The Kings made a quick pit stop back at home to host the Milwaukee Bucks before venturing back on the road. Leading the league in win percentage, the Bucks entered Golden 1 Center as tonight’s favorite. In their previous 13 matchups, dating back to November of 2016, the Bucks have been victorious. The Kings looked to snap this streak and give the beam reason to shine just a little bit brighter tonight. Let’s see how they did:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings lose, 124-133
Sacramento Kings: 124 pts, 44.2% fg, 42.0% 3 pt, 73.3% ft, 31 ast, 45 reb, 9 to
Milwaukee Bucks: 133 pts, 58.1% fg, 45.5% 3 pt, 81.8% ft, 29 ast, 43 reb, 13 to
A playoff atmosphere resulted in an ugly ending where Trey Lyles and Brook Lopez were ejected for a physical altercation in the final seconds of the game. This emotional ending demonstrated the high quality battle that took place for most of the night. The Kings led by as much as 15 points in the first half, but ultimately got outplayed down the stretch by the seasoned squad that is the Bucks.
The Good, The Bad, & The Freaky
The Good
- 1st Half: The Kings executed a nearly perfect 1st half against the top rated defense in the league. Sacramento led by nine points by the end of the half, and did so by putting their high powered offense on full display. They shot 11-24 from the 3-point line, tallied 18 assists, and only committed four turnovers. For the entire half, the Kings looked like the more polished and locked in team on both sides of the ball, as they forced Milwaukee into nine turnovers and only one offensive rebound. It was beautiful basketball executed by the Kings, and encouraging to see them not only meet the level of play of the best team in the league, but surpass it.
- Cleaning the Glass: A stat that immediately jumps out at me is Sacramento only allowing Milwaukee five offensive boards the whole night. The Kings showed a concerted effort on the defensive end to secure rebounds, and it resulted in many one and done possessions for the Bucks. During the 3rd quarter, it felt as if Domantas Sabonis grabbed 10 boards in a row. Sabonis fought for every board he possibly could, racking up 17 rebounds to complete a triple double with 23 points and 15 assists. De’Aaron Fox had eight boards himself, and Trey Lyles followed closely behind with seven rebounds. The Kings demonstrated how locked in they were for this game with their attention to detail on the boards.
The Bad
- 3rd Quarter: As great teams do, the Bucks made some adjustments coming out of the 1st half and quickly cut into the Kings’ hard-earned lead. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton combined for 31 points in the quarter, as they both looked to attack the rim and get to the line. The Bucks shot 9-13 from the line after going just 2-2 for the entire first half. While the Kings responded to every run, keeping the game within just three points by the end of the quarter, they gave up their lead by losing the attention to detail they showed in the 1st half. The Kings connected on just three assists in the quarter, missed a handful of paint shots, and shot just 3-12 from deep.
- Growing Pains: While this is a tough loss for the Kings after leading in the 1st half, there are many lessons to learn. This is a growing pains loss for the Kings to learn from. Down the stretch, the Bucks executed on both sides of the ball, taking their lead from two points to nine points in the span of just two minutes. Khris Middleton (31 points) and Brook Lopez (23 points) hit timely shots that the Kings failed to respond to. The Kings got a taste of what postseason basketball will be like from one of the best postseason teams in the league. All we can do is hope that they learn from it.
The freaky
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak was constant tonight. Aside from a handful of defensive stops, the Kings had no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He finished with 46 points, 12 rebounds, 19-28 from the field, 2-2 from deep, and 6-7 from the line. To say he was dominant would be an understatement.
The King of Kings
Kevin Huerter was HOT. He finished with a career-high eight made 3-pointers on 11 attempts. Five of these came in the 4th quarter and after his 3rd in a row, I was convinced he would never miss again. Finishing with 28 points, Huerter almost shot his team to victory tonight.
Operation: MCNAIR – Season 2 Watch
Tonight’s chosen charity is the Sacramento SPCA. Donate if you are able and be sure to notify Will via Twitter (@WillofThaPeople) or e-mail (donations@kingsherald.com) so he can continue to track donation totals.
Up Next
Wednesday, March 15th @ Chicago Bulls – 5:00 P.M. (PT)
Sure wish Keegan would be more engaged most games.
