What a game. What. a. game.

Game and Player Recaps after the jump, as well as Kingsflix video.

The Kings started the 2nd half a little bit like the first.  Tyreke wasn't in the game and at first I thought coach was actually punishing him for what I considered lazy defense (we'll go into it in the player recaps) but it turns out he was sick.  He came back and this time, the Beast Mode was on, carrying this team on his back.  The defense was better this half, and the rebounding was much better, thanks to Dalembert.  The Kings managed to cut the lead some more, although it almost was ruined by a head scratching turnover by Luther Head at the end of the quarter when he simply threw the ball straight to DeMar Derozan, who missed an open jumper, probably because he was so surprised.

Player Recaps:

Omri Casspi:  Another player who struggled in the first half, especially with his outside shot, which wasn't falling.  He also was having difficulty guarding the physical Linas Kleiza.  He came out with a renewed passion in the 2nd half, and this time his shot was good.  He hit some absolutely huge ones, including the dagger that put us up by 8 late in the game.  Omri also had a couple hustle plays that saved the possession for the Kings, including one where he dished to DeMarcus for the great finish.  Omri was already a steal at where we drafted him last year, but how much of a steal seems to be increasing with each game.

DeMarcus Cousins:  Cousins struggled perhaps the most to start the game.  You could tell he did not know how to guard an atypical guy like Bargnani, who was using his quickness and shooting ability to fake him, beat him off the dribble, and get open.  The whole team had trouble guarding Bargnani, but especially DMC.  When he came back into the came, he switched onto Evans on defense and Landry would cover Bargnani.  DeMarcus struggled on the boards defensively tonight, mainly because he didn't try as hard as Reggie Evans.  He had good position, but he would wait for the ball instead of going to it, while Evans took the opportunity to steal it away.  It cost us early in the game and perhaps DeMarcus will learn to respect the rebounding ability of all these NBA players soon.  He more than made up for it with his performance in the 4th quarter though, grabbing a few offensive boards, and taking it inside repeatedly.  10 points in the quarter for DMC, and at times we were riding him to the finish line.  He only played 17 minutes because of foul trouble, which still is the biggest worry with him, but he's making the most of his time, and I like how he's shown a tendency to come up big in the clutch so far in this young season.

Jason Thompson:  JT probably played his best game so far this season, finally hitting his shots, and playing within his abilities, instead of out of control as he has seemed at times.  He was a big reason for us playing better in the 2nd quarter.

Donté Greene:  I was surprised and a little dismayed that Westphal didn't put in Greene when he was putting in guys like Wright and Dalembert in for defense, especially when guys like Kleiza and Bargnani kept killing us.  But I have to say this for Greene, he was the ultimate teammate, the first one off the bench to celebrate with his teammates and congratulate them.  When Omri hit that dagger three?  Donté was the first to run out and chest bump him.  Perhaps Westphal feels he isn't in the best shape yet.  I hope Donté finds a role in the rotation sometime soon though.

Final Notes: Now I can't tell you how excited I am that we have started this season 3-1, especially with all the adrenaline still flowing through my veins after this game, but there are some warning signs.  This team continues to let opposing teams get wide open threes.  This team continues to spot opposing teams big leads in the first half.  Yes we've managed to come back in all four of our games so far, winning three of them, but had we played better competition, we'd likely be 0-4 right now.  This is not a playoff team with the way the defense is playing right now.  But with some defensive effort, 48 minutes of the game and not just the last 24? Maybe.

Kingsflix Video:

(You can hear the end of the "Beat LA" chant at the beginning of this interview with Dalembert)