Where do we even begin? Tonight’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers was fraught with juicy narratives: Alvin Gentry’s first game as the interim head coach of the Kings, the shorthanded 76ers who came in losing six of their last seven, therefore being perfectly primed to beat the Kings, the never-ending drama that surrounds Ben Simmons, and of course, finding out who would be sitting in the famous puke seat at Golden 1 Center. There were a lot of threads to potentially follow tonight, but when it comes down to it, all that matters in this league are wins and losses. The Kings have shown they are capable of racking up the latter of these, but with the excuse of Luke Walton now gone, the Kings are desperate to stack up some wins. Let’s see how they did tonight:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings lose, 102-94
Sacramento Kings: 94 pts, 41.8% fg, 22.6% 3pt, 72.4% ft, 17 ast, 48 reb, 13 to
Philadelphia 76ers: 102 pts, 42.4% fg, 28.1% 3 pt, 77.8% ft, 19 ast, 45 reb, 7 to
The Kings and their new head coach prove that not much has changed, the Sixers got their scheduled get right game in, Ben Simmons is still having an unhealthy staring contest with Daryl Morey, and the puke guy did not return to Golden 1 Center tonight. Oh, yeah, and the Kings lost another winnable game to a team that was missing four of its five starters. They kept it close, they had some good runs, and then they fell apart entirely in the fourth quarter. New coach, same Kangz.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good
- Making Adjustments: The one bright spot tonight was seeing some successful adjustments made after the first half. The Kings benefited from a hot start from Buddy Hield in the first quarter as he laced a perfect 4-4 from the 3-point line. However, this shooting streak was short lived as the Kings collectively shot 1-9 from distance in the second quarter. In response to this, we saw a clear adjustment and concerted effort from the Kings to go back to their bread and butter of two-man action. Tyrese Haliburton and Richaun Holmes became unstoppable before Holmes had to leave for the remainder of the quarter after taking a shot to the face. Although he failed to score any points on just five shooting attempts, Haliburton racked up nine assists, with a majority of them coming from this adjustment. We also saw some effective two-man action from Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson. After Alex Len struggled to be effective inside early on, Alvin Gentry went to Thompson in the third quarter. This is a move we did not see during Luke Walton’s time as head coach. Walton was very strict on his lineup rotation for any particular night, so it was nice to see Gentry be willing to make a change where it was clearly needed. Thompson proved to be very effective for the Kings tonight as he finished with eight points and seven rebounds in just 11 minutes.
The Bad
- Forgetting Adjustments: As soon as the Kings started to reap the benefits of their adjustments, gaining as much as a nine-point lead, they went away from those changes and reverted back to old habits. A few minutes into the fourth quarter, we saw the Kings go back to settling for 3s and neglecting the paint work that got them their advantage. The offense turned back into a pumpkin and we got a replay of a classic fourth quarter meltdown. Forced shots, congested on-ball movement, and the usual reliance on the contested Buddy Hield 3-point chuck took full form by the middle of the final quarter. Needless to say, this is where the Kings lost the game, as they scored just 12 points to end yet another disappointing loss.
the Ugly
- Team Defense: Tyrese Maxey is fast. That is a fact. But there are also five players on the court who should be trying to keep him from scoring. Time after time we saw Maxey blow by his defender and find absolutely zero resistance at the rim. This is on everyone. This is on the guy guarding him for getting beat and not communicating when help is needed, this is on the guy one pass away who does not commit to the help side, and this is on the other three guys who do not communicate and rotate properly to allow the help side to fully commit. Commitment to help side defense would have forced Maxey to make plays for his teammates, something he only did four times tonight. Instead of testing him, the Kings continually let him waltz into open layups. Maxey ended up torching the Kings for 24 points. The Kings are not on a string, they are completely disconnected. Until team defense is something this team is willing to take seriously, I expect more losses to worse teams.
The King of Kings
Tonight’s King of Kings goes to Tristan Thompson for being a spark off the bench when no one was expecting him. He was efficient, tough as hell, and backed up every word he said in his recent press conference.
Up Next
Friday, November 26th @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7:30 P.M. (PT)
Anybody still think we shouldn’t trade Fox for Simmons?
Anybody?
I’m not married to the Simmons deal. There are a good number of players we could get for him.
Agree but not any real good ones ! Few teams have 30 million in cap space ! I think the league likes him less than Kings fans ! Why would Philly want him as they have a younger, tougher, cheaper version in Maxey !
Simmons would be an upgrade, but he’s still a bum who can’t shoot very well or hit a free throw.
