Three Pre-Draft Workouts Announced

Shortly after the Kings acquired center Samuel Dalembert, the team unveiled the prospects scheduled to participate in Sacramento’s three upcoming pre-Draft workouts.

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Kayte’s Kings Player-by-Player Breakdown

The season is over, and now we can delve deeper into what is ahead for the Kings.

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Postgame Quotes: Kings @ Lakers

Kings Coach Paul Westphal

on tonight’s game:
“Tonight was not that different from forty or fifty other games this year. We hung around, did a lot of good things and we had a couple of breakouts. We had a lot of good efforts tonight. We felt that Jason Thompson did a lot for us tonight on the boards and offensively, but he had to play the whole game so he didn’t get any vacation until the final horn.”

on the team’s performance this season:
“I am proud of our team and I told every one of them. They only won 25 games, but they really maximized their effort this year. They have heart and they respected the game. We will get better, we will absolutely get better. We will add some pieces, but the first thing we had to learn to do this year was compete and we did that. One of these days we will learn how to win.”

on rookie Tyreke Evans contribution this season:
“This season was one of the best rookie seasons any of us has had, but that is not the only measure of success. We had a great noteworthy season and the thing about Tyreke Evans is he really didn’t play for stats. He plays to win and is a very versatile ball player. He almost never had a bad game. He is a very mature professional and will only get better as he goes about this league. I think everyone will tell you what a good teammate he is and that says something about his future with the Kings.”

on recapping the season:
“Honestly I am sorry our season is over. We knew we had a climb, but this team is only just beginning. The team last year was the worst team in the league winning only 17 games, as well as the worst defensive team and the worst rebounding team. This year we are in the top half rebounders now, we are out of the bottom third in defense, we added eight more wins and some players that we can build around. By any measure there was improvement and we are optimistic that there will continue to be improvement. I am sorry it is over, I really like this team.”

Beno Udrih

on the assessment of this season:
“The whole year we’ve been playing, trying to compete at the end of the game and that’s a step forward from last year, definitely. We’ve just got to get better with closing the close games down and winning a couple ones. Hopefully we’ve learned something this year for next year and we think we can win a couple more games.”

on taking this game into the offseason:
“The Lakers, they’ve been together for awhile they know exactly how to finish games. It’s a long process for us but we want to be like… young teams that are rebuilding and trying to get to the playoffs and we’ve just got to learn.”

Carl Landry

on what the Kings have to do to improve:
“I think we just have to play together a little more. We’ve got the pieces here and we’ll add a couple of pieces with the free [agency] and the draft and we’ll be alright. We’re [one of the] youngest teams in the league… so if we just improve our basketball I.Q. I think we’ll be alright.”

on looking forward to the offseason:
“We never really got blown out. We just had a hard time finishing games, probably due to the inexperience of this team but I think this summer we’ll go back to the drawing board and correct those mistakes.”

Jason Thompson

on looking back on the positives of the season:
“We came out, especially early in the year, not a lot of people had high expectations for us and we had five-game win streaks two or three times. We started getting this city going and a lot of people started to notice us.”

on what the Kings have to look forward to this offseason:
“Just knowing that our future is bright. With the trades that we’ve had that are helping us out and… learning how to play with each other. So we’ll get some new additions in the draft, maybe some trades… and hopefully we’ll be on top.”

Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson

on tonight’s game:
“Got that game competitive after getting a little 13 point lead at the end of the third quarter. Had to kind of dig in a little bit at the end of the game to sustain that victory. Good game by Pau Gasol and Shannon. They led us in the scoring tonight and we had some help off the bench.”

on Sasha Vujacic:
“He’s an offensive rebounding machine. That’s what he is now.”

on Jordan Farmar’s injury:
“He’ll dress tomorrow. He’s played 81 games this year. I want him to dress and be on the active roster for tomorrow’s game.”

on the fallout of Jordan Farmar leaving tonight’s game early:
“I wanted to have short minutes for Derek. He ended up playing less than 20 but extended Shannon’s minutes and obviously Sasha’s minutes and had Lamar have to come out and play that guard role.”

on the impact of Luke Walton:
“He helps. I don’t know if he’s going to be able to sustain the effort in the playoffs and that’s why I have to look at him a little bit and get him some game activity. Offensively he does things that create a little offensive rhythm for us and offensive opportunities.”

on Sasha Vujacic’s solid performance tonight:
“It’s got to make him feel much better about his game. He knows he’s got an opportunity to play some minutes and have some opportunities.”

