Tuesday afternoon radio interview with KHTK's Grant Napear and Mike Lamb and reiterated his stance at the Rose Garden later. The players had exchanged words during the fourth quarter, with the rookie frustrated at the veteran's shot selection in the most crucial of times. Afterward, Evans told The Bee, "We were in the game, and you come down and take ..."
Kings promote Evans for Rookie of Year
Comment
March 10
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"Tyreke Evans is five weeks and 18 games away from joining Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Chris Paul, Emeka Okafor, LeBron James, Amar'e Stoudemire and Pau Gasol as recent Rookies of the Year. OK, forget the part about the disappointing Okafor. Pretend he never happened. But this is a first for the Kings, who genuinely believe their 6-foot-6 guard is the most deserving candidate. They are ramping up the rhetoric and festivities because, frankly, Evans hints at a future beyond furloughs and foreclosures. How long has it been? How many years now? Accordingly, for tonight's game against the Toronto Raptors, the first 10,000 fans will receive a commemorative "Rally for RekeROY" ..."
Kings feel the Thunder at Arco -- and it stings
Comment
March 8
Sacramento Bee
 
"As basketball eye candy goes, the Kings and Oklahoma City provided plenty of it Sunday night at Arco Arena. There were high-level performances, with the Thunder's Kevin Durant showcasing his silky-smooth game with 27 points and eight rebounds, and the Kings' Tyreke Evans finishing with 24 points and seven assists of his own. There was conflict and controversy - four technical fouls (three from the Thunder), an Andres Nocioni flagrant foul on Russell Westbrook and an evening's worth of frustrated rants from Kings coach Paul Westphal. There was even an eye-opening moment of the most painful kind, with Westbrook being raked across the right eye by Kings forward Carl Landry and leaving the ..."
Casspi gets a breather
Comment
March 8
Sacramento Bee
 
"The cliché term is the rookie wall. The rest of us just call it being tired. Kings rookie forward Omri Casspi watched Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in street clothes. He was inactive for the game as coach Paul Westphal wanted to give the rookie a break. "I just wanted to let him recharge a little bit," Westphal said. Casspi has struggled lately. He's averaging just 6.5 points in his past seven games. He's shooting just 38 percent (19 of 50) over that stretch. He has made just 2 of 10 from behind the three-point line. And as he has struggled, Casspi's playing time has decreased. He's averaging 20.5 minutes in his past four games. "He thinks there's gas in the tank, and ..."
Kings notes: Thompson hopes for an early return to lineup
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March 7
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jason Thompson stood on the American Airlines Center floor Friday night, his warm-ups drenched in sweat and the hardwood under his feet more slippery by the second. The Kings forward, who had two non-displaced transverse fractures in his lower back from a Feb. 23 fall against Detroit, had just completed his pregame rehabilitation. He teamed with Kings strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro in the session, stretching with bands and sprinting so much you could hardly tell he was injured. "I only know one way to go, and that's going hard," he said. "That's just not talk. That's how I've always been working. That's how I'm in this league, really. Coming from a small school (Rider), ..."
Kings' Nocioni tries to make best of situation
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March 7
Sacramento Bee
 
"The NBA's trade deadline may have come and gone in mid-February, but Andres Nocioni remained. His uncomfortable existence in Sacramento continued. The Kings have an unusual quandary with Nocioni: The veteran small forward, who was traded here from Chicago nearly 13 months ago, is signed through 2012. He clearly is not in the Kings' long-term plans, with the progression of second-year small forward Donté Greene and the presence of heralded rookie Omri Casspi. In contrast to players around the league who are pushed to the end of the bench late in their careers, the 30-year-old Nocioni is in just his sixth NBA season. And, as he showed in a 15-point, six-rebound outing in Dallas on Friday in ..."
Kings lose to Mavericks, but Westphal stays positive
Comment
March 6
Sacramento Bee
 