It’s a long season, especially for guys fresh out of college. Might have bumped in to the rookie wall.
If I know Murray when he bumps into the wall he will BOUNCE BACK.
If the biggest complaint I have is that my rookie isn’t more active in winning games, I’ll take it.
Tonight, that wasn’t the case. The bigger issue was the Kings didn’t posses the championship mettle the Bucks have…. but they went toe to toe. No complaints there all considered.
The way I look at it at this point is that everything Keegan gives this team is a bonus.
I agree but right now he isn’t getting enough touches.Guards need to find him more. Its not like he is standing around he moves sets interior screens and picks and as I watch the games he is open quite a bit.
He threw a ball off Portis’ face, so not all bad.
I love BP, I wish we had him.
Yes! I’ve also coveted BP since his Chicago days.
He has had a couple of rough games in the last 5 or 6 but I expect him to step up in the rest of the season like he can do. Remember he is a rookie and hasn’t experienced this type of basketball especially last night. Good game for him last night to experience what you have to to do to compete at this level IMO he will be all right.
Great game and the team learned what it takes to beat the NBA champs.
Not really mad about this loss. Bucks are a champions team for a reason. I’m happy with how the Kings really hung with them.
Yeah, even though it was close, in the end the better and more experienced team pulled it out, so not really mad.
Yea I mean who had us at 8-2 post all-star break, tied for best record in the league? That’s really good.
Who doubted the beam team? Other than everyone?
Yeah. I rest my case.
We now have to go on the road for 4 games. Good time to start another winning streak.
It’s a tough trip with beatable opponents aka a NBA road trip. The toughest game is also the most difficult travel wise. It’s a SEGABABA, rest disadvantage game and likely a 6 hour door to door from the game ending in Chicago (930pm central) to landing in their hotel in NYC whereever they stay (330am eastern’ish). I wouldn’t be surprised to see De’Aaron skip that one. The Kings have 3 sets of back to backs in the next 10 days. Plus a game in Washington sprinkled in there as well.
After that, they play every other day and the last b2b of the season is in early April in New Orleans/Dallas on the 4th/5th.
This is the final push. they’re 8-2 in the first 10 games of the 25 games. They’ve played 2 sets of b2b’s. With 4 more left (although the last one in NO/Dal is likely to not matter a whole lot), including the critical next 3 sets of b2b’s, how the Kings fare will be critical to where they finish in terms of seeding (almost certainly top 4 now).
I agree but especially in the third quarter we let them dictate the game. I don’t like to lose but what I saw last night was encouraging despite the loss.
I am so sorry for this… Not sorry though.
Terrific game with high quality playoff type basketball . Bucks the better team because they have Giannis . I thought Sabonis played his best game of the season . Relentless .
Did I see him make a right-handed layup? Pretty good for a broken thumb!
1st half
Kings 62 Bucks 53
2nd half
Kings 62 Bucks 80
Sac could not stop Milwaukee at the end and that was the difference.
Can anyone explain to me what happened with Trey and Giannis and then Lopez?
I was at Golden1 and I watched from afar amd can’t understand why the contest ended this way.
Here’s a couple different videos on Twitter.
If an opponent would have done that to Fox in the last second of a done game, we’d all be livid.
Stupid move, and I understand Lopez standing up for his star player.
Lyles says Giannis crossed over in front of him and hooked his arm, so Lyles pushed him off.
If he did, it was after Lyles needlessly tried to poke the ball away as time ran out. Lopez came in talked to him, Lyles with the troath grab.
Lyles was the instigator.
Oh yeah? WHO ARE YOU CALLING POKEY??!?!
Don’t make me call you Pookey!!!
I didn’t think you had a thing against horses like that, Dutchman. I stand corrected.
I actually don’t have a horse in this race, ‘Murican.
Why do you always make fun of us (North) ‘Muricans??
I got confused once at the old site on a game thread and called him Pookie and oh yeah…….wait a second…..oh yeah….Pookeyguru lost his shit
It was before. Watch the SC video. Giannis looks at Trey the whole time as he dribbles the ball across the court while Trey isn’t even paying attention. Giannis purposefully rubs in front of Trey, when he pokes the ball and fouls, touch foul. Giannis was the original instigator. Each step after was just an escalation.
