The last 8 games from your Sacramento Kings:
- Philadelphia 76ers 119, Sacramento Kings 111 (L)
- Orlando Magic 123, Sacramento Kings 112 (L)
- Memphis Grizzlies 124, Sacramento Kings 110 (L)
- Brooklyn Nets 136, Sacramento Kings 125 (L)
- Miami Heat 118, Sacramento Kings 110 (L)
- Sacramento Kings 114, Chicago Bulls 122 (L)
- Sacramento Kings 115, Milwaukee Bucks 128 (L)
- Sacramento Kings 118, Brooklyn Nets 127 (L)
Can Sacramento snap their 8-game losing streak tonight inside Madison Square Garden vs. the 15-17, fighting-for-a-playoff-spot New York Knicks?
Spoiler: No they can’t. You can skip the block of text below and head right on over to the comments section to air your grievances. The game wasn’t worth watching, and the recap isn’t worth reading. But if you must know:
It didn’t start well. The Knicks jumped out to a quick 18-6 lead forcing Luke Walton to call an early timeout. Derrick Rose did most of the damage early, and while not entirely De’Aaron Fox’s fault, this is a matchup Fox needs to be able to dominate if the Kings are going to succeed in any meaningful way.
Sacramento looked a little better after Walton’s timeout, and an early Tyrese Haliburton substitution provided the Kings with an offensive lift, but it was Marvin Bagley’s 9-point quarter that kept the game close. Bagley couldn’t contain Julius Randle defensively, but he was scoring enough that the Kings could live with that matchup.
Unfortunately this Kings team cannot stop anyone from scoring, so even when their offense picks up, their defense doesn’t allow them to gain much of an advantage. The Knicks put up 38 points on 66.7% shooting in the first quarter culminating in an Immanuel Quickley 4-point play with about 1 second left thanks to a Cory Joseph foul. Knicks 38, Kings 29 after one.
Sacramento’s defense hit a new, different kind of low in the second quarter after making Immanuel Quickley look like James Harden out there. Quickley finished the half with 18 points in just 9 minutes on 4/6 shooting from the field, and a staggering 8/8 shooting from the free throw line. I know Quickley is having a very good year for the Knicks, and he’s somewhere on the outskirts of the Rookie of the Year conversation, but you can’t send him to the free throw line 8 times in a single half.
The Knicks scored a season-high 77 points in the first half vs. the Kings, and carried a 15-point, 77-62 lead into the third quarter. Truly, bless anyone for even tuning in for the 2nd half after that nightmare basketball we just witnessed. I hope you all got out early. You don’t need to watch this team flounder vs. a mediocre Eastern Conference basketball team on a Thursday night.
The Kings sleepwalked through the first half of the third quarter, but actually closed strong in their lone positive stretch of the night with a Fox, Haliburton, Joseph, Barnes, Holmes lineup that played just enough defense to close the lead to 7 heading into the fourth quarter. Fox was brilliant offensively here, and just highlights the frustration you can have watching him, wondering why we don’t see this every night on every possession.
I’m breaking up this running-diary recap to drop in a Marvin Bagley defensive lowlight from the third quarter. I’m not trying to single out Bagley, who has been pretty good offensively as of late, but his defense still has a long way to, and his deficiencies on that end is one of many significant reasons why the Kings are so poor defensively.
My goodness… pic.twitter.com/Athoi4VYo1
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) February 26, 2021
Anyway, back to the game. Sorry.
The Kings didn’t deserve to be in this game at all, but the Knicks aren’t a team known for their ability to hold a lead, so let’s set the table one last time: Sacramento entered the 4th quarter down 7 points with 12 minutes left to sneak out of NYC with a win, break the 8-game losing streak, and try to build some much-needed momentum moving forward.
A 7 point deficit is manageable, but the Kings never made a legitimate 4th quarter run, and looked way too comfortable just letting this game get away from them. There was no urgency. No fight. No game. Knicks win in blowout fashion, 140-121. The Kings are bad.
Luke Walton has been hesitant to make any sort of meaningful adjustment in the starting lineup or rotation to this point in the season, but it sure feels like something needs to change in Sacramento, and soon. If Walton isn’t willing to make changes himself, how long does this losing streak need to extend before Monte McNair and the Kings start to consider a coaching change?
I would argue we’ve already reached that point, but what I think and what the Kings do are rarely aligned. With tonights loss to the Knicks, Sacramento has lost their 9th-straight game with no positive takeaways or momentum to speak of. In addition to a win of any kind, the Kings also need to provide coach with a new clipboard.