"Of all the arenas in the NBA, American Airlines Center can be as lonely a place to lose as there is. It has been that way since 2001, when the Dirk Nowitzki era in Dallas was already well under way and the building opened just in time to house a team that is headed for its 10th consecutive 50-win season. The locals are loud. The energy is electric. And the visiting team, heaven help it, is in danger of being dominated every time out. The Kings looked headed for that fate early in the fourth quarter Friday night, when their upstart act had come to an end and the Mavericks pushed their lead to 15 points amid a satiated announced crowd of 19,954. And while the Kings couldn't quite finish what ..."
Depleted, not defeated: Short-handed Mavericks win 10th straight
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March 6
Dallas Morning News
 
"No Jason Terry. No Brendan Haywood. No Rick Carlisle. No problem for the Mavericks. As their manpower situation continued to deteriorate, the Mavericks pushed their winning streak to 10 games on Friday night. They overcame injuries, an ejection of their coach and another fourth-quarter fizzle to defeat Sacramento, 108-100, in a showing that spoke of creativity under fire. "We've got to improvise," said Dirk Nowitzki, who rallied from a 2-for-10 start from the field to score 31 points. "We've still got enough players." The Mavericks knew they would be without Terry, who underwent facial surgery in the afternoon. They lost Haywood in the first quarter because of lower-back tightness, and ..."
Success of Evans-Udrih pairing pleasantly surprises Kings
Comment
March 5
Sacramento Bee
 
"No one can pretend this was the plan, that Beno Udrih and Tyreke Evans as the Kings' backcourt was the product of much deliberation or design. Quite the opposite, in fact. Udrih was seen as the resident underachiever in June, when the Kings entered the NBA draft intending to find his replacement after he played poorly in the first year of his five-year, $32 million deal signed in the summer of 2008. That makes the team's current landscape all the more intriguing. Not only is the sixth-year player's career alive and well, but Udrih has become the closest the Kings have to a viable complement to Evans and his sometimes challenging style. If Evans overdribbles or misses priceless offensive ..."
Martin struggles against old team
Comment
March 4
Sacramento Bee
 
"It wasn't exactly what Kevin Martin had in mind when it came to seeing his old teammates. The Houston shooting guard who was traded from the Kings on Feb. 17 after five-plus seasons in Sacramento saw a wave of familiar faces in his first game against his old team - and he struggled to score against any of them. He finished with 14 points on 3-of-13 shooting, taking (and missing) just one shot in the fourth quarter. "We had different players on (Martin)," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "Beno (Udrih) guarded him, 'Cisco (García), Tyreke (Evans) guarded him, Ime (Udoka guarded him) some. I thought he got us a few times, drew fouls when we tried to make him not get that call. But for the most ..."
Landry comes back to burn Rockets in Kings' win
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March 4
Houston Chronicle
 
"Welcome back, Carl Landry. Have a nice time? The Rockets did all they could to make sure Landry enjoyed the homecoming of a conquering hero Wednesday night. He was greeted with an ovation and video tribute. Then the Rockets trudged through a dreadful, uninspired first half in which they were badly bullied on the boards before falling short with a horrible shooting fourth quarter that sent the Kings to an 84-81 win at Toyota Center. "We have a young group, and I think that because they won a game, they think they will win the next one," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman, referring to his team's rout of Toronto on Monday. "It doesn't work that way in this league. I don't care who you are ..."
OKC survives Sacramento
Comment
March 3
The Oklahoman
 
