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Sacramento Kings-Los Angeles Lakers game wrap: Lakers second half free throws help sink Kings 103-84 in Anaheim

Published on October 5, 2016 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Jessica Kwong

AP photo: The Los Angeles Lakers Yi Jianlian puts the pressure on the Sacramento Kings DeMarcus Cousins in the first half at the Honda Center on Tuesday night in NBA pre season action

ANAHEIM – The Sacramento Kings started their first preseason game Tuesday night as the aggressors but come the second half, the young, Kobe-less Los Angeles Lakers ran through them and took a 103-84 win at Honda Center.

Sacramento guarded well and lead throughout the first half, by as many as 13 points by halftime. The second half “was definitely a different half,” Kings head coach Dave Joerger said.

The Kings extended their lead in the third quarter, taking a 19-point lead when forward Anthony Tolliver made a slam dunk, but the Lakers reduced their lead to 5 points at the end of the quarter.

Not too long into the final quarter, the Lakers’ Tarik Black made a layup and was fouled to tie the game at 69 points. With the free throw, the home team took their first lead of the game. Shortly after, Black stole the ball and made another layup, giving the Lakers a 73-69 lead. The crowd exploded. The rest was history.

Los Angeles shot 27 free throws in the second half.

“What that speaks to is the level of aggressiveness. They were the aggressors and they were just more physical than we were and they just ran through us,” Joerger said. “They’re much improved.”

Asked what positives he saw in the Kings’ offense in the first half, Joerger said, “I don’t know.”

“It’s a game, it’s not about one half or the other half. Overall we got beat by (19). We put up 84 points,” the head coach said, “So not real impressive.”

Guard Arron Afflalo, who scored the most points, 14, for the Kings, was a bit more optimistic about the preseason start, but admitted that Joerger had been pushing for good defense and that didn’t materialize.

“I thought it was good. I mean, obviously we have some guys that need to learn to maintain the defensive intensity throughout four quarters,” Afflalo said. “I thought we moved the ball well as a team, I thought we played well together, so we’ll just continue to learn as a group.”

Afflalo said the Kings have some “pretty good creatives” – Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins, Ty Lawson and Darren Collison – he thinks can play intensive defense. He added that his own focus this year is going to “be ready to shoot.”

“We’re all competitors. We want to play some good (basketball),” Afflalo said. “We’ve got some pretty tough preseason games that we’ll try to take full advantage of.”

The Kings play their second preseason game on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors at SAP Center. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.

Golden State Warriors-LA Clippers game wrap: The Warriors blow out the Clippers, Durant, Thompson, Curry star

Published on October 4, 2016October 5, 2016 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Oakland- The Warriors and the LA Clippers are meeting for the first time Tuesday night at the Oracle Arena. The game doesn’t count as it is a pre-season contest but the Warrior fans have been salivating to see their heroes. The Dubs lost six key players, and the coaching staff is hoping that the new players will mesh quickly with the Warrior stars. The Clippers and Warrior battles are well known, and neither team likes the other. The Dubs want to win, but Steve Kerr will probably not use his starters for the whole game. The game will also feature the debut of superstar Kevin Durant in front of the home fans. The fans gave him an ear-splitting welcome when introduced. The Warriors won going away. The offense behind Durant, Thompson and Curry looked magnificent, and none of the Clipper starters scored more than six points in the game.

The Warriors dominated play on both ends of the court in the first period. They had the offense going as they scored thirty-three points and held the Clippers to just seventeen. Klay Thompson led the Dubs with ten and Draymond Green added eight. Durant had seven and Steph had just one bucket for three points. The defense was strong as they held the Clippers to just nine points until Mo Speights entered the game. “Instant offense” Mo scored ten to lead his team in scoring in the first period.

The Warriors continued the onslaught in the second period as they scored thirty-eight points and held the Clippers to just sixteen. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, and the defense was superb. The Dubs shot 59.5% from the floor, 8-for-16 from three-point range and 90.5% from the free throw line. The Clippers, on the other hand, shot a woeful 24.4% from the floor, 3-for-13 on three-point shots. The Warriors had twenty-four rebounds and nineteen assists while all LA could do was seventeen rebounds and just eight assists. Klay Thompson led the Warriors attack with twenty-four, and Kevin Durant added eighteen. David West led the subs with six points in the period. Warriors lead 71-33 at the half.

