The Dream Shake - Complete Coverage: Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento KingsThe best footwork on the Internethttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/34031/32x32.png2013-04-04T00:35:57-05:00http://www.thedreamshake.com/rss/stream/39448152013-04-04T00:35:57-05:002013-04-04T00:35:57-05:00Magic Number is 3 After Win Over Kings
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Chandler Parsons racked up 29 points while Terrence Jones posted a double double and the Rockets magic number dropped to 3</p> <p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Amid controversy over the literal and figurative direction of their franchise the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Sacramento Kings</a> gave the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> a run for their money tonight.</span></p>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">The Kings worked hard to close a double digit Rockets lead into just a four point deficit late in the fourth quarter. A series of mistakes and loose ball-handling gave let the Rockets defense extract extra possessions and turn a Kings surge into a whimper.</div>
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<span>Chandler Parsons</span> -- Tonight's MVP</h4>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Hands down the best player in tonight's game.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Parsons was great in the first half. He nailed open threes and kept the Kings defense honest by stretching the floor.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">In the second half, Parsons showcased all of his skills. He drilled back to back threes. He dominated the paint with <span>DeMarcus Cousins</span> in foul trouble. He took what he wanted. Parsons impressed with his underrated passing by finding open Rockets and left the Kings defense guessing most of the half.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">They had no solutions for Chandler Parsons.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">I'd say there wasn't a single <a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/4/2/4176904/how-the-dream-shake-pranked-houston">corndog, tater tot or PBR</a> in Chandler's stomach tonight:</div>
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<p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/dreamshakesbn">dreamshakesbn</a> Bullard Just said, post game, "Thank goodness he didn't eat any corndogs last night"</p>
— Keith Leal (@keithLEal) <a href="https://twitter.com/keithLEal/status/319669557134516224">April 4, 2013</a>
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<h4>Harden & Lin -- Assist Men</h4>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Lin logged 10 assists paired with 15 points for a double double and <span>James Harden</span> posted 9 assists with 21 points. Cat eyes, hawk eyes, shark eyes... whatever animal has the best eyes, those are the eyes Lin & Harden brought to tonight's game.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">The main benefactors of this animal-vision were <span>Omer Asik</span> & <span>Terrence Jones</span> who were found free underneath the basket on a routine basis. Especially in the third quarter when DeMarcus Cousins took a seat with three fouls. Asik made six field goals on the night. By my recollection, four of those were uncontested dunks. When Asik wasn't throwing down an assisted slam the sweet passing from Lin and Harden was sending him to the foul line where he shot seven of nine.</div>
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<h4>Terrence Jones -- More?</h4>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">When you get a shoutout from Daryl Morey during the game. You're probably having a good game:</div>
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<p>Terrence Jones!</p>
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/319662139440758784">April 4, 2013</a>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Johnathan Feigen said Jones "flipped a switch" during his time in the D-League. Well tonight he looked like a potential solution at PF for the Rockets.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">It's surprising after spending a season being virtually ignored.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Tonight he provided a raw energy matched only by <span>Patrick Beverley</span>. On the offensive glass he was everywhere. He worked off of Lin, Harden & Parsons to find positioning and pulled down eight offensive rebounds.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">McHale rewarded Jones with 29 minutes of run. Motiejunas spent most of the second half on the bench despite a good first half. When Greg Smith touched the floor in the second half you were scratching your head wondering what happened to Jones.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">It's yet to be seen if Jones is the next Hayes, Landry, Hill, or Patterson (did I get everyone?). But he certainly proved that he deserves a hard look.</div>
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<h4>Key Moments:</h4>
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<li>Jermey Lin had a breakaway dunk in the first quarter.</li>
<li>The Rockets shot back-to-back-to-back up-and-under shots in the first quarter.</li>
<li>Patrick Beverley had another <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8w0Kftsl5tM">great rejection in the first half</a> on a fast break.</li>
<li>D-Mo played like a man in the first half. Scored seven points and grabbed two rebounds.</li>
<li>We saw this five on the court together: Bevereley, Anderson, Garcia, Jones, D-Mo.</li>
<li> <span>Tyreke Evans</span> kept the Rockets from pulling away in the third quarter (22 points on the night).</li>
<li> <span>Marcus Thornton</span> kept the Rockets from pulling away in the fourth quarter (21 points on the night).</li>
<li>Cousins hilariously ran point after making a steal at half court in the fourth. He went to the hole and drew a foul on Asik, but the play was all elbows and terrible dribble hesitations (or maybe he's just that slow with the ball).</li>
<li>Asik slammed home a touchdown pass from Lin in the fourth to seal the game. Cousins fouled him from behind for his sixth foul and Asik completed the three point play.</li>
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<h4><br></h4>
