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De’Aaron Fox says it’s disrespectful national media isn’t giving Kings a chance at playoffs

On Wednesday, Fox spoke to the local Sacramento media on a Zoom call and was asked about it.
By | 28 Comments | Jul 1, 2020

Credit: Kimani Okearah

Both ESPN and The Ringer have forgotten that the Kings are an NBA franchise with a chance to make the playoffs in Orlando.

De’Aaron Fox recently took exception to this.

On Wednesday, Fox spoke to the local Sacramento media on a Zoom call and was asked about it.

€œI’m not someone to filter myself or hold my tongue or anything and I don’t even think it’s like cocky or anything €“ I think it’s disrespectful that we don’t even stand a chance like we shouldn’t even be there. So, I mean the slow start is what it is, but at the end of the day I feel like we have just as much of a chance as these other teams. I put that out there, it’s funny, but at the end of the day we’re going out there with the same goal as those four other teams that are right there. It is what it is. €¦ We’re going out there trying to win, trying to win every game, trying to make the playoffs just like everybody else and if people don’t see us as a threat then we let the chips fall where they may.€

Fox, who reiterated on the call that he wants to stay with the Kings in the future, said he is used to the disrespect the team gets, but knows they have to back up this talk though.

€œIf we can get into the playoffs, if we can do these things then we’re just proving everybody wrong. So, when people are doubting us or anything like that it doesn’t hurt. For me, it’s like I’m going to show you where you’re wrong, but at the end of the day it’s what we do on the court. Like I said, we’re tied with these teams and we’ve beaten Memphis three out of four times and no one talks about that so it is what it is. I’m going to put it out there, I’m going to throw the bug in your ear, but if we don’t get into the playoffs then it’s like none of that matters. At the end of the day, we still have to produce on the court.€

Fox also was asked about the Kings eight-game schedule, which includes games against the Spurs, Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets and Lakers, not to mention several other less than ideal circumstances.

He isn’t concerned.

€œI like our chances. I think every game we have on the schedule is winnable. All you have to do I think is be within four games of the eighth seed, but you have to be the ninth seed so at the end of the day I think we control our own fate,€ he said.

Fox said Orlando will be similar to a NCAA tournament for the teams trying to get into the playoffs and that the Kings need to get back to where they were when the season left off.

“A team that gets hot at the right time and just being able to make it to the playoffs is what everybody wants right now, he said.

Given the unusual situation with no fans, such a long time off since the season was paused in March and all the safety concerns, it is certainly going to be a challenge for any team. Fox seems pretty determined on his mission to prove the doubters wrong though.

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Otis
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July 1, 2020 2:46 pm

Even COVID-19 isn’t strong enough to stop bulletin board material!

ZillersCat
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July 1, 2020 2:54 pm

I want you to go to your window. Open it and yell ..
comment image
 
SACRAMENTO … CLAP CLAP .. CLAP CLAP CLAP

Last edited 3 years ago by ZillersCat
BestHyperboleEver
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July 1, 2020 2:59 pm

Eh. IMO, If you’ve been as bungling as the Kings for so long you’re going to have to prove it a bit before you can expect €œrespect.€ But if they want to manufacture motivation that’s fine by me. Fox in particular seems to be a player that often really needs that kind of extrinsic Motivation to play his best.
 
 
 

Lucky_Guy
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July 2, 2020 8:52 am

Sure this is a big part of the reason why the Kings were not listed on that poll. The most important factor is that the Kings are not a great national media story. It is not like the Pelicans have been some great franchise. Pretty much the only reason why they are the favorites is that Zion is the most desirable media story. If you could wave a magic wand and trade Zion for Fox the Kings would have been on that poll and the Pelicans would not.

ZillersCat
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July 2, 2020 8:58 am
Reply to  Lucky_Guy

I would have traded Bagley for Zion.. & I’d keep Fox .. thanks … 😉

Lucky_Guy
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July 2, 2020 12:28 pm
Reply to  ZillersCat

Not even a magic wand could pull that trade off.

BestHyperboleEver
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July 2, 2020 12:00 pm
Reply to  Lucky_Guy

That’s absolutely true. Though the Pelicans are also simply more likely to take that spot since. They’ve been playing like a top 10 NBA team since mid-December. As much as we talk about the Kings slow start, the Pelicans started the season 6-22.
 
So, yes, the Pelicans are getting more attention than their record deserves because of Zion, but they’ve also been the better team and, due to having the easiest run in, are rightfully considered more likely to challenge for the playoffs. Obviously, Portland is getting attention due to recent history and established stars.
 
I would also say that if this whole situation happened last season, the Kings probably would have gotten undue attention because they were considered a high-paced, exciting, up and coming team. After a year where they didn’t improve and chose a much less exciting style, the gild came off the lily a bit.
 
Remember, this isn’t just a “the media hates Sacramento” thing. The 88-89 team got a ton of media love.

ZillersCat
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July 1, 2020 3:05 pm

 
comment image

Last edited 3 years ago by ZillersCat
AirmaxPG
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July 1, 2020 3:29 pm

 

MAJOR LEAGUE.gif
RobHessing
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July 1, 2020 3:33 pm

Given that it’s an 8 game mini-tourney to the finish, the Kings are not really “virtually tied” with Portland. If both teams win/lose the same amount of these eight games, the Blazers go by percentage points. In that regard, the Kings have to be at least one game better than the Blazers over the 8 game stretch.
 
