The Kings continued their long road trip by making their way over to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers for the second time this season. In their first contest back in early November, the Kings beat the Cavaliers for one of their most impressive wins so far this season. Both teams’ star guards sat this one out, so no foxes or spiders were present for this contest. Without De’Aaron Fox, and away from the cheers and comforts of Golden 1 Center, the Kings needed a collective team performance tonight if they wished to remain undefeated against a very strong Cleveland squad. Let’s see how they did:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings win, 106-95
Sacramento Kings: 106 pts, 53.0% fg, 48.5% 3 pt, 62.5% ft, 21 ast, 39 reb, 19 to
Cleveland Cavaliers: 95 pts, 42.5% fg, 33.3% 3 pt, 77.3% ft, 20 ast, 36 reb, 19 to
It was a rollercoaster, but the Kings eventually had us screaming for joy by the end of it. After a hot start and a commanding 15-point lead, the Kings went cold and let Cleveland close back in on them. After a close and tense battle for the middle meat of the game, the Kings finally turned the jets on in the final five minutes and completed a 19-0 run to win.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good
- Dirty Work: Through the grinding middle stretch of the game, where Cleveland led by as much as eight points, the Kings’ offense struggled to find anything easy. This showed in the stat sheet as they were only able to connect on six assists total during the 2nd and 3rd quarters. But what really kept them afloat during this rocky stretch was the dirty work of Domantas Sabonis and Harrison Barnes. Both, but especially Sabonis, were relentless in attacking the congested war zone in the paint. Barnes finished with 20 points, cashing in on 7-10 from the free throw line. The Cavs did all they could to discourage Sabonis from attacking the rim, meeting him with rough physicality at every turn. But nothing could deter this man. He was on a mission. Sabonis reached a double double by the first half, and ultimately finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds after visiting the free throw line 14 times.
- Late Game Defense: The Kings’ late game offensive boost was something we had all been waiting for the entire game. We knew they had it in them, they just kept it in the reserves until the final five minutes. But even more impressive than the 19 points they scored in the last minutes was the defense they executed on the other end. Again, Domantas Sabonis and Harrison Barnes came up big in rim protection down the stretch. Barnes showed some veteran discipline after finding himself caught under the basket on Caris LeVert with deep post position – instead of going for the block, Barnes led with his chest and vertically challenged LeVert, forcing him to overthrow the bunny. The next two defensive plays ended in blocks by Sabonis, one which resulted in a layup for Davion Mitchell, and the other a 3-pointer from Kevin Huerter. It was great to see defense be the reason the Kings closed this one out.
- Hail Murray: Did you say all your Hail Murrays yet today? Well, get them in because this kid delivered. Murray had a blazing start, shooting 4-4 from the 3-point line in the first quarter. Unfortunately getting into some early foul trouble, he spent much of the middle two quarters on the bench. But when he finally came back in, he picked up right where he left off. He hit a huge 3-pointer towards the end of the 3rd quarter to cut the Cavs’ lead down to four points. And he rounded out his performance in the 4th quarter by hitting his final 3-pointer to give the Kings a six-point lead with 1:22 left to go. Seeing Murray feel comfortable and confident in these big moments is not only reassuring, but exciting and a big reason the Kings won tonight.
The Bad
- The Kings Guard(s): Much of the Kings’ offensive struggles during the game came from a lack of production from their guards. Davion Mitchell, who started in place of De’Aaron Fox, finished with eight points and six assists. Malik Monk, who we’ve become accustomed to being a leading scorer off the bench, had a rare disjointed night with just nine points and five turnovers. Without consistent production from the Kings’ guards, their offense was forced to battle inside, thus slowing the game down. This problem then compounded upon itself because the Kings’ guards often thrive in a high-paced setting. The guards struggled to score, so the game slowed down, but because the game slowed down, the guards struggled to score. It wasn’t until the last push where we saw the pace pick up, the guards look comfortable, and we got to see the brand of Kings basketball that we all love.