Shannon Brown

on jumpstarting the bench with the tone he set as a starter:
“It’s different starting. When you start, you get to set the tone. Then guys get to play off of what you start off with. We got the ball moving today and then everybody got good looks.”

on tomorrow’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers:
“We definitely got to win this game tomorrow. We have to get better every day. We’re waiting for Andrew [Bynum] to get back and for Kobe [Bryant] to get back so we can get our first couple practices in together as a full unit again.”

Sasha Vujacic

on tonight’s game:
“We played great as a team. We played good defense. From my personal view, in the last few games, I’ve been getting more and more minutes and when that happens, you get a feel for the game which is good.”

on most important thing about playing Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs:
“It depends when we play them. They have one player that is individually good, on and off, and now they play great as a team. The coaching staff did a great job and they execute. So we have to take that away from them and we’ll see how they can handle the pressure of the situation.”

on his overall performance this season:
“You just have to stay consistent. This season was from my personal point of view, ups and downs. What is done, is done. It’s behind us. We’re looking to the present and to the future. My focus now is how can I help our team…and how can we win as a team.”

Lamar Odom

on tonight’s game:
“I look at it, honestly, like we’re practicing against the other team. You want to run all the sets and do everything the right way. We want to play almost how we play in practice. It’s just a practice in front of 20,000 people.”

Luke Walton

on playing in tonight’s game:
“It felt great. It was a lot of fun out there, playing again and being out there and not having pain. To be out there and move and stuff was a lot of fun.”

Is Landry NBA’s Most Improved?

Entering his first campaign with the Sacramento Kings, Paul Westphal wanted to see the team compete to the best of its ability each night and see constant improvement from the young, talented players. He also wanted to see the Kings, whose rebounding ranked 29th in the League in 2008-09, improve their effort on the glass.

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Postgame Recap: Kings vs. Spurs

SAN ANTONIO 95, SACRAMENTO 86

April 6, 2010 - At ARCO Arena, a balanced Spurs’ offense offset a game-high 22 points from Tyreke Evans and 20 points from Carl Landry to send the Kings to their eight straight setback, 95-86. With the score tied, 79-79, with 5:51 left in the fourth quarter, Manu Ginobili buried a three-pointer at the 4:50 mark to ignite a 12-0 run. The run was capped off by DeJuan Blair reverse lay-up with 1:30 remaining that gave the Spurs a 91-79 advantage. Donte Greene added 12 points and Beno Udrih scored 11 points. Sean May tallied 10 points off the bench. Six Spurs scored in double figures, led by Richard Jefferson’s 18 points. Tim Duncan (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Antonio McDyess (12 points, a game-high 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles. Tony Parker returned to the Spurs lineup after missing the previous 16 games with a fractured fourth right metacarpal and finished with 13 points. Garrett Temple, who made his first NBA start at point guard, scored a career-high 15 points. San Antonio outrebounded Sacramento, 43-34.

JT’s Patience is Paying Off

Heading into yet another tough matchup with a Playoff-bound team, Kings head coach Paul Westphal wanted to make it clear to players on Monday, as he sees it, all of them could be a part of the team that returns Sacramento to the postseason in the near future. Read more

Postgame Recap: Kings vs. Blazers

PORTLAND 98, SACRAMENTO 87

April 3, 2010 - At ARCO Arena, four Blazers starters scored 20 or more points, led by Brandon Roy’s game-high 24 as Portland handed the Kings their seventh straight loss, 98-87. The Trail Blazers closed the game out on a 10-2 run after the Kings had closed to within three, 88-85, with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter. Beno Udrih led the Kings with 22 points and Jason Thompson, starting at center for the second straight contest, added 18 points. Carl Landry recorded 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Tyreke Evans was held to six points, only the fifth time all season he was held under double digits in scoring. Evans also recorded five rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Andre Miller tallied 23 points for the Blazers and Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 21 points. Marcus Camby grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.

