Ezra Shaw - Getty Images
Bombs away, Jimmer.
Give the people what they want:
buckets and buckets.
Sacramento Kings at Utah Jazz
6 p.m. Pacific on Comcast SportsNet California
The Kings face an interesting situation as they visit the Jazz for the first time this season: their own player will be the most popular player on the court. Utah fans are amazingly passionate, and will root hard for the Jazz, especially if it's a tight game. But don't we all expect every Jimmer Fredette make to draw massive cheers in that arena? It could be like a home game for him, really. Maybe even better.
Of course, that also adds pressure, something the rook has struggled with this season. Only recently has he escaped the drain of high expectations to perform consistently well. And of course, the team has lost all three games in which Jimmer went off over the past week. Things haven't been close to perfect, even with Fredette shaking off the webs.
The worst case scenario: Jimmer struggles, the Kings struggle and we have another blowout on our hands.
But Tyreke Evans has the opportunity against Devin Harris, Gordon Hayward, Earl Watson, Raja Bell and Alec Burks to do what he did against San Antonio a bit more than a week ago: dominate the game. Evans might be the most talented player coming into the game (something Al Jefferson and DeMarcus Cousins could challenge), and having the ball in his hands so frequently allows him to express that with domination ... when things are going well. Things haven't gone well in the past three games; since his 23-7-11 game at San Antonio, Evans has averaged 11-5-3. That's not going to get it done.
The battle up front will be a battle, too, with Cousins, Jason Thompson and (fingers crossed) Chuck Hayes needing to make it difficult for Big Al and Paul Millsap to score and hit the offensive glass. The Kings continue to struggle to rebound defensively, and while much of that has to do with small lineups -- the Kings are above average in total rebound rate with Cousins/Hickson and Cousins/Thompson lineups -- it also comes down on Thompson to do a better job on the defensive glass.
The game's at 6, and we'll have game threads at 6 and 7:30. Let's go Kings!
3 recs | 51 comments
GO KINGS GO
Briceratops - January 28, 2012
Hope he teaches the Jazz How To Jimmer
linked to youtube
betweentheeyes - January 28, 2012
This is the most excited I have been for a Kings game in the past couple of weeks.
I assume Smart will be starting Jimmer. Hope he makes his shots and gets things going for the team. As you say, Reke could get a good game going, himself.
For the Win! Go Kings.
Slam_Dunk - January 28, 2012
I Jimmer starts, I have a feeling he gets more cheers than the Jazz
SharkKings49 - January 28, 2012
Look for Millsap to go 35-15 on us
Millsap dominates us every time. We need Chuck back bad.
Allbenji - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Was thinking the same. Hayes I'd huge for us this game
SPTSJUNKIE - January 28, 2012
*is
SPTSJUNKIE - January 28, 2012
Off the subject
How long do we wait for Whiteside to grow up & get his head in the game before we Thabeet his ass outta here? It’s really disappointing he hasn’t shown anything warranting some play time on this awful team.
Allbenji - January 28, 2012 via mobile
He's a non-factor as far as Salary Cap goes for 3 more years, and there is a roster minimum
I’m not in a rush to see him play. But it took Bynum and McGee 3-4 years before they got starters minutes. And, depending on what we do (if anything) at the trade deadline, I expect to see Hassan back with the Kings for the last month of this season.
HighTops - January 28, 2012
His FT% and hands are terrible.
I don’t see him ever getting any big time minutes unless he improves on those aspects.
He hardly plays in the D league. It might be awhile.
F3RRi3R - January 28, 2012
chris kayman,sign him now,geoff.
cowboyron96@yahoo.com - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Just be glad the didn't take him at 5
which they actually considered at one time. What a disaster that would have been.
deadenddude - January 28, 2012
I can actually watch this one
yessssssss
amiles2233 - January 28, 2012
The King of Utah is coming home.
Utah is 7th in the West with a record of 10-7, somewhat due to a favorable schedule. They have played 11 home games (8-3) and only 6 road games (2-4) primarily against the West. Their home victories came against Philly by 3, New Orleans by 4, Milwaukee by 12, Memphis by 9, Cleveland by 8, the Kobe’s by 3, New Jersey by 13, the Clippers by 29, and Minnesota by 10. They are 6-3 when they score 100pts or more, and 1-4 when their opponents score 100+ pts. They have lost both of their overtime games including their last home game against the Raptors, and they are only 2-2 in games decided by 3 or less pts. And, while the Kings are only 3-9 against plus .500 teams; Utah is only 3-2 against sub-.500 teams.
What does all that mean? Well, the Kings best chance is to keep the game close and hold Utah under 100pts, or score over 100pts themselves. That won’t be easy since Utah scores over 100pts in 53% of their games and holds their opponent to under 100pts in 70% of their games.
