Update: 10:15 PM
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings Friday 124-123 after another fourth quarter push by the youngsters that fell short. Zach LaVine led the team in scoring with 19 points in 25 minutes. Keegan Murray, who left the game with a reported left thumb injury, had a productive 16 minutes with 9 points and 5 rebounds (he was a +11). Domantas Sabonis racked up 5 fouls in just 17 minutes (and 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) while Dennis Schroder chipped in 4 fouls of his own in 21 minutes (6 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds).
Off the bench, Nique Clifford scored 15 points and had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal (and 5 fouls) in 26 minutes.
The Kings held the Blazers to just 27% from three in this one, but lost rebounds 50-38, fast break points 20-11, and points in the paint 62-46. They also sent the Blazers to the line 40 times (though the Blazers only made 28 of them).
From Earlier Preview:
The Sacramento Kings are in Portland tonight to try and improve upon a disastrous preseason opener against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. If you missed it, and I hope you did, Blake covered everything that went wrong defensively, and Bryant, ever the optimist (kidding), reviewed the lone bright spots: Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and the 3rd stringers who made an extremely ugly game look less ugly. Anyway, on to Portland. Who: Sacramento Kings (0-1) @ Portland Trail Blazers (0-1) Where: Moda Center, Portland, OR When: 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET Watch: NBA League Pass. The Kings will also be streaming it here. The storyline tonight is all about the starting unit. At times vs. Toronto, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine looked good. Keegan Murray’s defensive effort was strong, but he didn’t show up offensively. Dennis Schröder and DeMar DeRozan were downright bad. It’s only one preseason game, blah blah blah insert all the caveats you want here, but it wasn’t good, and the Kings only have four total preseason games this year. There isn’t a ton of time to figure this out. Go Kings.
Preseason preview articles for the Sacramento Kings really walk that fine line between amazing fandom and just plain insanity!
I didn’t watch the first game, but I saw that the lineup was Schroder, Lavine, DDR, Keegan and Sabonis. Did it look as janky as I expect it did? Will we ever see Keon start over DDR?
Starting lineup had 7 assists. 4 from DeMar. So yes it was extremely janky.
I’m not holding my breath.
Wish Doug would realize this and make the move. Nique and Demar could play the forward spots off the bench, then Carter could see more time at the 2. More defense in with the starters and more off the bench, it’s a win-win!
94 feet!
If I ever attempted a marathon, I’d look like the person in front after about 3 miles!
At this point, I cramp up after driving 26 miles.
4 preseason games just isn’t enough anymore. These players need longer camps and about 8 preseason games. The Kings especially need more time to try and clean up the “shit show”.
I expect a better first few minutes, only to fall back in to lazy defense, poor rotations, and late closeouts. Same as it ever was.
The Kings need an 82 game long preseason.
It’s kind of preseason for the other team.
There’s 21 games from the opener to 11/30 and the strength of schedule for that span is…challenging. If the lackluster performance (especially on D) continues from the starters, I think going something like 5-16 during that stretch is entirely possible, which would be…bad.
Trying to be optimistic, but it could get ugly quick.
going .500 during that span would be the ceiling, imo. I expect things to go off the rails early, and stay derailed until roster changes happen. The org is trying to focus on defense with mainly offensive players. I don’t see that working based on years of being a Kings fan.
I will tune in for laughs and confirmation that many on this site have had for a while now. The team will be bad, again, for 13th time in 14 years with Vivek at the helm (maybe 12 of 13 years? It’s been so long that I forgot how many years the Little Chap has been here).
I saw something on ESPN (I believe from Kevin Pelton) where according to his model, the Kings were at 43.5 wins vs. 34.5 via ESPN bet.
Think I’ll stick with the ESPN bet number!
Even the 34.5 wins by ESPN seems overly optimistic. This number may be fueled by the belief by many NBA fans that Sacramento is stil an up and coming team and has several near-Star-level players that can help them. However, the majority of Kings players have not played together for very long, and the roster is made up of an amalgam of out of position role players who don’t appear to gel together very well as a unit. They still need another point guard and forward with proven NBA experience. Not to mention a they are being led by a coach who is preaching defense – with a cast put together by an owner who is buying offense – showcasing a mismatch in the managerial team vision for this franchise. I think 27.5 wins is a much more realistic outcome for this year’s Kings lol.
