Game #28-Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers
Arco Arena
December 26, 2009

Up in Sacramento for perhaps the last time in a long time since Keli’s family is possibly moving down to San Diego, but I thought this would be a perfect time to see a game during the Christmas weekend. What made it even better was that my Los Angeles Lakers are in town to play one of their most hated rivals in the NBA. This is not my first time at Arco, I did see a game about two years ago when the Sixers were in town but the look and feel of the arena was completely different. When Philly was in town, both teams were at the bottom of their respective divisions and the game was really sloppy. Botched passes, low scoring and missed dunks. This game…was electric. Again, the Lakers and Kings fans hate each other. I did throw on my “I Love L.A.” shirt and was a bit tentative about it, that is until we got into the arena. I would say about half the crowd were Lakers fans and there was plenty of purple and gold. Well even though the Kings are horrible again this year they always bring it when we are in town and this was no exception. Back and forth all game long, lots of highlights and dunks. Kobe Bryant had a good game, Lamar Odom was on point, Pau Gasol had a nice passing game and D Fish (Derek Fisher) was popping his patented rainbow shot. The game eventually went into double overtime and the Lakers pulled off the W. But I decided for our sanity, safety and to avoid any fights (everyone was drunk and yelling at each other) we left about 10 minutes early in the 112 to 103 game.

Notes on the arena: Arco arena is still considered a fairly new place to watch a game, but it has a very old feel about it. I can't figure it out; is it the all the wood used in it's construction which is great for home fans when they want to distract visiting teams because you can stomp your feet? Is it the fact that all the new arena's are built with tiers making the fans feel closer to the court rather than this design which takes the fans farther and farther away as you get to the higher and cheaper seats? Or is it the outdated scoreboard? Not sure but I know the team and the fans are screaming for a new place for the Kings. Other notables, the arena has a lot of jersey's hanging from the roof which is always cool and there is the ever present cowbells that litter the stands that became so famous when the Kings were the top of the division in the early 2000's.