Suffering from back spasms, Tyreke Evans sat out the Sacramento Kings’ final visit to Utah Friday.  Reserve Travis Outlaw started in his place at small forward.

It was Outlaw’s first start this year.  Fast forward just three days later and the veteran forward recorded his 24th “Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision” of the season.

Regardless of what you might think about Keith Smart’s distribution of playing time, the head coach of the Sacramento Kings says he “keeps all guys…ready to play.”

“When you are a guy that’s not in the top eight,” said Smart during media availability before Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Nets.  “You have to always be ready to play.

“So based on your rotation, he’s (Outlaw) on the fringe,” he added when I asked him about the peculiarity of starting a player who appears to be on the periphery of his rotation.  ”Based on my rotation, he is as close to the fire as any of our players.”

Smart’s lineups have become the ire of some Jimmer Fredette fans, who complain about the rookie guard’s inconsistent playing time.  But just like Outlaw, Fredette’s minutes have fluctuated depending on a number of factors, including team injuries and match-ups presented by the opposition.

“I look at the game, the situation,” said Smart, who also noted that the condensed schedule hasn’t played a role in deciding playing time.  ”After the eighth man, I look at how the game is going to be played.”

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Before Jason Thompson rolled his left ankle late in last Thursday’s game against Utah, the Kings starting power forward was having an unbelievable five-game stretch.  The fourth-year big man out of Rider has had stretches of success in the past, but nothing quite like this.

“Just consistency, being out on the floor, being comfortable, not being in foul trouble and playing my game,” Thompson said last week about his recent surge in play.  “I think I’ve always had flashes, but the thing about it is just consistency.  You have to have faith in coaches, you have to have faith in me and put it all together.”

Consistency has eluded Thompson in his first three years in the league.  Be it coaching changes or erratic play on the floor, Thompson had never really got into a groove like this.  Over his last five games, JT is averaging 17.6 points, 13.6 rebounds and three assists, while shooting 66 percent (38-for-58) from the field.  He became the double-double machine that many thought he would be after a strong rookie season three years ago.

What’s even more interesting is that Thompson is doing damage from just about everywhere on the floor.  Using the NBA’s new box score media tool, we’re now able to break down every scoring opportunity from the Kings’ big man and the tale of the tape is intriguing to say the least.

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I guess we missed the memo.  It should be standardized by now.  Every third week of the month is Jimmer Fredette week.  Everyone who covers the Kings or the NBA for that matter MUST write something on the former BYU star, just to appease the masses.

That’s what it is, just in case you didn’t know – appeasing the masses.  And trust me, there are masses of Jimmer fans and a lot of detractors as well.

I once wrote a post, in which I compared Jimmer Fredette to Fernando Valenzuela.  That post still stands tall as the most viewed post in Cowbell Kingdom history.  Stop laughing, I’m serious.

For reasons we cannot explain, anything Jimmer flies off the shelf.  The theories, the updates, the reasons or excuses – depending on who the reader is.

The fact that Jimmer got another DNP-CD Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors only feeds the storyline.  And there are a plenty of storylines over the last few days.

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by Jonathan Santiago & James Ham

The Sacramento Kings fought back from a 10-point deficit, but costly mistakes and poor free throw shooting were the difference in a 103-102 loss to the Utah Jazz Thursday evening.

“They didn’t give up,” said Kings head coach Keith Smart of his team post-game.  “We had a group on the floor that did some pretty good work with each other and we did a much better job defensively in the second half; even though we broke down a few times.”

With 30 seconds remaining, Marcus Thornton scored a three-point basket out of a timeout that gave Sacramento a 100-99 lead.  The Jazz’s Alec Burks answered back, scoring a quick lay-up on the other end, leaving 12.3 seconds for the Kings.

On the ensuing possession, Sacramento called Thornton’s number again and he scored on a hard take to the basket.  But with 4.1 seconds remaining, Al Jefferson grabbed his seventh rebound and scored the eventual game-winning lay-up off of a runner missed by Devin Harris.

The win is the Jazz’s fifth-straight victory.  The Kings, meanwhile, finish a franchise record nine-game homestand with five wins and four losses.   Thursday’s defeat snaps a three-game win streak as the Kings fall to 17-30 overall this season.

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Winners of their last three contests, the Sacramento Kings wrap up a franchise-record nine-game homestand against the Utah Jazz.
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by Jonathan Santiago & James Ham

Matching a season-high three straight victories, the Sacramento Kings had an answer for every Memphis Grizzlies run and defeated them 119-110 at Power Blanace Pavilion Tuesday evening.

“We’re just going to keep playing how we’re playing right now,” said Kings head coach Keith Smart during his postgame comments.  “We’re not changing anything that we do.  We had a win streak, but we’re not taking a day off.”

Five Kings players scored in double-figures.  Leading the charge was Marcus Thornton, who finished with 31 points, six assists and three steals.  The Kings guard has scored at least 30 points in two of Sacramento’s last three games.

All of Memphis’ starters reached double-digits.  All-Star big man Marc Gasol nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The Kings improve to 17-29 overall and 13-9 at home.  They wrap up their nine-game homestand with a against the Utah Jazz Thursday.

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After winning their last two games, the Sacramento Kings hope to build upon recent success against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.  The Kings are currently 4-3 on a season-long nine-game homestand.
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Donté Greene, Tyler Honeycutt, Jimmer Fredette and Marcus Thornton weigh-in on the two small forward’s thunderous throwdowns Sunday.

Watch Greene’s dunk here and Honeycutt’s dunk here.

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by James Ham & Jonathan Santiago

The Sacramento Kings turned on the jets against the Dallas Mavericks, winning 110-97 at Power Balance Pavilion Friday evening.

“I just thought that the guys followed our game plan,” said Kings head coach Keith Smart following the victory.  “That it was a must that they stayed close to detail as possible, and the coaches put in to play this morning and the guys followed it to a ‘T.’”

The Mavs only lead came at the beginning of the game, when they led 2-0 in the first quarter.  With the score tied 4-4, the Kings turned loose on an 11-2 run and never looked back.

Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans led the Kings in scoring with 17 points each.  DeMarcus Cousins returned after missing Wednesday night’s game due to food poisoning and finished with 15 points, five assists, five turnovers and four rebounds.

Jason Terry led the Mavs with 23 points off the bench, while Dirk Nowitzki, last year’s Finals MVP, scored just 13 points on 13 shot attempts.

Friday’s victory ends a 10-game losing streak to Dallas.  The Kings’ last win over the Mavs was a 102-95 victory on January 11, 2009.

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DeMarcus Cousins practiced Thursday, but the Kings offered little clarity on the illness that sidelined him from playing in Wednesday’s win over the New Orleans Hornets.

“They just said food poisoning,” said head coach Keith Smart when asked what Cousins ate that caused him to become sick.  “I don’t hang out with them, (know) what they eat.  So whatever he had, I don’t want to put anybody on the spot.  So, he had food poisoning and that’s where it’s at.”

Cowbell Kingdom requested Cousins for comment, but the Kings’ center was not made available to media following practice.

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