As with most teams in the league, Utah would seem to be better than the Kings both offensively and defensively, although it is closer than one might guess based on their records. Both teams try to score around the rim at the same rate (25 attempts per game), and from 3pt range they shot similar percentages (42%). The Kings have the advantage in Off Reb Rate while Utah holds a sizable advantage in Def Reb Rate hopefully the return of Hayes can turn that advantage around. The Jazz have the advantage in FG% and Blocks per game. Both teams are quite similar in FT%, FT rate, Steals, and Turnover Rate.
Utah’s starters are Devin Harris and Raja Bell in the backcourt, Al Jefferson at Center, Gordon Hayward at SF and Paul Milsap at PF. Enes Kantar and Derrick Favor are the backups at 4/5, CJ Miles at 3, and Earl Watson and rookie Alex Burks in the backcourt. Jefferson returned for last night’s game in Dallas after missing the previous game with an inflamed right ankle so he should be available for the Kings game, but if he’s out I’d expect Favors to start at Center.
The Kings went 1-3 against the Jazz last season, with the win coming in April against basically the same Utah starters except Watson was at Point. The Kings starters, Garcia, Cousins, Dalembert, Thornton and Evans scored 75 of the teams 106 pts. The remaining 31 bench pts came from Beno, Thompson, Jackson and Greene. The Kings shot 52% from the field, 40% from three and 82% from the FT stripe. Sac had 29 assists and only 13 turnovers. What ever happened to that team?
This season Jefferson has been the leading scorer and rebounder 8 times. Milsap has lead in scoring 7 times and rebounding 6 times. They are one and two in scoring and rebounding so it’s imperative that the Kings come up with help and rotations in the paint to slow those two down. Watch for guards and wings to set screens and back picks on whoever is covering Millsap to get him free in the paint. Bell is the only real threat from 3PT range but Harris, Hayward and Miles are known to put up a few.
Utah had to fly back from Dallas last night, and is playing their 3rd game in 4 days, while the Kings will have had two days to practice and rest. I like the front court matchups of Cuz and Jefferson plus Hayes and Millsap. If Jimmer can continue his steady stream of 3pt shots and Donte is allowed to get back to SF where he should be a good match against Hayward, I see the Kings being very competitive after 2 days of practice.
HighTops - January 28, 2012
Good read. Rec’d
CousinsEvansDUO - January 28, 2012
Nice preview. Rec'd
This is almost unbelievable:
It should be very interesting to see the matchup between Cuz and Jefferson.
Your previews are great. They really help to give a good picature of what to expect and look for in the game.
Slam_Dunk - January 28, 2012
The King of Utah is coming home.
will Jazz fans really care that Jimmer played in Utah? I doubt NBA fans care that much about the college players on the other teams. Didn’t Paul George play at Fresno State and I don’t see any cali fans caring about it when he comes to town?
Skeptic con Urquell - January 28, 2012
Just watch
Pdidd - January 28, 2012
Even if the fans don't care, that wasn't my point
Jimmer has played games in that arena and will have fans there to cheer him on even though BYU has a game tonight.
I’m more interested in Jimmers comfort level, and I’d like to see how well he handles big pressure in front of the homies. He handled it quit well in college, and I think he’ll ok with it tonight.
HighTops - January 28, 2012
Compared Paul George to Jimmer Fredette in terms of fandom.
Your argument is invalid.
caseycheesecake - January 28, 2012
Your argument is invalid.
I’d say George is as good as fredette? Plus he’s bigger.
Skeptic con Urquell - January 28, 2012
You made a few horrible points.
Firstly, Utah has 1 team. California has 4. No shiz Cali fans didn’t care about Paul George coming back to Sac.
Secondly, you’re blatantly denying Jimmer’s cult following.
Thirdly, after watching the Kings @ Jazz, now you know that NBA fans can care about the college players on other teams. Not all, but Jimmer? Yes.
caseycheesecake - January 29, 2012
Dude
I live in Utah, and when I was looking to get tickets a month ago, they were almost sold out.
This game is considered a premium game for the Jazz due to the demand by BYU fans to watch Jimmer. As Pdidd says below, just watch.
JediLeroy - January 28, 2012
Completely off topic, but...
I just saw Geoff Petrie and the home and garden show at Cal Expo. Wife wouldn’t let me talk to him because she said I’d annoy him. She’s probably right, doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that cares for fab interaction.
Crocoduck - January 28, 2012 via mobile
I bet he'd be ok with fab interaction.
It’s the mediocre kind he might get annoyed with.
(I know, you posted from your phone. I’m just mocking because it’s Saturday afternoon and I don’t want to mop the kitchen floor.)