"Of all the eye-popping stats that made their way onto the scoreboard Tuesday night, one unwritten number told the true story of the Thunder's 113-107 win over Sacramento inside the Ford Center. The figure is five. That's how many times Oklahoma City produced three straight stops against the Kings. While the total ranks second in the pecking order of importance behind the final score, it's that overlooked figure that often decides the outcome. And five generally doesn't cut it. Against Sacramento, one of the worst squads since Christmas at 7-24, the Thunder is now good enough to eke out a win despite a dud of a defensive game. But gone are the days the Thunder simply can be satisfied with ..."
Landry to face his former team
Comment
March 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"When Carl Landry heard what his old teammates were saying about him, he did what he was so often known to do during two-plus seasons in Houston. He smiled. The 26-year-old who was traded to the Kings on Feb. 17 was a favorite among fans and his teammates, known as a gregarious big man who came to compete every time out and did so with a pleasant disposition. Team officials frowned when told he was leaving, partly because his frontcourt presence would be missed but also because his positive personality was part of the young team's fabric. Rockets center Chuck Hayes was among those who shared that sentiment, but that didn't keep him from talking trash before tonight's game between the ..."
Kings can't stop Durant, surging Thunder
Comment
March 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"When the Kings and Oklahoma City met at the Ford Center on Oct. 28, it was seen as a matchup between two of the league's worst teams. They had a combined 40 wins between them in the previous season, with the Thunder's 23 barely besting the Kings' 17 and few - if any - predicting a major change of affairs in either city. Four months later, Kevin Durant"
Kings' Nocioni suspended for two games
Comment
March 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kings small forward Andres Nocioni was suspended for two games for pleading no contest to driving under the influence, the NBA announced Tuesday. The incident took place Nov. 5, when the six-year veteran was arrested at approximately 2 a.m. He entered his plea Feb. 22, at which time he also was assigned to serve two days in a work program operated by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. Nocioni also must complete a three-month alcohol class, pay a $480 fine and court penalties, and serve three years' probation. The Kings saw the suspension coming, as Nocioni did not accompany the team to Oklahoma City for Tuesday night's game."
Late lapses prove costly to Kings
Comment
March 2
Sacramento Bee
 
"If only this were hockey. The Kings, who remain classified as a basketball team and thus play four quarters instead of three periods, would be so much better off if that were the case. They would be 25-32-2, in the race for a playoff spot that has eluded them since 2006. Those numbers are according to a database compiled by The Bee that included all of their scoring for the season. Other findings were: • Through their first 59 games, they were outscored by an average of 3.2 points during the fourth quarter on the 38 occasions when it was a 10-point-or-less game at the end of the third. In other words, the Kings falter when they still have a shot. • The Kings have come back to win five ..."
Sacramento landlord sues Chris Webber over restaurant closure
Comment
March 2
Sacramento Bee
 
"Former Sacramento Kings star-turned restaurateur Chris Webber is being sued for nearly $3 million in connection with Center Court With C-Webb, his Natomas restaurant that closed in November. In a lawsuit filed Feb. 23 in Sacramento Superior Court, Promenade, which owns the Promenade at Sacramento Gateway Shopping Center, is suing for $1.8 million under terms of the 20-year lease signed by Webber and partner Jeff Dudum, of Dudum Sports and Entertainment, in 2005 with Opus West Corp., which has since filed for bankruptcy protection. The landlords are also asking for $1 million to help re-lease the property, $134,997 in overdue rent, $50,000 in cleanup fees and another $41,399.32 a month ..."
Kings notes: Long season taking a toll on rookies
Comment
March 1
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings are a young team. They have the least-experienced roster in the NBA, with their players averaging 2.2 years in the league. But that doesn't mean they're going to be fresh every night. "Nobody in this league is ever able to go at full intensity for 82 games," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "Now you can play as hard as you can that night, but some nights you're going to have more gas in the tank than others." Fatigue might be more of a concern with two of the Kings' starters - Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi - being rookies. When asked about Casspi, Westphal conceded the 82-game schedule might have been catching up with him lately. "I think Omri looks a little tired sometimes," ..."
Evans delivers in crunch time for Kings
Comment
March 1
Sacramento Bee
 
"Tyreke Evans walked into the media room at Arco Arena late Sunday night and stood at the podium typically reserved for Kings coach Paul Westphal. As he addressed five rows of empty seats and wore a playful grin on his face, he grabbed the microphone and said, "Any more questions?" There weren't, of course, as he had answered all of them during yet another clutch performance that capped the Kings' 97-92 win over the Clippers. After the Kings' lead that was once as large as 16 points was down to one on a Rasual Butler three-pointer with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter, Evans saved a stagnant offense to help the Kings win their second in a row. He bullied and blew his way past helpless ..."
Kings' Landry has exceeded expectations
Comment
February 28
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"Carl Landry sneaks up on people. Though he stands 6-foot-8 and carries 248 pounds on a thick, muscular frame, sometimes he stares in the mirror and blinks twice, making sure that even he sees what he sees. It's me, he tells himself. It's me. "I have developed so fast the last two years that it's kind of amazing," Landry said with a grin. "From my rookie year, to today, with people talking about me being a good player in this league. I never thought I would come this far. Who knows where I'll be in another 21/2 years?" Obtained by the Kings in the trade that sent Kevin Martin to the Houston Rockets, Landry, 26, is one of those players who confound college recruiters and NBA scouts because ..."
Team basks in glow of feel-good win
Comment
February 28
Sacramento Bee
 