Luke Walton is NOT happy with the outcome of this game 😳 pic.twitter.com/PScnrBVrlE
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 26, 2021
Next up: Detroit Pistons on Friday.
This is both good and bad
More good than bad?
More good than bad. Glass half full.
Truthfully, it’s just bad. The lottery is based off of percentages and luck. Hopefully lightening strikes twice, with a bit of luck. I am confident the FO will make better decisions. Speaking of FO…Monte, whereTF are you?
Brown this is bad. These kids are young and their foundation should not be a losing mentality. These teams bully us. That’s way beyond bad. It’s hard to root for a team that lays down evertime we get punched in the mouth. I want to blame Walton, but it’s not just him. It’s the team. The Kings have become a floor mat for other teams. And why is it, some average player always gets a career high against us?
Big Bird came into the game late and had career highs in points and rebounds…BIG BIRD.
23 years in. Go Kings… ð
Chances on Walton surviving the weekend?
I’d be more surprised if we DON’T lay a goose egg this road trip.
100 percent. He is an integral part of the tank.
YES! YES! YES!
The problem is you run the risk of losing the locker room and creating disgruntled players. Walton will need to be the sacrificial lamb to save the greater good. As much as I don’t like the idea of Gentry as interim coach, he is well liked by players across the league.
Frankly, I’d vote to lose this particular locker room.
Most of it depends on the Detroit game. If they lose that one, he might be gone. If they break the streak, I think he’ll stay on board, unless they immediately start another losing streak.
I’d say 25% chance he’s gone by the the end of the Lakers game.
Knicks broadcaster/or color analyst said something late in the 4th qtr The Wolves just fired their coach after losing to…
Same shit different year. Lose Walton needs to stay on to complete the tank this season . Let Monte work some magic in coming months.
Vivek is a ego run amuck. Unless he backs the fuck off nothing matters.
it’s Fucking ridiculous. Walton shouldn’t have started the year as coach. he’s terrible. Players obviously tune him out. This organization is constantly unstable and you can see it on Kings performance.
We should have tried to pick up Billy Donovan. Chi-town is playing great. Doc Rivers was a pipe dream, but I do know the kids would play better under him or even the janitor than they would Walton.
I don’t know if he makes it through the week but he put the fear of God into that clipboard. Guarantee it doesn’t miss any defensive assignments tomorrow night. That’s the kind of one dimensional checkers Luke is playing.
I would wait until the end of the season and try to hire Mark Few and if that fails higher Nancy Lieberman.
I said a week ago I thought he’d only be gone if he lost 10-12 games in a row. Well we’re almost there. I think if they lose to Detroit tomorrow he may be gone.
Not only high, I think he lasts the full season. Bottom dollar has been hit hard by COVID-19 and it really is probably a good idea to have as many ping pong balls for this draft!
I know we’re supposed to tank.
I know we’re not good.
But what the fuck is this?
I’m genuinely depressed.
If you’re genuinely depressed’ over sports, you need to get some help.
This is the first time I have genuinely considered that you might be the actual peaches.
you need to stop your consecutive streak of bad posts
Oh fck lool no chill
No, if your genuinely depressed about the Kings you need to get some help lol
I’ve missed 3 of the last 4 games and I usually look forward to every game. I can’t watch anymore until the young guys get time or a lineup/roster change occurs.
I have DVR’d the pas 10 and watched zero of them. Not even mad about it
Ha.Same. I’ve got a list of Kings games on my DVR… and I skip over them to watch reruns of Shark Tank or The Profit. I’m still a fan of the team… but they seem to be on a break from caring so I just thought I’d stay with them on that front. I’ll watch next year when we have a new draft pick, some more trades made, and a new coach. This season was fun for a week or two, but now it can end any time now and I’d be good with that.
Not sure if you’re serious about the depressed part. If you are, you should definitely find another hobby to release this stress. This pandemic is a mental challenge for everyone so if the Kings are compounding that, talk about it. Who cares if someone thinks it is silly.
i dont get high or low anymore, i just watch. The last few years, the Kings have found ways to find new lows, so there are no expectations from me anymore. Its crazy cause i just laugh at the things they do.
The Sacramento Kings: Zero De’Fensive Fox given.
Lol, I guess he needs to watch the tape.
I interpret that quote as hell yes we will be…but prolly a fools errand to interpret anything Walton says.