The Ugly
- Free Throws: As a team, the Kings shot 20-32 from the line. Domantas Sabonis struggled the most, missing six of his 14 attempts. Typically around 75% from the line, it was an off night for him at the stripe. It was just stressful that a lot of those misses came when the game was so close.
The King of Kings
Despite his struggle at the free throw line, Domantas Sabonis is without question tonight’s King of Kings. He led this team into battle with a determination and relentlessness that has me ready to run through a wall for him. Suffering physical abuse in the post all night long, Sabonis still managed to tally up a huge stat line and lead his team to victory. For his admirable efforts, he’s not only the King of Kings tonight, but also the team’s Defensive Player of the Game and gets to rock this sweet chain:
Introducing the DPOG chain 🥇#BeamTeam pic.twitter.com/SOPABYLENT
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 10, 2022
Up Next
Sunday, December 11th @ New York Knicks – 3:00 P.M. (PT)
SWEEP!
This was a HUGE win. No Fox. Crazy defense. That DPOG chain?! I’m beamin baby!
Can’t forget Keeganator! If he hadn’t gotten in foul trouble he would’ve gone off even more.
DPOG Chain
What are they saying in the team huddle at the end, after “1 2 3 …”?
Together
Together
That’s a good idea for a chain & it’s cool that they have purple laser pointers to celebrate road wins.
DPOG
I am going to apologize up front for the language and blasphemy, but GOD DAMN. That was a motherf*cking v-i-c-t-o-r-y.
I cant really remember a win that I found more satisfying than that. Need some early offense to offset Fox being out? KEEGAN HAS GOT IT COVERED.
Need an all star performance from your big to combat to high level seven footers in Allen and Mobley? SABONIS IS A MAN AMONGST BOYS.
Need crafty shot making and high IQ vet plays against a top defense? MONK, HUERTER, AND BARNES GOT YOU DON’T YOU WORRY.
Need to give a top PG in Garland an off-night? DAVION MITCHELL REPORTING TO DUTY.
Need some smart and assertive play from your bench? DON’T YOU WORRY HERE COMES LYLES, DELLY AND METU.
Need some defensive stops against a highly rated offense playing at home where they have the best record in the NBA? SORRY BABY THE KINGS CAME TO TOWN AND DECIDED TO POST UP RIGHT IN YOUR SOUP.
What a great win. There is something special going on. Brown and his staff was exactly what this roster McNair put together needed, and I do not think they are close to their peak. Brown’s schemes need familiarity and teamwork, and we can see from their improvements on defense that it is coming together. Also, Keegan Murray. KEEGAN MURRAY. Is anyone going to be surprised when he is scoring an efficient 20ppg in 2023? Davion is going to be the needle mover. His defense is already a freaking weapon for Brown, as his offense clicks he will take this team from competitive to a g-damn problem for any team in the NBA.
This team is so much fun. Wow.
This summer there was, as I recall, discussion of how much difference a coach makes to a team’s record. I can’t recall anyone thinking it was more than five games, most, I believe, thinking it was more like two or three.
I think Mike Brown may be about to make this team ten wins better than it would have been with last season’s coaches.
I don’t mean to detract from Monte’s roster building, which has been terrific. But Brown’s coaching brought something wonderful to the end of that game!
A Cavalier Dance.
Wow! In some ways, this was the team’s most impressive win, in an early season of impressive wins.
Cleveland is 11-1 at home – the NBA’s best record!
A 19-0 4th Q shut out of any team would be a magnificent feat, but to the Cavs, Mike Brown must have been ecstatic.
And two big hat tips to Off Night and Delly who shut down the Cavs backcourt. Extra respect to Red Velvet who came back to the game after injury
The Kings won in every Team category but FT% tonight. That’s Legit.
LIGHT THE BEAM!
And in the last five minutes…cut loose!
Lakers lose in OT horribly with Bron, AD and Westbrick on the floor. It’s a good night.
#SacramentoProud
Sabonis came up BIG all game long!
And Murray’s shot is back!
And how about Davion’s “D”!
That DPOG chain is what you call CULTURE!!!
