Kings Blog and Q&A

Result: The Chicago Bulls defeated the Sacramento Kings 108-98 on Thursday at Power Balance Pavilion. View the box score.

Bee coverage:

• The Kings are "pinning this loss on their own incompetence," Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) writes in today's newspaper recap.
• Jones writes in today's newspaper that teams will continue to defend Jimmer Fredette with taller players to limit his range.
• Jones, in a blog post this morning, focuses on the team's struggles at the free throw stripe.
• Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara), in a post-game blog post, gets reaction from coach Paul Westphal.
• View the photo gallery by Hector Amezcua (@hectoramezcua).
• View the snapshot photo gallery.
• View last night's game chat.

Chicago Bulls coverage:

• "For the first time in three games, Derrick Rose saw flashes of the team that compiled a 62-20 record during a breakout 2010-11 campaign," Nick Friedell (@ESPNChiBulls) writes in a blog post on the Chicago Bulls Report blog on ESPN.

• "(Chicago Bulls coach Tom) Thibodeau was unhappy that Rose wasn't getting more whistles on offense," Friedell writes in a blog post on the Chicago Bulls Report blog on ESPN.

• Friedell offers his rapid reaction on the Chicago Bulls Report blog on ESPN.

• "This was a far cry from the sluggish offensive play that had defined the Bulls' first two games," K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) writes in today's newspaper recap for the Chicago Tribune.
• "For the first time this young season, the Bulls' offense looked like the Bulls' offense of old," Neil Hayes (@bynhayes) writes in today's newspaper recap for the Chicago Sun-Times.

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.
• "Perhaps the most glaring weakness tonight was the lack of transition defense," writes Akis Yerocostas (@Aykis16) in a blog post on SB Nation affiliate Sactown Royalty.
• "While the Kings certainly had moments of poor basketball on both ends, you've got to keep it in perspective," writes Scott Levin (@KingsSLev) writes in a blog post on FanSided affiliate A Royal Pain.
• "Sloppy rebounding, bad second and third efforts, and inconsistent officiating kept the game close," writes Alex Sonty (@AlexSontyHoops) in a blog post on SB Nation affiliate Blog a Bull.
• "A lot of it can be attributed to the Bulls looking like a championship contender, but there was an array of problems with the Kings on both offense and defense last night," writes Blake Ellington (@blakeellington) in a blog post on Sacramento Connect partner Bleed Black And Purple.

More video:

• Janet O (@KcraJanetO) of KCRA speaks to Natomas businesses about the return of the NBA.

• Steve Large of CBS 13 (@largesteven) spoke to fans at the game about paying for a new arena.

• Ben Deci (@Thinfish) of FOX 40 asks whether regional fans should chip in to build a new arena.

• View the video highlights at NBA.com.

More links:

• "While it's only three games, it's possible that the Kings will shatter the record for fewest assists in a season," writes John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) in a his Hollinger's Harbingers column for ESPN.
• ESPN The Magazine's Chris Palmer (@ESPNChrisPalmer) selects Marcus Thornton as one of his First-time All-Star candidates.
• "For the first time since 2002, the Kings aren't boring," writes Nick Miller (@NickMiller916) in a story for the Sacramento News & Review.
  

Tweets of the day:

Tough loss tonight, had alot of mistakes for a young team. Back at it in the morning

— Bobby Jackson (@TheBobbyJackson) December 30, 2011

Tuff loss tonight have to get better at some things but it will come together

— Marcus Thornton (@OfficialMT23) December 30, 2011

There is hesitation & a lack of trust among #Kings players when they are on the floor. Because of the lockout they are strangers. #NBAKings

— Marcos Breton (@MarcosBreton) December 30, 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.