Here we go again
Sacramento Kings at Minnesota Timberwolves, Dec 18, 2009 7:00 PM CST

It's time for yet another match up against a team that was worse off than the Wolves last season but now...not so much. Will the 4 win Wolves be focused and give a solid effort throughout? Is anyone starting to get a bit tired of a 4 win club making excuses about effort? Will anyone watch this game?
Enjoy the tilt. Opposition blogging going on at Sactown Royalty.
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Please make it respectable tonight if we lose
another loss like the other night and i might jump off the deep end
Starters
Wolves: Wilkins, Love, Jefferson, Brewer, Flynn
Kings: Casspi, Greene, Thompson, Nocioni, Evans
The Only Stream available is RWBsports.com..it will be joined in progress
and ATDHE.net’s Link to the game goes to the link for last night’s Pistons game….
Man the nets are sooooo bad
losing to Toronto 70-33 at the half!
We double too liberally
Luckily Sac is missing their 3-pointers, but man, we are quick to double before a guy has even proven himself to deserve it.
Still not sure why the Kings keep Kenny Thomas on Al
It seems to me Jason Thompson would be better for that matchup, and Thomas would have an easier time with Love
it really is unbelievable...
…how he can’t catch a ball.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
I'n intrigued with the Brewer-Casspi matchup
I think Corey can win it
Sessions, Pav, Wilkins, Hollins, Jawai...
If we score a single FG off a set play, I’ll be shocked…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I wish he knew how to play the 2...
the starting backcourt should be Him and Flynn instead of Brewer or Wilkins and Flynn
Sessions played a ton of off guard last year
Filling in for Michael Redd.
Rambis just doesn’t like being that undersized. Especially when the Kings have a 6’6", 220 guy at point guard.
He knew what he was signing up for...
And that was cashing significantly larger paychecks.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Jonny would need...
Two or three games to put up that many…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Bucks plays some of the best defense in the league
Having Mbah A Moute and a healthy Bogut has given that team new life
JPete on Sergio R....
“Black socks with white shoes – grandfather’s all over the country like it” lol
Jawai...
Has given us good minutes the last few games…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Yes, I think he has more long-term potential than Hollins
He clearly has better instincts and feel. He just needs floor time to climb the learning curve.
by Rascal Flatts on Dec 18, 2009 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
He does need to lose some weight
He doesn’t like having it brought up, but it’s pretty clear he’s carrying more weight than he needs to
Jawai and Hollins
both explode off the floor quickly.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Dec 18, 2009 7:49 PM CST up reply actions
But he has no sense of timing
He has just horrible instincts.
by Rascal Flatts on Dec 18, 2009 7:55 PM CST up reply actions
Geoff Petrie's done some good drafting
Thompson and Evans are two guys he took big risks drafting. Credit him for trusting his instincts
Quite a few people in the stands. eh
good to see fans still come out to the games even though the team is bad
Tyreke
Look how long his arms are in that picture above…even in h.s.
Pecherov
really is not an NBA quality player.
by Eric in Madison on Dec 18, 2009 7:52 PM CST reply actions
I think we can safely say
that Pech, Pavs and Wilkins are current rotational guys who will not be with us next year.
Gomes and Sessions TBD.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Dec 18, 2009 7:55 PM CST up reply actions
Good to see Ramon and Jonny on the court together...
We just need to let Ramon handle the ball, and have Jonny play the “2” on offense…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
So much for that...
It was a good 1 minute while it lasted. Anyone else wish Rambis would settle the F down and leave different combinations on the floor a bit longer. Damn he has a quick hook…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
It is amazing that Evans ever gets into the lane...
With that jumpshot. I’d give him the Telfair/Brewer treatment and give him as many wide open 18 footers as he wants…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
He's too big
And smart…if you back off him, he’ll drive to the hoop or post up, and then it becomes a size matchup. No point guard is going to beat him at that.
You play 3 feet off him...
And he should never beat anyone to a spot on a dribble-drive.
You’re right about him passing and posting up though. Our low post help D wouldn’t be much hep there.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
That's new league thinking
Evans is old school. He doesn’t try to be quicker and get around you, he goes physical and drives into you.
It’s the same thing that makes LeBron so hard to stop, which is why Evans is being called the LeBron of point guards.
