The California Classic kicks off today at 5 PM PT, with the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Miami Heat. Then at 8 PM PT the Sacramento Kings will play the Golden State Warriors. Both games will air on ESPN2.
California Classic Open Thread
Both games will air on ESPN 2
By Greg Wissinger | 142 Comments | Aug 3, 2021
Courtesy of Sacramento Kings
The Kings Herald Newsletter
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Davion. DaviOff-night.
The King’s floor looks nice, the mid court logo is way to big though.
I hope they’ll go back to the glory days court with the key being black and purple.
I’m here. Section 120. Tenders and fries a huge disappointment. Broken pieces of chicken, cold soggy fries. Porchettas should be ashamed. Usually not like this.
Lakers have a player named Trace Tinkle. Happens to me if I don’t shake it one more time.
Me too. #Old.
I buy only Tinkle Trace brand underwear.
That’s why I only wear black shorts now.
Moody already dodging Mitchell
Hence the “off night” nickname. Wait, that’s Mitchell’s nickname hehe
Nothing to do with the thread but it’s halftime and I need something to do.
I can’t wait to see that rag-tag team of up and comers, who are just trying to make a place for themselves in the league, square off against the collection of blue-collar everyman players on the New Jersey Nets
What in the hell are you rambling on about
Lol
How fun it will be to watch two teams like the Lakers and Nets, with rosters full of feisty, relatively unknown players who are just trying to prove themselves. It’s what makes the NBA so great.
That was much better.
Many of those guys also buy Tinkle Trace brand underwear.
How do you exit out of a photo on TKH on a iPhone ?
Try clicking outside of the photo (maybe on the sides)
Apparently you can watch ESPN2 through SLING, which is free (as far as I know…?)
I’m watching the L*kers / Heat game right now. Nice to see the Kings logo on the floor.
So, I’m gonna need an education on how I can cut the cord for cable. My family hasn’t watched live TV in months but I still want to watch the Kings. Is Hulu Live Sports the way to go?
It’s like $60+ a month so you aren’t really cutting the cord ???? live sports is the only thing they know people will pay big for
I kind of figured as much. I feel we are a year to two away from pro sports cutting all ties to cable and offering their own dedicated streaming service, regardless of market location, like Disney, HBO and others have done.
My family really just does Netflix, HBO, and Disney, so if the NBA offered their own that is better and has more content then league pass, then that is what we will do.
YouTube TV is 65$. That’s what I’ve got. Like Mike said you’re not really cutting the cord.
Ah, someone already gave the pricing. Yeah, sports is expensive.
You only have to pay for one of the Sling “colors”. I think the one with the Kings channel is about $30/mo. The other cool is since it’s an app, you can watch the Kings game on your phone or any app device if you aren’t home.
Sling dropped the Kings channel (NBC Sports California) in April of this year. All of the streaming sites that still carry the channel are about $60/mo.
I feel like we haven’t quite crossed the threshold to cut the cord for streaming when it comes to live sports. At $60 a month for sports plus the other streaming services we’d need to satisfy our comforts it comes out close to a wash.
We have the no frills DirecTV with Comcast Sports Net, Netflix, Disney and HBO as of now. Until there is a major shift I figure it’s just easier to hold the line.
Everyone’s situation is different. Since the only live sports I watch are Kings games and NFL, I save a lot of money by cancelling my subscription in the offseason.
I tried it out two years ago. But found that I needed to separate “TV” streaming services because of the way the channel packages and exclusivity stacked up. That coupled with having to spring for the unlimited internet package to handle all the additional data running through the house, ended up only saving $10/mo.
So we went back to cable for the convenience of not having to flip from app to app for show X vs show Y. Though we do own our own modem now and use the Roku sticks on the bedroom TVs w/the Xfinity App, rather than renting the modem and additional boxes. So that sort of evened things out.
NBC Sports’ app MY Teams already does that free as long as you provide your tv info
We tried Hulu and YouTube tv and much preferred the latter. Saves us money, but not a ton.