<h4>Thoughts on DeMarcus Cousins:</h4>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">It's worth noting that DeMarcus Cousins made a huge impact on this game. In the first half the Rockets had no answers for him and he cruised to 14 points while putting three fouls on Omer Asik.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Asik didn't seem accustomed to Cousins' quick catch and move style and failed to force Cousins to take bad shots. What Cousins wanted, he got. There was little redirection.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">In the third quarter, Cousins picked up two fouls within the first two minutes of play and was sent to the bench with three total. From that point on, the Rockets offense transformed.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Without Cousins' tattoo-covered headband-wearing lightpole-built frame standing in the lane the Rockets found the shots they wanted. Rockets drives that ended with a missed floater or an up-and-under in the first half turned into layups and dunks in the second half.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">On the eye test I would say you want to go at Cousins. He makes bad decisions and it seems like you can put easy fouls on him. But tonight several of Cousins fouls in this game came on loose ball fouls.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Tell us in the comments. What do you think about Cousins and the best way to stop him?</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Do you think Terrence Jones deserves a start?</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Do things look just fine right now or should we OMG change everything?</div>
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<h4>Three Is A <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Magic</a> Number:</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Three is a magic number <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU4pyiB-kq0" href="http://t.co/cGocQsD8bT">youtube.com/watch?v=aU4pyi…</a></p>
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/319667858231664641">April 4, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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https://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/4/4/4181880/parsons-jones-drive-rockets-past-kings-112-102Max Croes2013-04-03T20:00:07-05:002013-04-03T20:00:07-05:00Game #75: Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Amidst a whirlwind of indecision in the city of Sacramento, the Kings are still struggling to secure some semblance of consistency on an NBA court. Former Rockets Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes will welcome the Rockets to the Sleep Train Arena late tonight.</p> <table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="5" border="1" height="666" align="center" width="577" cellpadding="5"><tbody> <tr><th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">2012/2013 NBA Season</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"> <center><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/91861/Houston_medium.gif" alt="Houston_medium"></center> <center>(41-33)<br> </center> </td> <th align="center" width="20">@</th> <td width="240"><center><center> <p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2145031/SacramentoKings.jpeg" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2145031/SacramentoKings_medium.jpeg" alt="Sacramentokings_medium"></a> <br id="1365029803122"></p> <p>(27-47)</p> </center></center></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>April 3rd, 2013</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3">Sleep Train Arena</td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>9:00 PM CST</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>CSNH, CSAC</strong></td></tr> <tr><th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Jeremy Lin</span></span></span></span></span></span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240"><span>Isaiah Thomas</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>James Harden</span></span></span></span></span></span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>Tyreke Evans</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Chandler Parsons</span></span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>John Salmons</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Greg Smith</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Jason Thompson</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Omer Asik</span></span></span></span></span></span></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td width="240"><span>DeMarcus Cousins</span></td> </tr> <tr><th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>2012/13 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;">93.3 (9th of 30)</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240"><span style="line-height: 9px;">92.7 (10th of 30)</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">106.3 (12th of 30)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240"><span style="line-height: 9px;">101.0 (27th of 30)</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">111.3 (29th of 30)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240"><span style="line-height: 9px;">107.0 (22nd of 30)</span></td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><p>Also see: <a href="http://www.sactownroyalty.com/" target="_blank">Sactown Royalty</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/sactownroyalty" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) | <a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/4/3/4180774/complete-coverage-houston-rockets-vs-sacramento-kings" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Stream</a></p></th></tr> </tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Injuries:</strong></p>
<p><span>Carlos Delfino</span>: sore right foot, probable tonight</p>
<p>James Harden: sore right foot, questionable tonight</p>
<p><span>James Johnson</span>: personal, questionable tonight</p>
<p><strong>Tweets:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"> <p>Why stop at TWO? <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%235minuteabs">#5minuteabs</a> RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/speeeeer">speeeeer</a> with 20 mil in cap space is it possible we can add TWO stars rather than one?</p>— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/319542654356557825">April 3, 2013</a> </blockquote>
<p><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"> <p>Kings' 4 former Rockets and Rockets' 3 former Kings are both the most in the NBA. That includes 1, Brooks, who previously played for both.</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/319623680885927936">April 4, 2013</a> </blockquote>
<p><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"> <p>Chuck Hayes' God-daughter with the Anthem. Pretty strong performance, too. And yes, that does make him the Godfather.</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/319632349178503168">April 4, 2013</a> </blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/thomasfenoglio" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Follow @thomasfenoglio</a></p>
<p><strong>The conversation starts now.</strong></p>
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<legend>Poll</legend>
<h5 class="poll-title">Which player is most likely to be on the floor at the end of the fourth quarter tonight?</h5>
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<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">46%</div>