I like the idea of Flynn on Casspi
I’d much rather have Casspi trying to post up Flynn than killing us from 3-point land.
by Rascal Flatts on Dec 18, 2009 8:19 PM CST up reply actions
That tailone's gonna hurt tomorrow...
Ni cushion on that rump..
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I'm out of state and taking care of my infant son (cue violins)
anyone have a live feed?
by Son of Gerald Green on Dec 18, 2009 8:09 PM CST reply actions
Key stat tonight...
Sacramento shooting 36.2%, and it’s not exactly great D. Just missing shots tonight…which they are want to do on the road. They are not a great outside shooting team. Keep them out of the paint on the 2nd half, and our chance are good…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
And Kevin Love...
A ridiculous +16 in the 1st half. I know individual game +/- means is flukish, but that guy just gets it…pretty much every game.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
He may never be a "superstar"...
but he does all the little things that make him the perfect teammate
Looks like we have "Good Corey" tonight...
An excellent harbinger…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Holy crap
Corey Brewer looks like an NBA player on both ends of the court.
He is the epitome...
Of a guy that just needs a little confidence. I had pretty much given up on him a few weeks ago, but maybe…just maybe…he can start stringing together a few good starts and build on that.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I hope that this is a sign...
that his confidence is coming back. I think Witt’s Bobby Knight style of coaching was hard for Corey to take. He seems much more comfortable playing for Rambis
I agree.
The team kind of sucks right now but I love what Rambis is doing with the team. His zenmaster-light approach is perfect for the young guys. They were going to struggle no matter what this year. Rambis is keeping it from damaging the young guys and making sure that the struggles aren’t for naught. Wittman was the opposite.
I'd love to find a Jason Thompson to add to the team
I think a Thompson/Love frontcourt combo would be very ideal
The way the Kings are shooting...
Love could pull down 20 tonight…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
3:45 left
and Love’s at 16 boards. You’re looking very prescient.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Only thing stopping him...
Is that we’re shooting 55%. We shoot our normal 45% and he’s there already.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Love on the low blocks!
That’s three hoops down low!
Awesome...
Love yells “Keep coming to me” and nails and And 1 at the other end…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
He hasn't had a guy that size guard him
since his UCLA days. He was just licking his chops!
by Rascal Flatts on Dec 18, 2009 8:41 PM CST up reply actions
+23 now
And that’s not because of someone else’s brilliance.
by Rascal Flatts on Dec 18, 2009 8:42 PM CST up reply actions
Love/Jefferson/Hollins/Jawai
Any sense yet whether Al or Love play better with Hollins or Jawai?
Sessions should be on the floor...
This is our 1/2 court group…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Oh wait...
I forgot again how Rambis doesn’t leave any combo on the court longer than 1 1/2 minutes…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Okay, his form wasn't all that pretty...
but I like the instant recognition of “okay, I need to take this.” No hesitation.
What is wrong with Hawes?
He was showing real promise last year, but he’s been terrible this season. He looks slower and soft as hell. No wonder he’s not starting anymore.
Up by 11 after 3
and i still don’t feel safe about the lead
Can we officially recognize that Beno...
Is on fire? Th 35-footer…OK. But can we have someone “Bruce Bowen” him to start he 4th quarter?
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
is spencer hawes in the doghouse?
i can’t believe they don’t go with a hawes/thompson frontline against the wolves.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
He must be
He’s having a year comparable to last year, which is pretty good.
But there’s no other reason the Kings would forego that size advantage and play Kenny Thomas
For every 1 decent thing Pav does...
There are 4 cock-ups. Too bad…because he would make a decent “Bowen.”
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
How often is he on the floor with both Love and Jefferson?
He must be giddy to finally have a couple of guys that can catch and score.
by Rascal Flatts on Dec 18, 2009 9:01 PM CST up reply actions
When Favre actually retires...
You think Love would be interested?
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Imagine trying to take down...
A 6’9", 275 lb QB? Good luck. Of course, this is only if Joe Mauer doesn’t want the job…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Who would tackle him?
He’d be huge out on a football field, and his center of gravity is practically at his knees
End to end drive...
Was freakin awesome…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Anyone else...
Appreciating the total role reversal from last week vs. the Kings?
