Kings Blog and Q&A

Result: The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 101-79 on Tuesday at the Rose Garden. View the box score.

Bee coverage:

• Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) writes in today's newspaper recap that the Kings reverted to bad habits.
• DeMarcus Cousins is a willing learner, Jones writes in today's newspaper.
• Jones, in a blog post this morning, focuses on the struggles of Tyreke Evans.
• "Regardless of Tuesday night's loss to Portland - and the fact that there's plenty of work to do - beating L.A. was a hopeful way to start the season," writes Brian Blomster (@b_blomster) in today's Leading Off column.
• View the photo gallery of last night's game.

Portland Trail Blazers coverage:

• "Portland just smothered the Kings after halftime," Mike Tokito (@mtokito) writes in today's newspaper recap for the Oregonian.
• Jason Quick (@jwquick) writes about the possibility of the Trail Blazers re-signing forward Gerald Wallace in today's newspaper for the Oregonian.
• "Sacramento collapsed like a house of cards in a windstorm," Kerry Eggers (@kerryeggers) writes in today's newspaper recap for the Portland Tribune.

Post-game video

• View the video highlights at NBA.com.

More analysis:

• Jonathan Santiago (@itsJONsantiago) and James Ham (@James_Ham) break down last night's game in a blog post for TrueHoop Network affiliate Cowbell Kingdom..
• "The Kings are taking baby steps towards respectability, and there will inevitably be nights like this," writes Akis Yerocostas (@Aykis16) in a blog post on SB Nation affiliate Sactown Royalty.
• "The Kings lacked direction, and when you factor in the Blazers stifling defense, it was a recipe for disaster," writes Scott Levin (@KingsSLev) writes in a blog post on FanSided affiliate A Royal Pain.
• "The Blazers simply neutered a young Sacramento team," writes Ben Golliver (@blazersedge) in a blog post on SB Nation affiliate Blazer's Edge.
• "Caught like a deer in headlights, Sacramento stopped sharing the ball," writes Andrew R. Tonry in a blog post for TrueHoop Network affiliate Portland Roundball Society.
• "You sleep on this group of Blazers, and you'll likely suffer the same fate as the Sacramento Kings," writes Mike Acker (@mikeacker) writes in a blog post on FanSided affiliate Rip City Project.

More links:

• Donald Sloan talks to Rodger Bohn (@rodgerbohn) about his time in training camp with the Kings in 2010 in a feature for SLAM magazine.
• Austin Burton (@AustinBurton206) interviews Evan's trainer, Lamont Peterson, this Q&A for Dime magazine.
• ESPN's John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) selects Marcus Thornton as one of the members of his 2011-12 All-Breakout Team.
• Ryan Lillis, (@Ryan_Lillis) in a blog post yesterday, reported that Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is more confident about the prospects of building a new arena downtown.
• Jim Crandell (@JimCrandell) says success this season would make it easier to build a new arena.
• Chuck Hayes gave about 40 tickets to his Power Balance Pavilion debut for his Modesto friends, reports Ron Agostini in a story for the Modesto Bee.

Audio

• Scott Howard-Cooper (@SHowardCooper) talks to Grant Napear about the Kings win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the momentum for a new arena and the rebuilt roster:

Tweets of the day

Tough loss for us tonight, gotta get better everyday.

— Bobby Jackson (@TheBobbyJackson) December 28, 2011

tough game for the kings tonight but they will bounce back strong! exciting match up thurs with d rose and the bulls!

— TJ Fredette (@tjfredette) December 28, 2011

On the plane.I guess we're not gonna go undefeated.It's gonna be a roller coaster for awhile so hang in there. Lots of new pieces

— Grant Napear(@GrantNapearShow) December 28, 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.