You can see Giannis saying something when he looks over at Trey, too.
I’m starting to lose respect for the Greek Freak this season. The more success he has the more he seems to act like a jerk. This season he’s displayed some seriously questionable behavior.
Lyles looked to be the instigator. I’m not sure what Giannis did but it did not look like it warranted the shove.
I did see Lyles take two forearms to the throat during the game: one from Giannis and one from Lopez. Lopez also did the same to Domas.
I realize it is a physical game and this game seemed very physical.
I’m sure the Kings dealt out as many cheap shots as the Bucks.
But I don’t recall seeing that move as often as I did last night — throwing a forearm into the throat of your opponent.
I’m thinking Lyles was pissed from those hits and the rough game in general, and he snapped.
It’s not the best look, but I can understand it.
Maybe that’s why Lopez ended up with a bleeding head wound?
Here’s Brook shoving Keegan
Yeah, NBA refs are fucking awful.
You’d get a better-called game if you let the players call their own fouls, but with the proviso that if the replay showed otherwise, the opponent gets ten points.
Giannis could have dribbled it out but he decided to gloat and talk trash to end the game. Trey wasn’t going for it. Lopez wanted to mix it up. He’d been itching for something all night.
i’d rather see that kind of fire than all the hugging that goes on after games. There was still a lot of that anyway. Old school baby…that wins championships. Even the Dubs have had Draymond to mix it up during their runs.
No he was not. Lopez was the one who confronted Lyles. Giannis just walked away and if Lopez would have let it ly then nothing would have happened.
Context is a bitch… Who else is a bitch here?
People who rightfully abhor violence and criticize the over the top macho culture, only to forget all that when it involves their favorite sports team?
Easy, there, toiger…
I tend to agree but IMO Lopez needs anger management council . I thought he really started a lot of what happened earlier in the game. And for me A player who uses that kind of foul garbage in front of ladies and children has no place being on the court. He just ran around the court and completely lost it IMO. Trey Lyles took his punishment like what a man should do and quietly walked off the court. I thought Lopez looked like a bully the whole night. Bet he beat up on kids when he was 10 years old. Just my opinion.
“Ladies and children?”
Perhaps we should disallow their access to athletic contests, lest their dispositions be befouled by such indelicate behaviors.
uWhere are this country’s morals. Hopefu`lly we haven’t left them at a basketball game especially when you run around the court setting wonderful examples.
If you’re looking for moral guidance from entertainers, that’s a choice you’ve made, and more often than not, a poor one. Chuck already explained that.
Have you shoved anyone today after seeing last night’s dust-up? No? Congrats, you’re an adult, or a non-idiot child.
I like moral guidance. Brings out the best in people.
I struggle to understand why a non-sociopath/psychopath, or any adult, really, would require constant reminders that hitting another person in the face is wrong. Are you legitimately concerned that any exposure to (let’s call it) badness, will push you from normalcy to violent behavior?
I’ve never in my life seen an obvious wrong and thought, “I guess I have to do that, too.”
Perhaps most importantly, a person develops their own morality at a very young age. Beyond that, as to “moral guidance?” Keep it. I ask you as I would ask anyone: Why do you think your morality is superior to mine? Or anyone’s?
Magic spells muttered in dress shoes does not necessarily make for a good person.
Six hours later Rik changed his mind. See his later comments.
It was kinda a cheap foul by Trey but not really a big deal. But f…ing Brook Lopez…….wait it’s a technical term…give me a second…..oh yeah…..Brook Lopez lost his shit.
Fox would not bait an opponent the way Giannis did Trey. Trey did well.
That was a punk move by Giannis. I bet he won’t do that again, though.
I bet he does. For whatever reason, that’s the kind of guy he seems to be at the moment; a punk.
Maybe Bropez is rubbing off on him too much, but I had a lot more respect for Giannis prior to this season.
I meant in terms of doing that to the Kings and especially Trey Lyles.
But you’re right, that seems to be something Giannis is doing more and more of. Rather unfortunate.
Trey was a little bitch, Giannis didn’t react, Trey pushed him, Lopez wasn’t having it.