I remember arguing to not give Fox a premature extension and let him play for it another year. Jerry said the same thing in a podcast.
And here we are…
Since when does logic and reason come into play for Vivek and Co?
They Almost always do the wrong thing because its ego driven idiocy.
I wonder that was the reason Gupta didn’t end up with the job since he probably think blowing up this core is the way to go
That’s probably why he didn’t get the job.
If I’m Sixers, I wouldn’t touch Fox right now. Maxey is way cheaper and probably just as effective right now.
Agreed, he’s a younger and cheaper version of Fox. Honestly, I’m not really sure which teams would be all that interested in Fox and his contract. He may approach John Wall level of need in the league because his lack of an outside shot and reliable defense. Not so fun fact; John Wall still has a better career FG% AND 3pt% than Fox.
I said trade Fox for Simmons before the regular season started. Check my previous posts.. Fox has a nice game but he is hesitant to shoot the 3 as his 3-point percentage shows. Harrison Barnes is the Kings best all-around player. When Harrison Barnes is your best player, your team is in trouble. Barnes is a third option at best. Ben Simmons is a multiple time all-star and immediately becomes the Kings best player. Yes, Simmons can’t shoot from beyond 12 feet out but he rebounds, assists, and most importantly, defends. Simmons has been a defensive player of the year candidate for the last few seasons. Kings’ fans are so in love with Fox. There are numerous young point guards I would take over Fox. Trae Young, Ja Morant, SGA, just to name a few. Fox’s scoring average does not make the Kings a better team.
Exactly. If anything, Fox has devalued himself and we would have to give the Sixers a package of Hali and other players/picks to get Simmons. PGs who can’t shoot is not where the league is at. Fox is Wall 2.0, without the big ass contract.
Could we hoodwink the Celtics into trading Jaylen Brown?
Would the Sixers even trade Maxey for Fox right now? Let alone Simmons? I don’t think so. Monte likely had his chance this past offseason to make the Simmons – Fox trade but he didn’t have the stones to do so.
We would have to thrown in a first, at least, for the Sixers to take Fox.
Maxie has blown up this season replacing Simmons and Fox has blown up in a totally different way. I’m not sure who you trade Fox for with his salary and diminished game.
The one thing I wonder about if if he has long Covid and if this could be affecting his game. He looks old and slow and disengaged on the court and I would hate to see the Kings trade him for pennies only to see him regain his health and his game.
Looking back to the off season there is a bunch of things Monte should have done and they become more obvious every game.
I’m more in favor of Fox for Brown/Tatum, Siakam, or Ingram. Fox’s fit off-ball next to Mitchell and Hali has been awkward, and I’m not more confident that Ben will be any better (though he would be an enormous help on defense and on the glass).
Uh, no one is taking Fox for anyone who sniffs the All Star game. Fox is farther from making the All Star team than Lonzo Ball is right now regardless of conference.
Remember when we all used to clown Ball?
Heck, I’d trade Fox for Ball now!
Fox ducked below Ball?
I remember watching games where Fox would go toe to toe with Damian Lillard. Fox was the man, and Kings fans were excited. Now, I don’t know.
Maybe we should have extended Bogi, and put Fox on hold?
https://twitter.com/BrendenNunesNBA/status/1463021141577011202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1463021141577011202%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.kingsfans.com%2Fthreads%2Fkings-vs-sixers-11-22-21-7pm-pacific-10pm-eastern.81901%2Fpage-15
Fox has been asked to run by Walton and now Gentry, but low motor
So who is Gentry referring to ?
I believe Fox. Luke tried for two years to run and get into the open court. I think Fox’s low motor has been too lazy to
I do hope so…
Who cares about how much salary you got paid…if you did not run / perform bad/ cannot make open shots…then you 100% deserved to be benched.
Always weird to me that Fox walks it up…when he’s the fastest guy on the court.
Also weird is Fox’s almost total neglect of the drive and kick. Pass the damn ball.
Fox’s unwillingness to push it, play serious D, or fix his shooting all
point to lazy and or lack of focus. Sustained focus—
The offense is kind of stagnant with Fox on the floor, and we’re unable to close out games with everybody standing around. I also think letting Bogi go for virtually nothing really hurts the Kings 4th quarter chances as well, but that’s another story.
Maybe Fox is tired of it too and this is his way to get out of Sacramento. He got paid and now wants to go to a winner.
Fox was -17. Haliburton, who scored 0 points, was +9. Fox knows how to get numbers in the league. He has no clue how to win.