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I am mutleyil, I am
feels good in my heart
by Son of Gerald Green on Dec 18, 2009 9:14 PM CST reply actions
"Minnesota & Charlotte are the only hopeless teams right now"
Says Bill Simmons. We’ll see Bill, we’ll see. Sorry again about not getting the GM job
by Son of Gerald Green on Dec 18, 2009 9:18 PM CST reply actions
Very true
If you have actually watched our team this year, I think you would find that we are far from hopeless. Although, to be fair, ‘hope’ is a nebulous word to define. An argument could be made that we have more hope than the Warriors or Wizards right now, even though those teams are both ‘better’ than us right now. We may even have more ‘hope’ than the Blazers, depending on how Oden returns and how the draft and trades treat us. I am happy that we are flying under the radar though. I’d like our guys to get through some of these growing pains and learn how to execute and win before having to deal with increased scrutiny.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Wow
Y’all realize the Wolves have a 20+ point lead?! Who are these guys?
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Well, he didn't get overwhelmed by Thompson this time
That’s good enough for me, at least for the night
I gotta say, I was at the Target Center for the Utah win
And man, the cliche songs getting tagged onto Love is out of control
Good for our guys
The Clippers game may have been good for our young guys. The Wolves, minus the Clippers game, are 4-6 over their past 10 games (starting with the Denver win). In those games they’ve answered each 20+ point loss with a win, which suggests to me that focus and intensity is more at play in those big losses than anything else. We’re beginning to compete much more consistently while learning that we’re not good enough yet to coast to wins on auto-pilot (as evidenced by some bad losses following wins or close games lately). I have to believe, given the track record of this coaching staff and this team so far this year, that they’ll learn they can’t coast and must find that high energy level every night. I dig it.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Can someone tell Hollins...
That bringing the ball down to his knees every time he touches it is a bad idea…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Another assist Flynn got robbed of
He’d be getting 2-3 more assists a game if it weren’t for things like that
I know we disagree on Flynn in general...
But you’re absolutely right here. Jonny’s poor assist numbers have a lot to do with this. However, even given that, his distribution so far is piss poor.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I watched
Brandon Jennings tonight for a half, and I have to say that I wasn’t that impressed. Looked to me like he’s got the green light to take any shot he wants, and it looks like Milwaukee’s offense is geared around him. Milwaukee also has a lot of guys who know how to play off of him to catch and shoot (and make) shots right away. It works well for them, but from what I’ve seen of Flynn so far, I think you could safely say that he’d be averaging around 20 ppg with 7+ assists a night if he played over there. The corollary would be Al’s production last year – everyone knew he was going to get every opportunity to score his 20+ points a night because everything was being run through him. Similar kind of deal in Milwaukee. From what I saw the Iverson comparisons for Jennings are ludicrous and WAY too premature at this point. I think he’ll be a solid PG, but I think he’ll look a lot less superstar-ish by the end of the season.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Yes,
his shooting percentage appears to be heading below the basketball version of the Mendoza Line.
by Rascal Flatts on Dec 18, 2009 9:46 PM CST up reply actions
Jennings has an open system
And also has a lot more shooting help on the wings, so the floor is spaced a lot better for him.
Flynn’s got things to work on, but the triangle is definitely a factor is his limited production right now.
Very good win...
Sacramento did not shoot well, but we did all the right things to enable that.
Star#1: Kevin Love…easily. Great rebounding and passing, as usual. Scored down low at will when the Kings tried to go small. Just a great all-around player.
Star#2: Corey Brewer. Such a great player when he has confidence. Did it all tonight: hit his shots, played great D, and finished on the break like a mofo tonight.
Star#3: Damien Wilkins. How does he do it? Never, ever spectacular, but he hits the open shots and plays smart.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Starter in all five of our wins
Consumate glue guy. Rambis should think hard about bringing Gomes off the bench.
That is a freaky stat...
But one that has evolved into “statistically significant.”
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I'm hopeful
that Corey’s found his default offensive strategy for the NBA – dunking and skying high for dunking. I think the more he’s cutting to the basket and trying to dunk is going benefit his offensive game by limiting his jumpshots and giving him more space for the jumpers he does take.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
dunk-term
we have the brewist for a corey turnover. how about a term for getting posterized by brewer — He got brewed! I don’t know, but the brewer tomohawk dunk is pretty much my favorite brewer play this year. That’s an upgrade over just taliking about his D.
by ChicagoViking on Dec 18, 2009 10:02 PM CST up reply actions
Didn't think Corey would hit 20 again so soon.