Giannis could have just dribbled the ball out and none of this happens. Instead he stares down Trey, dribbles all the way across the court, rubs in front of Trey, at which point Trey pokes the ball and gives a very little shove. Giannis sells it and then Lopez decides he’s going to inject himself into the situation and Trey doesn’t back down. Not sure how that makes Trey a “little bitch”.
Ur trying really hard to make a compelling reason for Lyles to have shoved Lopez in the face… Lyles should’ve got his ass kicked
Lyles did exactly what any athlete with some pride would’ve done when another team is low key taunting them. Bropez is a fake tough guy, he ain’t kicking no ass. He doesn’t even bang in the post anymore cuz he’s made of the same stuff as Anthony Davis: carnival glass.
You IMO are all wrong. If Giannis walks away which he did end of story but here comes Lopez and gets into Lyles face and started the whole thing. You should have watched Lopez the whole game. You missed a lot of what started this in the first place. I would have done more than grabbed his throat for the elbows he threw to our players throats. Like I said above he is a bully and watching him after the whole thing really needs anger management. I’m sure when Lopez game over and got into Lyles face he wasn’t asking him to go for a couple of beers afterward. Lyles is pretty quiet and not a bully like Lopez so something was said to tick him off. If you don’t believe that then I have a bridge to sell you.
I honestly don’t give 2 fucks, we lost either way and no I didn’t read ur paragraph long response
Put your fingers in your ears: “I didn’t hear you!”
So is this kinda like the Luka Booker debacle
No. That was a phony tough guy ‘flapping their gums at each other moment’ between two phonies. They might have a shitbird in ’em, but they were just jawing at each other on national TV.
What happened last night came damn near close to being a melee if there weren’t enough calm heads on both sides.
I really feel sorry for you.
I feel like you’re not really even a fan of this team, Mart.
Change my mind.
THAT’S what you got from my observation of the play?
lol
Lot of tut-tutting over Lyles losing his temper in the final seconds of the game, while conveniently ignoring Lopez spending all game shoving, hitting, running his mouth, and finally getting the fight he’d clearly been itching for.
But, yeah, whatever makes you feel superior enough to call people “bitch” from the safety of your computer.
Giannis purposefully walked over in front of Trey at the end of the game to rub Trey’s nose in the loss. It was unnecessary and pissed Trey off. Rather than lay down, Trey reached in and fouled Giannis. Nothing dirty, but sent the message back that while they may have lost they aren’t just going to lay down. Then Brook came in to be an enforcer and protect the star player, which is also understandable. And again, Trey wasn’t backing down.
Bottom line is that Giannis was being a bad winner. Trey didn’t want anything to do with it and escalated the situation a bit. Then Brook escalated it more, and Trey returned in kind.
All in all, I like the fight in it. I am glad Trey is pissed about losing to a championship team rather than just taking his medicine. Hopefully this desire to win carries over into sustained effort into the next game.
In another note, Fox wasn’t backing down either. He was chirping the whole time. This team is developing a much needed chip on its shoulder.
The disrespect by Giannis. Crossing in front of a player towards the tunnel as time runs out!
I’m so glad that Trey stood up for himself and the team and showed him.
We can’t back down from that kind of shit on our home court.
It was uncalled for by Lyles.
Giannis totally called for it. Dialed Lyles direct, actually.
AGREE. Different story than last year when Metu got thrown to the floor and nobody stood up or came over an helped
Oh man. That was weak.
Then you need to explain this to me and many who also agree with the situation.
Well one thing I learned from this game:
I want that little girl who sang the national anthem back, and singing in the playoffs.
Agreed. That was dope. And I hate the national anthem at sporting events.
Scott Moak could’ve said “Kinsl-ey”
so that we could respond with “Murr-ay”.
Yuck
For so many reasons
Yeah, Bux are definitely the better team this year but, man, if you let the opponent shoot 58% from the field you’d lose on most nights to just about anyone.
If you play a team that has Giannis on it most nights, you’d lose most nights.
Tough loss. Mistakes down the stretch hurt the Kings, but that’s also just a very good team you’re going up against. I don’t think there’s a team in the NBA with so many starting-caliber players. They bring players like Portis, Connaughton, Crowder, Ingles, and even Matthews off the bench. Fantastic team.