Seems like…
I’m going to a late October game for that reason. Prices are noticeably higher for the first 10 games because the Kings are still ‘in the race.’
The Blazers look ready to rise
With youth and scoring and size.
It’s a lot to surmount
Though this still won’t count.
We could sure use a few of their guys!
+1
Picture Caption:
Sabonis: “Ok, circle up fellas. Rock, paper, scissors to see who gets to ask for a trade first.”
Nique: “But I just got here…”
Dennis: “Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei!”
Keegan: “…………..”
Sabonis: Where in the hell is De’Aaron? You’re not De’Aaron!
Just curious – how is the plan to have Sabonis at the free throw line as a distributor supposed to work? Didn’t the 2000s team have Vlade or Pollard to the bottom left or right of hoop (keeping lanes clear) to rebound, get bounce passes from drivers, etc.?
Who is our Vlade, Pollard, etc that is supposed to be in that position if Sabonis is the Webber (or Vlade) at the free throw line? Perhaps they think the french rookie will be that guy or the guy we got from the clippers?
Did we see a lineup of Domas, Dennis, Keegs, Zach, and Nique/Max last game?
Oh, believe me, I am very positive about this team…
Positive that they will stink this season.
Anjali thinks there is a good chance…they make the playoffs.
Anjali doesn’t think. Need a brain to be able to think.
OT: From my understanding October 20th is the last day of the offseason and it’s also the last day for players taken in 2022 to sign their rookie scale extensions. I believe that means The Kings have 10 days to decide to extend Keegan. If he’s not extended he becomes a RFA next summer.
If he gets the extension, I suspect it will be similar to what Jabari Smith Jr. got this summer.
Is there a way to watch this train wreck when living outside of the market?
Kayte says that fans need to remember that whether you watch it or not, it takes time for the train to wreck.
Thank God, Gary Gerould has tonight’s call.
I decided to finish this Mariners/Tigers Game 5. Much more interesting.
Is Gary G’s broadcast ahead of the video for anyone else?
Yup
Lovely. I was actually looking forward to listening to Gary.
Looks like they fixed it now
Yeah working now but Blazers replays are taking up video of Kings’ possession.
Mine is actually behind
What the F&$#ck is this shit where the Blazers’ replay takes up the entire Kings possession?
yeah, it’s a total joke. Very disrespectful to the fans of their opponent.
I just screamed at my TV…lol. Yeah, exactly. Very disrespectful. So we only get the Kings possession if the Blazers miss.
Yeah, my TV might not survive this shit.
I heard Clifford hit a shot…
I think they have a high school crew working the cameras.
Monk/Eubanks two man game ain’t it. Get Niq involved with the offense. So are we going to miss half of the Kings’ possessions?
No. 75%
Sooooo stupid. Especially considering this is a professional sport.
Can we please have three different angles of each Blazers replay? Two isn’t enough.
Twoplay doesn’t have the same ring as threeplay
I gave up and watched Shark Tank with my wife.
Gave up 36 in the first qtr last game—37 tonight! DEFENSE!
The Transiberian Orchestra is better than this broadcast.
Blazers are blowing by Eubanks.
Soon that will be the other 28 teams doing it too.
A three screen three different angle replay? What the hell was that?
Seems to be poop product, poop GM and definitely poop owner
And …the officials influenced the game way too much.
Fun game. The Portland forum was fun… The Sacramento forum was garbage. That’s my take
Losing to a bottom feeder team not playing 3 starters. Again, the kids make a little comeback. But not enough.
Which 3 starters?
Scoot is injured but he would have been behind Holiday in the rotation anyway.
Who else?
Not 3 starter but 3 rotation players. Scoot, Thybulle, and RWIII didn’t play.
Is Jerami Grant now a bench player for them? If so, yikes! $100M to come off of the bench for the next 3 years! That’s approaching the worst contract in the NBA tier. I now expect him to be a King soon.
RWIII rarely plays. He’s so injury prone, really sad. Thybulle also missed most of last season. I think he’s a top 9 rotation player when healthy, but not really a pillar the Blazers are built on, either.