Gawdy as anything you’ll ever see but I love it. You know guys are gonna want to put that on in the locker room after each win.
In 10/10 games you’d expect the Cavs to out rebound the Kings. But tonight you’d be wrong. Add in shooting 48% from three and there’s your win. How often does a team win with its top scorers only at 20? We had that 66 game streak of giving up over 100 points. And now two in the last 4 with another at 101. Something brewing here.
A Saboner for the ages.
Lakers lost too?
It’s been four hours, should I call a doctor?
Saw this version on Twitter
Cav dance!
The stats done do Sabonis justice, the dude was absolutely outstanding and got us the W. I can’t believe we basically got him for free.
Pacers got fleeced!!!
Domas to HB40
I love at the end where Okoro puts his palms up to heaven as to say?
Put some respek on Tyrese
He’s a fine player, but he’s no Andrew Nembhard.
When was the last time we stepped on an opponent’s neck down the stretch of a game with defense? Was Artest on the roster? They all beasted over the last five minutes, especially Sabonis & Mitchell. Wowzers.
So. MUCH. FUN!!!
It might’ve been when Malone was coaching the Kings. Otherwise, it would’ve been when Artest was on the Kings.
The even more impressive part was that they did not commit a foul on a shooter during that span.
YOUR SACRAMENTO KINGS: FUN!!!
Wow that DPOG chain is definitely a… Golden 1
Chaingz.
So the bench is the “Chaingz” Gang?
Light Brigade!
Sabonis is a true winner that stats never show his true value . What a terrific win that was as physical as a game in the 90’s and Kings were the toughest .
I thought that was Davion?
They’re going to be fighting on D to snatch that DPOG chain.
Best game of the year so far.
I’ve been looking forward to that in-depth article about Sabonis. I assume it can be written now that he is Pimp King!
“I don’t know if I want to watch this tape.”
Hahahaha! Awesome.
After getting shut down in the final few minutes of your previous game, it’s nice to go do that to the next team you play.
I was thinking the same thing: the Kings did to the Cavs what the Bucks did to them—only worse!
I thought the Nets game was the best of the year so far but I guess I was wrong.
I assume Brown loved the defense in this game.
Another sign the Kings have turned the corner. Lackluster play towards the end of the third, down by 8 with 5 minutes to go, an obvious blowout loss looming. But wait! Kings defense shuts down the Cavs to close out the game while the Kings offense keeps putting up points. No way they’d win this game last year, or the last 10 years. This year, well, they won.
I wish I could be Nostradomas some day
Malik Monk has arrived everybody
Sabonis has something to say… And I’m listening.
Fantastic game by the Kings. As a part of my personal PTSD of following the Kings closely for the last 11/12 years, I basically expect to be disappointed every time the Kings step on the floor. Even in this fourth quarter, my brain went to ‘see, see! They’re not that good!’, and then they pull-off a 19-0 run to finish the game. Wow, just wow.
This team plays offense together, tries to defend together, and most importantly: they fight together. So much fun to watch.
I’m disappointed listening to your PTSD because your PTSD sounds amazing!
Full disclosure: the PTSD only speaks Dutch
At least one of my teams won last night.
It’s just hard for me to muster much enthousiasm for this excellent victory right now.
Amazed Damontas doesn’t wear a mouth guard and goggles…every player should wear at least the former. Send him to the dentist when he gets back to Sac.
This is the most impressive win of the season thus far. Both teams were missing their primary option on offense, down late on the road to one of the better teams in the NBA, and then they put the clamps on and never hung their heads. They found creative ways to score without their best playmaker. They are creating a pattern of doing things that good teams do. Blowing out lesser opponents, finishing quarters and games, and having a “next man up” mentality. They seem to be getting better and better as the season goes on.
I’m looking forward to Fox getting right again and this team will unlock another level.
I am working my way through a decade and a half of PTSD myself but at this point I would say the Kings are one of the better teams in the Association.