The Kings’ first play was wonderful:
Not much analysis needed here: no one ends the possession where they begin, everyone moves.
The fake back screen gives Huerter a tiny openingThis turns into half a meter (sorry, I don’t know the FaNtAsTiC US system) after the DHOLopez moves a bit towards HuerterSabonis has more spaceMiddleton has to help off MurrayHoliday doesn’t fill that gap (could be their scheme)Murray knocks down a wide-open three
Aahw, my bullet points keep disappearing 🙁
Yeah, my bullet points disappeared the other day and messed up my formatting.
Moderators–do you know what is up with the bullet points?
I would take a bullet-point for you, man.
They’re called wizard points now.
Ja trying to get into Hogwarts now.
Can someone tell me what that technical foul was when Kessler Edwards entered the game? I was watching without sound & couldn’t tell what happened.
His shirt was untucked so the team got a delay of game tech.
I looked like an exhausting game. I bet he was all tuckered out.
That team is gnarly. It’s not enough that Giannis is bigger and stronger than literally everyone, but the Bucks have very good players across the roster, including maybe the leagues most underrated player in Middleton. The Kings gave their best shot at home and still lost. It’s a good barometer for where they’re at tbh, a very very good team not quite in the tier of the championship contenders.
Props to Mirann. My one word recap would have read “Giannis.”
At least the game was very exciting, and not a Yawn-fest.
He can be so utterly dominant in the way that peak Hakeem, peak Jordan, and peak Kareem was. Genuinely incredible player.
Giannis Adominantokounmpo
I wonder what average defense does?
Holds Giannis to 42 instead of 46?
Yup. No surprise there. The Kings don’t have anyone who can remotely match up with Giannis, and few teams do. The Bucks are built for a title, while the Kings are not. Learn some lessons and move on to win the next one.
Maybe Giannis puts up 56 but the rest of the team does nothing to win?
Love this team. Want them to go all the way. Add average defense to this all time great offense and amazing things happen.
Yo Lyles almost comprised Domas and Fox’s health in that skirmage and he’s getting suspended for that. Not very smart
I disagree. In the long run the refusal to be disrespected (by Giannis) or pushed around (by Lopez) will help the team, set a good example.
Lol getting “disrespected” by the best player in the NBA who just scored 46 on you
Was it an overreaction? Perhaps. But after Zaprudering the film, I have come to the conclusion that Giannis (who is one of my favorite NBA players) instigated the whole thing by crossing Lyles’ bow. The NBA courts consists of 4,700 sq. ft., yet Giannis just had to cut right through the spot that Lyles was naturally walking through. I don’t know what Giannis was thinking, but I can sure see why Lyles took it as a douche move and responded to it. And had Lopez not entered the fray, it would have pretty much ended as a reach foul on Lyles.
I am actually less worried about Lyles getting suspended for Chicago than I am Lopez getting suspended for the Bucks game in Phoenix tonight. That said, I have zero issue with the Kings responding the way that they did.
oh ok I see what you guys are talking about. Yea I’m actually not too mad over his reaction, but still…
So Rob what I’m gleaning from your comment is that you like the cut of Lyle’s jib?
Aye, Cap’n.
Giannis started it, and Lopez (who was pissed off about other things) entered the fray and escalated it unnecessarily. I’m curious to see how the Milwaukee broadcast handled it because I’m sure they poo-poo’d it as the Kings being whiny.
But, I lost a quite a bit of respect for Giannis there. Lopez I get, Lyles I get, and that is what it is. The Bucks came in here thinking they could just do whatever they wanted which is not the case. The better team? Absolutely. But you’re not coming into my house and punking me like that, I’m sorry. That’s the kinda shit I take exception to, and, if I’m being honest Rob, I’m waiting out back after the game with brass knuckles and I’m kicking the living shit out of Giannis for that crap. That’s just no bueno. You ain’t punking me in my house. Not like that.
That said, Lyles handled it the best way he could without A) getting thrown out of the league for whooping Giannis’ ass for being a punk ass bitch and B) Giannis should be ashamed of himself for that. I lost a lot of respect over that crap. I hate Mickey Mouse shit, and that was the absolute definition of it. Giannis picked a fight, couldn’t even clean up his own mess (Brook Lopez did that part), and then walked away like ‘what did I do?’