Probably won’t make much of a difference but it would be nice to see Walton hold players accountable. You think Bagley would start or have any leash if he played for Tibs? Buddy too
Zero accountability.
This is like when a reeling NFL team loses 38-3 only we’re not starting a backup qb. What usually happens is the following Monday won’t be pretty.
It’s time.
Tank on Monte…
In Tax Season and worked a long day. Came home to watch the game…….good thing I screwed up the recording. Still need to figure out this Hulu thing!
I’m glad I did my taxes a couple weeks ago! I always have to video chat with my Dad so he can walk me through, lol.
Warrior and Lodge 49 are streaming on Hulu
We’re essentially in a tie for the fourth worse record, within distance of Cle at the three spot. The possibilities are endless.
In a five player draft I want the Kings to finish no worse than 3rd worst.
Who do you take at #2?
Hopefully the Kings don’t take another number 2.
Jonathan Kuminga!
Leave that up to the advanced scouts who have been watching every move these guys have made since the age of 14. Even after all that, they still miss a lot. Jalen Green has been working out at our club gym. I watched him work on just his left hand for about an hour. Great guy, great high school player, great work ethic, terrific athlete and would love to be a King.
I’m beginning to lean towards Kuminga.
Yeah, that’s where I am too. I currently have Kuminga, Suggs, and Mobley pretty much even. So fit and versatility come into play and push me to Kuminga. But I wouldn’t be mad with any of them. Suggs, obviously, is the worst fit, but if we move Hield, a Fox, Haliburton, Suggs guard rotations with occasional 3-guard line-ups would be pretty darned exciting. Green would be my last choice of that top tier, but he would be a great addition as well. Basically, no real way to go wrong in that top tier IMO.
Your loser mentality is making you look weak. That is not an insult by any stretch. We shouldn’t be playing for lottery spots. That’s a weak and losers’ mentality. I don’t give a fuck who’s in the draft. One person can’t save this team. We need a coach who will make this team put it all on the line. A coach that will make our players accountable. If you can’t defend, then sit your ass down. Somebody on the team is hungry. Feed them. I know what we can’t when then all, but we gave up 140 fucking points to the forever sorry ass Knicks.
I saw a few trades that were pretty beneficial for us. Buddy & Bagley for CJ & Kanter.
Barnes for Nesmith and RWIII. We then need a legit PF. Maybe the draft. Who knows.
Ok fair enough
This is a hilarious combination of sentences:
𤣠𤣠𤣠…I’m tired of losing!
Everyone is tired of losing. But this team isn’t a mentality shift away from winning. They need high end talent. The draft is one of the King’s best chances to do that.
Being a Kangz fan has broken 9sac8.
Into pieces bro. 23 yrs years man. Smh
Prediction: minority owners do not like McNair’s failure to go all-in for the playoffs. McNair forges a good relationship with Walton, says if we become allies, you’ll keep your job through losses. Walton is getting Brett Brown treatment for political reasons. It’s not crazy. Joerger would be playing Bjelly 35 minutes and Whiteside 25 minutes. He may not even give Hali this many minutes at CoJo’s expense. Luke has bent a fair amount toward a rebuild, considering it’s the first half of the season. I think he’s protected.
I thought the Kings could win a majority of these last 5 games. Major injuries to both The Blazers and Lakers. But, after getting waxed tonite. This Tank is 4real. Can Jones, Doug, Kayte and Ham put in their resignation papers? Boasting Bagley’s performance. Man, his defense is atrocious. Losing against the Pistons could be the death knell for Walton. Then again, Vivek will stay the course. Which. Is a good idea. We need that Top 4 pick.
On FB trying to erase this game out of my head and stumbled upon this little video.
Robert Woodard with 28 today
Gonna be nice seeing him get minutes after the g league is done and barnes is traded
I wonder if Walton makes it to the end of the season.
I’d keep him and let the tank roll. Or let him go and put someone in charge that’ll focus on playing the youngsters.
Bullshit play by Walton there. He smashes the clipboard out of his assistant’s hand like douchebag, then looks around to see if anyone cares. They don’t. At least take the fucking thing from the guy before you smash it, dickhead. It’s not his fault you’re a dummy.
Walton is 100% that person who, deep down, will blame the players for being too stupid to understand what he’s trying to do before taking any responsibility himself.
just so petulant and immature. That gave me flashbacks of Cousins, with everyone around him just feeling awkward about the infantile outburst.