The biggest advantage, I think, is that you can take it anywhere with you.
And no f’n contracts….
Are you in the Sacramento area? If so, then league pass is not for you. You’ll get the kings game anywhere from 3 to 7 days later, but I’m fine with watching other teams. YouTube tv has local programming, so that might be an option.
Yeah, I’m in the blackout area.
Ah, sucks. Hope you find a cheap option. YouTube tv costs like 60 something a month, just so you have an idea.
YouTube TV’s unlimited dvr is pretty great too.
This is also cool.
You can get around league/team pass issues with a VPN.
Good on the Kings for getting MIA, GSW, and LAL involved. National media may ignore the Kings, but they sure as shit will run with anything related to the other guys. Glad to be on ESPN2.
Sitting here at the halftime DJ show. I don’t mean to sound like the middle aged white guy that I am, but why does this sh*t have to be so loud? Just doesn’t sound good. Can we get Woody Guthrie night? Maybe spin some Jimmy Buffett tracks??
Didn’t know Bill Walton browsed THK
If someone would just bring me some oatmeal, that would be stupendous
this actually gave me tears laughing
OT: Whiteside to Jazz.
Whiteside and Gobert on the floor at the same time would be awesome.
Quin Snyder will either murder him or stroke out.
It’s very weird that they don’t play music during summer league.
No Neemias?
Summer league rotations are weird. I wouldn’t read too much into it at this point. If he DNP-CDs the whole game that would be really odd though.
They already said he wasn’t going to play in sac
probably Vegas though
Mitchell is awesome but really wanted to see Neemias. Why would they hold him out?
He has an ankle injury.
This is a game that Bagley could probably be competitive in, going against scrubs.. but he would probably get hurt
Not liking Mitchells offensive aggressivness
The important thing is that you gave him a chance.
Whatever he is, he isn’t Papagiannis, whose NBA career died five minutes into his first summer league game.
Yeah along those lines…I remember in one of the TKH podcasts they were talking upside Wagner/Moody etc. One of the guys said the one thing the kings can’t do is miss with the pick.
We can debate fit, but it’s hard to see this kid being a flat miss and at least not some type of asset down the road.
Who’s papagiannis?!
You don’t like the best player on the floor being aggressive? He’s also being effective… Weird comment
Yeah through 3 (short) quarters, 18 points and lockdown defense with multiple steals already. BUST.
Too bad you can’t do a quick WizsSox edit on this.
Do know you can’t edit once anyone comments on your post or after a short certain timeframe? Yeah sometimes I post and go back read what I wrote right after and change it for clarity or I think of something else. Very rarely I write something and then realize it’s a poor post/rude etc. I think you need to get over that. If you really want that to stop make sure you comment on it super quick…or you could just get over it and move on.
Edit History: Had to add question mark. Sorry bro.
Or… you could just take a joke.
Yeah and you have now commented about it twice and it doesn’t make a ton of sense. I think you and I don’t communicate very well (mult occasions) so probably not the person I’m looking to hear a joke from.
No offense, I’m just gonna steer clear from you. I don’t enjoy our interactions. Enjoy the board.
Or… not.
I’m liking Davion’s form on the shot, and confidence to shoot those jumpers.
Great observations
Kings coaching staff in midseason form with their chin mask game.
Carl in midseason form complaining about something that really doesn’t matter about masking
Ooh, “Masks don’t matter.”
Never be less smart than a guy whose best skill is making long grass short.
I’ll follow the actual science and you just follow your politicians…
You jump right on board with the players wearing masks while sitting on the bench but taking them off to play…covid knows when to strike and while someone is doing something active it leaves them be.
The “I believe in science” crowd really doesn’t like actual science lol
Check some actual studies on covid protocols and how much of a joke they are, ya know by MIT and the such.
Please bring back downvotes.
http://vis.csail.mit.edu/covid-story/
And the response got deleted… Weak
Kyle Draper sure is one really excited announcer.
Mitchell looking good so far. Looking to distribute the ball and seems to see the open man. Shot looks good, he’ll be able to compete physically with NBA players, and the one thing that will definitely carry over is being a pest on defense.
