Game Thread: Sacramento @ Golden State 7:30pm

[SadKingsFan]

Not sure why everyone is soooo obsessed with the martin vs Ellis crap, Monta has been amazing lately but he aint the best player on the warriors. This was a rare ugly shooting game for martin and he missed wide open shots...who cares? Good game guys.

[Twinkie defense]

As to the "was this a poor game by the Warriors... " - maybe. Several of our guys didn't play well, that's for sure - and Baron's at the top of the list. But I've been saying all season, Kings are a pretty good team! They ended the Jazz's streak last night. They've got some good talent. I still like Bibby, Miller. Artest is very good. Martin is very good. Salmons looks pretty good. And Theus seems to be a pretty good coach. They've just been hamstrung with injuries, and probably need to reevaluate their mix of players.

[floppymoose]

Not sure why everyone is soooo obsessed with the martin vs Ellis crap

There is some history here that you may have missed. A couple of Martin fans kicked off this debate here recently.

[Twinkie defense]

Not sure why everyone is soooo obsessed with the martin vs Ellis crap.

Because one of your fans was trolling our board, talking - among other things - about how much better Martin is than Ellis.

[turk3d]

Something that seems as though some Kings fans mybe ignoring about Martin's "bad" game: it was Monta who was guarding him most of the time. The points that he (Monta) scored are one thing, but it was the way he shut down Martin, a guy that the rest of the league (including us) usually have great difficutly with that was what really stands out. Combined with his offense and his clutch shooting, that was an A+ game for Monta. Also keep in mind that he didn't play 1 1/2 quarters because of his 3rd foul (which was a ridiculous call on Udrih's flop). Had it not been for that bogus call, he would have easily scored 40.

[nbenmargi]

Also keep in mind that he didn't play 1 1/2 quarters because of his 3rd foul (which was a ridiculous call on Udrih's flop). Had it not been for that bogus call, he would have easily scored 40.

Great point.

[Thugleavy34]

We're number 1 on the ESPN.com highlight reel.

[BROWN]

^ link?

[Thugleavy34]

http://espw.com/

[Mayor Baron]

From what I saw so far with Webber on the floor with our starters, he seems to be disrupting the flow. He doesn't know whether to set a screen for Baron/Monta or roll off for the open look or whatever. I hope a few more games will get Webber more acclimated to his role in this offense.

Officiating this game was questionable imo...might have cost Monta a career high? And Baron wouldn't have fouled out if that dive at the end of the first half was let go.

But a win's a win, I'll take it...no matter how ugly it was.

[FNQ]

Missed the game entirely... will watch the TiVo tomorrow

"Monta's not a PG"... Some serious crow for a lot of people... said it at the beginning of the season - give the kid the same chances Baron gets and he'd produces roughly the same assists with better FG%/shot selection...

Nellie, to his credit, is only 4 months late.

You are all witnessing the passing of the torch... a lot of people on this board wanted Tay to be traded after a "slow" start for him.. most of them wanted Buke to start

And thus is why boxscore fans don't know anything... can't wait to see a Kings game full of Martin bricks and the concurrent Kings' fan excuses for it in the game thread

[DanLanghiOwnsAll]

Webber should be playing in a lineup that has Monta, Marco, Jack, and Biedrins in there.

Baron needs to watch some old Bibby tapes and see how much less he can work for points playing off of CWebb.

[Twinkie defense]

So 510, you're making a point based on a game you didn't see? Or is that the parrot taking over? "Squawk! Monta's a point guard! Squawk!"

He's a point guard like AI is a point guard. That may be all right for you, but it's not for me.

Don't try to eff him up by taking him away from his strength - scoring - and make him something he's not.

[FNQ]

Monta was a PG long before this game... Monta was a PG at the beginning of the season when boxscore chasing clods started naming Buke the better of the two

The difference between AI and Tay is that Tay is growing into the role... AI was handed it to him and expected to be the man. Nellie is essentially grooming Tay to be that type of player, so long as we dont have a low post option.. which sucks...