Agree. If he’s going to do a stunt like that…which can work sometimes, you need to have the meltdown full on in front of the players to their faces, while they’re paying attention. Not off to the side like that and what if that was assistant coaches lucky whiteboard with some sentimental value? Jerk move all the way.
And not at least pick up the clipboard…and forget the marker!!! F him, we can tank by trading vets and playing younger. Walton needs to go, either soon or end of season whatever. I just don’t think he has anymore cat lives to start next season.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk Walton
the Bagley experiment is over
BBIQ is innate, largely immutable
The guy is completely clueless on defense and I really don’t see that aspect of his game improving.
That ain’t like improving shooting
we’ve seen how correctable low BBIQ is with McLemore
No young player can learn defense in this system or with this personnel. There’s no defensive leader and accountability.
I’ve said I’m giving up on Bagley 100 times too but am always reminded that he’s 21. I know that’s the typical answer, but anything can happen.
I disagree, Hali gets it. He knows where to be and play as a team defender, Bagley is too often caught flat footed, out of position, helps when he shouldn’t or doesn’t help when he should.
He plays like a guy who was the #1 option on offense his whole life but never bothered to learn defense and likely wasn’t taught it either.
I agree with the last part because he has been the #1 option his whole life, and it’s easy to be good defensively in High School and College when you’re 6’11. That’s exactly why it’ll take time and development to learn those things and it would be downright foolish to give up on him now as he’s just learning these things.
It’s hard to say ” he helps when he shouldn’t or doesn’t help when he should ” unless you’re the one coaching him.
For those 2 clips above…I can almost guarantee you his role on the first one was to be baseline help and stop penetration from weakside drives and layups baseline. It looks like he though dude would do an up and under in which case he would be there to block it. Cojo would have the responsibility to drop and try and intercept a pass to Bagley’s guy. This is a defensive rotation most well taught High School and College programs teach in practice called “shell drill” He took a risk though, and it didn’t pay off…
With the second clip only the coach would know who screwed up because you can totally have your strategy be that Bagley is supposed to stay with the roll man to prevent the lob, while Barnes is supposed to fight through the screen, and next closest perimeter players sag with help defense to challenge the drive. Regardless of what the strategy is, Bagley should be calling out to Barnes where the screen is coming from…and it doesn’t appear that he did so. If he was also supposed to step up and stop the driver then it’s a double folly…but again…hard to tell from a fans perspective.
Hali gets it…but he also gets caught helping too much and losing sight of his man for backdoor cuts or flared out jumpers. Sometimes the risks pay off with a good play, sometimes they don’t.
There it is
He was never a good defensive player in college. This is the guy whose legendary coach threw out his usual defensive schemes in favor of a zone, solely to accommodate for his shortcomings.
How many players are that hopeless?
They didn’t change the whole scheme for Bagley.
https://www.wralsportsfan.com/duke/video/17438841/
That doesn’t really dispute the claim. Capel even outright says they did it because they were a terrible defensive team. Of course, nobody in that video is going to name names. But the move to a zone was clearly designed to protect Bagley and, to a lesser degree, Carter from having to defense perimeter actions.
This details the basics pretty well:
https://www.theringer.com/2018/3/26/17163732/duke-zone-marvin-bagley-wendell-carter
A couple money quotes:
The next one is within the context of the limitations of how much a coach can really improve a player in a single season in the one-and-done era.
Good organizations /GMs don’t hang onto players who are very unlikely to improve-and can spot that.
Hanging onto Bags will require sinking money into him. It’s a bad bad bet. Tying up money in a player who is very unlikely to improve enough to really contribute to winning is what keeps organizations shitty.
Has Buddy improves of D? Enid Kanter? Montrez Herell? It ain’t happening.
Bagley was the number 1 option vs lesser competition. This is the NBA though. NO BOYS ALLOWED. Bagley has to man up.
To compare him to one of the most instinctive young players we have seen league wide the last few years isn’t really an apples to apples or fair comparison. Some of way you say is true and while it’s hard to imagine him ever being good defensively, it’s not impossible to imagine him being average in a better system and time. He has made strides this year defensively even if that leaves him in the poor category.
Well there is the problem, he’s not instinctive, and from what I understand, instincts can’t be taught.
Prolly right…doesn’t mean he can’t be a useful player. Leagues chalked full of guys that aren’t instinctive.
That was one of the better posts I’ve read in awhile. Very well said.
The chances Bags learns to play good D or D rebound-etc is slim to nil.
it’s his 3rd year in league. The age thing is bs.