LeaguePassAddict - January 28, 2012
Lol, I'm pretty sure my interaction would be mediocre at best.
And why mop it? It’s just going to get dirty again…
Crocoduck - January 28, 2012 via mobile
I know!
Generally I don’t mop it until it’s sticky enough to pull my socks off when I walk on it, but the future daughter-in-law is coming to dinner tomorrow, and I’m trying to put up a good appearance.
LeaguePassAddict - January 28, 2012
About to do the same
the mopping, not the future daughter-in-law thing
wallywagon11 - January 28, 2012
Dangit man, now I gotta go get a mop.
And future-daughter-in-laws are always welcome. Future son-in-laws best come wearing something bullet-proof, however. Yes, I’m a hypocrite, but just because my future father-in-law hasn’t shot me yet, doesn’t mean he isn’t going to either.
iashwash - January 28, 2012
He might have asked if you can play SF
mike murray - January 28, 2012
I feel good about tonight's contest.
That it will at least be competitive. The Jazz are coming off the 2nd game of a back to back and lost an emotional game to the Mavericks. The Kings got two days off to get hammered away at their most recent despicable performance. There should be no reason the Kings do not come out and play with a little fire in the belly.
I think it is better for Jimmer to come off the bench today instead of starting. It’s easy for Jimmer to get distracted. I think coming off the bench gives Jimmer some time to calm down instead of being thrown into the fire immediately.
kingme18 - January 28, 2012
I'd feel just the opposite
coming off the bench, I’d be sitting there thinking too much about how I needed to perform well, especially if my team got off to a bad start and I needed to score and create to get us back in the game. No, If I were Smart, I’d run a play to get him a good shot right of the bat, and hope he can build on that.
Yeah, this is Utah’s 3rd game in 4 days; the first game was a double overtime loss at home, then after they lost to the Mav’s they had to fly back home to play the Kings.
HighTops - January 28, 2012
Agree. Just throw him right into the game.
Don’t give him time to obsess about it on the bench. I’m assuming the crowd response is going to be big for him.
Slam_Dunk - January 28, 2012
I think Jimmer is immune to so-called "pressure"...
When you have been in the spotlight so long, it becomes the norm, and the tension subsides. I have heard him say in the past “it’s just basketball” regardless of circumstances, which he has been doing all his life, so while there may be a few extra butterflies playing in front of Utah crowd, once the ball is tipped, it is business as usual, and game on.
bench_blob - January 28, 2012
Jimmer was a rock-star and the best player on the Cougars team but on the Kings he’s a role playing guard. Usually at the beginning of the game the crowd and the pressures of the game is pretty high. I would let Jimmer in about the 3 to 4 minute mark of the 1st quarter once the game has settled down a bit.
You know he has pressures beyond playing in an NBA game tonight.
kingme18 - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Respectfully disagree.
He has also talked about the pressure and expectations.
Slam_Dunk - January 28, 2012
He's a chill dude, though.
I would not surprised him go for 20+ points. Especially if he makes his first few shots.
bench_blob - January 28, 2012
Yep. Hoping he makes those first shots.
Slam_Dunk - January 28, 2012
I will call it right here
Kings 97, Jazz 92 tonight. The game is tied going into the 4th quarter but the Kings has a spurt to close the game and steals it on the road in Salt Lake.
kingme18 - January 28, 2012 via mobile
If we lose
Then blame me and not the Kings. But I feel good tonight.
kingme18 - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Does anyone know
If Al Jefferson is playing tonight? He sat out the Raptors game on Wednesday, dunno if he sits this one out as well.
kingme18 - January 28, 2012 via mobile
I think he's playing
Hayward might be out though.
Crocoduck - January 28, 2012
*sigh* NBAtv pregame talkin how SamDal has been key to Rockets defense by limiting paint points
Pdidd - January 28, 2012
Lol that makes me sad..
CousinsEvansDUO - January 28, 2012
So what you're saying is
He doesn’t allow 92 points in the paint? XD.
HarveySpecter - January 28, 2012
When I saw that number after the game the other night
I seriously felt like I was gonna throw up.
LLcoolRay - January 28, 2012
Shot blocking bigs are nice, sometimes they don't pan out though ;)
elSAVinator - January 28, 2012
Who's the 9 footer?
deadenddude - January 28, 2012
Me
elSAVinator - January 28, 2012
I hope Jimmer goes off tonight
and it’s his breakout NBA game.
deadenddude - January 28, 2012
Hoping for a great outing for Jimmer
They just need to have him spot up or run him off screens, he’s not a point guard yet, don’t dribble jimmer, just shoot.
dinnertim - January 28, 2012
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