Postgame Quotes: Kings vs. Blazers

KINGS HEAD COACH PAUL WESTPHAL

Tonight’s game
“Developing this team is about making us solid for the long term in the NBA. As we develop we have to find a way to win these kinds of games. Portland is a very formidable team. They are solidly in the playoffs. No one wants to play them in the playoffs. They are one of the top teams in the league. I’m proud of our guys as banged up as we are, to be able to put ourselves in the position to have a chance to win. It shows the competitive spirit and the talent that our players have and I’m proud of them for that. Our next step is to use every minute of every game of this year to get to the point were we can win these close games against really good teams. Obviously we haven’t mastered that part of our game by a long shot. Everything that we do is directed towards that. We have to learn how to get the shots that we want in the fourth quarter, make sure we get the calls in the fourth quarter and get stops in the fourth quarter. Those are all things that we are working on and need to improve and will continue to do so for the rest of the season and for as long as I am here.”

Beno Udrih’s performance…
“Beno has been very good for us all year. Whatever we’ve asked him to do he’s given us everything he’s got. He’s a great leader. He’s a very smart player and very versatile. I think that the coaching staff and the players on our team have a lot of confidence in Beno and I think that helps him to play with the confidence he needs to make the plays that he makes.

“We want to keep running the stuff that got us the lead. It’s frustrating when you can’t make the plays. I thought as much as anything the loose balls that we didn’t get tonight decided the game. When you get behind, you press a little bit and everything gets more magnified. A few loose balls. A few plays that we didn’t execute perfectly changed the whole dynamic of the game.”

Omri Casspi coming back…
“I was glad to have him out there. I thought that he provided a spark for us. It was nice to have him out there.”

Tyreke Evans’ performance tonight…
“He was 2-for-12; obviously that’s not a Tyreke Evans kind of game. I look here and see his three free-throw attempts. I would have liked to see a few more foul shots. It wasn’t like he wasn’t driving but that’s the way this league is sometimes. You have to adjust to however they are calling it and make plays. Certainly he’s had better nights.”

Carl Landry

On the Blazers’ play tonight
“We just played a good team tonight and a team that is getting better going into the playoffs. We are a good team too. A great ballgame was played tonight. I tip my hat off to them. They did a good job of executing down the stretch and made some good shots.”

On continuing to play hard
“It’s tough. We are a team that needs to grow because we are so young and play with a lot of confidence. It is discouraging to lose seven games in a row. We just have to continue to fight. One thing about this team is every night, even though our record isn’t good, we still go out there and fight.”

On the growth of the players
“I think that everyone on this team needs to look forward and this is my third year and I need to start thinking like a fourth-year player. If there are rookies on this team or a second-year player, they need to start playing like second- and third-year players. You have to take the turnovers and loose balls and charges and take accountability. We just have to grow as players and as a team together. The core of this team, coach said are going to be together for a while and for as long as he is here. I think that we just need to continue to grow in the next five years.”

“Even teams that have been together for a long time, like San Antonio or Dallas, they still continue to play hard everyday. Players are trying to develop and continue to be better players. They try to add something to their game everyday. We are still trying to feel each other out and we have been together about 20 games now and I think that we are improving. I think we are better than our record shows.”

Omri Casspi

On the Blazers’ play tonight
“They played good defense. I think they made some good shots down the stretch. At the end of the day, it was another loss for us. We will get together Monday again and we will get ready for the five games left. Most of them are against the top elite teams in the league and playoff teams so we have to be ready.”

On getting more minutes
“I am happy that coach decided to play me more tonight. I was able to get into my rhythm and I showed I was confident out there. I hope I continue to be like that and I am happy that I got to play.”

On being injured and not playing
“I want to play and it was hard for me to sit on the bench most of the games when I was injured and I was sick for a game. I just want to be able to help my team. I am happy to be back and to be able to contribute and play good basketball.”

On Beno’s production tonight
“Beno has been great. It wasn’t just on the trip, it was before then too. He is a true leader for our team. I am just happy for him because he is a great guy. Hopefully he will continue like that and finish the season strong. We will have a lot of things to build on for next year.”

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Nate McMillan

On his outlook on the game
“I just wanted to make sure we got out of here with a “W”. I thought our defense in the second half locked in and started playing much better; only 38 points in the second half.”

