Quotes, Links and Tweets

Quotes:

Tyreke Evans on MS&E’s Season of Giving:
“It’s fun going out there with the fans. They tell you how much they love us, so it’s always a pleasure to go out there and speak to the fans, sign a couple autographs for them and take pictures with them. I think it’s a big blessing for us to go out there and show them that we care about our fans.”

Tyreke on national TV exposure with Kings-Wizards game on ESPN Wednesday at ARCO Arena:
“I’m looking forward to it a lot. We just want to go in there and try to take care of home court like we’ve been doing all year and stay focused.”

Links:

Sports Illustrated

SBNation

Sports Illustrated-Rookie Rankings

NBA.com Rookie Rankings

ESPN Power Rankings

Tweets:

jtthekid: Got practice in a few preparing for the blazers who we play tomm nite in portland. Got to get Road Wins to b good in this league. Yessir

MrJonBrockman: Rise and shine, it’s butt kicking time!!!

Quotes, Links and Tweets

Quotes:
“Bring the flavor back that we always used to see when we were kids and just establish ourselves in this league. We knew that Sac needed to have some changes and we just wanted to bring some energy and some of the success we had from college over here.” – Jason Thompson, on he and Donté Greene’s goal for the Kings

“My love for Sacramento has grown, especially with us winning and us having our true fans come back out. Even the people that were there with us through the tough times, they’re bringing people back out. The community is just coming together and we just (have to) keep winning and do big things for Sacramento.” - Donté Greene

“Every time I start it’s a matchup problem. Whether it’s me at (shooting guard), I’m 6-foot-10 sticking a 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 guy, that’s a mismatch right there. A lot of the (small forwards), I’m either bigger than them or I’m quicker than them. At (power forward), definitely, just being able to hold down like I’ve been doing on defense and offense, I’m able to drive by them and get to the rack and also find my teammates.” - Donté Greene

“I’m not as focused on getting the crowd into the game with cheering as with making good plays. I like to get the crowd into the game with making really good plays.” – Head Coach Paul Westphal, on Greene’s towel-waving ways

“When you come into ARCO, the music is loud, the fans are loud — trying to be louder than the music — and (when) 17,317 people are in there screaming ‘GO KINGS!’ Or, ‘DEFENSE!’ It just gets under your skin,” Greene said grinning as he began rubbing his arms. “You get goose bumps. Your hair stands up. You get a little burst of energy… It’s an amazing feeling.” - Donté Greene

“The Kings are so good! They really put it all on ya! I really like it in Sacramento. Let’s talk about the Kings! It’s all about the Kings!” - Donté Greene

“Ooh, I can’t believe it! I’m in Sacramento. I’m in the NBA, playing for the Kings! Yeah!” - Donté Greene

“The guys understood we were not going to take this team lightly. We have watched them closely. They are an exciting team. When you watch them on film, you can see why management is excited about this young group. They have a lot of talent. For young guys they play extremely hard. They are unselfish and they make plays for each other as well. And this is one of the toughest places to play this year with their home court advantage at 8-2.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, on not taking the Kings lightly

“He reminds me of Dwyane (Wade)… He has a great deal of poise for someone so young. I think it is unique. It is becoming less unique, this hybrid position, the two/one. More guys seem to be coming into the league that have those type of skills. He does a great job of creating his own offense but also setting up guys.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, on whom Kings guard Tyreke Evans reminds him of

“It’s becoming less unique – this hybrid position – the (shooting/point guard). Guys seem to be coming in the league that have those skills. (Evans) does a great job of creating his own offense and offense for other guys.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra

“(Evans has) got a great deal of poise for somebody so young.” – Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra

“He’s a good young player. He has the most complete game, as a rookie, in the league. When you talk about the best rookies, he has the most complete game. He can do it all. He’s a great player. They have a good pick in him.” – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade on Tyreke Evans

“He’s always looking to go penetrate. He’s very strong. He can finish at the basket as well.” – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade

“Just the way he puts pressure on the defense. He is always looking to penetrate and is very strong and he can finish at the basket as well.” – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade on how Tyreke Evans reminds him of himself

Links:
ESPN Power Rankings
DG Show Bringing the Flavor Back to Sac

Tweets:
MrJonBrockman: Just had a good chat with the “rise guys” on the radio in Sacramento. Headed to New Orleans this afternoon. Time to get some road wins!

Quotes, Links and Tweets

Quotes:
“Oh man, it feels good. We’re now satisfied, but just keep things rolling and the sky’s the limit for this team.”
-Jason Thompson on reaching .500 again (during 11/29 post game interview with Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds)

“Spirit is great, man. We’re tough and it’s good watching TV and seeing what people are saying about us. They’re saying ‘You’re going to Sacramento, those boys are playing hard. That’s a tough place to play.’ Last year everybody used to pass up Sacramento (and think) oh, we’ve got a win. It’s a different story when you’re coming into our building. Our guys are playing hard. It starts with our young, sensational rookie, Tyreke. You’ve got Noc out there, you’ve got Ime, you’ve got Donté, you’ve got guys with a little swagger and toughness and you see it on the floor.”
- Kings assistant coach Mario Elie

“I’m really enjoying playing. We know every night it’s going to be tough, but we are enjoying fighting for the win every night. ARCO Arena has been a very tough place to play against us. I wish the next game will be sold out and that will help us a lot more.”
- Sergio Rodriguez

On how gratifying it is being in Sacramento:
“The most important thing, and what makes me so happy, is when I get to play. That is all that I ask. When I didn’t play a few games ago, it was tough. I knew that when I got in (Coach Westphal) would let me play and that is the whole thing. I am enjoying playing here and I am enjoying playing for him.”
– Sergio Rodriguez (11/29 postgame)

“They have the Lakers and Dallas (next) and they’re facing the Kings (on Friday),” rookie Omri Casspi said smiling, a day after tallying a career-high 18 points. “They probably thought they were going to come in here and win, and we proved them wrong. So maybe they’re going to win in STAPLES Center, but not in ARCO.”

“We just want to prove everybody wrong, basically. We know we are a good team and we can win games, especially at home. We have to defend our home court. I’m not saying we’re going to win all of them, but if we win most of them and maybe a couple on the road, we can be a .500 team easily, especially with the home crowd, the 6th man, it’s much easier to win.”
- Beno Udrih

Links:
Weekend Dime: Latest NBA Chatter
NBA Power Ranking

Tweet:
MrJonBrockman
4:28pm, Nov 30 from UberTwitter
Kings Holiday Packages featuring premiere games and Tyreke and Omri bobbleheads available now! Buy here http://bit.ly/4Xz7lc