If I heard the video correctly, when they gave Domas the chain they said he had “50 verticals” in the game. Between things I’ve read about how Mike Brown likes to track unconventional stats and the things I’ve read (on this site I believe) about how he cares less about blocks and more about getting vertical and obstructing a shooter’s look, I gather this means they track every time a defender does that, and Domas did that 50 times last night. I have no sense of a baseline for that stat but 50 sounds like a lot! I love that they’re tracking this and rewarding it, and that it seems like it works!
Makes sense after hearing the coaches are more focused on the process and not the outcomes. A player can control if they get “vertical”, but not if they get a block.
Damn I heard 15 haha 50 would be like one every 30 seconds of game time, which would be insane. 15’s a lot too
And here I thought Vivek directed the DPOG be awarded to Domas specifically because of his two late-game blocks—thus making the award a “Blockchain”!
If he would’ve made 1 more free-throw he could’ve won an NFT. (Nine Free Throws)
Keegan Murray had a net rating of 45.4 and eFG of 112.5%. I think that may regress a little bit, but based on that game he is clearly the GOAT
That was also somehow not the worst team FT% in the league last night – Dallas shot 41.8% from the line and lost by a point to the Bucks. I don’t know if I could handle seeing my team do that.
The intoxication of the W
I’m drunk with hope, stuporous with my new view of what’s ahead.
Dopamine receptors teaming with juice.
And I’m just a fan. Spectating my little ol’ heart out.
Let’s look at the roster – because they appear to be sipping, no guzzling, from the same fountain.
Mike Brown and his staff promised a new culture, and goddamn if they haven’t delivered.
Lows must be ahead, and I’m stoopid tipsy enough after last night to look forward to see how they respond.
Desperate? Foolish? Fanatic? Yes, Yes, Yes.
but isn’t that why we watch!?
Was that a typo?
I’m assuming you meant to write:
Dopamine receptors
teamingBEAMING with juice.As it should be. All we need is a great Beam Meme and we’ll be all set
The number one sign of a good team to me, is when you don’t actually play that well but still win games against solid teams. Last night they didn’t play that well, they didn’t have their top scorer and they missed a million free throws… and they won by 11. Really impressive win against a good team.
Fun win, great stuff on a lot of levels. Mainly, for me, is that you saw the fight and no quit attitude we’ve seen from this team all year. I thought pretty much until Keegan hit that 3 that put up the Kings 6 with about 140 seconds to go they would probably lose. It didn’t feel like money in the bank, until it did.
Really good teams do that. Cleveland struggles on offense for stretches, especially without Donovan Mitchell, and we saw that last night. It just happened in the last 5 minutes. At one point they were up 95-87 with 4:50 to go and that’s when the worm turned.
Huerter hits a 3 with 4:41 to go. 95-90 Cleveland.
Garland misses a layup at the 4:18 mark.
Sabonis hits Barnes with a highlight reel pass for a dunk. 4:05 to go. 95-92 Cavs.
LeVert misses layup with 3:35 to go.
Sabonis blocks a LeVert layup with 3:03 to go. (That was the Sabonis sequence of the night.) This leads to Domas getting the ball and pushing it up the court to Davion Mitchell. Who gets a layup with 2:58 to go. 95-94 Cavs. But watch it closely a couple of times and you’ll realize that Sabonis not only put that ball underneath Okoro’s hands (a feat in of itself), he also leads Mitchell to the layup. Mitchell being the smart crafty player he is stutter steps into an easy layup. Additionally, he manages to not only block LeVert but time it and get the ball back in a position to push the ball up the court. Keegan Murray does an excellent job of funnelling LeVert to Sabonis who misses Okoro in the corner for a wide open corner 3. Because there’s literally no Cavalier within 5 feet (Jarrett Allen is on the other side of the lane) of Sabonis he has an easy dribbling lane up the court. Okoro to his credit is sprinting back but because Garland is caught in no man’s land he doesn’t step up into the running lane to keep Davion Mitchell from an easy 2. The same Davion Mitchell who is shooting a 53 TS% on the season.