Damn his age. They didnt make excuses for Hakeem, Shaq, Ewing, Smits, Malone (both), etc. Hell the didn’t make excuses for Mark Eaton or Greg Ostertag.
WhyTF are we making excuses for Bagley? Even Sam Bowie had a few good years in the league.
I was heavily criticized from someone on here for comparing him to Enes Kanter a few weeks ago.
Because all 30 teams in the NBA would rather have Bagley than Kanter and Bagley is better than Kanter at 21. The question is, what is Bagley’s trajectory? I think on offensive he can be a 15+ or even a 20+ point scorer. On defense, that is a bit more murky.
Here you go. Actually eerily similar. https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=kanteen01&p1yrfrom=2014&player_id2=baglema01&p2yrfrom=2021
My God, that is depressing.
If you think that’s depressing do not look up his comp to Jahlil Okafor.
For something slightly rosier, here’s a ceiling comp for him:
https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=randoza01&p1yrfrom=2003&player_id2=baglema01&p2yrfrom=2021
Does that really say a lot though Mephariel? I’d rather have Bagley than Kanter as well but that still doesn’t make me feel warm inside.
Nah bro. At this point give me Kanter. He knows his role and is an automatic double double machine…in limited mins might I add.
As you should have been. Kanter is a better offensive player!
Bagley is 21 and improving slightly Buddy is the worst off ball NBA defender in the league and he’s 28.
Intelligence is innate. Basketball awareness, or BBIQ is a form of it
He can be taught scheme for years, but McLemore is still probably in the wrong place at the wrong time and how old is he?
Probably the biggest aspect of defense is effort and commitment to playing it. Watch Dort on OKC sometime. What your talking about is also important, but if your coachable and willing to put forth the effort and have decent physical tools, you should be a decent defender. When I watch Buddy his effort level is sporadic at best and I think he’s just not coachable. I can’t think of another NBA player at the age of 28 so clueless.
The excuse I hear over and over again is that Bagley was raised in the AAU system, and they don’t teach defense. Aren’t almost all NBA players coming up in AAU now?
Yes, and plenty of them play defense. It’s a poor excuse. Nothing about playing in AAU forces players to be poor, unaware defenders.
Is there a way to keep Bagley and hide his weaknesses (until he improves to average level in these improvement areas? Like any realistic trade targets that can salvage what we have in Bags?
Exactly. Bags does not contribute to winning. Please, please, please move on from him. Luke too.
You don’t want to put money in a player like Bags. If McNair gets rid of both I’ll know he has some power.
Clueless on defense is Buddy Hield especially off the ball. He’s 28, at least Bagley at 21 has some hope and seems to be making an effort.
What’s your hoops pedigree to be able to be a reasonable judge on the BBIQ of a professional basketball player?
come on man
What’s yours to not understand he’s lacking in the department when the world understands that he is?
I’ve played enough competitive basketball to know not to lob BBIQ slanders against pro’s and I’ve played with enough insanely talented guys on the court that played overseas, played college andt never made it to the NBA to know that it’s almost never a BBIQ issue for these guys. It’s hard to understand how talented these guys are until you get on the court with them.
These guys are insanely talented. And any and all assessments carry the unspoken qualifier as compared to NBA standards. For example, SloMo is exceptionally athletic by normal human standards, but he is regularly described as unathletic. Similarly, Bagley does not display a high level of BBIQ relative to NBA standards. Unfortunately, those are the standards he’s up against. He isn’t playing pickup games at Roosevelt.
I get what your saying…and I agree with the sentiment in regards to objective truths “as compared to NBA standards” . BBIQ is super subjective though, I just don’t see the merits of that specific criticism. It’s slanderous and not very specific…it’s a fugazi.
I tend to just use it as a shorthand for how they seem to see the game. To hugely oversimplify, I tend to see players falling into 3 broad categories: reactive, anticipatory, and manipulative. Reactive players are always reacting to the play in front of them. Anticipatory players see what’s likely to happen next. Manipulative players see multiple steps ahead and are able to manipulate the game to make it happen. At the moment, Bagley seems to be a reactive player, IMO. Fortunately for him, he’s enough of an athlete that he can often get away with it.
Bagley seems to be processing so he’s not proactive. That could change in time it’s really hard to predict. Buddy is a lost cause.
Good point stud. Just about any player on any given team is capable of going off for 20 points on any given night even if they rank 12th-15th in the rotation when they get a chance or if their stars align or they are playing the Kings. Out worst players are incredible and amazingly skilled basketball players compared to the rest of the world or any of us. So what’s your point?