Remains to be seen how much of his game carries over, but I’m hopeful.
I’m liking Davion’s off-ball defense – he’s never guarding air, he boxes out as soon as a shot goes up and his movement seems to be very intentional. He obviously just has great instincts at that end and probably had a phenomenal coach at some point.
If his defensive play can serve as an object lesson for the rest of the team that would be very, very good.
The only nitpick I have is that he got caught on some off-ball screens. Otherwise the defense was great to watch and I love how he finishes defensive possessions by boxing out.
Woodard can smash the rim. Damn.
Saw this game in person, Woodard was pretty disappointing. He’s a physical specimen, but seemed to lack instinct and ball skills. Did this back-to-the-hoop spin thing that got swatted hard, two minutes later he tried it again and was about to get the same result before he lost control somehow. Would have been a good NFL tight end, I’m not seeing it in the NBA
I agree, and that’s why Woodard should be in the G-league,
unlike King, King got some basketball instinct and ball skill, can drive into the paint too..and I think he is taller than before ?
So, I want to see more King in Kings……….(but as we just signed Harkless, he would be behind Harkless in SF position)
Is the plan for Kayte to replace Doug as the color commentator this season?
If she keeps her focus on the game, I might be OK with it. She has plus knowledge & doesn’t force things. You just have to keep her away from reading fan opinion on social media.
She did color one game with a female pbp – can’t remember her name. They were solid.
Yep. Even during play calls, Kayte can slip into overcomplimenting instead of just being straightforward and honest. But overall, I am fine with it if that’s the plan. I think she’d be much better in this role than the one she’s being doing. As much as I like Doug as a person, I will not miss his cringey play calls.
She was such an upgrade on the sidelines after enduring Jim Gray.
Sometimes the excitement transcended the cringe. Even my dogs at treat time couldn’t match the joy in Doug’s calls when something amazing happened.
The cavs game where Barnes won it with the fox full court pass
I thought she was awful that night. Kept talking over Krista Blunk (PBP) the entire time.
I don’t look forward to her all season. She’s insufferable enough already.
I thought that she was excellent, especially considering the circumstances (little-to-no experience at the color position going into that game).
I guess it all boils down to what you are looking for from a color analyst. I’ll take the insight first, followed by the entertainment. Jerry was the gold standard. Doug had insight, but it was overshadowed (for me) by his attempts to be…well…Jerry. Kayte seems content to talk basketball for the time being, and when she sticks to that she is knowledgeable and translateable (again, for me).
If Kayte is the bar, I can’t think of anyone around on the color side (sans Jerry) that gets over that bar. Depending on her partner, I would not currently mute a broadcast where she is doing the color. That is more than I could say for Grant and Doug.
I’m not a fan of Kayte. She’s dry and humorless. And her analysis is obvious.
I just want the analysis to have… you know…analysis. Kayte rings that bell as a color analyst. The team is plenty humorous all on its own.
And still an upgrade from DC.
Not sure how I feel about Davion. He looks like he could be decent but the ceiling doesn’t look real high. He’s small and not very athletic but is quick and can defend
He’ll need to learn how to use his body a la IT & B-Jax.
B-Jax is an excellent comparison, I think. And “fantastic sixth man combo guard” is about where I see his ceiling.
Wait, is there OT in the Summer Classic? That’s just silly.
I see Davion as a perennial 6th man, similar to B-Jax, Patty Mills, or Patrick Beverly if he’s willing to accept that role. I just don’t see him as a starter in the league, but I can definitely see him play crunch time minutes due to his peskiness and instincts on defense.
I beg to differ…yeah he’s small so he won’t pull these off NBA or college, but he doesn’t lack for very good athleticism or bounce.
not athletic at all…non athletes are generally known for being excellent on ball defenders at the PG spot
Am I missing some sarcasm? Edited: Nevermind, I think I did. Time to go to bed : )
you caught it on the edit lol
Not sure what Mike is talking about (missed the sarcasm too?). I didnt realize Davion is that athletic. He looks like Damian Lillard when he got drafted! Very bouncy
Woodard fouled on that end of 4th play.