What an absolute lack of sportsmanship on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s part. It’ll get poo-poo’d because it’s Giannis and the Bucks are a great team that won the game, but he should have gotten his ass beat for what he did IMO. But, the world isn’t fair, and this is simply yet another example of it.
Here’s how Milwaukee press handled it.
Giannis was just minding his own business and out of nowhere Lyles came over and started it.
Frankly, that’s how I expect it will be received Aplumley. Unfortunate way to end what was otherwise an exceptional basketball game. Like I said, I lost respect for Giannis over that one.
I think him and Giannis had a little beef after going at it all night in the trenches
The difference is, what Giannis did was shitty, but not a violation of basketball rules. The same goes for what Lyles did: Kinda shitty, but not a violation, not even as any kind of flagrant foul.
When Lopez stepped to Trey, strictly speaking, no broken rules, although it could be handled a couple of ways. The refs could have considered it chirping, separated the two, and the clock runs out. Unfortunately, Trey put his hands on Lopez. I’m not saying Lopez didn’t deserve it, but that was a violation. That’s the bottom line, ultimately.
We all know who Lopez is, and we would adore him if he called Sacramento home. But kudos to Trey for showing that the Kings have balls and will not be fucked with. I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone step up in a situation like that since Cousins.
The league is put on notice: You don’t get to break a Kings player’s wrist without catching hell from this team. We still owe Valanciunas at least one injury severe enough to keep him out for six-to-eight weeks. That dirty motherfucker.
This is why I think the league should step in and give suspensions to Antetokounmpo, Lyles and Lopez. A game apiece for Antetokounmpo and Lyles (although it will be two for reasons you point out further down in your comment Sims) and Lopez two games as well.
Right. That’s why, even though Lyles will get screwed by the league even though he isn’t actually in the wrong, the league tends to suspend everyone involved. You’re not wrong here Sims, and you’re certainly only a messenger of a very good point. My issue isn’t you, just that I think the league should penalize the actually baddies in this situation and not pretend it’s that difficult of a thing to do. Suspending Antetokounmpo and Lyles a game plus Lopez for two just simply isn’t an earth shattering deal or whatever. Milwaukee fans would be mad, sure, but who cares? They don’t take issue with what Antetokounmpo or Lopez did in the first place.
Trey handled it the only way he could. I do not want any truck with that guy, I’ll tell you that.
Yep. That I’ll agree with you on.
Just as an aside, I don’t think Giannis gets a suspension but he will be fined something like 25K, Lopez gets a game for running up and Lyles gets 2 games.
I hate the way the NBA handles these things but that’s what I expect to happen.
Well said Rob.
My least favorite moment last season, even with an incredible amount of them to choose from, was when JV tossed Metu and broke his wrist, and there was no response from anyone on the team.
Giannis did something petty and small, on the road, and it escalated. I appreciate that Lyles and the rest of the team took offense. As Jerry likes to say, they have a little shitbird in them.
Not to pick nits in what was otherwise a fine +1 to Rob’s comment, but the JV/Metu non-call broken arm was 2 seasons ago.
Yeah, I was thinking of this, too.
I don’t think Trey was in the right last night, but it’s nice to see some fire from this team, compared to that JV/Metu episode, where no King stepped up for Metu.
I guess to be fair, Brook was standing up for Giannis then.
Anyway, whatever now. Looking forward to the next game.
And just as an aside, here’s I would handle this were I the league.
I’d suspend Antetokounmpo for his role in the thing for a game tonight. (I don’t think he was going to play anyway.) I’d suspend Lyles even though I think mostly he’s getting screwed. I’d give Lopez 2 games for his role in escalating the whole deal.
That’s the adult and proper way to handle it. You encourage good behavior by creating actual consequences (although for the Bucks there isn’t much of a penalty given the Sac game was likely a bigger deal for them than the Phoenix game).
The ref could have called taunting, but shit-talk (and shit-actions) are part life far beyond sports. I don’t think that Giannis should be suspended, because his actions didn’t rise to that level.