In the third period, the Clippers could not make up any ground. Kerr removed the regulars with about four and 1/2 minutes left to play. The second unit kept the Dubs ahead by 51 points at the end of three. The fans began to leave the Arena as there is no doubt about the outcome. Dubs lead 102-51. Javale McGee, James Michael McAdoo, Phil Pressey, Patrick McCaw, and Cameron Jones are on the floor to start the fourth period for Golden State.None of the Clipper regulars played in the last quarter. Golden State wins 120-75.

After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr made some comments about what he saw during the contest. Kerr said this about Kevin Durant” Durant did a great job tonight. Kevin can be devastating defensively. He is really good on defense when he applies himself.” Kerr also remarked that it was “very encouraging to see the level of play. The players are getting used to playing together” and that he was “very pleased with the progress. Forward Draymond Green pointed out that ” we wanted to play with more passion.” The Warriors were very passionate, indeed.

The Warriors resume play Thursday evening against the Sacramento Kings. They will play the game at the SAP Center in San Jose and game time will be at 7:30 PM.

San Francisco 49ers preview: Deja Vu For 49ers Due to Lack of Talent

Published on October 4, 2016October 5, 2016 by joelamiLeave a comment

By: Joe Lami

AP photo: San Francisco 49ers NaVarro Bowman is assisted off the field after suffering a season ending achilles injury on Sunday in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys

SANTA CLARA–One month into the NFL schedule and it’s deja vu for the San Francisco 49ers. After a week one Monday night blowout, the Niners have gone into a slump, dropping their past three games.

Sunday night’s 24-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys added injury to insult as star linebacker NaVarro Bowman suffered a season-ending achilles injury. The 49ers season is in the balance, as they will need to be able to bounce back from losing their best defensive player.

San Francisco may be getting a break on Thursday night against the 1-3 Arizona Cardinals, as their starting quarterback, Carson Palmer, is expected to miss the game after suffering a concussion to the LA Rams. Expected to get the start for Arizona is Drew Stanton, which should heavily disappoint the NFL and their TV ratings with Stanton facing off against Blaine Gabbert in primetime.

The Niners need to take advantage of facing Stanton, who has a 66 career QB rating. Not only does the 49ers’ defense need to step up, but the offense needs to show up. The 49ers offense has been the biggest issue in Santa Clara for the past two seasons. It doesn’t just end at the quarterback position with Gabbert being a questionable NFL starter, but it extends to the wide receiver positions as well.

Jeremy Kerley, a player the Niners traded for during the pre-season, is their leading receiver with 18 catches for 202 yards and shows how big of a joke San Francisco’s offense is. San Francisco is a team that heavily leans on their defense, and even with one of the better defenses in the league, their offense can’t do enough to win a game.

It’s clear that Chip Kelly has improved San Francisco’s offense, but it’s evident the talent isn’t there to excel in the NFL. If the deja vu from last season continues, San Francisco will lose on Thursday night and slide into last place in the NFC West.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Charlie O: NBA suspends Kings Collison eight games accepts responsibility

Published on October 4, 2016 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

nbcsports.com photo: Sacramento Kings point guard Darren Collison addresses the media after the NBA announced his eight game suspension on Tuesday for domestic violence

The big news with the Sacramento Kings Darren Collison is we now know the amount of suspension time that Collison will receive from a domestic violence charge against him from earlier this year. The way it was hanging over the Kings head particularly Collison’s head he had accepted a guilty plea he knew he would be on three years of probation, he knew he would have a 20 day jail sentence that had an alternative sentencing plan.

Collison will perform community service so he would not have to serve anytime behind bars and the question was how tough will the NBA be and how many games will he not be able to play and the NBA said he would be suspended for the first eight games of the regular season. Which is an incredible generous gift from the NBA.

Charlie O does the Sacramento Kings podcasts for http://www.sportsradioservice.com each week

Collison suspended for eight games by the NBA

Published on October 3, 2016October 3, 2016 by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The NBA announced on Sunday that Kings point guard Darren Collison has been suspended without pay for the first eight games of the 2016-17 season. The suspension comes as a result of a domestic violence incident with his wife that occurred in May of this year. Collison ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge related to the incident.

Collison entered a guilty plea to one count of misdemeanor domestic violence in Placer County. As part of that plea agreement Collison was placed on probation for three years and received a 20-day jail sentence. He is eligible for an alternative sentencing program and will not have to any time behind bars.

