PHOTO CREDIT: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant waits to be introduced prior to their NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, in Los Angeles. Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press.
We're here to feed your need for Sacramento Kings news. Each day, we'll highlight news, features and analysis from around the Web.
Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) writes in today's newspaper that smart play will be key for DeMarcus Cousins all season.
Mention some of DeMarcus Cousins' less-than-flattering statistics from last season and you won't hear any excuses for them.Cousins doesn't blame his teammates' inability to catch passes for averaging 3.3 turnovers, ninth-most in the NBA. Nor is there complaining about officiating as a reason Cousins led the NBA with an average of 4.1 fouls per game.
Then there's the 43-percent shooting from the field, especially bad for a 6-foot-11 center.
Cousins begins his second season tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers with plans to improve all those numbers.
Ailene Voisin (@ailene_voisin) describes the Kings roster as "easily the most intriguing and appealing squad" since the team was regular Pacific Division contenders in a column in today's newspaper.
Pinch me again and tell me this is really happening. The NBA is back, and back in Sacramento. The Lakers are back, and back in Sacramento. The Kings are back - no, the Kings are home - after almost scooting off to Anaheim last spring.This is better than a gift.
The Kings, here.
The Kings, home.
Kings' plan: Tonight's game vs. the L.A. Lakers
TONIGHT'S GAME
Kings (0-0) vs. Lakers (0-1)
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Where: Power Balance Pavilion
• TV: CSNCA, NBATV
• Radio: KHTK (1140 AM), KAHI (950 AM)
THREE KEYS
• 1. Attack the paint: The Lakers aren't as imposing in the frontcourt with Andrew Bynum (suspended) or Lamar Odom (traded to Dallas), so the Kings need to get to the rim.
• 2. Perimeter defense: Will the addition of John Salmons stop Kobe Bryant? No, but the Kings hope Salmons makes things tougher on Bryant.
• 3: Pressure the point: Defending point guards has been a problem for the Lakers. Kings ballhandlers need to be aggressive and make the Lakers prove they can stay in front of point guards.
PROBABLE STARTERS
| KINGS | LAKERS |
| No. Player Pos. | No. Player Pos. |
| 13 Tyreke Evans G | 2 Derek Fisher G |
| 23 Marcus Thornton G | 24 Kobe Bryant G |
| 5 John Salmons F | 3 Devin Ebanks F |
| 42 Chuck Hayes F | 6 Josh McRoberts F |
| 15 DeMarcus Cousins C | 16 Pau Gasol C |
Los Angeles Lakers coverage:
- The Lakers are coming off a one-point loss to the Chicago Bulls after Derrick Rose hit a go-ahead jumper with 4.8 seconds to play.
- Brian Kamenetzky (@ESPNLandOLakers) breaks down what to watch on the Land O'Lakers blog on ESPN.
- Kobe Bryant would have preferred to play the Kings in Anaheim during the back-to-back-to-back start this season, Elliott Teaford (@ElliottTeaford) writes in today's LA Daily News.
More analysis:
- "The story of Jimmer Fredette and the giant microscope that followed him from college lightning rod to pro prospect has gotten even better between his final BYU game and his first with the Kings," writes Scott Howard-Cooper (@SHowardCooper) in a blog post for NBA.com.
- "Lakers heartbreak is the best kind of heartbreak," writes Tom Ziller (@ teamziller ) in his game preview on SB Nation affiliate Sactown Royalty.
- "Now playing on borrowed time, thanks in large part to the masterful work of Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, the Kings are poised to hold court at the arena formerly known as ARCO for at least one more season," Jonathan Santiago (@itsJONsantiago) writes in a blog post for TrueHoop Network affiliate Cowbell Kingdom.
- "The Lakers will continue their grueling season-opening stretch of three games in three nights when they visit California's capital for the Sacramento Kings' home opener," writes The Sports Network in its game preview.
Tweets of the day
Something I wasn't sure I'd ever say again: The #SacramentoKings play tonight at home, #sackings #NBAKings #HereWeStay #thinkbigsacto
— Marcos Breton (@MarcosBreton) December 26, 2011
Just about 2AM, and I am thinking about the Kings opener...looking forward to it! Which King do you think will get the biggest ovation?
— Jim Crandell (@JimCrandell) December 26, 2011
Online coverage from The Bee this season:
• LIVE CHATS: Join The Bee's Matt Kawahara for in-game chats during every Kings home game, just before tipoff right through the final buzzer.
• VIDEOS: Find out what some Kings players and coach Paul Westphal have to say about the upcoming season - and much more.
• BLOG: Stay up to date on the team's happenings with Jason Jones, Ailene Voisin and Matt Kawahara on The Bee's Kings blog.
• FACEBOOK: "Like" the Sacramento Kings Corner page and join Bee staffers and fans in discussions about the team and players.
• TWITTER: Follow The Bee's Jason Jones for up-to-the-minute developments, in-game updates and much more about the Kings.
If you see a Sacramento Kings-related story or blog post that we should feature, e-mail me at nmiller@sacbee.com or send me reply on Twitter at @journalistnate.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.