Okoro misses a 3 with 2:38 to go. Sabonis gets called for a loose ball foul, and at this point Evan Mobley is subbed back in after about 2 minutes of game rest. (Garland and Allen came in when Mobley subbed out at 4:48 left.)
Garland misses a 3 at the 2:23 mark.
Huerter hits a 3 at the 2:18 mark.This sequence, too, should be watched if you have the time. At the beginning, Garland misses a 3 that includes a wonderful contest by Keegan Murray. (This is partly why his rebounding numbers are so poor. Not entirely, he needs to get better there, too. But Murray spends a lot of time on the perimeter defending 3’s and that hurts your board numbers.) Mitchell gets the rebound. Huerter see’s Mitchell will get the ball and starts sprinting for the corner. At this very same moment Murray is running on the other sideline as Mitchell where Garland is running step for step with for a moment before losing him completely. (Garland is thinking about stopping Mitchell from making it a 3 on 1 but had he realized where Murray and Huerter were, he would have been wise to have kept after Murray and make Mitchell keep dribbling.) If you pause at the 3 second mark of the video, you won’t even see Evan Mobley there but he’s in the middle of the floor basically helpless because the 2 best shooters on the floor are on either sideline waiting for Mitchell to hit them with an easy pass after Garland, again, is caught in no mans land. Mitchell, for whatever reason, doesn’t either see Murray or doesn’t like the angle on the pass and makes an easy 2 handed chest pass to Huerter. Mobley realizes it but a second too late to really contest the shot and Red Velvet hits the 3. The Kings are now up 97-95 and never lose the lead again. This is at 2:18 to go in the game, Garland’s missed 3 that starts the sequence happens at 2:23 of game time. That’s how you really beat a team with fast pace, not at the beginning when they are fresh. The Kings looked like the more energetic team with 2 minutes to go.
I don’t wish to throw shade at either Darius Garland or Evan Mobley. Both are fantastic players, they do a lot of good things. But mental errors add up and they cost you games over the course of a 48 minute game. Sometimes, a team has you physically and I thoughts that’s where the Kings had the Cavs. They simply had more stamina last night at the end and it showed. Every Cavs possession ran down the clock, the Kings were often looking to push it early to take advantage.
Osman misses a 3 at the 2 minutes mark, and Garland goes in for a layup but gets blocked by Sabonis (again!!!) and Sabonis gets the ball back. Barnes gets fouled 5 SECONDS after this and makes 1 of 2 from the line. Cheeky Ames IA bastard that he is. How dare he miss FT’s in a tight game? Or ever? All kidding aside, Barnes had an exceptional game defending Mobley on one end and making shots in timely fashion on the other. Last night was a perfect example of why you prioritize veterans who know how to make things work and have history that you can rely on. I don’t think there’s a single trade the Kings could pull off with Barnes that wouldn’t have a tremendous disruptive impact on chemistry. And, don’t look now, but Barnes 3PT% is now a tick under 32% on the season. Barnes, is now at a 64.1 TS% on the season in large part due to a massive uptick in 2pt% at 62.2% on the season. This is 6 points higher than his career year of several years ago. It wouldn’t shock me if Barnes ends up with 36-37% from 3 on the season and a TS% around 70% on the season. That’s how you get efficient offense, folks. You have incredibly efficient players, and Barnes is the best example of that on this Kings team.
At the 1:27 mark, Garland turns the ball over to Sabonis (!!!). Needless to say, Darius Garland had a shitty end to this game. But what happens? Sabonis starts dribbling up the floor but Mobley jumps at him. Mitchell gets the pass from Sabonis after Mobley jumps at him forcing Sabonis to pick up his dribble and Mitchell pushes ahead. After missing Huerter for an easy layup (this is the biggest issue I have with Davion at this point when it comes to being a starting PG, he misses easy reads; well easy reads for NBA players anyway), he passes to Keegan Murray who hits the 3 to put the Kings up 6 at 101-95 with 1:22 to go.
1:11 Osman travels.
46 seconds to go Huerter misses a layup but Sabonis tips it in. Kings up 103-95. Game, set, match.
