The Sacramento Kings are riding high in the saddle after trouncing the Nets on national television to the tune of 153 points scored. But celebrations can’t last for too long. The young, upstart Spurs are in town and looking to knock the new found confidence of the Kings down a peg or two. Led by the timeless Coach Popovich and a bevy of experienced youth, the Spurs are only a few games out of an early playoff position themselves. Can the Kings keep this high-noon confidence a-comin’? Or will the young guns draw first? It’s early… my genre references aren’t really flowing quite yet… just… who win game? who shoot gooder? Movie reference, movie reference. Okay.
LETTTTTS TALLLLLK KIIIIIINGS BASKETBALL!
When: Tuesday, November 17th, 2022, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
For Your Consideration
Once Upon a Time in the West(ern Conference): I’m still a bit hungover from that Nets wolloping. Like, I know it happened, my eyes and skin are a bit drier and redder than usual basking in the glow of national praise and excitement over this Kings squad and staying up later than usual to laugh at the general chaos and positive pandemonium that only 153 points and embarrassing a superstar can provide. This isn’t the first time in the last 16 years that the Kings have started decent or that good vibes were felt. We have a long time between now and knowing if this squad is actual good, not just making us feel good – BUT I will say, actually being entertained by the local entertainment industry team is a fantastic start.
Okay onto the game tonight, where in years past I could fiddle fart around on this preview knowing full well the Kings were gonna look past this game and let all the good feelings go to waste. Sacramento, at home, after a big win against a young squad that they should absolutely beat – the timeless trap game. The Spurs have lost seven of their last eight games after starting the season with a 5-2 record and shuffling through a pile of young guys, hoping for a few to emerge as stars. With 11 players on the team rocking three or less years of NBA experience, Coach Popovich has stuck around to build one last testament to San Antonio’s glory, or die trying.
Led by 6’5 small forward Keldon Johnson’s 22.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists the Spurs offense plays fast (7th in pace) and loose (29th in turnovers) and at the end of the day, has them sitting at the 6th lowest offensive rating in the NBA and scoring at the exact middle point in the NBA (112 points per game). They’re not terrible just, playing as expected from a young NBA squad that hasn’t quite figured it out. 11th in three point percentage, 15th in two point percentage, and 29th in free throw percentage, the kids have enough there to keep the Kings honest, while also not striking the stereotypical Spurs amount of fear.
The defensive end of things is where this team truly, truly falls apart for San Antonio. They give up the most opponent points per game in the NBA, 119.5 a contest right now. For a team that just scored 153 on a slightly below average defensive team, seeing the third worst defensive rating in the league coming up on your schedule should be a moment of absolute goddamn glee. The Spurs allow teams to shoot 39.2% from deep (29th in the NBA) and 55.6% from inside the arc (24th) so, chances are, yeah, someone in Sacramento is getting HOT tonight. They’re bottom 10 in both steals and blocks and if there’s a bright shining like in San Antonio, it’s that they foul the third least in the NBA and give up the second least amount of free throw attempts, though, when you’re opponents are making everything they’re tossing up… there might not be much reason to foul.
The Spurs are, and will forever be, the Spurs. With Pop there, they’ve got a better than average shot at beating the Kings because the man has just earned that right. It could be you, me, two Lakers fans and someone just getting off their shift at Safeway and if Pops was coaching us, I’d say we have a decent shot at keeping the game close headed into the fourth. Do NOT under estimate the Spurs.
Prediction
Kings turn the f**king jets on. Thirty point games for everyone. Kevin Huerter looks like Reggie Miller, Domantas Sabonis looks like prime C-Webb, De’Aaron Fox goes for a triple-double and G1C is atomized into nothing by the collective, cathartic cheer of the beam being lit. Spurs keep it close till mid-fourth.
Kings: 131, Spurs:113
The Spurs started the season quite well
When most thought their year would be hell.
As we’re facing those Spurs,
To control what occurs,
I think we could use more cowbell!
real good right there
There once was a team from DOCO,
who had not won five in a row.
But bandaids and beams
could fulfill fan dreams –
Sacramento Kings
Go beat San Antonio
That’s all I will say
I’ve heard about Whataburger being a Texas thing. There was a Whataburger at the Dallas airport when I was there at the end of September but the long was HUGE, so I ended up missing out. 🙁
You didn’t miss out on anything. It’s just like a chicken place and a burger place combined and none of it is all that good. I honestly don’t understand why anyone actually likes the place. I haven’t been to one in a lot of years since I was in ATX, but it’s not all that good.
It’s just basic fast food honestly.
Kingsguru is right. My wife’s family lives all over Texas so I am there often. Whataburger is perfectly mediocre. De’aaron is just wrong on this one.
Whataburger is to Texans what In N Out is to Californians: It’s fine, but terribly overrated.
100% this.
Bingo. Sims hits it square on the head. I don’t care for In N Out either.
Turn the fking jets on, melt those cowboy spurs!
Pretty classical trap game.
