Cleveland (21-8) @ Sacramento (13-14)

[TheOUTLAW]

LeBron always trusted his teammates (even his rookie year). In fact, people often criticized him for passing to open players saying that he should take shots himself. To be honest, I preferred it when he was more likley to pass the ball off when he was double or tripled teamed in the lane during late game situations.

[darkadun]

Ya I agree, I think tyreke got a little too into his matchup against Lebron, but thats only human. I can't really fault him for that. Lets be honest, no one expects him to outplay lebron at this stage of his career, even tho he tried.

Thats one of the things he'll have to work on, knowing when to push it and when to set up his teamates.
All in all, I'm not dissapointed in the game. The effort and intensity was there and we almost knocked off a championship contending team, who were playing a great game themselves. It really took a great game from LBJ, Mo and Z to pull it out.


But I agree with what Grant said, if we can play with that same effort, intensity, etc...every night, we'll win alot of games.

[pillwenney]

I was at the game tonight, and that was the best game I've "witnessed" them play since the first Laker game I went to last year.
On one hand, I'm not THAT mad because this was against Lebron, but on the other hand, I AM kinda mad because as close as we were with them and as hard as we worked all game long, we should have found a way to win this game. Lebron torched us in the first half and then Mo Williams torched us in the second half, and yet there we were. Still right there with them. But then, when overtime hit, we started playing COMPLETELY out of desperation rather than the confidence that had kept us in the game for the first 48 minutes. How on earth we let Z of all people get off on us in OT is a mystery to me...

Tyreke Evans is a straight BEAST, although if there's one negative I've notice about him, it's the fact that he has a tendancy to run the clock out too much at the end of quarters without making a move until the very end, which usually only leaves him time for a desperation jumper at the buzzer (or in this case, after the buzzer). Personally, I think if he had just drove the lane on that last posession (ala Milwaukee), we win the game right then and there. Nobody could stop him, but he just stopped himself right there.

In hindsight, this is a game we DO win with Kmart. One thing we all know is that Kmart can hit his free throws. Yeah I know we had plenty of opportunities to win anyway, and I'm not trying to make excuses or anything, I just think that we will "upset" more upper-echelon teams once we do get Martin back in the lineup.

Oh well... Merry Christmas, and then lets BEAT LA!!!

Pretty simple really--Spencer was understandably crashing hard on Lebron's penetration, which left Z open. That's what makes the Cavs a tough team to guard. When their outside shooters are hitting, you have to pick your poison.

[RIPskaterdude]

If only that shot at the end of the 3rd didn't count (it hit the baseline)...

ah well, a Kings fan can dream, can't he?

[KM44]

The kings kept up with one of the best teams in the league for 48 minutes. There is a lot of good that can be taken out of that. I have preached it many times this season how tyreke is the real deal. Big players come up and make big plays and in this game, it just goes to show you that he has no fear, even if he's facing Lebron James. Yes, he failed to beat him, but he is allowed a break if you ask me- 2 out of three in the past 4 games is superb and when that one comes at the hands of LBJ, I'm ok with it. Interesting quote about tyreke talking James here.

"Toward the end of the game, he was laughing at me, saying 'This is where superstars step up," said Evans, who went to James' basketball camp twice. "He's big and strong and quick. I had him beat a couple times but couldn't finish. I was rushing."

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291223023

[Nicky Nix Nook]

If only that shot at the end of the 3rd didn't count (it hit the baseline)...

ah well, a Kings fan can dream, can't he?

We got "Samake Walker'ed"

[Smills91]

The kings kept up with one of the best teams in the league for 48 minutes. There is a lot of good that can be taken out of that. I have preached it many times this season how tyreke is the real deal. Big players come up and make big plays and in this game, it just goes to show you that he has no fear, even if he's facing Lebron James. Yes, he failed to beat him, but he is allowed a break if you ask me- 2 out of three in the past 4 games is superb and when that one comes at the hands of LBJ, I'm ok with it. Interesting quote about tyreke talking James here.

"Toward the end of the game, he was laughing at me, saying 'This is where superstars step up," said Evans, who went to James' basketball camp twice. "He's big and strong and quick. I had him beat a couple times but couldn't finish. I was rushing."

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291223023

We did MUCH better than the lakers did.

[villatrynity154]

it doesn't really matter to me how the lakers fare against the cavs compared to us...i rather care about how we do against them...since we also lost against cleveland...