"Had Kings coach Paul Westphal worn a blue sweater to practice Saturday, the moment would have been just right. One day after his team's win over a top-tier Utah club ended a five-game losing streak and injected so much positivity into an increasingly negative situation, he truly was the hoops version of Mr. Rogers. "It might be raining outside, but the sun is shining in the Kings' hearts today," he told the media with a self-effacing smile. He wasn't the only one in a good mood. Coaches and players raved about the importance of their performance and how the two practices leading into Friday's win were so very vital. With three new players acquired via trade last week and the recent return ..."
Newcomer Dorsey already team's best defender
Comment
February 27
Sacramento Bee
 
"All it took was 12 minutes. That's how long Joey Dorsey played in Tuesday's loss to Detroit. And in that time, Kings coach Paul Westphal came to an easy conclusion. "One thing I would say is he's our best defensive big man right now," Westphal said. "I could say that after one quarter. He's more alert to helping, he's a physical presence, he likes physical play and that's his thing." Dorsey came to the Kings from Houston in last week's three-team trade that also brought Carl Landry to Sacramento. Little used with the Rockets, Dorsey's strengths are what the Kings have been looking for this season from their frontcourt players. Dorsey was a key player on the 2008 University of Memphis team ..."
Player-coach rift? Kings done with all that Jazz
Comment
February 27
Sacramento Bee
 
"This was not a losing streak ended on the backs of just two individuals. But Paul Westphal and Spencer Hawes were certainly the characters in question, the Kings coach and third-year center who spent the week disagreeing from a distance before they decided to come together in the most uplifting of ways. And while Westphal and Hawes didn't break the Kings' five-game losing streak on their own Friday night at Arco Arena, this 103-99 win over a top-tier Utah team belonged to both. It started with the most comical of pregame exchanges that symbolized a conflict resolved. The 59-year-old coach and 21-year-old player exchanged a silly sequence that was plotted beforehand: a low-five, high-five ..."
Streak ends in loss to Kings
Comment
February 27
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Wesley Matthews attacked for a layup and slammed hard on his back. Deron Williams slipped with the ball and ended up flat on his stomach. The Jazz stumbled against a Sacramento Kings team winless in five games since the All-Star break. Those were the scenes from the final minute Friday at Arco Arena, as the Jazz's seven-game road winning streak came to an end with a 103-99 loss, a night in which they failed to keep pace with Denver and Dallas in the Western Conference race. Williams was outscored 24-10 by Kings rookie Tyreke Evans, whose jumper with 14.8 seconds left gave Sacramento 102-97 lead, and made just 4 of 16 shots while committing five turnovers on the way to 10 points and 13 ..."
Kings halt Utah's road win streak at 7
Comment
February 27
The Deseret News
 
"The Sacramento Kings might be one of the worst teams in the NBA. But on Friday night they did what San Antonio, Portland, Houston and New Orleans — not to mention the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State — couldn't do the past month and a half. Sacramento, the team with the fifth-worst record in the NBA and losers of five straight games, actually beat the Utah Jazz on its own home court. Sparked by a season-high 25 points from Beno Udrih and a strong 24-point outing by rookie-of-the-year candidate Tyreke Evans, the Kings edged the Jazz for the second time in three tries this season by pulling away from Utah in the last two minutes for a 103-99 win. Turns out, seven was enough for this ..."
A royal change in SacTown
Comment
February 26
The Deseret News
 columnist Jody Genessey
"I was just checking out the boxscore from the Jazz's 104-99 loss to Sacramento earlier this season, and, boy, what a difference a few months make. A completely different Kings team will face Utah at Arco Arena on Friday night than did way back on Nov. 7. Here are some of the changes Jazz fans will notice regarding Sacramento: - Rookie Omri Casspi is now a starter and a regular contributor. He had a DNP-CD in his team's upset win. - Carl Landry now dons a purple uniform instead of the Rockets' red. - So, too, does Joey Dorsey, who was part of the trade that sent Kevin Martin to Houston. Martin, by the way, didn't play in Sacramento's win over Utah, but had a big game against the Jazz in a ..."
Kirilenko feeling better, plans on playing Friday at Sacramento
Comment
February 26
The Deseret News
 
"Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, after missing the past two-plus games due to back spasms, is feeling better and hopes to play Friday night against the Kings in Sacramento. Kirilenko, who left Sunday night's game at Portland in the first quarter and didn't play at all in home games against Atlanta and Charlotte this week, received treatment on his back this morning and was scheduled to participate in the team's practice. "I plan to play in Sacramento," Kirilenko said prior to practice today. "(The back) really feels better. . . . We're going to have to see how it feels tonight and at game time." The Jazz have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA in recent weeks with Kirilenko being ..."
C.J. Miles hopes to rebound against Kings
Comment
February 26
The Deseret News
 
"It was a good night for the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, as Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver led the team to a come-from-behind home victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. But it wasn't such a good night personally for Jazz forward C.J. Miles, who started in place of the injured Andrei Kirilenko. Miles struggled early with his defense on the Bobcats' Gerald Wallace and got into foul trouble in the process. Offensively, it was even worse. Miles went 1-for-10 from the field and finished with just four points in 30 minutes on the court. Jazz stars Deron Williams and Boozer, before practice on Thursday prior to the team flying to Sacramento for tonight's game against the Kings, each said their advice for ..."
Pistons' vets abuse rookie
Comment
February 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"It was easy to tell the Pistons' offensive game plan Tuesday night just by looking at their bench. A noticeable buzz emanated whenever Kings forward Omri Casspi was matched up against Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton. And the veteran duo delivered, constantly abusing the rookie from Israel by combining for 52 points on 23-for-37 shooting to lead the Pistons (21-35) to an easy 101-89 victory. "Well, it's a pretty simple story as far as I can see, we couldn't stop Prince or Hamilton," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "They gave them the lift - particularly at the start of the first half it was Prince, start of he second half it was Hamilton. "They were going at Omri with Prince and he had ..."
Hard fall, achy back -- Kings Thompson out 2 weeks
Comment
February 26
Sacramento Bee
 