Very strange to see Fox consistently slow it down tonight so that the team could set up its disastrous half court offense.
Oh dear, I’m afraid he’s not going to be coaching here for very long.
Vivek certainly doesn’t like coaches who may not be super-nice to his baby players.
OK Alvin, lets see that on Weds..
I thinnk Mitchell did an excellent job to stay in front of Maxey, and he did shut him dowun, but then Gentry sub him out..
just a bad move, and 76ers got a run and extended the lead…
I like Mitchell’s defense too, but his shot has deserted him.
Yeah, Mitchell’s defense is fantastic and something we desperately need, but his offense has been beyond brutal.
Last night again, he basically drifted on the perimeter and occasionally drove, but was mostly very ineffective.
For the season, Mitchell now has:
TS%: 44% (37 / 27 / 59 splits)
Usage: 18%
OBMP: -3.1
So basically, he’s a low usage player who doesn’t put much pressure on the defense, but when he tries he is incredibly ineffective.
For contrast, Haliburton is also a low usage player (17%), but he’s much more efficient shooter/scorer (54% TS this year, 59% last year). And while Mitchell will make the right basic pass, he’s not the advanced passer Haliburton is.
None of this is to hate on Mitchell. Again, he brings some much needed defense and is only 18 games into his career and is still adjusting to the league. And in a few more losses, we will start running into the part of the year where we need to play him, simply to get him required exposure and reps.
But in terms of winning today, Mitchell really needs to prove he can do something offensively, as he is currently a liability and we don’t really have the complementary offensive players around him to cover for that weakness and let him be a beast on defense (like the 76ers with Thybuelle).
Right now our offense is still Fox carrying a very heavy load, Haliburton running some P&Rs and being an efficient low usage player, Barnes and Hield getting some points off of ISO or screens but not creating for others, and Holmes scoring opportunistically.
Crunch time Fox
Needs to grow the hair back, I think he got Samson’d
i Liked Foxs old due. Go back to it. And shed some LBs while at it.
I like the 2018-2019 version of Fox, when he was a 21 year old. The Kings were 30-26 on Feb 10, 2019, last time the Kings were pretty good.
Same crunch time offense ! Dribble , force shots and beg for calls ! Might try something different !
I have a theory that the Kangz wanted to fire walton a long time ago but nobody had the courage to go to his hotel room alone…
Very original.
says the guy with 2 burner accounts posting almost the exact same comments from them.
*wink emoji*
Is it just me or does the season feel over especially early this year? Especially with Walton gone (good long term, bad short term), what positives are we looking for now?
Some big trades is all we can hope for.
Y’up. The hope is seeing what I thought McNair talked about when he first arrived. Trades a plenty.
We need some sign of rebuilding. Some acknowledgement that the path they are on isn’t working. Or it’s gonna be a long long long time before the Kings are back. Maybe never. I’ll certainly stop paying attention.
Yep, we are officially entering the “OK Monte, you have stared at spreadsheets for 2 years now, its your job to do something” phase.
When in doubt, blow it up, Monte!
Another one of these hopefully
I felt the season was over the moment it was announced that they weren’t firing Walton after the season last year. The results thus far are what I expected, though I didn’t see them shitcanning Walton so quickly(better late than never). The only hope I have left remaining this year is pretty much the usual when it comes to every Kings season for nearly 2 decades now
Make trades trying to sell off vets or contracts like Barnes/Hield for young assets/1st round picks
Kings stink enough on the court to try and land into the top 5 in the draft
Same here, I was looking at another 30 something win season going in, but now we may not even reach that. We should see some movement before the deadline, and yes, especially Barnes/Hield need to be dealt. That ship has already sailed.
IKR, the Walton firing was about the only positive we had to look forward to and they took that from us.
It happened too soon! The suspense that kept me going is gone!
Rock. Meet bottom.
With Luke gone, fans don’t have a whipping boy.
I don’t think the team rights the ship until Fox turns it around… and that won’t happen until he loses weight and recovers completely from Covid.
That’s likely next season.
Probably after he’s been traded
Is Covid part of it/he had it? That would definitely help explain part of his lack of burst/lackluster look.
Would it? A lot of players have had covid..
Long Covid is different. It’s the lingering effects of the virus. Mo Bamba and Jayson Tatum has talked about.
Everyone recovers differently
If covid were a genuine cause of his struggles, something about that would have been leaked by now–likely from the Kings, or someone in Fox’s “camp.” Not doing so would be PR malpractice.