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<h5>James Harden</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">72</span> votes</div>
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<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">21%</div>
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<h5>Jeremy Lin</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">32</span> votes</div>
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</div>
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<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">8%</div>
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<h5>Omer Asik</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">13</span> votes</div>
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<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">15%</div>
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<h5>Patrick Beverley</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">23</span> votes</div>
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</div>
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<div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">10%</div>
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<h5>Aaron Brooks</h5>
<div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">16</span> votes</div>
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<p class="poll-total-votes"><strong>156</strong> votes
| <span class="poll-has-closed">Poll has closed</span>
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https://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/4/3/4180680/game-75-houston-rockets-vs-sacramento-kingsthomasfenoglio2013-04-03T08:00:08-05:002013-04-03T08:00:08-05:00Rockets-Kings game preview
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<img alt="You know he wants this one. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IYDbJ8i915G9Z7ix8NuvJxHuTzo=/0x220:2580x1940/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/10834557/20130306_gav_ax5_368.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>You know he wants this one. | Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Rockets start their 3-game road trip tonight with a visit to Sacramento to take on the Kings. </p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/houston-rockets-tickets?pubid=82148">Houston Rockets Tickets</a></p>
<p>Big game. Need it. It matters too much.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> will likely have both James Harden and Chandler Parsons back tonight as they start a 3-game road trip out West. Tonight's the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Kings</a>, Friday it's the Blazers, and Saturday it's the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> for the second to last back-to-back of the season.</p>
<p>I've got the Rockets going 2-1 here, and that's exactly what has to happen. 1-2 won't cut it and drops the Rockets into dangerous territory. 0-3 means the panic button needs to be pushed. The teams behind the Rockets aren't losing unless they're playing each other right now. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a>, and Mavs all got hot at the same time. That's bad news for the <strike>Bears</strike> Rockets.</p>
<p>But 2-1 keeps us afloat and headed to the playoffs. Tonight is step one: beating a team that you should beat. It's also a revenge game for the Rockets. When these teams last met in Sacramento, the Rockets played well but the Kings missed absolutely nothing late in the game. Also that game was before the Thomas Robinson trade.</p>
<p>And just in case anyone cares, I hope the Kings stay in Sacramento. The people of Seattle deserve a team, but if they get the Kings that would be the most hypocritical thing ever since they whined about how the Sonics were part of their identity as a city and shouldn't have been taken from them. I'm all for expansion, but not for taking away a team. It's not Sacramento's fault that the Maloofs (Malooves?) are idiots. They don't deserve this.</p>
<p><b>Tip-off at 9pm CST.</b></p>
<p>Other meaningful games before the Rockets play again on Friday:</p>
<p>Today:</p>
<p>Nuggets vs. Jazz (8pm CST)</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">Hornets</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> (9:30pm)</p>
<p>Thursday:</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> vs. Nuggets (8pm)</p>
<p><b>PG: <span>Jeremy Lin</span> vs. <span>Isaiah Thomas</span></b></p>
<p>Thomas absolutely carried the Kings late in the last meeting. He couldn't miss and the Rockets couldn't keep the shifty guard in front of them. Much like <span>J.J. Barea</span>, Thomas can dictate a game by his quickness when he's hitting his shots and getting to the rim.</p>
<p>It's imperative that the Rockets corral the young guard and put the onus on him to defend them at the other hand. Lin has to run about 8,000 pick-and-rolls tonight.</p>
<p><i>Advantage: Even</i></p>
<p><b>SG: <span>James Harden</span> vs. <span>Tyreke Evans</span></b></p>
<p>Evans' totals are down across the board due to fewer minutes, but his shooting numbers are all more than respectable (48-33-78) and better than his career averages.</p>
<p>Harden's foot issues will be something to keep an eye on for the rest of the season.</p>
<p><i>Advantage: Houston</i></p>
<p><b>SF: <span>Chandler Parsons</span> vs. <span>John Salmons</span></b></p>
<p>It's impossible to know how Parsons is feeling. He only got through half of practice yesterday and now</p>
<p><i>Advantage: Houston</i></p>
<p><b>PF: <span>Greg Smith</span> vs. <span>Jason Thompson</span></b></p>
<p>I'm assuming Smith gets the nod again. Thompson is a handful and usually gets a lot of shots around the rim. He's young and athletic. This will be a great matchup.</p>
<p>Also, this matchup leads to today's poll question.</p>
<p><i>Advantage: Sacramento</i></p>
<p><b>C: <span>Omer Asik</span> vs. <span>DeMarcus Cousins</span></b></p>
<p>When Cousins plays well, the Kings generally win. When he plays poorly and whines like a baby, they usually lose.</p>
<p>Hopefully Asik brings the pacifier tonight.</p>
<p>Also, if any Kings fans come over here I'd like to hear their opinions regarding DMC. The overall opinion I think is that he has potential but he's immature.</p>
<p><i>Advantage: Even</i></p>
<p><b>Bench:</b></p>
<p>The Kings will trot out <span>Patrick Patterson</span>, <span>Chuck Hayes</span>, <span>Toney Douglas</span>, and <span>Marcus Thornton</span>.</p>
<p>The Rockets have <span>Patrick Beverley</span>, <span>Carlos Delfino</span>, <span>Thomas Robinson</span>, <span>Francisco Garcia</span>, and <span>Donatas Motiejunas</span>.</p>
<p>Three of those Kings guys look awfully familiar.</p>
<p><i>Advantage: Houston</i></p>
<p><i></i><b>Prediction: Rockets pull out a gritty win, 108-103. </b></p>
<p>For a Kings perspective, check out <a href="http://www.sactownroyalty.com/" target="_blank"><b>Sactown Royalty</b></a></p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/4/3/4174866/houston-rockets-vs-sacramento-kings-game-previewArmin Khansari