Mike Brown knows this.
If Kings don’t get off to solid start: Time out !
Need to play our game.
Trap game,trap game, trap game……… running thru my fevered mind all day yesterday like an advertising jingle that you can’t unhear.
Interested to get a long look at Keldon Johnson. He’s definitely made the trade of DeJ Murray much more palatable, especially with so many extra draft picks.
I have watched a lot of Keldon last season and this season. Really fun player. High motor. Going to be a great value to contract for SA. He and Lauri Markannen were my two hopes for trading Barnes for over the summer.
I was just thinking the other day about how many mid and late first round Kentucky picks there are in the league that have really excelled. Kentucky has been a one and done school for some time, but generally all the high lottery picks get the press. Here is a quick list of Wildcats and where they were taken that took a year or three to really excel in the NBA, and all but one (Maxey) weren’t even the first Wildcat taken
Keldon Johnson (29), SGA (11), Devin Booker (13), Bam Adebeyo (14), Tyrese Maxey (21), Tyler Hero (13), Jared Vanderbilt (41!)
Also, out of 27 current ex-Kentucky players currently playing in the NBA, the Kings are tied with the Pistons for the most at 3, with Fox, Monk, and Lyles.
Interesting stuff, thank you for putting in the work!
I CAN’T WAIT FOR 7PM TO GET HERE !!!
(who is this person? Monte McNair’s little bitch, that’s who)
🙂
I find your fanboy takes even more amusing than your cynical Philly fan takes. And it’s not like those aren’t funny. I don’t quite get it, but I find myself chuckling a lot these days from multiple posters yourself included Marty.
If you don’t get it and still chuckle, you’ve left me both happy and confused.
That sounds like TD trying to lite the Beam.
You’re not confusing me Marty, I think it’s just the general vibe of this team and the reactions to it. I felt like this team was being written off far too early all along, I’m just surprised at the overwhelming positive reactions outside of a few people here or there.
The reason I brought it up is because I’m used to your cynical takes, the positive fanboy’ish takes are new. I’m still getting used to them, not that I mind. 🙂
I did not understand how much Sabonis would unlock Fox. I played o-line in football and middle infield in baseball, and can talk an insider game in those sports for sure. Without playing, the finer points of basketball very easily escape me, and that’s ok.
Ignorance doesn’t mean you’re dumb, it means you don’t know.
You’re right on ignorance. As far as Sabonis unlocking Fox, I was optimistic but it wasn’t super clear how any of it work without more shooting on the roster. And it remains unclear what the ceiling of this team in part due to rim protection/defensive issues and who the ‘3rd star’ is. (I believe that will be Keegan Murray, but time as always is the great equalizer in these deals.
I’m not a football guy, but I’ve long been of the opinion is the guys on the O line are the smartest players on the field because they have to know all the plays. Football is a complicated sport even if you don’t always see it on TV.
And that’s sports in general. We all miss things. That’s the beauty of a diverse community. Some of us spot things that others do not. 🙂
I don’t know about smartest, but lining up against a defensive tackle when YOU know what is about to happen? Without question, playing offensive line (I was a blocking tight end and had to know the blocking AND receiving plays) was the funnest thing I have ever done in my life. There is nothing like it.
I didn’t know that. I feel dumb.
They have 2 of these when you factor in Detroit Sunday afternoon. But….I think the matchup tonight will definitely be Sabonis vs Poeltl.
I’m really excited to see Jeremy Sochan. I haven’t seen much of anybody else this season so I’m kind of excited to see how much better Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are this season.
But mostly, I’m excited to see how the Kings come out and get after it. Do they come out with energy and effort? Or are we going to see a repeat of the Orlando or Charlotte game?
Awesome possum indeed.
Difference may be home vs. road. Harder to lay an egg at home. Harder but not impossible.
That’s never stopped us before
Fair. One thing I do like is that they are on a roll and seem like they want to continue this streak they are on.
This game is right there for the Kings …
Do not turn the balls over
That was done with intent.
I’m hearing Keldon Johnson and Doug McDermott are now both questionable for tonight’s game.
We’re cooked for sure!
I get the feeling that Mike Brown is not going to let the Kings just coast anymore. Doesn’t matter if you are Fox or Domas, if you don’t defend or hustle, you sit.
Gotta hope that’s true!
I am enjoying the confidence in the coaching staff, more than the roster to continue to push the Kings to compete. Just like one would expect from a Mike Brown mentor, Greg Popovich.
Mike Brown revenge game v4.0
I am already ready to transition from Kangz to Kingz, I am not quite ready to go from Z to S.
I love this. It perfectly describes where I am at in my fandom. I may need a Kingz shirt to remember this point in time. Regardless of where we go from here, I want to remember this moment of cautious trepidation teetering on optimism.
If you buy it, the TKH store will come!
Headed to the game. First time since Covid. Pretty pumped.
Go Kings!
Have fun!
If the kings lose, we know who to blame ???? have a good time!
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