Oh, and now Davion’s hurt. In OT. In the Summer Classic.
That’s pretty Kangzy
I felt he played too much tonight. Might be a mistake giving all those minutes in the debit.
The coaching staff/Bobby Jackson pulled him one play too late. He had already started showing some discomfort with his hammy, they didn’t notice or something, then he really started limping. No idea why they weren’t more cautious with him.
Similar to a normal Kings game. Flashy point guard that can get buckets, high energy center, and a loss.
I’m going to ask a question that has nothing to do with the game. Who should be the starting point guard?
I’ve been battling with this,, but I honestly think it shld be Hally.
Ben Simmons?
/ducks
Well about halfway through last season Richard Jefferson said Barnes told him the organization’s goal was to have Haliburton develop to take over at point and move Fox off ball FWIW.
Fox = NAPG?
Fox is getting very Tyreke-esque. Can he play SF? 🙂
I don’t see why coaches wouldn’t be advanced enough to have fast break offenses that could make either Fox or Hali the point, depending on proximity to ball acquisition. Closest fills point, second fills a lane as the combo guard. They both get their hands on the rock to make things happen. It’s not rocket surgery.
Yep. Both Fox & Hali as 1.5s. The same way they should have done it with ‘Reke & IT.
Despite Mitchell not being the pick I would have made, I am going to enjoy watching that kid play.
Was there tonight. Mitchell was the best player on the floor. Looked solid with his quickness, passing and defense. Shot was just ok, but he wasn’t afraid to shoot it. He can get to the basket and score and he sure as hell can guard. I’m loving the early look. Hopefully he did not get hurt in a meaningless game.
Yeah, at the end of the game, he kept touching his hamstring; hope he’s fine.
Not sure if you both saw already, but he said it was just cramps to Ham.
I saw that, but as a Kings fan I’m conditioned to think the worst. But yeah, I hope that’s all it was.
I was there too. It felt like I was watching his YouTube highlight mix, but in real life. Literally just ripping the ball away from his man with suffocating D and quick hands. And on at least one play, he flustered his man so badly, it rushed a pass that led to a turnover. He is going to open some eyes in this league
Nice! Thanks for sharing the perspective. I only saw the highlights the Kings posted, and was checking out the box score. Looks like he might be able to score the ball better than some expected. I love the defensive intensity I’ve seen from him in college. If he brings it to the pro’s, it’ll make this team a bit chippy defensively. You got Davion hounding the ball being brought up, and you’ve Hali and Fox playing the passing lanes? Holmes on the backend with some tenacity. This could be a good thing.
Ah, did the crybabies have their wittle fweelings hurt by a red arrow ? I like downvotes, bring em back! Downvotes are upvotes are cool.
I like polarizing comments good and bad. I like to read the comment that got 0 ups and 5 downs, I like to hear what the outlier had to say. Who else agrees? What is the point of an up vote without the proper context,. i.e. thoose disagreeing?
How fragile does your manhood have to be you are bent are out of shape and emotionally distraught because someone doesnt like your opinion?! Man-up.
A mature person is internally validated, not externally. If you are constantly chasing external validation, you will never be happy and have low grade anxiety. The irony is when you do not chase external validation, you are more likely to be externally validated, because you come off as an authentic, and humans recognize and appreciate authenticity.
To the site operators, just because you have a vocal minority of emotional weaklings does not mean you have to pander to their weakness.
Getting red votes builds character, which means I have a lot of character. 😉
Now onto the game….
I like the downvote too……….
But I miss ” sarcasm font ”
I agree, liked being able to see the balance of upvote to downvote to get a sense as to how the community felt about it.
One thing I would say is that because someone was going around and downvoting everything even non controversial stuff, it made the numbers more meaningless. Maybe in can be brought back after awhile.
This is the first time I have finished one of your comments. I agree with the whole thing. Amazing.