I think his point (really) is that this is the normal Bagley bashing that’s somewhat overstated to his actual impact on the floor.
Dude was 7th on the team in minutes played last night.
First by a mile in bonehead plays though. I would agree that this team’s problems go far, far beyond Marvin Bagley.
There it is, I was looking for this sentence…
“never made it to the NBA”
Need Doug Christie at courtside teaching defense instead of being color commentator. I didn’t even bother printing out the second half of the season schedule–I’m not watching. Wondering if Vivek R even knows how many fans he has lost?
Generally curious…does this mean never coming back? Or only until interesting again? Bc since there are no fans to sell tix to and cable deal is set there isn’t a lot of money to be made off fans in the short term. So are the fans truly lost as you are indicating? Generally I would guess someone on this website and commenting is likely a fan that will return at some point. Be interested how the ratings have been this year overall.
Dance thread to celebrate a successful tank night…?
As much as I’m all in for the tank, I hope we win some games soon under Walton. My biggest fear is the losing continues, Walton gets fired and Gentry becomes interim head coach. The Kings get energize by Gentry and play much better during the second half as a result of a softer schedule. The Kings finish the season on a high note. Gentry gets the interim tag removed and gets named the head coach this summer.
In short, I don’t want Gentry as the head coach next season.
I agree 100 percent. I hope Kings can at least beat Detroit tomorrow. Then win at least another game or 2 before the break. Gentry would be a disaster.
Agreed. He is not who I would want long term. Could be a great assistant, but he’s really never done anything great as a head coach.
Gentry has been a head coach for Det, Phoe, and NO for 16 seasons. 3 playoff appearances and only has an above .500 record those 3 times he made the playoffs.
He is abysmally bad. Let’s put it in perspective 13 of the 16 seasons Gentry has been a head coach, his team’s record has been below .500
Miami and Detroit as well ! Fired from both !
He made the playoffs 3 times in 16 years? Sounds like drastic improvement for this franchise. Don’t let him get away!!!
He has been a head coach with 5 teams and fired 5 times ! Seems a perfect fit !
What’s up with the punctuation? Is it a bit? I don’t get the space before and after the exclamation point.
My coworker does it that way in all of his electronic correspondence, email and text. It drives me crazy.
Great minds…ð
My memory isn’t what it used to be when it comes to the Kangz but haven’t we had a season like that recently?
Gentry was supposed to be the defense guy. How’s that working out.
Gentry is known as a strong coach on offense. Rex Kalamian was hired for his defensive coaching reputation.
As a want-to-be-gm I’d think you’d know Gentry has always been an offensive specialist.
Beat me to it ð
Gentry is a retread like many of these coaches. If you’ve been in the game as long as him, you should know all aspects of the game. After a couple of coaches Pop, Spoelstra, etc. the marginal difference between these coaches is quite small. Lastly, I wouldn’t believe what you read in the media about who knows what in coaching.
So who are your sources for asserting that Gentry was supposed to be the defense guy…?
I agree. I would not want Gentry as the full time head coach. But I’d rather have him finish the season than Walton.
Its about the timing, wait until a few weeks after trade deadline passes, then the youth movement can begin in full with an interim coach. Air out the Walton stank and try to get the players hopeful going into next year.
I like Kevin Young from Phoenix as a potential HC for us
Dang you’re playing chess while I’m playing checkers over here just mindlessly applauding each loss.
Glad Hulu wasn’t working tonight. It saved me from myself wasting time watching it from the sounds of it. It appears Walton has lost the locker room, and he sees the writing on the wall. While I don’t mind the losing if it gets us a chance to draft a stud, the stench of a disjointed locker room culture can affect the development of our young guys. Luckily, Hali appears to have a strong head on his shoulders and can get through this, hopefully. After letting go of GR III, I’m excited for a spot for Woodard. He’s been doing well.
Hey, looks who’s on pace to go 27-45!
I feel like this might have been Walton’s last game.
Closer to this, please.
This franchise is paying for years of incompetence during the Vlade Divac regime and it’ll take years to recover from it.
The head coach was hired by Vlade without a single interview with any other candidate. The starting SG and SF were resigned to contracts that immediately became overpays. The former number 2 pick is atrocious on defense and Vlade passed on a future hall of fame superstar for him.
Half of a season under a new front office isn’t going to fix this disaster. Hell, I don’t even know if adding a top 5 pick is going to fix this. This franchise is so lucky there’s no fans in the building to boo them off the court.