Long Covid has tons of mysterious symptoms. It’s up to Fox to talk about it
I think they would hide it so as not to affect Fox’s long term trade value.
A bunch of guys have gotten it in MXGP (motocross) and the recovery rate has been all over the map. Some are fine the next weekend, others need a whole season to recover.
Bless your heart
Gentry’s remark about getting someone out there will run is cautiously encouraging.
One of the core problems with this team is the privileged sense of entitlement that Fox and Hield have. They get minutes, they get shots, without accountability.
Here’s a radical idea for the next game: Start Haliburton, Mitchell, Barnes, Harkness and Holmes. Bring Fox off the bench after about 7 or 8 minutes. Sub Hield in for Barnes. Pull Fox and Hield if they miss a couple of defensive assignments, and bring them back later.
Let them go off in the media afterwards. After all, what can they say when they have been allowed to do what they want in the previous 9 games and gone 1-8? Do the same thing the next game until they, and the rest of the team, gets it. This team is undisciplined, with too many players having no sense of responsibility to their teammates. Something has to be done to change that, either by benching them when necessary or trading them.
I’m not saying that it has to be done the way I’ve suggested here, in fact, it probably shouldn’t given I’m not a coach, but Gentry needs to deal with it one way or another.
Yes, I like his post game word…….
I am also looking for some MAJOR rotation change
Rotation…? U don’t say. Another way of saying deck chairs. What are you subbing out the starters for? Maybe a better effort. Better result or talent? Not so much.It’s more than past due 16 years. This team does a full rebuild proper. There is Zero core here. We know that now. There are no pieces to truly build around. Really. Does Hali/Mitch really look like future stars. No. Everyone should be avaiable. Picks, propects, and cap room aplenty. A Major rotation change does not equate to more wins when you don’t have much talent to begin with. Effort yes.
Definitely like the potential accountability here. Coachless Walton held no one accountable for anything.
I like Gentry. But, His track record speaks for itself. 3 playoff appearances in 17 years as a head coach. To say that’s awful is being nice. He had some teams that were more talented than the Kings and he did a poor job sustaining any sort of success. What’s even more baffling is how teams keep on giving him an opportunity to be a HC. Mind Bogling. He seems like a decent Asst. But, he won’t be able to help this team much. I know he’s just a place holder. At this rate, I don’t even think the make the play in. They are easily one of the bottom 5 teams in the league. What’s truly depressing is their future prognosis is even worse. Teams like Detroit, OKC, Houston already have some nice foundation pieces,tons of picks and tons of money to spend in the next couple years.
Hey that’s 3 more than the kangz had gone to the playoff in the last 15 seasons
The good news is that the team is actively tanking. Not intentionally, of course, but still tanking.
Yea I hope they keep losing at this point
Tyreke, then Demarcus, and now it’s…
Once again, just wasting our time holding on to a “franchise” player who’s not a franchise player with the hopes of him “taking it to the next level” and there is no next level.
It was just a few years ago. It was Fox/Hield/ Bagley the supposed future core of the KIngs. It would be nice if they were all moved to a new local by Jan.
That evoked some very bitter, very loud laughter from the bottom of my black heart.
Credit to Doc. His guys played scrappy for 48 and never took a play off.
The theme this year in Philly is how much better the bench is, so I personally am not surprised by last night at all.
FWIW, I think that is part of why our FOs have talked so much about culture.
When you have a losing culture, people start to give up or expect to lose.
When you are part of a contender, there’s a bit more of a “next man up” mentality and the desire to hold the fort down until the stars are back.
We absolutely had more talent on the floor last night then the 76ers, but we don’t have any expectation of winning or a real plan for when things go poorly. The 76ers never panicked and just continued to play their system with a lesser set of players and it worked.
Looking at the schedule from Portland to the end of the year. 19 games. 15 of the teams would be in the playoffs right now. The Kings won’t win more than 6- 7 games the rest of this year. this team will be 12-15 games under .500 come Jan 1st. More than enough incentive to start the fire sale.
Mirann skipped tomorrow’s game (I would too) and instead focused on the struggling LA Fakers on Friday (I would too). Beat LA!!
The Athletic has the Kings as the last team before the “Tank Tier” begins which means, once again, this team is the worst of teams trying to win games…
When are we going to see some changes? McNair needs to stop convincing us that this a playoff caliber roster. This core group has never posted a .500 record. Free agents don’t want to come here. Time to blow it up.
I know it’s just one game, but fans who think firing Walton would equate to more wins are missing the big picture: the roster sucks. That’s the problem. And the biggest problem is the constant of the last 8 years.
