8:05 PM ET, Fri March 12, 2010

Down on Evans? Hardly

Kings Blog | Sacramento Bee — This will be the last time I react on this blog to radio rantings from the local afternoon sports talk show, and I'll tell you in a few days why I'm quite confident making that statement. For now, though, there's...

2 hours ago

Kings assistant Elie speaks his mind

Sacramento Bee — Being a coach isn't just about filling out a starting lineup and drawing up plays. Sometimes a coach needs to speak the truth, no matter how uncomfortable. Because Mario Elie has never held his tongue, perhaps the Kings assistant was born to be a coach. It was Elie who spoke his mind 11 years ago when he joined the San Antonio Spurs after winning two NBA Finals in Houston. Sean Elliott, then a Spurs forward who now works as a television analyst on San Antonio broadcasts, recalled Elie's impact. "For years, we had the talent, but we didn't have that person in the locker room, that personalit...

15 hours ago

Evans is double trouble

Sacramento Bee — Tyreke Evans put an exclamation point on his case for Rookie of the Year with 19 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds Wednesday night at Arco Arena.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 ...

March 11, 2010

Kings notes: Garcia an important piece of puzzle

Sacramento Bee — The Sacramento Kings' Tyreke evans and Francisco Garcia celebrate the Kings' victory over the Toronto Raptors Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at Arco Arena. Sacramento wins the first of a five game homestand 113-90.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 wri...

March 11, 2010

In-game blog: Kings 113, Toronto 90, final

Sacramento Bee — Just about everything went right in the second half. The Kings scored 73 points to turn this game into a laugher. Tyreke Evans didn't disappoint on the night dedicated to celebrating his push for Rookie of the Year. He recorded his first career triple double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

March 11, 2010

Postgame reaction: Evans doesn't bask in attention

Kings Blog | Sacramento Bee — Believe it or not, Tyreke Evans doesn't clamor for this kind of attention. In fact, all the attention of the rally for Evans to be Rookie of the Year tonight had Evans feeling a bit embarrassed. That's right: Embarrassed. "A...

March 10, 2010

In-game blog (Final: Kings 113, Toronto 90)

Kings Blog | Sacramento Bee — FINAL (Kings 113, Raptors 90) Just about everything went right in the second half. The Kings scored 73 points to turn this game into a laugher. Tyreke Evans didn't disappoint on the night dedicated to celebrating his push for Rookie...

March 10, 2010

Gameday: Toronto vs. Kings

Kings Blog | Sacramento Bee — Tonight begins a five-game homestand for the Kings in which they could impact playoff positioning in both conferences. Except for Sunday's game against Minnesota, each of the Kings' opponents is trying to solidify its playoff spot. That includes the Toronto...

March 10, 2010

Kings sputter down stretch

Sacramento Bee — RICK BOWMER Associated Press Francisco García hits the floor in a battle for a loose ball with Portland's Brandon Roy. García had seven points and two rebounds in 28 minutes. PORTLAND, Ore. – With less than four minutes remaining at the Rose Garden on Tuesday night and the Kings trailing Portland by five points, an incredible thing occurred for the visiting team. The Kings moved the ball. Francisco García threw a skip pass from the left baseline to the right that found Spencer Hawes, and the center whipped it one more time to a wide-open Beno Udrih on the right wi...

March 10, 2010

Ailene Voisin: Kings promote Evans for Rookie of Year

Sacramento Bee — Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson hosts a news conference at City Hall where he and other area leaders officially endorsed Tyreke Evans for NBA Rookie of the Year.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 festivi...

March 10, 2010

Next game vs Portland Trail Blazers on Fri, Mar 12 10:00 pm EST

Opponent news and rumors snapshot:

  • FreeMail: Marcus Camby's future as a Blazer, the Blazers' video game habits, car choices, and more Behind The Blazers Beat | Oregonian
  • Blazers rally to edge Warriors Portland Tribune
  • Trail Blazers: Blazers will face energized Kings; news, notes and links Behind The Blazers Beat | Oregonian
More Portland Trail Blazers rumors and news»
Most talked about players in the last 24 hours
Wed 3/3 at Houston W 84 - 81
Fri 3/5 at Dallas L 100 - 108
Sun 3/7 vs Oklahoma City L 102 - 108
Tue 3/9 at Portland L 81 - 88
Wed 3/10 vs Toronto W 113 - 90
Fri 3/12 vs Portland 10:00 pm EST
Sun 3/14 vs Minnesota 9:00 pm EDT
Tue 3/16 vs Los Angeles 10:00 pm EDT
  • Lakers' road performance against Phoenix drastically different than in home efforts Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times Chalk this up as the latest example of the Lakers' disparity between their record at home (30-5) and on the road (17-13). But since they visit Phoenix tonight, the stark differences between the Lakers' performance against the Suns at home and on the road should be most worrisome. The Lakers are 2-1 against Phoenix, with each team winning at home. And it only takes a glance at the scoreboard to know that being at home has its advantages when these two teams face each other. The Lakers took the first two meetings, winning 101-102 on Nov. 12 and 108-88 on...
  • Phoenix Suns host Los Angeles Lakers - game chat Arizona Republic The Suns return from the 5-day break to host the team with the best record in the Western Conference.
  • Poll results reveal cautious optimism among Lakers fans Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times Whether it's good, bad, indifferent, overly critical, overly optimistic, completely on point, wildly speculative or just plain absurd, every comment posted on the L.A. Times Lakers blog reveals an interesting snap shot about a fan's perspective over the course of the season. I have noticed in amusement that the volume of comments seem to increase after a Lakers loss, a Kobe Bryant clutch performance or an issue involving Bryant that leaves fans split, such as his shot selection, his want to play through injuries, etc. Though the reactions can fluctuate through the ebb and flow over the course ...
  • Warriors blow 13-point, fourth-quarter lead Oakland Tribune Roy scores 41 points as Blazers overcome 16-point deficit.    Blogs: Inside Warriors | Fan | More Warriors
  • Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson mindful of Phoenix's screen and roll offense Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times It had become the point of emphasis during last week's meeting where the Lakers aired out several concerns. And it's something that will be most pressing tonight when the Lakers visit Phoenix. That issue, of course, involves defending screen and rolls. It's an area Lakers Coach Phil Jackson acknowledged the team has struggled perfecting, though he noted after practice Thursday "that we feel like we're improving as a basketball team." That most recently includes Andrew Bynum's effort on defending screen and rolls in Tuesday's win against Toronto. It won't get any easier, though, when the Lakers...
  • Caught in the Web: Lakers head back on the road again, beginning with tonight's game at Phoenix Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times Practice reports The Times' Broderick Turner says tonight's game against Phoenix is a good time for the Lakers to start getting their swagger back. The Orange County Register's Janis Carr highlights the Lakers' serious tone as of late. ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin focuses on the Lakers' concern regarding its pick-and-roll defense, and how that will present an additional challenge against Phoenix. The Riverside Press Enterprise's Dan Weber on how the Lakers are trying to close out the regular season on a good note. The Arizona Republic's Bob Young reports there will be a few absences from t...