What’s left to say about the Sacramento Kings? The Kings, as they have done many times this year, came out flat against an opponent missing many of their best players. The Kings dug themselves out of an early hole, but could never really pull ahead. The Kings allowed a run in the third quarter. The Kings tried to fight back but it was too little too late.
I wrote that summary halfway through the third. I could have written it before the game. It’s the same show we’ve seen all season. The opponents change, the stats vary, but the results are largely predictable.
Tonight it just happened to be the Atlanta Hawks.
Let’s get into the specifics. The first three quarters should not be spoken of again. They were some of the ugliest basketball the Kings have played all season. The Kings showed some fight in the fourth quarter, but as I said before it was too little, too late.
The real shame of this game is that both De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton were fantastic. Fox had 30 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal, and was dominant in the fourth quarter. Tyrese Haliburton had 24 points, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. For all the questions of how these two can fit together, this game gave us answers. The problem was the complete disappearing act of the rest of the roster and a complete lack of defense.
Buddy Hield was the only other Kings player to score in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Buddy put the nail in the Kings coffin with a late three that missed absolutely everything. Complete airball.
None of the Kings bigs could get going. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu stifled Sacramento inside throughout the game. They each finished with two blocks but felt like a far bigger impact.
Kevin Huerter came off the bench for Atlanta and picked apart the Kings defense, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Aside from Huerter, the Hawks won as a team. All five starters scored in double digits. Cam Reddish had 18 points, and Delon Wright had 15 in his return to Sacramento. It was easy to forget that the Hawks were without Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and John Collins.
Watching Kings games at this point in the season feels like a waste of time. The losses are predictable not just in the outcome, but in the way the game will play out. I’m tired of watching the same old thing, but at least we got a nice showing from Fox and Hali.
The Kings next game is on the road against the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
Apathy yawns. Fox stock value is up though. Do your thing Monte, but yes pending dumbass Vivek approval
Good. Don’t need anymore bullshit barely-wins against depleted teams. We need embarrassing losses like this to pile up. Let the stupidity of chasing a playoff spot with this crappy roster be apparent. Embarrass Vivek’s dismissive little ass as much as possible.
One step closer to doing something? Anything?
I wonder now if we are totally fucked because if Kings lose, Vivek has his fall guy in Monte.
I used to think losing would force Vivek’s hand but now I don’t know if anything will.
Look, it’s tough having to go up against a team missing half its players. That means you’re trying to play defense against a bunch of guys you don’t have much film on.
– Kayte H.
The bright spot is she is far more insightful than Kyle ! Very low bar !
I like Kayte, but this does make things awkward.
Yea, she’s pretty bad huh
Started out ok, but dropping major shill shells recently. Draper is getting into the act too. Sad
Right, I guess Kyle was on Dlo and KC last week dropping all kinds of nonsense abt how great the team is looking.
I like Kayte but the shill is indeed getting to be too much. That is a shit product out there. Saying that the nobody players do well because there is no film on them is a loooooooooooooooooooooong stretch of reality. There is film on Huerter and Reddish
It’s what the fans just don’t understand!
Where does Vivek find these people?
Bargain bin
As I said above-kinda—Vivek doesn’t find these people, he makes them by not tolerating anything but his vision-positive takes on Kings etc. Bend or don’t work for Kings.
Vivek has set up a toxic work environment. He’s an ass
That’s real? I thought you were being sarcastic.
Kayte is terrible and it’s obvious Vivek lauds over her and all things Kings and dissent or criticism is not allowed.
Also thought it was sarcasm. Kayte’s smart and a good basketball analyst, but her need to defend the indefensible is her Achilles heel.
I still like her in this role and she is learning so I’ll give her more time, but her unconditional love of TT is what is going to do me in!
I’m back to having the sound off, but that is less a condemnation of the broadcast team – just watching this shitshow is almost more than I can take.