That was a scintillating debut. And not unexpected if you watched his Championship game vs Gonzaga, which I did for first time after Davion was drafted. Davion dominated the 1st half of that game, overshadowing Suggs, controlling the play on both ends.
He is a very fun player to watch and he has great court presence. It is fantastic. McGenius did it! His defense is ahead of his offense, and his offense is very good. Though he needs to develop that mid range game.
I understand the pick now, because when I first scouted him I drew the parrallel to TD and saw the overlapping skills, possibly redundant. But my focus was on the offensive end, but his ability to effect the game defensively is profound, and TD cannot do that as well.
The Warriors had a terrible time trying to initiate offense from PG. Davion kept blowing up the play or delaying entry into the set. And that enabled his teammates to overplay and crowd and confuse. The Warriors won the game only because of great three point shooting.
We are going to be devastating with Fox and Davion on the floor together because there is always going to be a mismatch that is going to allow penetration. Every time down we can pick on the weaker defender and get into the lane and create havoc. That is going to force the opponent to play two PGs to try to match us, and that is going to disrupt what they want to do.
Woodward is terrible at basketball. It actually bugs me to watch him play! He is not a springy athlete. He is not a shooter. He had an easy wide open baseline turnaround to win the game and missed the rim by one foot. He has no defensive or board presence.
I would rather see Ramsay play, he is smooth gliding athlete and for him there may be some hope. There is NO hope for Woodward. Woodward would have been waived had he not had the guaranteed dollars.
Justin James was another long shot, but James did something amazing towards the end of his tenure, he mastered the floater. Watching Woodward play makes me long for James, and I never thought I would miss him!
Bad Moody and Kuminga and the GSW are pathetic for sitting the game out (rest). What a competitive joke and disservice and disrespect to the paying fans. Bad Moody hiding from Off Night Mitchell already!
What is your comment on Louis King then ?
Who’s Woodward? ????????♂️
This! My wife is a Woodard and nearly everyone uses “Woodward” instead.
He’s Woodward, he’s Woodward, you’re Woodward, I’M WOODWARD! Are there any other Woodwards I should know about?
Not sure if it’s Davion or if it’s because the thumbs down is gone, but there is more positive energy in these comments and I love it!
also, I was reading fan(non kings fans) comments about Davion from around the league. I know it’s just one SL game but Other than the obvious trolls, everyone seems to think we got another steal in the draft. “Moves like Kemba” “built like Bledsoe” “defends w/ same energy like Smart”.
even if 80% of what we saw yesterday carries over to the regular season, I’d say this draft pick was a success.
All other fans are talking about Mitchell, only because there was no other lottery pick draftees play last night……….
and NBA need to put all the focus on Mitchell…….and more non Kings fans got their first look at our rookies and comment on him.
True and I’m by no means suggesting that 8 other teams are regretful. Just that reading “great pick” and kings in the same sentence, two consecutive years is a welcome change.
I think if you’re going to compare him to Smart, you have to note that Smart is three inches taller, which isn’t nothing. No complaints about his defense or first game though. His hands are extremely quick, and he absolutely flustered other players with his defense.
Not intended to criticize you Sir_tajj! They were making the Smart comparison on the broadcast as well, and while I can see the comparison, size is a potential issue that they shouldn’t overlook just yet.
I agree, it was noticeable when he would drive to the basket and try to pass around defenders to the corner and it seemed as if it was deflected every time. I think that’s where those couple of inches would come in handy. But then again I’m nit picking here. He far exceeded my expectations. Specially on offense.
Yea l, I did read some people compare him to Smart. But I think better comp is Smarts energy and IQ and not the physical attributes.
i’ll say this though, there are a lot of things in life that we can’t control. Effort isn’t one of them. Man goes 110% every play. If his body holds up, I have no doubt that he will be a impact player for many many years.
My comp is Patrick Beverly with a better handle. Mike Conley ceiling (which would be freakin’ amazing)? Early Rondo with a better pass/shoot ratio?
Why didn’t Neemias play?
Ankle issue.
Badge Legend