The NBA conducted its own independent investigation into the incident. The league also consulted with a group of experts in the area of domestic violence who advises the NBA when such incidents occur with players.

The NBA stated that based on the results of its investigation into situation and evaluating the conclusions that an eight-game suspension was an appropriate response to the circumstances. Collison’s acceptance of responsibility, cooperation with authorities and voluntary participation in counseling beyond his court mandated program played into its decision.

Collison’s suspension will begin with the Kings’ first regular season game versus the Phoenix Suns on October 26th. He will be eligible to play for the Kings on November 8th against the New Orleans Pelicans at home in Sacramento.

The Warriors lose the first pre-season game of the year to the Toronto Raptors

Published on October 1, 2016 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

Vancouver, British Columbia- The Golden State Warriors lost to the Toronto Raptors 97-93 in the first practice game of the 2016-2017 season. The Warriors added superstar Kevin Durant to the team in the hopes of reclaiming the NBA championship. However, they lost six key players due to salary constraints. Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes are now with the Dallas Mavericks. Backup centers Festus Ezeli and Mo Speights with the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. Leandro Barbosa went to Phoenix, and Brandon Rush signed with Minnesota. The big question facing the Warriors is how well will the new pieces fit in with the club. The new acquisitions Zaza Pachulia, David West, along with holdovers Ian Clark, Anderson Varajeo, James Michael McAdoo, must find a way to blend in with the Warriors big guns. Those guns are Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston.

The Warriors play looked ragged at times. Kevin Durant was just two-for-nine from the floor, and he scored just nine points in the game. Steph Curry had eight points and was one-for-five from three-point range. Klay Thompson led the team in scoring with sixteen and Draymond Green had two. The starters played in the first half only and the second unit and players trying to make the club played the entire second half. The Raptors, on the other hand, used their regulars for the full game.

After the game Warriors coach, Steve Kerr had this to say about his team’s effort “we looked like a team that had four days of practice.” Talking about Kevin Durant, Kerr remarked ‘he’s going to fit right into what we do.

The Warriors next game will be at the Oracle Arena Tuesday night October 4th and will feature a Steph Curry Back-to-back MVP Bobblehead. The Warriors will travel to the SAP Center October 6th to play the LA Clippers and the giveaway that night will be a Klay Thompson San Jose Sharks Bobblehead.

Don’t throw a pie in the face of Sac Mayor Kevin Johnson

Published on September 23, 2016September 23, 2016 by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

by Charlie O. Mallonee

On Wednesday night, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson was speaking at a charity dinner for his St. Hope Education Foundation when everything took an incredible twist of fate. A man ran at the mayor as he was speaking and hit Johnson in the face with pie.

Johnson reacted and took the assailant to the ground and at least one punch was thrown by the mayor and former NBA star before his security guard subdued the subject. Bystanders – attendees at the dinner – also assisted in taking down the suspect.

Johnson was not injured in the attack but was shaken and did have to change into a sweatshirt before continuing at the event.

The suspect – Sean Thompson – was taken to a local hospital for treatment according to a police statement. His booking photo shows what appears to be a cut on his left cheek that was treated with stitches.

Thompson told the Sacramento Bee that “Pie throwing was the least violent action I could take.” He also indicated that he would do it again if given the opportunity to do so.

Thompson also said during a telephone interview,”I don’t think that was an appropriate response to a pie to the face.”

Thompson who supposedly has been identified with the Occupy movement was looking to make a statement because he feels that Johnson has been too focused on downtown Sacramento and has not done enough to represent the rest of the people.

Crystal Strait, the mayor’s chief of staff, said, “Let me be clear, the mayor was assaulted.”

Pies in the face of politicians and celebrities has become a more popular form of protest around the world. It can also come with some negative consequences. Just ask Sean Thompson.

Thompson is being held in the Sacramento County Jail on a felony charge of assaulting a public official and misdemeanor charge of battery on school property. The incident took place on the campus of Sacramento High School.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: Suspect in pieing to be arraigned today of Sacramento Mayor Johnson

Published on September 23, 2016September 23, 2016 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

sacmag.com file photo: Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson shown on left after working over pie thrower Sean Thompson, Thompson received nine stitches in the beat down from the mayor and has been charged for assault on public official

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary Amaury is joined by Jeremy Harness, Tony the Tiger, and Len Shapiro to discuss Mayor Kevin Johnson and his getting pied by Sean Thompson. The former Phoenix Sun and current mayor who played an instrumental part of fighting to keep the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento and also recently had his past come back to haunt him when a woman said Johnson had sexually assaulted her and some say this could have been the reason why Johnson was pied by Thomson.