I’m at the point where I consider the broadcast comedy. She’s trying to work up excitement for something I can tell she has no excitement for. It’s a major league grind.
I don’t know if she’s a horrific analyst or not, but I know as long as the current constraints are in place she will be. I think both Kayte and Kyle are at the point where it’s more fun to root for the players succeeding than actually talking about the game in a real way because it’s simply too depressing.
I would suspect if you had a new ownership attitude or new ownership you would hear a very different tone than you are hearing now.
Maybe, but both make watching the game less enjoyable !
What is it going to take for Monte to make a deal? Tiered of watching this squad do their thing every night. At this point, I don’t want to hear about the 10th seed. Blow this up
Hope Monte understands that green lights mean go and not caution !
Guessing that Monte is rapidly reaching the point that the only way possible to save his job is to do something big. Playing it safe doesn’t provide him any cover. He has to do something. Although I would hate to see Hali, Davion or Richaun go in trade something has to change. It’s imperative.
Shit, the game went about as expected. The only thing I was looking forward was Alvin Gentry’s comments after the game regarding Fox’s repeat of last night’s dumb ass play of the game when he didn’t pick up the ball with 12.4 seconds to go and Coach Gentry’s comments could be clearly heard over the silence of the crowd.
So when Gentry came up for his post game comments suddenly the mike went out. I smell a conspiracy.
LOL. So they had some nice counting stats together on the offensive side of the ball (there are two sides), against a mediocre team decimated by covid, proceed to lose against said mediocre, decimated team and we got answers?
Please tell us what these answers are?
I think that the question is less about whether Fox and Hali can share a backcourt (they can), and more about how you go about fixing the roster while retaining both players. I don’t know that it can be done, given that the rest of the roster lacks the value that would bring in a trajectory-changing talent. Other than trading out Fox or Hali or the rest of this century’s draft picks, I just don’t see a way up.
Trade fox, haliburton and the rest of the losers. We need a team not individual stat stuffers (mostly in reference to fox)
I’m fine with trading anyone/everyone on this roster, and Fox and Hali would probably yield the highest return. And the reason that they would yield the highest return is because neither of them suck. They are both fine players that other teams would look at and determine that they would be better players if they were playing with better players.
They are not saviors. But they not losers, either. They are just currently trapped in a losing organization.
Nail meet head.
Actually, I am still not convinced they can. (I mean, everybody can share a backcourt, obviously, but I still have not seen enough not think they can do it in a manner that makes the team function at it’s highest level).
It seems that Tyrese is capable of integrating into facilitating the style of Fox and still be efficient as a scorer, but at the expense of clicking with the other players on the court and elevanting their game.
I also think that the two of them together create serious issues at the defensive side, because they are both weak at the point of attack. That almost requires you to play Davion or Harkless alongside them, and then you have serious rebounding issues.
I could go on and on but then I realize that it’s all moot as long as the culture here doesn’t change from the top down.
They would be a perfectly fine backcourt if they were not your team’s two best players. That is, plug that backcourt in with (say) Jayson Tatum and you’re not perfect, but you’re in business. But Jayson Tatum ain’t walking through that door. And my guess is that you’re not getting anyone better than Fox or Hali without dealing one of Fox or Hali.
The team sucks, and it’s easy to target the top players when that happens (see Cousins, Evans, Martin…). But this is really more about casting. Neither Fox or Hali or all-stars or top end talent at this point (or perhaps ever), but let’s not present them as being the problem just because they are not the cure. With better talent around them, they would be much better players (see Wiggins). Again, that is highly, highly unlikely to happen. What is more likely to happen is that at least one of them gets traded and goes on to be a much better player if/when surrounded by better talent.
Just to clarify, is this addressed to me?
It is addressed to this statement:
I don’t think that they are culpable for the level that this team is functioning at. That is, I think that the (lack of) talent level, roster imbalance and poor coaching from the get-go are to blame.
Fox and Hali are neither cause nor cure.
I think my statement is not wrong when looking at the roster.