***
One of the things this team does very well, IMO, is play fast…..without De’Aaron Fox. They are strangely enough better in the halfcourt with Fox because he can create his own shot. Last night, when the Kings played the Cavs pace they were losing and the Cavaliers nearly won the game. The Kings managed to speed the game up over the last handful of minutes and closed the game out on a 19-0 run. Some of that was poor Cleveland play on the offensive end, but they just don’t have a lot of answers if they aren’t hitting their 3’s without Donovan Mitchell. LeVert had several wild drives, so did Garland, they were making mental errors in the last few minutes. Cleveland plays one of the slowest paces in the league, and last night they mostly played their pace. Except when the Kings sped them up. This is what happened in Sac, too. The Kings have dropped 2 of the 7 highest single game ORtg’s against Cleveland so far this year. As much as it might be said the Cavs are a bad matchup, I think it’s the other way around. And the Kings showed why in the last 5 minutes last night.
Why?
Readings fundamental. Try it sometime.
So is coherent writing with a purpose. What is the point you are trying to make?
I have to admit, I did not believe a really good coach could have this big of an impact on this team but I was wrong. The talent level has gotten better by bringing in Huerter, Monk and Murray but the coaching difference is so large that it really is shocking. 16 years of suck is a lot to overcome but Mike Brown really does seem to have changed the culture. And that’s after starting the season 0-4! Really impressive.
Maybe it’s a combo:
Getting rid of Walton: +10 games
Adding Mike Brown: + 5 games
+15 game improvement?
(I’m joking, of course. Mike Brown and his staff have been sensational and transformative)
I think he might even be 10 games better than Alvin Gentry. Walton was brought in, supposedly, to bring the defense to a higher level (than Joerger could), but he had no clue how to do it. Gentry even said he didn’t know what to do.
Mike Brown knows how to coach and teach!
Mike Brown has a better roster to work with, too. It all makes a difference and adds up. Just look at who was on the opening roster in 2021-22 vs 2022-23.
De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes are the only starters left. Terence Davis and Richaun Holmes are both coming off the bench if you want to call it that in Holmes case. Davion Mitchell is in his 2nd year and is a rotation player. Chimezie Metu has played for all of Walton, Gentry and Brown and original came in during the 20-21 season as a TWC player. It wasn’t until he started passing up 3’s that his TS% exploded. I don’t think that was entirely Mike Brown’s doing.
I will not comment on Alex Len. There’s no reason to, and I have no reason to say anything bad about the guy.
Trey Lyles and Sabonis were acquired at the trade deadline.
De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Terence Davis, Richaun Holmes, Alex Len, Davion Mitchell, Chimezie Metu, Trey Lyles and Domantas Sabonis are the players who were on the roster that finished the season. That’s 9 players.
The Kings brought in Murray, Monk, Huerter, Dellavedova, Okpala, and Moneke this summer. and only Murray, Monk and Huerter are top 6 in minutes. To the surprise of no-one.
The point here is that a lot of people deserve credit from the bench guys who play spordically to the stars to the role players to the coaching staff to the front office, and yes, I can’t believe I’m even typing this, even his VBot’ness Vivek Ranadive himself. Good organizations act like it, and for the first time in a long time this organization is acting like it. This adds up.
I’m very conflicted on how much ownership can influence a team. Terry Pegula somehow owns a Superbowl contender and also a thermonuclear dumpster fire of a hockey team.
A definite confluence of events.
The coaching staff, led by Brown, has elevated Sabonis, Fox and Barnes.
The front office traded out what was (under Walton) an inefficient shooting guard for a pair of guys (Huerter and Monk) that contribute to the team on a nightly basis, even when their shots are not falling. And both of these guys are playing career best ball under Brown and his staff.
Positive and beneficial minutes from Chimezie Metu and Terence Davis? Now that’s some fucking coaching!
A rookie in the core rotation, contributing to a good team? Not unheard of, but not easy. The Kings are handling Murray really well, and it sure looks as though he has some big brothers on the floor coaxing him along.