Agree 1000%.
no vision, no high bbiq players (except Hali and Barnes), no defense, no identity, no effetive system, no steady rotations, no player development, no accountability, no good and scouting team, nothing, nothing, nothing except thousands of tortured fans.
Yep. Second to a lack of high-end talent, the biggest problem is that the team has way too many boneheaded (BBIQ-wise) players in critical roles. Buddy and Bagley are the most glaring examples. It’s like a group research paper in school where you have two AP kids (Hali, Barnes) doing a great job, but the group still gets an F because the other group members just copy-pasted their sections from Wikipedia and got caught because it obviously wasn’t their own writing and also they copy-pasted from the page about Noah’s Ark when the paper’s topic was Joan of Arc.
Way to specific to be a hypothetical…judging by name you must have been the AP kid ð
Your first sentence is spot on. Cleaning up Vlade’s mess will take time. Perhaps the worst execute in NBA history.
One BBIQ/instinctive play (rebounding with two hands) would have secured The Greatest Show on Earth its first Larry O’Brien trophy.
the future hall of fame superstar is also atrocious on defense if we’re being honest.
Maybe I’m wrong but I feel that defensive ability is more objective than BBIQ. But if you really want to know my hoops pedigree I can tell you…
Please…………do
It’s more objective. But much broader. And obviously impacted significantly by BBIQ. Ultimately, defensive ability is defined by a combination of physical attributes, defensive skills, understanding, commitment and awareness/BBIQ. Obviously, the great defenders like AD and Kahwi combine all of those things. Then you have guys like Wiggins and Bagley who have all the physical attributes in the world but lack the other elements in varying degrees. Generally, you can identify the guys that are struggling defensively with awareness/BBIQ by picking out those that are good on-ball 1v1 defenders but struggle with team-based actions (defending the PnR, proper quick rotations, etc.)
I agree with you about Buddy Hield
I wonder if Vlade ACTUALLY interviewed Walton…..Know what we know, he probably escorted Walton into the conference room and was like hey bro how much do you want and when will you be able to start?
Everybody always says that Vlade hired Walton without interviewing any other candidates. Can anyone provide proof that he interviewed Luke before offering him his contract?
What, like two fans?
We really should unretire Vlade’s jersey. His last few years have erased any semblance of a good memory I have of him.
Agree completely. Much of the roster is unsuited for how the game is played in the NBA now. Not sure that even Fox has a future role here. Seems to have become comfortable in the culture of unaccountability here.
The bad news: Bagley ain’t gonna be a star.
The good news. Two more ultra-valuable second-round picks when he’s traded at the deadline next season.
I feel like Bagley has reverted back to old Bagley trying the same old moves that never work and result in a charge.
That wasn’t a charge, that was a garbage call…and his moves are getting him good looks. He definitely needs to get better at finishing close around the rim though after getting said good looks though.
He had 19 points on 12 FGA (and a 64.9% TS on the night). I think most teams would find that type of offense acceptable from the seventh guy in the rotation.
You’d think he’d scored 10 on 20 FGA, based on the comments here.
Well, sure, if we’re going to compare our #2 pick, 3rd year player and starting PF to the Aron Baynes and Jalen Brunsons of the world he’s going to come out looking pretty good.
No NBA team that is genuinely trying gives up so many points on so regular a basis. 77 in the first half, then 63 in the second? The players have given up, and it’s on the coach. No NBA-caliber defensive scheme, backed by NBA-caliber coaching during games, should give up this many points more than once every few seasons. Absolutely pathetic. Keep Hali and Fox and ditch the rest. And for all the bending over backwards we do to notice improvements in Bagley’s game, the bottom line is he’s a low-BBIQ bench talent who moves like he’s on roller skates. If he had played college ball at Wake Forest we would more readily accept what he is and stop looking for nonexistent signs of budding stardom.
Clean house. Starting with Vivsk some how.
Am I the only one who thinks that clipboard thing was staged? I believe that was his BFF Mermuys holding it. Seems like a very hacky coach thing to do, which would in Walton’s wheelhouse.
CLIPBOARD:”Walton, hit me.”
WALTON: “What?”
CLIPBOARD: “C’mon, man. HIT ME.”
If it was staged he would have at least gotten a double technical for it
Your friendly reminder that the Knicks are:
24/30 in offensive rating (108.1)
30/30 in pace (95.8)
30/30 in PPG (103.6)
That wasn’t friendly, that felt malicious ð
Hater
No reason Cojoke still plays more than 20 mins, unless Walton is petitioning hard to get fired…..
