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Kings vs. SuperSonics
Tuesday, October 9, 2007 – ARCO Arena
Kings win 104-98
NBA Recap || Box Score || Kings-Sonics Highlights

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Coach Reggie Theus and the Kings opened the 2007-08 preseason with a win, 104-98, over the Seattle SuperSonics Tuesday night at ARCO Arena.

"We played together," Mike Bibby said. "I've been saying it for a long time, when we play together, we do good things."

Heading into his first game as the Kings coach, Reggie wanted to see a renewed sense of team. He did. The Kings hard work in the 10 practices in seven days that led up to their first exhibition game paid off. Mike Bibby picked his man up defensively full court the duration of the game. Brad Miller, head of cornrows and all, made it up and down the court better than ever, showing off the svelte look that had been widely publicized. And the Kings leading scorer from a year ago, Kevin Martin, scored with such efficiency and ease that not one of the Sonics defenders had a remote chance of slowing him down. Martin finished the game, as we have grown accustomed, perfect from the charity stripe (12), shooting 63 percent (seven of 11) from the field and leading all scorers.

Rookie phenom Kevin Durant finished the game with a respectable 12 point outing, but it came with a struggle early on to get comfortable in his first professional game. Durant scored just four points, turned the ball over twice and committed four fouls in his 11 first-half-minutes. The Kings shooting guard, Martin, did his part to welcome the first year Sonics guard to the league, scoring many of his 18 first-half-points against Durant's defense.

"I think he’s best at moving without the ball," Durant said of Martin. "He goes backdoor very quick, comes off screens, he can shoot the ball off screens. So it’s a tough matchup for anyone to check him."

Fellow Sonics rookie Jeff Green finished the game with four points, two boards and four turnovers.

Nine of the 10 Kings players that saw action played 15 or minutes. Of those, Quincy Douby showed greatly improved confidence playing the combo guard. The second year guard scored 11 points, snatched two steals and directed the Kings attack with a calmness that hadn't been demonstrated during Douby's rookie season.

"I was just trying to do what we were going through in practice," Douby said. "Coach was telling me to pressure the ball, communicate with my teammates and take control of the team because playing the point guard you have to direct your teammates and get everybody involved. I was just trying to get people the ball in open spots and look for my shot too."

Douby and third year guard Orien Greene keyed in disrupting the Sonics passing lanes. Greene had three steals and made his presence felt while defending Delonte West and Earl Watkins who combined for seven of the Sonics game-high 28 turnovers.

Ron Artest led all players with four steals. Artest also chipped in 12 points and grabbed six boards.

During the game, as he always does, Reggie was very composed and clearly enjoyed his first game as the Kings leading man. A number of times he pulled players over to the sideline to teach them different ways of playing a defensive possession or directing an offensive play. The player's hard work and attention have been constants during training camp and it was encouraging to see it unfold during the course of the game.

"The coach’s relationship with his players is very important," Theus said. "From day one these guys have listened. These guys have been in tune and want to hear what I have to say. From my perspective that’s all I can ask."

Closing thought:

When asked what his first impression of Brad Miller's cornrow hairdo, Kevin Martin smiled and said, "Kevin Federline."

And when Mike Bibby was asked if he had any advice for Brad's new do, Mike Bibby said, "Don't do that again!"

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