4 Takeaways from the Kings Preseason Finale vs. Lakers

In their final preseason game on Friday night, the Sacramento Kings smacked around the Los Angeles Lakers. Both coaches expressed pregame that they planned to heavily lean on their regular rotational members in preparation for the regular season.

On Sacramento’s end, Kevin Huerter (foot soreness) and Keegan Murray (non-COVID-related illness) were both unavailable while the Lakers were without Anthony Davis (back), Lonnie Walker IV (ankle), and Troy Brown (back). Plus, in Russell Westbrook’s first game off the bench in years, he didn’t make it through the first quarter before being ruled out for hamstring tightness.

A unique wrinkle to the night was the NBA’s stat tracking being down around the league and there were no websites or people in the building that kept anything resembling a typical box score. But, there are sites that have since been updated!

Here are my takeaways from preseason game four.

1. Wing Defenders

KZ Okpala started the first two preseason games assigned to LeBron James and then Damian Lillard. He didn’t see the floor against an injury/rest riddled team that hardly resembled the Phoenix Suns, but Coach Mike Brown called his number once again to cover James last night.

Having previously referred to Okpala as having Defensive Player of the Year potential during their shared time with the Nigerian National Team, Coach Brown made it clear he still thinks very highly of the 6’8″ wing.

“He can be, trust me on this now, he can be a high high high level defender in the NBA. He’s got size, he got strength, he’s got athleticism, he’s fast-twitch. Even though he doesn’t say a word, he’s intelligent. He got into Stanford and he’s worked his tail off on trying to shoot the catch-and-shoot three. And he doesn’t try to play outside his box. He knows what his role is and he’s embraced it,” Coach Brown said. “We are lucky to have him because he gives us length, versatility, defense at a high level, because there are some cats out there that are 6’8”, 6’9” that can put that ball in the hole. So to have the flexibility to go to him, and possibly Chima, for a head coach that’s a sigh of relief.”

Rim protection isn’t exactly the most common skillset on the 2022-23 Sacramento roster, but there were a handful of promising flashes last night highlighted by this Okpala block. It was initially called a foul, but reversed upon review following a coach’s challenge.

Okpala, who is not one to give long-winded answers when speaking to the media simply said “that’s what I do” and that’s really what he’s been doing in preseason.

Coach Brown mentioned Moneke at the end of that quote as well following what probably was the most opportunity the UC Davis product has seen to date.

“Today (Chima Moneke) was great. As training camp has gone along, he’s trended upwards. I think the initial shock of being in the NBA and the speed and athleticism and all that stuff caught him off guard a little bit but he belongs on this level and he can help us,” Brown said. “Once he gets some games and some days in the NBA under his belt, man, look out.”

We’ll see how well it holds up as the regular season gets underway but it’s new to hear a Sacramento head coach say he feels like they have a few different options to slow down the wing initiators that are littered around the Western Conference.

2. Domas talking on defense

Domantas Sabonis does not have the physical tools to be a phenomenal rim protector. He doesn’t have overwhelming size or length or a particularly standout ability to turn his hips in guard in space. Yet, he makes up for his physical shortcomings with his understanding of the game.

Sabonis can be seen communicating with his teammates often during dead balls, stops in play, or free throws but that doesn’t stop when the ball is inbounds.

I want to preface this but making it VERY clear that Mike Brown said he is NOT saying Sabonis is Draymond Green on the defensive end of the floor but that he did notice a similarity.

“Draymond’s ability to talk the entire defense through a possession, Domas is starting to feel that. Because usually as a big, you’re behind everybody so you see what’s happening out in front of you,” Coach Brown said. “His constant talking and his physical presence without fouling and his ability to clean up rebounds just makes sense for what we’re trying to do because we want to get out and go. We don’t want to give up second shots and he’s the anchor to all that and I appreciate what he’s brought to the table in this preseason so far.”

Sacramento has excelled as a whole on the defensive end of the floor and their dominant victory where they held the Lakers to 86 points is as perfect of an example as you can find. I feel a need to once again mention, it is just preseason but promising nonetheless.

3.  Yet another good shooting night

Keon Ellis knocked down three triples, after air balling his first, and ended with 11 points in the fourth quarter alone. And he was far from the only one knocking down shots from beyond the arc.

Malik Monk, who started in place of Huerter, knocked down two from range. As did De’Aaron Fox, Terence Davis, and KZ Okpala. Standouts were Ellis and Davion Mitchell who each contributed three of their own and Trey Lyles led with a game-high four made three-pointers.

For Sacramento to knock down 20 threes on a night where two of their five best shooters were inactive is impressive.

4. High praise for Matthew Dellavedova

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that all three of KZ Okpala, Chima Moneke and Matthew Dellavedova will make Mike Brown’s final roster. That puts Sam Merrill as the odd man out despite his undeniable shooting ability.

Mike Brown started talking about the competitiveness levels in practice being healthy and Dellavedova was used as the prime example.

“I believe our practices are harder than our games because that’s how hard we’re trying to push each other and you get guys like Dellavedova. He doesn’t know any other way than to go hard. And so what that means is, if Davion ain’t going hard he will get embarrassed by Delly. If Foxy ain’t going hard, he will get embarrassed by Delly. And so to have a guy like that on your team with your group just raises the level of intensity all the time and then he’s like a coach on the bench,” Coach Brown said. “To have him and other guys that push guys in front of them but they’re still all-in and they’re encouraging their teammates and all that other stuff, but yet when their number is called they’re ready to go. To me, it’s a perfect recipe for us to be better defensively.”

Davion also weighed in on the intensity that the Aussie brings every single day. “Delly’s a vet. I’ve learned a lot of things from him, he’s a really smart player. He can get anywhere on the floor. He makes his teammates better. He gives me pointers all the time, even throughout the game. So, he makes me a lot better,” Mitchell said. “Defensively, I try to speed him up, but he’s seen it all so I can’t really speed him up a little bit so it makes it hard for me… I think he definitely helped us out a lot as well.”

Mitchell has been stellar defensively throughout the course of the preseason and had his moments knocking down shots as well. It’s easy to draw comparisons to Dellavedova and no surprise that Mike Brown is a big fan of them both.