Johnson after getting hit with the pie jumped up and hit Thompson several times and Johnson later was photo’d by Sacramento Police for his mug shot with a cut under his eye. Thompson is being charged with assault on a public official. Johnson tweeted later “appreciate everyone, I’m doing fine be safe everyone.”

plus on That’s Amaury’s podcast a look at the progress of Sacramento’s new arena where Sportstalk will be doing our next podcast on Thu Oct 6th. The Golden One Arena will be hosting it’s first event a Paul McCartney concert followed by the Sacramento Kings first NBA exhibition game on Saturday Oct 15th against the Washington Wizards.

Plus more sports headlines on Major League Baseball, the Oakland A’s, San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors move from KNBR radio to 95.7FM The Game why lose power to a less powered station?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sources: Kings Rudy Gay will opt out in 2017 and not return to Sacramento

Published on September 19, 2016 by Charlie O. Mallonee1 Comment

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical is reporting that Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay has told the front office he will opt out of the last year of his three-year contract and not return to the Kings in 2017. There are probably two major reasons for Gay letting this be known now before the start of the season.

First, Gay was upset during the off-season because of a lack of communication from the Kings about the direction of the team and about the rumors he was on the trading block. There has been a new rumor floating in the NBA social media-sphere about a possible Rudy Gay trade almost weekly since just before the NBA Draft.

When Gay went public about his frustration about the lack of communication from the Kings, Vlade Divac – vice president of basketball operations and general manger for Sacramento – said, “He knows my number.” Not exactly what you would call a warm and caring response to the concerns of one your starting five players.

Second, Rudy Gay at $14.3-million in 2017 is a bargain basement contract. With the large salary cap increase in 2016 and another major increase expected in 2017, an experienced player with Gay’s skills can expect to earn well above $14.3-million per year. At age 30, Gay can probably sign a three-year deal with a one-year team option given his age but with a healthy raise included in that contract.

The fact is that any trade for Gay will need to happen before the start of the season. With an opt-out clause, any team that would trade for Gay would want to get full value out of him knowing he may be a one and done player. however given the right situation, a trade could lead to a long-term relationship for Gay and a new team.

The problem is executing a trade for Gay is that Sacramento wants a “Kings” ransom for the small forward. Teams are interested in obtaining Gay’s services but the Kings are asking too much in return for a trade to happen.

The question becomes do you want to go into the season with a key player that is disenchanted and wants out of town? How does that help you rebuild your team and get to the playoffs? The fact is it does not get you to where you want to go. If the Kings are not committed to Rudy Gay, then they need to make the best deal for him they can make. The last thing Sacramento needs is an unhappy starter that they need to depend on for production in order to become a winning team.

Sources: PG Jordan Farmar signs with the Kings

Published on September 14, 2016 by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

By Charlie O. Mallonee

According to reports that are being attributed to an anonymous source, the Sacramento Kings have signed veteran point guard Jordan Farmar to a one-year contract. David Pick who follows players from the USA who are playing in Europe was the first to report the signing. Farmar played in Turkey and in Israel before returning in the Spring for the end of the NBA season.

Farmar played the waning days of the 2015-16 season for Kings head coach Dave Joerger in Memphis. In 12 regular season games, he averaged 9.2 points, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 24 minutes of playing time per game. Farmar started four playoff games for the Grizzlies as well.

The Kings were looking to add depth at the point guard position because of the uncertainty that surrounds the status of Darren Collison. Collison who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery will face discipline and most likely time off from the NBA but that has yet to be announced. The Kings obviously believe the suspension will be long enough that a back-up to the recently signed Ty Lawson was needed.

Farmar is a nine-year NBA veteran who has played for the Lakers, Nets, Clippers and Grizzlies. He has averaged 7.7 points, 2.9 assists and 0.8 assists per game for his career. Farmar was a first-round draft selection (26^th overall) in 2006. He played his college basketball at UCLA.

Farmar is known as a guard that can score and distribute the ball. Quickness has always been a hallmark of his game but at 29-years-old that quality may be a bit diminished. Farmar has very good leaping ability on defense.