So which Spencer Hawes do we get tonight?
The Kings center has recorded back-to-back double doubles once this season. That happened in the Kings third and fourth games of the season.
We haven't seen nearly enough of the way Hawes played Friday night. And considering the lack of size for the Kings, Hawes playing the role of rebounder/willing defender is a must.
Hawes has nine-double digit rebounding games this season. Sacramento is 5-4 in those games, including the overtime loss to Cleveland and the 30-point game from Hawes in Los Angeles that was spoiled by Kobe's game winner.
The Kings have been at their best this season when one of their young post players - Hawes or Jason Thompson - has played well.
We all know what Tyreke Evans has been good for all season. Thompson is out with a back injury. Carl Landry is still getting acclimated to his new teammates.
So Hawes - who actually has played some of his best basketball in February - needs to be the anchor defensively and play big on offense against Chris Kaman.
Perhaps Hawes should start the night out like this again:
From The Bee
Kings' Landry has exceeded expectations By Ailene Voisin
Kings notes: Team basks in glow of feel-good win By Sam Amick
Gameplan
By Sam Amick
Kings (19-39) vs. Clippers (24-34)
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Arco Arena
TV: CSNCA
Radio: KHTK (1140 AM)
Kings update: If the Kings have any hope of ending their season with close to the upswing with which it began, they will have to win games like tonight's. They beat Milwaukee and Chicago on the road in December to run their record to 13-14, but have gone 6-25 since. They are coming off a 103-99 win over Utah on Friday, and a second consecutive win would be significant, especially in light of the tough three-game trip that starts Tuesday and goes through Oklahoma City, Houston and Dallas.
Clippers update: There is legitimate talk in Los Angeles that the Clippers could have a shot at landing LeBron James as a free agent this summer, with the logic based largely on location and that this team has a decent core of talent. Forward Drew Gooden is the latest addition, having been traded from Dallas to Washington to the Clippers last week. His team is 3-1 since he joined, and 2-1 in games in which he has played.
Probable starters
KINGS
No. Player Pos.
19 Beno Udrih PG
13 Tyreke Evans SG
18 Omri Casspi SF
24 Carl Landry PF
31 Spencer Hawes C
CLIPPERS
No. Player Pos.
1 Baron Davis PG
10 Eric Gordon SG
45 Rasual Butler SG
0 Drew Gooden PF
35 Chris Kaman C
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