But in any event, it is quite a jump to take that statement as equal to presenting the two of them as being the problem.
Especially when you also read my final paragraph of that post.
Oh screw it. Let’s go all in and trade everything for fat Zion, hope he goes on a diet and get miraculously healthy.
What is sad is that the Pels would not do it !
1 v 5 offense?
Fox and Tyrese were terrific on Offense and almost terrifically terrible on Defense ! Soft as mush ! Check numbers for Wright and Huerter !
Nice to see 2018 NBA draft pick Kevin Huerter’s development.
Perfect.
What’s that you want an update on the 2018 draft?
Tied in 37th place for VORP from that draft at -0.2
Marvin
Metu
Ray Spalding
Melvin Frazier
Kostas Antetokounmpo
Woooo!
can somebody give me a Rick Flair gif?
I’m pretty sure Bagley’s only 2 made shots were on offensive rebound putback dunks. They guy couldn’t make anything outside of 1 foot. Nice second jump, though. They guy has become a bouncy Reggie Evans
KD dropping the “Marvin doing the Moses Malone” as he missed his two put backs, and I’m thinking the low hanging fruit here is to call him NOses Malone.
Also, Bizzaro Moses theory might explain kangz defense parting like the Red Sea.
Guy can,t make a shot outside 1 foot ether. How many threes did he take last night? How many did he make? Is there anyone on the staff that can show bagley the math when you put arch on your hook shoot?
No offense or real O theory-coaching means Bags jacking up a lot of shots. Sometimes more 3s than Hali.
It’s idiotic. How about a coach who puts people in best position to succeed?
For Bags, that’s on the bench-heyoooo
His touch in this game was like trickle down economics …
Watching opposing teams target Buddy/Bagley every possession on offense is so frustrating. I can’t wait until they’re gone
Good Lin
Hope clown Ranadive backs off or is held accountable, as this should be a tank job
But Im very encouraged by how Fox has looked at the last three games after I left him nearly for dead. Hopefully there is sound reasoning for why he has been bad this year
Everyone should be made tradeable. Blow it up!
Unfortunately, the stupid play-in, which will likely be a permanent fixture of the league, will keep this team in the playoff hunt all season.
And if — a big if – the Kings managed to make the playoffs by winning two play-in games, I will still consider the drought intact.
I don’t disagree, but I think that along with the Kings org, many fans will celebrate a play-off season after a 34 win season and sneaking in via the play-in as an absolute win.
And even scarier, seeing it as a validation of the current roster which would only require some minor tinkering to make the next “step”.
The darkest of timelines.
And unfortunately, the most likely timeline.
Finally gaining some downward traction. This season is a complete wash
Stay salty.
Bend over
i feel sorry for anyone who has to watch this team. Apathy has set in for me about 3 years ago.
Present to you all.
PLAY of the DAY……..
That’s the type of DEFENSE that we needed for 48 mins…….
Perhaps we should play more Harkless ? (which means less Bagley)
Harkless and Davion are the only ones who consistently fight over screens.
When Gentry laments the switching on D he is either covering his ass (doesn’t seem the type) or basically calling out his players for not fighting through screens.
you are damn right about it…
Players who sometimes fight over screens – Fox ,Tyrese
Players NEVER fight over screen – Bagley………
Bagley again is one of the defensive problem, he just consistently switch, resulting in way too many match-up, and the opponents score the basket easily.
That Delon Wright – Tristan Thompson trade looked like a dividend payer last night.
We have too many guards. I know what I’ll do, draft another guard.
-mcgenius
I still have so many unanswered questions about that trade.
Unless TT can be flipped in package by the deadline, that trade was a total failure.
And before folks say that TT brings veteran leadership and a positive locker room culture, I present to you Vince Carter, Shumpert, Ariza, Temple, etc and so f#@king what.
I don’t see how that would change anything. Delon could be flipped at the deadline too.