He's a PG like ANYONE is a PG.... based on how you describe a PG, you want a Eric Snow running the team... when you have a shot selection like Monta's, and hit your open teammates and create for them - you are a PG... Tay's been doing it for 3 months when given the chance...

A scoring PG... ZOMG thats never happened in this league before!

Making him a PG is effing him up... go to bed hester... sometimes your takes on the Warriors make me wonder what logic, if any, you use at all.. every single one is oversimplified to the maximum effect.

Tay, primary ballhandler = more efficient offense

And its been that way for 3 months... your welcome.

[floppymoose]

I'm Tay fan #1, but he does need more work on the PG thing. Right now he creates wonderfully when he is just reacting. But when Baron goes off court and Monta is trying to run plays, he's not the same.

But that will come. He's going to be great.

[turk3d]

One of the biggest things about his game and why he's very efficient is his shot selection. He's much more careful with the ball this season (tos have gone way down this year).

Sure Baron is more a pure "point" right now than Tay is (and may always be) but the problem is Baron's shot selection and turnovers. Because Tay is far superior in those respects, he's just as good at "playing the point" right now and may be slighty better "functionally" due to his far superior shooting.

C'mon that guy shoots only 15 times and scores 34, wheras Baron shoots 19 and scores only 10. Baron's playing more like a wing than he does a point, especially with CWeb taking over much of the passing duties and since it seems like he can't cover the quicker points, I notice he's playing the bigger guys better. Baron needs to make some adjustments right now.

Almost forgot: There have been times lately where Tay seems as though he doesn't want to shoot which is definitely not 2 guardish like. He's almost passing too much, which is what you want to see a point do. There's a big difference between him and AI now, and AI earlier in his career. About 15 shots a game I'd say.

[Chris Cohan]

I'm Tay fan #1, but he does need more work on the PG thing. Right now he creates wonderfully when he is just reacting. But when Baron goes off court and Monta is trying to run plays, he's not the same.

But that will come. He's going to be great.

There was some very clear offensive confusion to finish the game last night when Monta was handling the ball and working clock. No confusion on the inbounds play from Barnes and the typical swish from Monta. But that is an inbounds play, not an endgame play.

I'm not familiar enough with Nelson's practice schedules to know if they work Ellis into that specific top-of-key scenario or if the idea from Nelson is to simply trust the guy who doesn't practice with the team but does have plenty of experience closing games handle all such responsibilities at all times with minimal additional preparation. I doubt it.

Monta just has more room to grow, that's all.

His potential is racing off the charts right now, even if Quick is his primary skill. He looks smarter and smarter with a ball in his hands. Progression undeniable as he has learned lead guard duties at the NBA level.

Biedrins' usage last night was crimnial and he was clearly unhappy about a good many things last night.

[FNQ]

I'm Tay fan #1, but he does need more work on the PG thing. Right now he creates wonderfully when he is just reacting. But when Baron goes off court and Monta is trying to run plays, he's not the same.

But that will come. He's going to be great.

Watched the game in TiVo... there was a few times in the game where Tay didnt know where to go with the ball. That's fine - with his confidence now, allowing him to sink or swim and then correct his own mistakes is the best way to continue developing him.

The rest of the team is starting to recognize who our #1 option on offense is..

[FNQ]

This smallball... its becoming brutal. It gives us a chance in every game, and it gives every weak team a chance against us. A real chess move would be to go normal against the weaker teams and just flat out out-talent them.

But there's no notoriety w/that option.

[Sleepy51]

This smallball... its becoming brutal. It gives us a chance in every game, and it gives every weak team a chance against us. A real chess move would be to go normal against the weaker teams and just flat out out-talent them.

But there's no notoriety w/that option.

Earlier in the season (like 3 weeks ago) he was doing that and it was working. We were playing matchup games only with the teams that were better than us on paper. Against the weak teams we were playing it straight and it worked fine.

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that is happenning now is about selling us on Webber. This is the story Nellie has been writing since KG fell throuhg. Nothing else matters to him but proving he can do this with this player. I'm fairly disgusted.