Grant is the Blazers version of DDR. Clearly in the way of younger players, but sort of too expensive to relegate to a bench role. Worse on offense than DDR, but better on D.
The popularity of Billups in Portland will for a large part hinge on whether he plays him off the bench, to give a free runway to Sharpe and Deni.
Barf
They don’t look comfortable playing with each other at all. I’m not catching any positive vibes. What I am catching is frustration and apathetic vibes. There seems to be an air of “whatever, we suck” energy oozing from the screen as I watch this team play. They know they are not good. And the young guys are slowly absorbing that negative energy and horrible environment. That is not how you build a “new culture”.
What a Joke
Eubanks… why was he a signed free agent? We chose him over 100’s of other options?
Dario… Why did we trade a very good player who is impossible to keep out of a 10 man rotation for a player who won’t crack the10 man rotation?
Doug McDermot… Why did we sign a player who is old, who won’t play a minute and has no untapped potential.
Why are we willingly paying players with no upside and no contribution that makes any difference? Replace Eubanks with Max and what is the difference? The kings are slightly better, definitely not worse and you are giving a young player an opportunity to develop into a better player.
So much of this management and collection of players makes no sense to me what so ever. Sad
Depressing.
Thanks Vivek and thank you Perry. Why? Just why?
F U
This team needs an infusion of Westbrook!!!
Honestly, it’s just paying big name NBA players to hang out with Vivek. I’m convinced that’s why Vince Carter was here.
And Shaq an ownership-share, Mullin and Dumars advisory roles and Vlade the GM title (and who knows what the fuck Peja did)? Sounds plausible.
Zach Randolph and Rajon Rondo too. Jersey sales.
Ask and you shall receive.
God dammit. Now I’d be shocked if this didn’t happen.
Gee, maybe the fact that no one has signed Westbrook should say something to this organization?
He apparently refused the vet minimum to go back to the Nuggets. It would be so Kangz if Perry actually pays him more than the minimum of of $3.6M. Kangz are currently $5.4 below the tax.
Brilliant use of remaining cap space and a final roster spot, Perry. Fucking brilliant.
Agree, and it seems the fans are becoming hostages instead of volunteers .
The only solution, IMO, is to create a huge stink around Vivek and his family which will prompt him to hadn the reins to someone else.
That requires having media outlets digging into the Anjali GM period, people asking harsh questions to Vivek, Perry and Christie about the futility, the bad roster construction, the involvemnent of ownership. People wearing Sell the Team signs and shirts etc.
That willl require a determined group of fans with thick skins (because other fans will claim that we should just be thankfull that we have a team and we risk relocation and all that stuff) and smart ideas (Will’s initiative to collect donations for charity for each loss, for instance)and at least one person with a big media presence to get involved.
The alternative is just logging on here and write excellent articles and posts about the sorry state of the team, the franchise, and the fact that nothing is likely to change as long as Vivek’s still in charge and that someone should do something about it, which is fine too.
Nice slightly worn arena, though.
I actually heard Carmichael Dave being critical of the team the other morning. It was nice hearing someone in the media call out the organization a bit.
ESPN 1320 are mostly homers and they are very selective about their criticism of the organization.
I have the feeling that although he may be critical, there is a line that CD won’t cross. I may be wrong.
When we were aiming the #HereWeBillboard campaign against Vivek, CD convinced us to target Vlade and not Vivek.
But he looks like the best candidate to me, with my limited knowledge of the Sacramento media market.
I wonder if I can ask for my money back from league pass that I purchased. I moved to the East Coast last year and certainly not worth staying up late for I guess the only positive is if Keegan‘s injury is not that serious. It was still at least forced him to try to find Another player that can play the 3/4 because it isn’t Jones
Less League Pass, more League, pass.
I’m not buying League Pass this year barring some unexpected surprise of the team being good. And even then, I would just buy it monthly rather than a whole season.
Only the Kangz could lose a game in which they outshot their opponent from everywhere on the floor. Impressive.
No rebounds, no
ringsplay-in.The Kings under 30.5 is still available as an alt line. It’s right there!! Free money!
The rub is that few teams are more apt to pick up a few meaningless wins down the wire to F up their draft odds.
Badge Legend