Monte spent two 2nd rounders to obtain Wright to move an expiring Joseph (he did have a small partial guarantee for 2021). So I see it as a waste of 2nd rounders for a half season rental of Wright then moving him for TT. That’s currently placing the trade in the red in my book. TT would need to garner a return that is more than Wright’s value to make if worthwhile. I guess we will wait and see.
TT was a desperation move by Monte b/c he wasn’t sure he could resign Holmes.
He signed Holmes on August 6th.
The trade went through August 7th.
He had already signed Damian Jones in April.
Even after that, he signed Neemias on a two way (Aug 8th) and Alex Len on August 13th.
The Kings also came to terms with Len on Aug. 2nd, they then guaranteed Metu and Jones on Aug. 10th
Metu had a partial guarantee. His contract wasn’t fully guaranteed until Dec 1st.
The TT deal was announced July 30, but not finalized until Aug 7.
That still makes no sense.
So, the plan prior to Aug. 7th was to amass Jones, TT, Len, Montrezl Harrell, and possibly Holmes?
Go with what you are saying and eliminate Holmes, the TT deal still raises questions about what the heck was Monty’s plan.
It appears that Monte makes deals in anticipation of future deals…but the future deals never come.
It appears that Monte makes deals in anticipation of future front offices.
Oh wait, that’s my anticipation.
He’s providing veteran leadership on how to be a lady’s man.
The original Wright trade was probably the best non-draft move this front office made. And then they negated it with a Divac-level deal. It’s baffling.
My guess is that they wanted to open up minutes for Davion and needed depth (this was before they knew they were going to sign Len) behind Holmes because they lacked that last season. And it’s not as if Len doesn’t have injury issues of his own.
I don’t think this is anywhere near a Divac level deal, however. Wright, those 2nd round picks, and Thompson just aren’t needle movers as assets. They are also easy enough to acquire for a reason. I don’t really understand why Wright doesn’t have more value around the league, but he just doesn’t for whatever reason.
The Kings have been able to acquire Metu, Jones, and King without using a 2nd round pick. Queta IS a 2nd round pick and he’s not even signed to a standard exhibit 10 contract right now as he’s a two way contract (TWC) player.
My point here is I think you are arguing about which is the most valuable of the small nuts when small nuts aren’t as valuable as large nuts. The difference in millimeter size matter very little in the grand scheme.
Sounds like a Kayte talk around rationalization for a mistake !
Like what Fox and Haliburton did, but at some point the FO needs to fix this team. If you have no way to attack an inside presence like Capela, you aren’t winning games in this league consistently.
Otherwise it’s pretty much the same shit with this team.
There was a point in the game where Atlanta didn’t score a point for like 6 minutes of game time and the Kings were only able to take like a 1 or 2 point lead during that stretch.
Man the Kings just suck. You can’t win games if you can’t even take advantage of the soft balls teams lob at you.
The best part was the broadcast team kept pointing it out, but only focusing on the fact that the Hawks couldn’t score.
It seemed like they didn’t even notice the corresponding ineptitude of the Kings and their utter failure to take control of the game during that stretch!
When you can’t point it out, you pretend.
The Kings Pass is one of the best values in basketball, and yet, I am still completely happy with my decision to cancel it.
Not sure what article this is from, but ouch!
Truth. Same goes with Miami, Golden State and San Antonio. Does anyone thing Duncan Robinson, Gary Payton II, or Chris Boucher would have been developed and successful in Sac?
That’s cold-blooded, but true. I have felt all these players we missed on in the draft would be shells of their current selves had they ended up in a Kings uniform (ie. Doncic, Curry, Klay, etc.)
And a big part of the issue is that there has been no commitment to anything sustainable. The problem has been that there has been the Silicon Valley approach, i.e. Vivek Ranadive, to managing this NBA team. Competing factions isn’t going to get the Kings what they are after here, but somehow, and it’s not just Ranadive, it’s the ownership group that doesn’t seem to get it.