On whether the team is immensely better when Nicolas Batum is hitting his outside shots
“No question, because he is going to get those shots. The weak side is going to get those shots when you have Brandon (Roy) and Andre (Miller), and LaMarcus (Aldridge). Teams are going to force other guys to make plays. They have to be ready to shoot it, they have to shoot it and knock it down. That is going to happen. And tonight he was knocking down his shot. When he is shooting that ball with confidence, no question, we are a much better team.”

On the starters scoring well
“We moved the ball. Again, when they are double-teaming and we are doing a good job moving the ball, guys will get their opportunities and you will have to knock down those shots when you get them.”

On Nicolas’ defense on Tyreke Evans
“We wanted to get length on him. That matchup was good for us the last time we played them. Keeping him infront of us and making him shoot over the top. Normally, we try to go into the post against him and get Nicolas on him.”

On the play of Andre Miller and what he brings
“Orchestrating this team. He is a general on the floor. We try and take advantage of matchups and there are times where there is a matchup he is quarterbacking. Brandon has matchups and so does LaMarcus. LaMarcus is that guy that has established the post play for us. But Andre is going a good job of getting the ball where it needs to go at the right time and keeping everyone involved. He has that experience and knows how to run a team.”

Portland Trail Blazers Guard Brandon Roy

On his team’s recent play toward the playoffs
“We are playing good basketball. We are doing everything we can to move up, but the teams above us are winning too. We can only control what we can.”

On his impression of the game
“I thought we did a good job of beginning aggressive offensively and moving the ball. We found the open man tonight, which was big. There were not a lot of poor shots. We are going to need to get our bench going if we are going to make a run in the playoffs. We just made shots.”

Udrih, Evans Lead Kings into Final Stretch

For the first time in 13 days, the Kings practiced in Sacramento on Friday.

Hit hard by the injury bug in recent days, the Kings began practice with 11 players. Read more

Postgame Quotes: Kings @ T-Wolves

Kings Head Coach Paul Westphal

“It is always something, isn’t it? Some nights we rebound well but turn the ball over. Some nights we rebound well and don’t turn it over, though we can’t shoot well. Other nights like tonight, we shot well and didn’t turn the ball over but couldn’t rebound. We couldn’t get stops and that is for sure. If the Wolves have shot better than that all year I am not aware of it, especially from the three-point line.”

“When a team shoots fifty-six percent on you and dominates you on the boards, they are usually going to win. I know the Wolves have been playing a lot better basketball than their streak would indicate and they were due, and they got us.”

On team’s urgency:
“It certainly did not manifest itself, though I’m not saying that we didn’t have it. It didn’t seem like we had it, though I don’t think our guys would say that they weren’t trying.”

On Wolves rebounding advantage:
“I think the biggest reason was Milicic, Jefferson, and Love really played great. I’m not so sure we would’ve out-rebounded them if we had Spencer [Hawes], it would’ve been nice to have him although I just give those guys credit. They were outstanding on the boards.”

“We don’t like to double [team] that much, but because they were hurting us so much inside we had to double. And when you double and a team moves the ball and makes a couple of passes, they are going to get open shots. It seemed like they were knocking them all down. So you take a risk when you double, and I give them credit for moving the ball and knocking down shots.”

Jason Thompson

On T’Wolves height advantage: “They can bring two different dimensions. Al is more of a shooter who can use his quickness, and Darko is trying to get as deep as he can and try to use his left jump hooks.”

“Early on we were not as active. We would get our hands on balls but not finish it out with the rebounds. They would get the loose balls that would lead to easy buckets making it easier for them and their offense.”

Beno Udrih

“We did our best. They were knocking down shots and we were not playing defense the way we should. We lost this game on defense.”

“We put ourselves in a big hole and were just trying to come back the whole time. We made a couple of runs but it was still not enough.”

“We would’ve been happy to go home because we had a goal to win these two games in a row, but we didn’t do that. Instead we lost all five of them, and we are not really happy to go home without the wins.”

Tyreke Evans

“We had times when we had a hand up contesting the shot and they still made it. They had a couple of good looks and once they started hitting they never stopped hitting.”

“We should’ve had one the game before this in Indiana. This one was a battle in the first half, and in the second half they came out still hitting their shots, so there was nothing we could do about that. It was a tough loss for us but a good game for them.”