Trey was kind of looking for a fight, and Lopez was dumb enough to make it happen. A game apiece for these two, but given that Lyles hit first, an extra game for him wouldn’t be out of line.
That’s not how I want it, but I wouldn’t cry about fairness if that’s how it shakes.
Trust me, I won’t cry about fairness. That’s never what these things are about.
100% the way I saw it.. I think it would have ended had Lopez not tried to be all tough. And I hate Lopez even more because of his playing at Stanford. In the past I could care less about Stanford until they took sac State football coach. Now I have absolute contempt for the University, everybody that went to school there, including Sam, Bankman, Fried, and his parents
I agree with you Daydreamer. I thought Trey’s foul was stupid but overall minor. Brook Lopez was totally out of control and his response was over the top. I think our (little) team stepping up like they did was a big and appropriate response.
lol
First off, what a great game that was, generally speaking. The Kings went toe to toe with the clear best team in the league. And “best team in the league” feels like an understatement. They’re just so good across the board.
But damn, I hate them. What a bunch of whiny bitches for a team with a .700+ record. For a team that fouls with reckless abandon and still went to the free throw line 7 more times than the Kings did. The only player I hate more than Grayson Allen is Harden (okay, and maybe CP3). Why he didn’t learn how to skate and go to the NHL as an enforcer is beyond me. The guy is dirty, plays ugly basketball, and flops at every chance. I wanted that win so bad last night.
When things got chippy, my big takeaway is that the Bucks recognize that the Kings are legit – like, a potential Finals opponent legit. They took that game seriously and I think it says way more about the Kings than it first appears. The Bucks are the better team but the gap isn’t that large between them.
Oh – and the fight at the end was mostly a whatevs for me. The Kings are so stoic across the board that I didn’t mind seeing a little fight in them. But it sure escalated quickly. The escalation was all on Trey and I see a suspension coming for him. Still, it didn’t bother me to see them throw a little emotion into that game. If we were so lucky as to face the Bucks again this year, you can bet it’s going to be on their minds. I don’t have a problem with getting in their head, just a little bit.
Yeah, Allen is a shit. Every time he was guarding one of our guys going up for a jump shot, I was hoping that they wouldn’t come down on his foot that he stuck under them.
Grayson Allen is Ted Cruz in short pants.
The game came to a screetching halt and any more possible suspensions were saved by the bell.
And I swear to Zeus, Giannis is Achilles, come back from Hades.
And let’s not forget the other side of the family:
And their Uncle Don:
Maybe Brook doesn’t realize that Robin is only joking around with Slamson and that they aren’t really fighting.
100% the better brother.
They both be trippin’
Christ, I just vomitted all over my keyboard, Section. What the hell…
#Luke’d
They replayed his full moments that evening and I swear that dude must have eaten an entire buffet. The sheer volume…
#pukeWalton
That appears to be the same seat where the Knicks fan spilled his beer the other night
Kevin #41 revenge game incoming…
We’ll end their streak, there’s no way that they sweep us in the Finals.
Beam City vs. Cream City!
“BROOK?? ROBIN?? It’s so apparent to everyone but you that your parents wanted girls!!!”
“Oh yeah? Well your home country is really called CND. Because if you ask someone from CND to spell their country’s name, they say C, eh….N, eh….D, eh!!!!!
Trey looks way too dialed in, like he’s not uncomfortable, here. Bropez, on the other hand, looks completely uncomfortable. And I like this. Very much.
Cream the Beam? Beam Creamin’?
Bucks in 5? I think I can accept that.
That would probably mean that
FOX FORCED 5.
Kyle Draper’d.
Dang!
Ignoring the whole dumbass fight at the end because the Bucks acted like a bunch of entitled bitches, that was a great game. And hoo buddy, are the Bucks the best team in the league. They came to play tonight. I don’t think they care one iota about beating GSW or Phx at all because they don’t see the threat there. That’s why Giannis didn’t play Sat night despite it being a game of the week ABC matchup and such.
Last night was not that. Last night was an exceptional basketball game that, again, if you ignore what happened at the end that had literally nothing to do with the outcome of the game, the Bucks illustrated what you need to have to beat the Kings. Also why they are the best team in the league. (Which is probably why I’m so annoyed about what happened with Antetokounmpo, Lyles and Lopez. But I digress.)