I’m so looking forward to the day we don’t come up with dumbass nicknames for players/coaches in order to critique their performance.
Buddy Bone Head agrees with you
Trash Bagley
Paper Bagley
Hassan Houseside…it never moves
Cory “WTF” Slowjo
Buddy Deal….to any league
Jabari Bagley the 1st
Bjelly “Fuck it I deserve to get traded” Bjelica
Metu “I was assaulted on live TV” Chimeka (idk)
Robert “I originally played along side George Mikan” Woodard the 65th.
Jamircus “I will never understand how to spell his name” Russell. (Not sure of the last night either).
Lewd “only off camera” Slawton.
Kyle ” normal” Guyð¤·ï¸
There is nothing to fix, we’re gaining on the number one pick. Have some fun and root for it, and whatever assets McNair has the courage to acquire.
Personally, I’d like to see two great picks this year and two great picks next year, and they cash in after next season.
Just let me have my dreams…
Ive said it a few times I had very low expectations going into the season. Even if they continued to show slight improvement beyond that 8 game window I wouldnt get too excited. We’ve been here before as fans:
Unfortunately, they are dead set on building around De’Aaron. If I were the Kings, I’d trade him for a top 5 pick this year and an unprotected next year. (Looking at you Pistons)
I’ve said before, if I could be sure to get a top 5 pick this year, I would absolutely do that. Even without much more added in. The chance to walk out of the draft with a Suggs, Haliburton, Cunningham/Kuminga core moving forward is too enticing. Or Hali, Green, Mobley? Or Hali, Green, Kuminga?
Have I mentioned that I think Hali’s versatility is hugely under-praised? He fits with literally any other guard/wing archetype in the game.
What I’ve noticed about Hali is definitely his versatility, to the point that I’d rather have him out there on crunch time rather than Harrison or Buddy.
Hali though, suffers from not having another ballhandler around him. He is the perfect fit next to Fox and his ast/to ratio drops when he is alone. Hopefully if we ever do land a Top 5 pick, we can draft either Suggs or Cunningham to mitigate this.
What are your thoughts on Mobley? (In a perfect scenario where we do get two Top 5 picks)
I think Mobley is a fantastic prospect. Would have easily been my #1 last year. I put him in the 2nd tier level with Suggs and Kuminga. I think similarly highly of all of them. Ultimately, on a big board, I would likely put him 3rd just because Suggs (primary ballhandler) and Kuminga (versatile 2-way wing with secondary ballhandling upside) are simply more valuable archetypes. But ultimately, I would be thrilled to have Mobley. I think you’d probably want to treat him like JJJ. Let him play more as a PF in his early years (obviously, with select minutes at C), then as his body matures play him as your “biggest” big. I think his closest present upside comp is probably KAT. Hopefully with a bit more defensive success, but KAT as a prospect also had that defensive upside.
Just by basing off of fit (in a scenario where we have 2 top 5), Cunningham/Hali/Mobley sounds good. My 2nd would be Suggs/Hali/Mobley.
My main problem with Kuminga is that we need a primary ballhandler. Otherwise I agree with you. The Top 5 this year is insane and having at least one of them will drastically boost our prospects of hopefully landing a superstar.
But in your scenarios you could get the primary ballhandler AND Kuminga. Your 3-man sets up there don’t have any less ballhandling if you replace Mobley with Kuminga.
Yea Mobley is a good 2nd pick for me, as to why I included him on my scenarios. If we aren’t trading Fox and Cade is off the board, I would take Mobley with the pick.
I think Mobley is better than KAT. KAT moves think a robot. Mobley is something different. Kid looks like a taller, stronger McGrady that will play within himself.
I’m not sure you get a top 5 at all. Fox’s consistency issues and the holes in his game mean you’re looking at a top 10, and maybe not even that in this draft.
That’s true, if I were a betting man and GM of the Kings, I would look for a good trade for Fox this upcoming deadline, betting that teams like CLE/DET/HOU/MIN would not directly benefit from having Fox on the roster, and still maintain their projected Top 5 pick. If it ever gets out of the Top 5, it would surely not be over 10.
The Pistons game will post a new kind of challenge for these Kings. It won’t be easy but I’m 100% confident they can find a way to come away with an L.
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What do you guys think of the Kings execution?
Not what I thought it was going to be.
You’re on to something .. swarming defense ..
I’m all for it….
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