Timberwolves Head Coach Kurt Rambis

“Obviously that feels really good, the guys in the locker room were very, very happy about that. I think more so that more than anything else they supported each other, guys were happy to see Sasha step up in the ball game, three guys with double doubles, one guy almost with a triple double, everybody contributing offensively and defensively, Al getting 6 blocks, those types of things were huge. We turned the ball over still a lot, a couple of times critically but they did not give the number that we usually give up when we turned the basketball over, so that was big. Our transition defense was there most of the game, we protected the paint; we didn’t allow them a whole lot of opportunities. So, overall I was pleased, there were gaps, yes Greene was able to get open on shots, we didn’t do a good job of closing out all the way to him and body up and gave him too many easy scoring opportunities but overall I thought our guys stuck to the game plan, they did a good job of moving the basketball offensively and thus why we had the number of guys we did in double figures. Ideally for me that’s what I like to see, a nice even distribution of points and scoring opportunities.”

“Its hard in a lot of ways, just the sheer number of tough teams that we were playing made it incredibly difficult to get wins, just the number of losses that were mounting, how guys were absorbing that, and letting that weigh on them. The team has been resilient all year long, yes its frustrating, but they hung together, they can find ways to laugh in the locker room, they still can get along, even when the losses were mounting. We had moments in all of those ball games, I shouldn’t say all, for a majority of those ball games where we played really good basketball, we just had these moments where we had these incredible collapses and then we were trying to find ways to get back into the ball game and it just became too difficult for us. We had stretches where we played really well in all of those games, well most of the losses like I said.”

“Yeah, Id have to say [this is the happiest I've seen the team after a win]. The fan support, the encouragement that means a lot to the players, so many players playing well so that they feel good about themselves, I was very happy to see everybody encouraging and acknowledging Sasha who struggled a lot. They jumped all over him when he came to the bench at one timeout, I like that camaraderie with the guys. Anytime you win its good, but when you have those number of losses its a very relieving feeling.”

Darko Milicic

On how the win feels:
“It feels good to get a win finally. We kept our composure and finished the game well.”

“I got here a month ago and I see these guys here, nobody really wants to lose. These guys got a lot of talent and they want to win. Its tough on all of us, we have to focus and finish the season as strong as we can.”

On team chemistry:
“I think we play smart and share the ball. We’re going to score with these talented players, as long as we play defense.”

On progress:
“I am still trying to work with these guys in practice and bring it into the game.”

Jonny Flynn

“We really got after it out there, I think we played a complete game and we held them on a lot of their runs that they went on. Especially at the end of the game, we weathered that storm so it just feels good after sixteen losses to get a win.”

“We knew had great efforts from everybody. Ryan Gomes almost had a triple double then you have Sasha coming off the bench playing one of his better games of the year. When guys are stepping up like that all you can do is win.”

On losing streak:
“Its tough, it’s not easy losing that many games. You just have to come to work everyday with the same mindset, come to get better and stay positive. I think we have a good locker room; our coaches really keep us together.”

Al Jefferson

On the Win:
“We play well against this team; every time we play them they always wind up blowing the game up in the second or third quarter. It was great to see three guys in double figure rebounds; it was great to see guys sharing the ball, making the right decisions. It just proves that we can play well and the right way.”

On getting other guys going and defense:
“We play well when I play great defense. Coach challenged me on Friday; just finish the season off right. Being a leader on defense not just offense.”

On losing streak:
“We could of won a couple that we had played, but we just have to keep our head in it and play hard.”

On Brewer:
“He played great D on him (Tyreke Evans). Corey did a great job maintaining him and making him think a lot.”

On Darko:
“Darko is just as good with his left hand as I am with my right hand. When I see him take a shot with that left hand I feel so good about it. He’s so big and so long, he’s so smart. He should help us out as far as rebounding, as far as blocking shots. He’s kind of the point guard when he has the ball in the post; he makes great decisions passing the ball. He’ll provide a lot especially when things are going well for him.”

On the Kings ability to battle back:
“My teammates decided to come inside to me and they came through to hit some big shots, Corey hit that three.”

“I’m happy. It feels good to get the win and to prove to us that we can play the right way; we can play hard on defense.”

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