But at some point they get that you get your basketball front office, coaching staff and players on the same page…..or you get dysfunction and hope that someday all will be well.
We’ve gotten a lot of the latter. It’d be nice for some of the former for a change.
Yep. This a very astute observation. It’s also a garbage way to treat folks. It turns your company into reality TV, where sabotaging your coworkers is as good as out competing them.
There are some companies who have teams after the same goal and don’t know the other is doing it, and I could maybe see how that works because it takes the sabotage away, but that can’t work in the NBA. You can’t have Joe Dumars and Monte McNair calling front offices with different trades. Not that they’re doing that, but as Nate said, competing factions just doesn’t work unless you’re selling controversy, so basically reality TV , TV news and politics.
One more time because it helps me feel better.
Vivek- you are an asshole. Get the fuck out please.
Assuming this happens and Vivek Ranadive is no longer the managing partner, why are we assuming anyone else in this ownership group is any better? Is it because we don’t know, or is there another reason?
The only thing I assume at this point is that this organization is a clown show and it will remain a clown show. I say that without a drop of humor or sarcasm.
This is really a response to both Carl and yourself Marty.
Agreed on the Maloofs. Don’t agree on the LoA. There’s a lot of things that are required of quality ownership. Willingness to deal with the frustration of the fans, proper amount of resources among them. Not everyone does it the same way but you have to incentivize the right behaviors. That has not happened with this ownership group, and unless Vivek is entirely acting solo (he’s not) there’s more going on here than what is being said. I think much of the issue is there’s just too many voices in the room offering input and everyone’s idea is “important.”
This organization is a national punchline, and it’s not because of how many years they’ve missed the playoffs in a row.
Law of averages. You could get someone worse, but what percentage of people are worse? I would roll the dice on trading Vivek for another rando rich person and be pretty confident they would be better. From a basketball ops perspective, the Maloofs were better owners than Vivek. For most of their ownership, they hired competent people, stayed out of the way, and allowed for a rebuild. That probably started to change toward the end, where they were out of money, but I’d still put them above Vivek in terms of basketball ops.
Rec’d. The (un)funny thing is that it is completely contradictory to the approach of his dream organization, the Dubs.
Case in point: Jordan Poole. A very nice piece in The Athletic (from Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson II) the other day was written about his development from day one and how the Dubs have gone about helping him grow.
Just read a similar thing about Desmond Bane from Mike Vorkunov in The Athletic too.
And there are others, plenty of others. When’s the last time this organization had that sort of development success?
Kevin Martin
It’s true. There’s been no development of players since Petrie. One could argue that Peja, Hedo, and Gerald Wallace were all developed under Petrie. KMart might have been the last.
IT, but that was really all about him and the chip on his shoulder.
I’d say IT, too, personally, but like Rob I think that was mostly IT proving he belongs in the NBA. It’s amazing the guy probably will never eclipse the 50 million earnings mark because of how short he is.
Just as an addendum, but he’s only made a tick over 33 million to this point in his career. Hope he’s made great investments.
Look what they did with Wiggins, too.
True, I think there’s a lot of development there. But I think they mostly reinvented him and that’s a different deal altogether. I left Andrew Wiggins off on purpose.
That said, the Dubs have very much killed that trade every which way coming and going regardless of how Wiseman and Kuminga turn out.
Man, to have the luxury of running your lottery picks out to the G League (Kuminga, Moody).
Yep, it’s a luxury. But they’ve used the G League well over the years for development. Other than Toronto, I don’t think anyone has done it as well.
I am running low on Hopeful.
The current situation is hopeless which is why there may be hope ! Just have no idea when !
3 possible outcomes of Monte making major changes: 1-Team gets worse and we get a top 5ish pick, which is good. 2- team stays the same, sucks but at least it’s new team lol and we already are used to it so no change. 3-team gets better and hopefully continues in that direction years thereafter (it has to happen one of these decades right). It cannot get worse, just blow it up.
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