I don’t understand why all in a sudden lots of people said this roster sucks and need to blow it up.
We still got talent, or at least got some serviceable players within this roster.
(even put them in other 29 teams)
Starter level : Fox, Barnes, Tyrese
Significant minutes level : Hield, Holmes
Minor minutes level: Len, TT, TD, Jones, Harkless
This roster is not perfect, but at least they should be able to beat the teams that they supposed to beat (i.e. Pacer, Spurs, Thunders, 76ers)
The same core roster has won at a 35 game pace for two full seasons, and in their third, they’re even worse.
This is one of my favorite things that Kings fans say
There are no teams that the Kings are supposed to beat. They are not good enough to assume any wins over any team.
This team’s brain trust is the kind of group that thinks they’re clever beating a Rubik’s cube by peeling the stickers off and switching them around.
The owners, the executives, coaches, players, get rid of everyone not named Slamson and give a big raise to the arena staff who had to clean up after Puke Man.
Well i didn’t want to before, but now i’d love to trade everyone but Haliburton and start Bagley and then truly bottom out this year
That’s it. Losing to a team at home that is missing basically its starting five. Walton has to go. What are we waiting for???
.
.
.
What? When? Alvin Gentry?
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.
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I made my prediction of a Philly win last night before I realized Curry and Tobias were out. I immediately regretted my decision because I didn’t think Maxey and a bunch of backups could beat a fully healthy Kings squad on an interim coach bounce. Never put anything past the Kangz.
Can any of us be shocked when the new coach said this?:
Alvin Gentry says there was nothing Luke Walton did as head coach that he disagreed with. “This isn’t about changing philosophies.”
I hope the Kings are making their lease payments.
Not a good start to the change-over but I’m still reserving judgement.
4 things I liked / didn’t like…
I didn’t like AG’s comments regarding changing philosophies. That half court set is still trash, though we used it way less.
I didn’t like our rebounding. Ball movement could also be way better.
I didn’t like getting pushed around by a bunch 2nd/3rd stringers and not being able to take advantage of mismatches.
I didn’t like the refereeing, once again.
I liked the team pushed the pace a bit more and exhibited a more free-flowing offense.
I liked the defensive tenacity, though it needs to extend to 46 minutes, maybe even 48, instead of 36.
I liked the move to Thompson.
I liked Tyrese’s assist game.
I think this was a winnable game despite the change in coaching but I’m not convinced we should “fire sale” the roster just because Gentry couldn’t get a win on his first night. How many times have we put the cart before the horse, here? Hiring a new coach right before hiring a GM, comes to mind (3 times in a row, now?)
I’m of the opinion you let AG finish out the season, determine if he’s gonna be your coach moving forward (I can’t imagine,) and if not go out and get that guy. Then start working out personnel with buy-in and collaboration. And also with a top 5 pick from a season of proper tanking.
This team.
Counting my blessings I’m thankful we have them, truly.
And I wish all at The Kings Herald a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday…!
Right now I am in the fourth stage of grieving: past denial, anger and bargaining and to acceptance. I accept what happens. Not like it but accept it.
Some perspective: Philly played without 5 starters: Simmonds (yes, I counted him), Embiid, Harris, little Curry, and Danny Green. They played their second unit: Drummond, Thybulle, Maxey, Niang and Shake and Paul Reed and I. Joe.
Kings could not beat that with all players and no injuries.
Maxey is tough because he is fast and he starts his lay-up shot about 6 feet from the hoop and glides it in.
Couple of their guys had career highs in points.
Gentry was imploring them to run. Mitchell dribbles too much and can’t shoot so far. Fox hides in corner and brings it up sloooooow.
It is possible that this is COVID residual. or not enough time in the gym working on his game instead of his appearance
Bad teams can get little streaks where all seems to be forgiven and then regression to mean. Houston and OKC are actively tanking. SAS are tanking but don’t know it. NOP are tanking by default. Next up- Minneapolis who want to win.
Right now, the Suns and Blazers are embarrassed that they lost to the Kings.
Wheels have fallen off and Kings are in terminal slide.
This is what I would do if I was Alvin.
Huddle everyone up for the first practice. Then say the following:
“As of this minute, everyone has a completely clean slate. Lottery pick, free agent, starter, 12th man … everybody.
We are starting over today. As of right now there are no more starters and no more subs. I want five guys who will play defense and run. The five guys that do that the best will play. The guys that don’t, won’t.”
Leave it at that, and see what happens.
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