Game 3: Bulls (1-1) @ Kings (1-1), 12/29/11 at 7:30pm PST

[Monsters Inc.]

After looking pretty good vs. the Lakers followed by an offensive breakdown vs. the Blazers, what can we expect tonight? The Bulls are an elite team and a good defensively.

Keys for the Kings:
- Need to avoid settling for too many one-on-one possessions/Ball-movement
- Make some FREE-throws!

Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls
Where: Power Balance Pavillion, Sacramento, CA
When: 7:30pm PST


Predictions?

[KF10]

I'm going to this game. I hope they have a good showing today!

I think we rebound from the terrible (second half) game in Portland and play the Bulls tough throughout all game.

[Sac_Kings22]

Should be a lot of fun, another sellout crowd, I will be there again too.

[artest420]

Lets go Jimmer. Show Rose who the real future of the NBA is.

[OGSactownballer]

Being as the Bulls throw out a more traditional position/size lineup, I feel like this should be a LOT closer to how the game with the Lakers went.

what really needs SERIOUS improvement is the free throw shooting. I am watching guys who are normally 70-75% shooters from the line shooting like they just picked up the ball yesterday. Don't know if its just early season/no real camp jitters or what, but it needs fixed NOW or they will not be in ANY games.

Realistically they MIGHT have been able to weather the early third quarter surge by the Blazers the other night if they had shot even 75% overall and made half of their misses because there would not have been as much presure to force production with the score even or close.

[SacKingZZZ]

One play, that's all I ask!

Sounded like they really went over some stuff in practice yesterday, a cram session of sorts, lets see how it works.

Cousins with 4 assists and Hayes with 3.

[YC42Balla]

After being disappointed for the past two days, and trying to take my mind off that last game, I feel ready to start talking about Kings Basketball, again.

I'm excited about tonight's game; it's always great to prove yourself against a playoff caliber team, and I feel the Kings can do just that tonight - especially, at home! They need to forget about that last game and improve their weaknesses, (Free throws, and less one-on-one play).

The Kings are a better team this year, than last year. I'm hoping they can prove it by taking advantage of this upcoming home-stand, and gaining some much needed momentum.

[pillwenney]

I don't know. I have a bad feeling about tonight's game. We showed last game what happens when we have to go up against a real defense, and the Bulls had the best D in the league last year. I hope I'm wrong.

[SacKingZZZ]

Could go either way, if they are as clueless to the "offense" as they were in the first two games just better hope Thornton is super hot and the crowd gets that energy going big time because pure talent could still bring them over the hump. Wouldn't really be all that positive growth wise though. I'd rather see some experimenting, and not via lineup adjustments. I want to see these players be less tentative and make those cuts instead of standing around when somebody else has the ball. I want to see an attempt to play together, even if it yields comical mistakes at times. The more they fail now in a legitimate attempt to run some offense, the more they'll succeed later.

I demand 20 assists from this team minimum.

[KF10]

From the recent comments of Rose (wants to attack the rim more), I'm afraid we are going to be in foul trouble early. I hope Evans takes his defensive intensity up against Rose. I'm not confident of having Thornton on Rose and Evans on Rip if Westphal decide that's the assignment.

I want to see more full court press this time.

[Dustin5566]

Keys to the game

1. Hit your free throws
2. Keep Noah off the offensive boards
3. Do not, under any circumstances, let Jimmer anywhere near Rose.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

I'm hoping the sell-out crowd will be the difference in the game.

[Cruel_Ruin]

I'm going out onto a massive limb here and say we lose this one. Bulls have an elite defense and our offense is still a work in progress.

[Sac_Kings22]

At, the game early and the energy is all ready good in the building, as long as the bulls don't get up big early the crowd should help a lot

[SacKingZZZ]

Breaking news!!!

Westphal is apparently going to use a new starting unit tonight. Thomas, Fredette, Thornton, Evans, and Outlaw will be the focal point of a new offensive system he calls: The maldj83&$*#L offense. It's an incredibly defensive oriented style in which the goal is to not only lock down the opponent but youselves as well.

[SacKingZZZ]

Hahaha, alright, there's my play I'll shut up about that now. hehehe.

[SacKingZZZ]

The offense was hit and miss, but at least they actually ran a few plays that Westphal said they were going to use. The need to keep that going and in time they'll get the kinks out.

Still a lot of guard probing going on though.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

Tyreke has done a stupid jumping 360 pass thing twice now, gahhh

[Wolfay]

Are they freakin' drunk or something?

[Nicky Nix Nook]

We're terrible.

/kneejerkreaction