1) A generational big man who merits legitimate comparisons to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2) A big who can stretch the floor and make you have to be perfect in rotations to realistically stop theme
3) A sharpshooting wing who is a terrific playmaker
4) The best two way PG and an extraordinarily underrated game manager who had a lot to do with controlling the tempo in the Bucks favor
Antetokounmpo, Lopez and Middleton went off. Holiday did not in the scoring column, but he had his hands full with De’Aaron Fox. He did his job, and he got into De’Aaron a few times. Some of the turnovers De’Aaron made cannot happen if this team has legitimate championship aspirations. You simply cannot be loose with the ball like that around Jrue Holiday. Ever. The only player more criminally underrated than Holiday is Domantas Sabonis. And it’s very close. Needless to say, Jrue Holiday would help a lot of teams in this league were he on their team. Holiday had 11, 8 dimes & 6 boards and he only took 9 shots. Plus he missed a FT and only hit 1 3 out of 5 attempts. They can be better than they were last night by a smidge.
I don’t know if Khris Middleton is still as good as he was….but man he did not look bad last night. He looked in control all night. Very Khris Middleton’ish. I guess that’s what happens when you go for 31 & 9 dimes with 5 made 3’s on 8 attempts.
Lopez shut off the middle all night and the Kings simply compensated by hitting 20 3’s. Then to make matters worse, he hit 4 3’s. At crucial times.
I won’t even waste time here comparing Giannis Antetokounmpo to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar like I did already…..but let’s just say it’s a legitimate comparison. When Giannis hits his FT’s and 3’s like he did last night, forget it. He’s getting 40-50 that night. Which is why he ended up with 46. Take the ending out of the equation, it was a breathtaking performance.
The Bucks simply outexecuted the Kings in closing time, and frankly, my biggest takeaway is the Bucks had to play like a championship team, that has legit aspirations of, to beat this Kings team. That’s a new feeling. A fun feeling. Unfortunately the ending marrs how I see Giannis and his otherworldly game, but it was a phenomenal game.
Domas was great again, but proved why he’s not really a franchise piece. There were times when he didn’t finish over Antetokounmpo or Lopez and that just is what it is. I’m nitpicking because I love Domas’ game, but they are going to need some counters to be able to get after the Bucks in the future. I’m not sure what those are. The Kings were outscored by 14 in the paint (60-46) and much of that had to do with De’Aaron not getting into the paint as effectively against the Bucks. As is, he was 8-11 from 2. But in order to win? De’Aaron needed to be 13-17 from 2 or something like that. That defense is absolutely legit. Hopefully the Kings took notes. (I’m kidding.) Again, nitpicking on De’Aaron and Domas but that’s the difference between a championship team like the Bucks and where the Kings are (a really, really good team).
But the Kings took 50 3’s last night making 21 of them. Huerter was 8-11, Fox was 5-12, Barnes 3-8, Lyles 2-6. It was clearly part of the gameplan, understandably…..but man the Bucks just aren’t afraid of the Kings shooting that many 3’s even if they make 21 of them. Because, they almost missed 29 of them. The Bucks didn’t want to get beat in the paint, and they wanted to contest the Kings 3 point makes.
A fun barometer game regardless of it being an L. I’m glad I went last night and got to see Giannis play live in person (he’s breathtaking). It was probably 85% full based on who was in the seats, who was on the concourse doing other stuff, and so forth. Not bad for a Monday night game against a non-Lakers/Warriors opponent.
Looking forward this upcoming stretch of 7 games in 10 days likely makes or breaks where the Kings end up being seeded. Here’s to some winning basketball!
So I have looked at it again, reviewed some articles, and I conclude that Trey ought not have thrown the first punch. It was a loss of composure and hurt him and the team. He could have remained nose to nose with BL. Would I have had that level of composure, perhaps or likely not. If he had had the restraint, then BL may have thrown the first punch, and the appearances would have been different.
I like Lyles, he is a good player and plays his role excellently.
Hopefully the stupid stuff last night makes him easier to resign this summer.
Badge Legend