Brining in a pair of guards in Huerter and Monk and still finding a way to utilize Davion Mitchell in a positive and meaningful manner.
Playing to the roster’s strength and forcing the other team to adjust to us? What is this, bizarro world???
We have been crying out for synergy between the front office and coaching staff since Ranadive bought the team. Might we finally be witnessing this? If this is the new normal, let’s get McNair extended and enjoy the next several years of this ascension.
Brown may be the single biggest addition to this cocktail, but full credit to the organization for hiring him (remember when Mark Jackson was a thing? GAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!). And credit as well for what is by and large a revamped core rotation from one year ago.
Bumps in the road surely loom. The NBA, even though it is just 82 games, is a marathon. But my goodness! Gripping, compelling basketball on a nightly basis? Provided by a cast of coaches and players that are so incredibly easy to root for. A team that has me pacing in front of the TV down the stretch of games, screaming support and scaring my dog. For years watching this team was tragicomedy, but suddenly we are being treated to the feel good hit of the year.
Premature though this may be, thank you to the Kings organization from top to bottom for what has been an absolute treat of a season so far. Please keep it up. Keep the beam burnin’.
Like the one from Ames who is literally shooting thirteen percent better than his career average from 2 pt distances overall. I don’t expect HB to continue that all year, but when you have a combined 63 assists from HB & Keegan to 62 turnovers little things like shooting well make a difference.
And I wouldn’t bet against either one finishing 36%+ from 3 by the time the season ends.
Also, I think Murray got the easier matchup against LeVert while Barnes handled the tougher (for Keegan) Mobley. That was the biggest matchup difference in the game IMO that turned the tide.
This is why you can’t always assume that trading a player, for example, is an answer to your solution. Among many other things.
And good lord, when’s the last time you seen a last 5 minutes like last night? The answer to that is obviously 20 years, but that’s the point. What were you doing as a Kings fan 20 years ago? A significant number of people here couldn’t even legally drink. LOL
That’s how far this organization has come in a few years under McNair and now Brown. If you aren’t a fan of what’s happening, you haven’t been around this joint very long IMO.
Heh. Yep. I wanted to see this team be incrementally better this year. I certainly did not possess the hubris to predict that they would make a 19 team jump in point differential.
Watching the team this year with the expectation not much would change for the better:
Purple is EN VOGUE!
EN VOGUE!
Something to watch while waiting next game 😁
That’s an excellent video.
Highly recommended for those who have not seen it. It’s already made the rounds on Twitter several days ago.
Hey, on another note, apparently S*****le and some NBA fans still want to relocate us. The Reddit r/nba sub strikes again. I just realized how many people call themselves fans without knowing anything about the sport. Reminds me of bitter L****r fans requiring the league to acquiesce to their trade demands 😂. I forced myself through the comments. My eyes need bleach. Could not link it but it’s there.
They can relocate themselves.
TO HELL!
So, it looks like Kuzma might be available. I really would not want to mess with the existing rotation by trading Barnes but if the Wizards want to go into the Brick for Vic race, maybe something like Holmes, Lyles, an unprotected first and a swap gets it done?
From Bleacher Report:
IMO, that is a lot to give up on a player who will with 100% certainty opt out of his $13M deal for next season. Also, I’m not sure what he provides that what Barnes and Murray already give you. Is it worth upsetting the current chemistry?
I say if the deal is still kicking around come the deadline and the Kings need a change because they are floating around the 9th seed, then re-approach it then. Right now there is just no need.
I don’t see any way Sac gives up Barnes to get Kuzma this year. I can see them letting HB walk over the summer and signing Kuzma on the FA market this season, but that’s a whole ‘nother matter.
I’m not ready to talk summertime yet. I’d like to see how this season pans out. Also, I think my Richaun Holmes trade I’m stumping for today is Evan Fournier for Holmes and Alex Len.
But….I’m not sure either side does it. Trading Holmes got trickier since he isn’t playing at all. Or, who knows, maybe they got a trade in 4 days that makes all this moot?
Badge Legend