Gotta give him credit, he played great tonight.
Also: Love, Sessions and Flynn all had 5 assists vs 2 TOs. Not bad at all.
You were a daydreamer, a sass-mouth, and, not infrequently, a bit of a gigglepuss. Somehow I doubt twenty years of amphetamines and failure have done anything to improve that.
by Kevin Loves McHale's Navy on Dec 18, 2009 9:38 PM CST up reply actions
Me too...
….way too much inconsistency, even for a young team.
I can deal with getting beat
But lack of effort is inexcusable, and that’s what happened against the Clippers
So who wishes
that we’d drafted Omri Casspi instead of trading Lawson to the Nuggets for the Bobcats’ pick? I know we have yet to find out what that trade will net us, but Casspi is looking pretty good this year, and I think is playing a pretty big part in Sacto’s success this year.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
yep, good pick by sac
hindsight is 20-20, of course. All time nice surprise pick by wolves? can’t think of one right away
by ChicagoViking on Dec 18, 2009 10:04 PM CST up reply actions
Not me
They can get someone better than him with Utah’s pick, let alone Charlotte’s.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Dec 19, 2009 1:33 AM CST up reply actions
You know what I find is the most satisfying stat about this game?
The fact that we outscored them each and every quarter tonight. I effin’ love it!
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Are they worth Big Al?
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
No
Add in Andris Beidrins, then I think so. Randolph can’t play center, and he and Curry are both on their rookie deals, so the money doesn’t line up.
But the Warriors won’t take Jefferson anyway. He doesn’t fit the system at all.
I agree...
What about the Bulls" I would do Noah and Deng for Big Al in a heartbeat, How about you?
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
They have been so desperate for a low post scorer for so long...
I think they would actually do it…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I hate Deng
So probably not. He’s just completely underwhelming. Like Josh Howard…good individual stats, but nothing dynamic, and the Bulls never go anywhere with him in the lineup.
The problem with dealing Jefferson is Love isn’t a guy who’s going to consistent create his own shots in the post. He works in the gaps, so you have to pair him with a player that can draw the defense and open up those gaps.
I'm not his hugest fan either...
But he would add a totally different dimension to our game at the 3. We would get a defender like Noah…which we need. And I’m also of the opinion that Al’s “low post ability” vs. lack of passing and defense is a zero sum game.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I agree with that
I just think that if we take Jefferson out, the defense is going to be focused solely on Love, and then we’re in trouble. He need space to operate it.
I go back and forth on trading Love or Big Al or keeping them both. My current preference is keep them both as they do compliment each other offensively very well. My hope is that Hollins, Jawai or someone else we bring in, can develop into that defensive minded center that can consistently play 20-25 minutes creating a nice 3 man rotation at C/PF.
At the very least, I’d like to give Big Al and K Love the chance to play with a legitimate wing (Rudy Gay) that properly spaces the floor and additional games with a true PG (Flynn is just a rookie…they’re still getting used to Flynn and they were stuck with Telfair and Foye last year).
by TWolvesFanInLA on Dec 18, 2009 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
Assuming we don’t land Wall, I’d love a draft/FA class that nets us Rudy Gay and Evan Turner, Xavier Henry or Wes Johnson.
A four man wing rotation of Gay, Brewer, Ellington and Turner, Henry or Johnson would be a huge, huge upgrade.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Dec 18, 2009 11:16 PM CST up reply actions
Great game for the Wolves tonight...
lots of good things to build on – Love was spectacular; Wilkins was a solid, steady veteran presence and Sessions had the best game I’ve seen him play.
Small criticism (other than Pavs getting WAY too much pt) – at times during the 4th quarter, Al seemed to abandon the gameplan and go into “I’m getting mine” mode. All the things that built our lead – passing, movement, spacing – seemed to go out the window as AJ decided to go Al-on-5 with Sac-town. I hope the coaching staff will keep drilling court awareness into his head – ball movement and passing will lead to easier baskets for everybody and wins. Hit a teammate when he’s open and he’ll bust his ass to do the same for you.
Other than that, fun game to watch and a great win!

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