I agree that “no chance” is inaccurate, but the Kings are well behind Memphis, behind Portland, and a split against the Pels plus the same finish as the Pels puts them on the wrong side of that tie breaker. Plus they have to stay within four games of the Griz, right?
 
A lot has to go right for the Kings to get to the play-in game, and even more has to go right for them to land in the final eight. A lot going right for the Kings has not exactly been the mantra for this organization over the past five, seven or fourteen years.

RobHessing
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July 1, 2020 3:38 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

All of that said, the team is undefeated in the post-Grant Napear era.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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July 1, 2020 3:44 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

That’s what I don’t understand. Say the Kings and the Blazers both go 6-2 and finished “tied” for the 9th seed a game back from the 8th seed, do the Blazers get in just because they played more regular season games? There has got to be a better way to break the tie than that, right? At least make it head to head match-ups, point differential, or something. They shouldn’t break the tie due to chance.
 

Last edited 3 years ago by Adamsite
RobHessing
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July 1, 2020 3:47 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

The NBA already said winning percentage, so unless they make a late change the Kings are really the equivalent of a half game behind the Blazers right now. They will need to win one more game than the Blazers to overtake them.

AirmaxPG
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July 1, 2020 4:16 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

I still don’t understand why they are not just taking the top 16 teams. Seems the perfect time to try this out, since there is literally no travel in this bubble.
 
Not only would you have the outside chance of catching the Grizz, but you would have the Blazers, Pelicans, Kings, Spurs, Suns, Nets and Magic all within 4 games of each other for two more playoff spots.

BestHyperboleEver
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July 1, 2020 4:34 pm
Reply to  AirmaxPG

In general, I’m down with this. Just get rid of the conferences and balance the schedule more. Play every team twice (58 games) + some regional rivals (maybe balancing for previous season record). Or, heck, play every team 3 times and just make it an 87 game season. 58 games is plenty to me. Do away with back-to-backs. Then take the top 16 for the playoffs. Or division winners + 10 top other records.
 

Last edited 3 years ago by BestHyperboleEver
RORDOG
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July 1, 2020 3:55 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

they should do a post-mini-tournament-pre-play-in-tournament-tournament to determine which team gets to move on to the play-in tournament to determine which team gets to play in the tournament-tournament.

BestHyperboleEver
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July 1, 2020 3:59 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

But, you don’t need a tie break because they wouldn’t be tied. You’d be using that same “chance” to artificially call it a tie. The situation you point out isn’t any more unfair to the Kings than simply discounting the Blazers extra win would be to the Blazers.
 
Ultimately and unfortunately, the entire thing was clearly set up to ensure maximization of TV $. Not to maximize fairness.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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July 1, 2020 4:06 pm

I think the easier option would have been to have all the bubble teams play each other at least once during the 8 games in order break any possible ties. It seemed like a no brainer to me, but the league didn’t do it.
 

Last edited 3 years ago by Adamsite
BestHyperboleEver
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July 1, 2020 4:19 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Honestly, the biggest no-brainer to me was simply going straight to a normal playoff format with the top 8 in each conference. The idea that the Grizzlies have to have a greater than 4 game lead after 72+ games to win the 8th seed outright is pretty silly.
To say nothing of the fact that prior to the stoppage the Kings and Blazers had basically the same SoS remaining, and with the new schedule the Kings have the 3rd easiest while the Blazers are among the top 3 toughest. Considering that and thinking of your scenario, if the Kings go 6-2 against their lighter schedule while the Blazers go 5-3. The Kings would get in on winning percentage because they played fewer overall games.

Last edited 3 years ago by BestHyperboleEver
Lucky_Guy
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July 2, 2020 9:01 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Is it not also true that if the Kings win one more game then the Blazers they will have the better winning percentage and get an advantage from playing less games? For example if the Kings go 6-2(34-38) and the Blazers go 5 and 3(34-39) The Kings will advance with the same amount of wins. When you are talking about two teams who are winning less then half of their games it seems like there can be an advantage to playing less games.

BestHyperboleEver
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July 2, 2020 12:01 pm
Reply to  Lucky_Guy

Yes. It cuts both ways.

TheKingsGuard
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July 1, 2020 4:29 pm

There’s a reason this dude dons my profile name and pic. Foxxxxxxxx!

1951
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July 1, 2020 4:40 pm

Well, the Sacramento Kings franchise has disrespected the entire concept of professional sports for the last 14 years, so …
 
😉

Kosta
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July 1, 2020 5:03 pm

“Boy I tell ya, we get no respect. Take our GM. ….PLEASE!”
 comment image
 

Last edited 3 years ago by Kosta
jay14bay
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July 1, 2020 5:04 pm

At the end of the day

 
When’s that

RikSmits
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July 1, 2020 8:27 pm

Well, you’d better go out there and earn that respect, Fox. Otherwise you’d be just one of those whining losers who cry about a lack of respect when they have achieved nothing yet in this league.
Good luck!

ForKingsandCountry
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July 2, 2020 8:59 am

While I hate when Kings fans complain about a lack of respect, I don’t mind Fox doing it. I mean what’s he supposed to say. “Hey guys we stink and our organization is incompetent but we’ll play some games and see what happens.” He’s about the only guys I want to hear this from.

RikSmits
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July 2, 2020 10:56 am

Words are like wind. Brush it off and talk with your play.

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