"Forward/center Jason Thompson, who took a nasty spill, landing on his back after grabbing a rebound Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons, will feel another kind of pain. The kind that occurs while sitting on the bench. X-rays taken Thursday revealed that the second-year pro suffered two non-displaced fractures in his lower back. He is expected to miss up to two weeks. This is the first time that Thompson, who skipped two games last month because of a death in the family, has been sidelined because of injury. "It's sore," said Thompson, who sustained the injury at the 3:31 mark of the second quarter. "Just trying to get as much treatment, as much rest as possible. "(The incident) was ..."
Trying times for Kings' coach
Comment
February 25
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Vosin
"Paul Westphal is experiencing "some of the worst days" of his life, and he isn't talking about the unraveling of the Kings or his curious benching of Spencer Hawes. He is referring to real life, to circumstances others tend to ignore when the offense stinks, the defense disappears, the effort becomes infuriatingly erratic, and the defeats dominate the standings. This is human nature, of course, and the nature of pro sports. Fans and owners want results, not sob stories. Yet the fact that Westphal's wife, Cindy, is ailing in Southern California and undergoing medical tests, prompting him to shuttle between locations these past few days, certainly begs the question: Would he have punished ..."
Hawes' status for Friday uncertain
Comment
February 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"One day after Spencer Hawes was benched for making "detrimental" comments about Paul Westphal's inconsistent lineups and rotation, it was unclear if the Kings center was out of the coach's doghouse. "I think I have a good relationship with Spencer, but we've talked about those kinds of things before, and I think that what he said was detrimental to the team, and we're not going to have those kinds of comments," said Westphal, who spoke before a larger-than-normal media gathering at the team's practice facility. In a story in Tuesday's Bee, the third-year center was one of three players who detailed the difficulties of Westphal's changing lineups and substitution patterns."
Another poor effort by Kings in loss to Pistons
Comment
February 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"In the most unexpected of developments, Kevin Martin was inside Arco Arena on Tuesday. He was among the announced crowd of 11,557 on hand to see the Kings in their latest uninspiring display, a 101-89 loss to Detroit in which the recent roster shakeup continued to yield the same results as before in what was their fifth consecutive loss. The only trouble? It was Kevin Martin Sr., the father of the former Kings shooting guard who was traded to Houston last week in the deal that brought forward Carl Landry to Sacramento. So help, in other words, wasn't on its way. As for the Kings who remain, the bad start that began with losses to the Clippers and Phoenix over the weekend segued into real ..."
Kings waive Hughes
Comment
February 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings waived guard Larry Hughes today after they agreed to a buyout, according to a source close to Hughes. Hughes never played a game for the Kings after he was acquired from the Knicks in three-team deal with the Rockets."
Hawes criticizes coaches philosophies, spends night on bench
Comment
February 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"Spencer Hawes isn't injured. But when he showed up Tuesday evening at Arco Arena, his No. 31 jersey wasn't hanging in his locker. Hawes, the Kings' third-year and sometimes-starting center was inactive for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. "I saw where he's having a hard time understanding his role," said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "He should understand it (after) tonight." Westphal said there was no specific reason for putting Hawes on the bench. Hawes has been vocal at times this season about his fluctuating minutes and changing roles."
Sporadic playing time wearing on some Kings
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February 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"Francisco García became the latest face of the Kings franchise over the weekend, his likeness painted over that of the departed Kevin Martin's on a mural outside Arco Arena. The timing was uncanny, as he became the poster boy of another kind, too. The fifth-year player whose four-month absence from injury ended a week ago was the latest to experience the uncertainty of coach Paul Westphal's rotations, which has become a legitimate issue in the team's locker room. García received an unexpected start against the Clippers on Saturday but played just 14 minutes. The next night in Phoenix, he didn't play at all. García's teammates could empathize. The season-long trend began with third-year ..."
Kings move past Martin on mural
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February 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"Maybe it was done to expedite the process of removing Kevin Martin's likeness from anything Kings-related, or perhaps it was a way of making Francisco García feel better after he didn't play in Phoenix on Sunday. Whatever the motive, the Kings wasted no time moving past Martin on Monday."
Garcia a work in progress
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February 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"Paul Westphal remains such a popular figure here, it took him several minutes to break free from old friends and well-wishers before engaging in his usual pregame media ritual. And, as usual, the former Phoenix Suns coach and current Kings coach had something new to offer in terms of his starting lineup. Sunday's unit included Donté Greene, with Francisco García sitting on the bench. García, who started his first game of the season Saturday in Los Angeles after playing only a minute against Boston, still looks rusty and a little uncomfortable. He did not play Sunday against the Suns."
Aging, aching Nash still has too much for new-look Kings
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February 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"Steve Nash almost didn't play. That was the kicker, the final piece of the dirt-in-face ending to the Kings' latest defeat Sunday. At his age (36), the Suns' All-Star point guard isn't exactly ready for the rocking chair, but he needs therapy and ice packs and more than an occasional massage. Given his frenetic schedule these past 10 days, what he needs most is some time in an easy chair. No, that's not a slam at the Kings. They weren't cushions. They just weren't very good. Nash eviscerated the visitors with 17 assists, though bothered by a sore lower back. He controlled the tempo at critical segments, punctuated the Suns' 104-88 victory with his only three-pointer of the evening and ..."
New bruiser doesn't back down
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February 21
Sacramento Bee
 
"New Kings forward Joey Dorsey once challenged the manhood of Greg Oden at the height of Oden's Ohio State fame. So no, he's not the type to back down. So when word came from the Kings training staff that Jon Brockman's knee injury suffered Friday would keep him out two to four weeks, it meant more than the obvious in-house disappointment at the rookie forward's bad luck. It meant the Dorsey-Brockman practice battles would have to wait. As was the case at the University of Washington, Brockman has been a bruiser in games and practices. A smaller version of that role could now fall to the muscle-bound Dorsey for the immediate future. The second-year player out of the University of Memphis ..."