Team Record (2-4) 13th in the West, Last in the Pacific Division
Well, Week 2 sucked… After a fairly compelling Week 1 the Kings dropped from first to last in the division. The vibes are in the toilet right now, just like the back-to-back performances against the Rockets. Without De’Aaron Fox, this team has lost its spark and is moving at a snail’s pace, averaging a measly 92.5 pace in their last three games. That’s good for dead last in the league, folks.
And let’s talk about their offensive efficiency. It was a complete mess against the Rockets, shooting a pitiful combined 41% from the field in two games. They were chucking up contested jump shots like it was a game of H.O.R.S.E. (I’m looking at you, Kevin Huerter). They settled for shots after just one pass, as if they were playing hot potato. And don’t even get me started on their neglect of the mid-range game. It’s like they forgot it existed altogether.
The Rocket’s losses come right after a heartbreaker against the Warriors last Friday night, where they lost at the buzzer. If you were playing the Kings-Dubs drinking game, you’d be two drinks deep by now. But hey, the upcoming schedule gives them a chance to redeem themselves against the Blazers, and Thunder. Let’s hope they can turn things around and bring some excitement back to the court.
- De’Aaron Fox: I reserve the right to keep the injured Fox in this top spot until dethroned by stellar play elsewhere on the roster. We could see Fox return to the floor as soon as this Wednesday against the Trailblazers but my spidey senses tell me that Friday against the Thunder is more realistic.
- Malik Monk: In the early stages of the season, Monk has been making the most of his 22 minutes per game, averaging an impressive 13 points, 4.5 assists, and shooting 40% from beyond the arc. That’s undeniably efficient. What’s more, when given the chance, he excels at pushing the pace, creating scoring opportunities for his teammates, and stretching the defense. It’s crucial that Monk gets increased playing time moving forward to fill the void with Fox out.
- Domantas Sabonis: At first glance, averaging 15.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, along with a steal per game is an impressive feat. Few players rival Domas in terms of consistent effort and competitiveness. However, his free throw shooting percentage falling to 60%, and hiss deferring to others during this early stretch without Fox leaves me wanting more from him. We all recognize the immense potential within Domas, and it’s time for him to step up and showcase his full capabilities.
- Keegan Murray: The growth in Keegan’s game is real — I stick by my story! His shooting stroke just isn’t quite there right now which is a shame because we ALL were hoping to see him emerge as a significant shot creator, especially with Fox out. Nonetheless, he continues to grind and hustle on the defensive end which is honestly what I care about most.
- JaVale McGee: Did he attempt a three-pointer during the comeback attempt against the Rockets on Saturday? Yes, he did. And was he one of the main contributors to that comeback? Absolutely. I understand that McGee is a polarizing player, but it’s worth noting that he is currently averaging over 7 points per game on an impressive 63.6% shooting, while also providing solid interior defense. Throughout the extended two-week span of this column, I never anticipated seeing McGee break into the top 5 performers, which is a testament to the overall struggles of the team at the moment.
- Colby Jones: Brace yourselves, because I have some thoughts on this one! In the three games with Fox absent, Colby averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Admittedly, these numbers don’t exactly scream out from the stat sheet. However, when Jones is given the opportunity to play, he brings a level of energy that is palpable. He flies around the court, defends multiple positions, and hustles his tuchus off! While his stats may not be overly impressive, he definitely leaves an impact during his time on the court. With more reps in the upcoming games, we can expect Jones to further develop and make even greater contributions.
- Harrison Barnes: Since HB lit up opening night, he’s averaging 9.6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assists with a plus-minus of -51 in his 30 mins per game. I’d say I was disappointed but this comes with the territory of relying on HB. Of anyone on the roster that could benefit from a move to the bench I think it’s him the most.
- Kevin Huerter: Despite his commendable effort on the defensive end, it’s becoming increasingly clear that his struggles are outweighing his contributions. Huerter is currently shooting a dismal 33% from the field and a concerning 24% from beyond the arc.
- Davion Mitchell: In the absence of Fox, Mitchell stepped into the starting point guard role and squandered the opportunity, posting averages of just 8.3 points and 3.7 assists on 37% shooting. While these stats are a slight improvement on where he started the year, they fall short of the impact we were expecting from a top-ten pick in the 2021 draft. Mitchell’s shooting stroke is improving, and his defensive intensity is undeniable. However, there are still major questions surrounding his ability to create for others and develop a robust offensive repertoire.
- Chris Duarte: Duarte is erratic. He takes contested shots early in the shot clock, he fouls A LOT — 20 times already in just 6 games while averaging less than 18 mins per. However, he does bring consistent effort on the defensive end. If the coaching staff get him to improve his shot selection and clean up some of the fouling, then I wouldn’t mind seeing him get more burn.
On the bubble
Sasha Vezeknov: He is averaging 5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, but the area where he should excel, three-point shooting, has been lacking.
Keon Ellis: Led the team in scoring last night against the Rockets with 15 points on 4-6 shooting from down town. If he keeps this up, he’s sure to break into the top 10 next week.
Hat tip to Keon Ellis for seizing the moment. I get that he was facing the Rockets bench, but still, to score 15 points, shooting 4-6 from deep, to go along with a couple of boards, an assist, and a steal all in 14 minutes caught my eye.
Has there been a better 14 minutes by any King this season?
He shoots and defends very well, and if he can’t get meaningful minutes with Fox out, I’d take issue with Mike Brown over it. I’d start him in Mitchell’s slot, he’s a better shooter than any of the other guard options, save Monk. The Trailblazers game would be a great opportunity to give it a try, and it’s not as if you can’t sub him out if it doesn’t work.
Keon has looked like an NBA player since he got here, and excels in the two areas that teams look for: Defense and deep shooting. Sacramento has a dire need for both right now.
Let’s see some Keon! Seems to produce whenever given opportunity. Agreed here. Give him a chance; there’s not much else to lose!
I would give him a chance to replace Mitchell part of the time not just a couple of minutes.
I know he hasn’t been the worst offender this season, but I do not believe in Javale McGee. The dude has as many mistakes as he has good plays this season.
He goaltends shots he had no real chance of blocking, he takes at least 2 bad shots per game, there has been at least one instance of him flexing after a block and thus giving up a free offensive board & score to the opposition. Hell his DRB% is lower than Huerter’s so far this year
He’s an A+ in body/athleticism, a C in skill, and an F in ball IQ, and that’s gonna be real sore as the season goes on.
JaVale is only going to work well in certain situations. We need Lyles to play some small ball 5 desperately.
I miss Lyles.
Ok Kings. If you fuck this up, there should be some consequences.
It’s a trap!
And no Fox and Lyles tomorrow either.
Come back to us soon boys. 😅🥺
So, the Blazers probably plays Brodgron and Sharpe as the guards.
I hope Mitchell is not in the starting lineup, he is just way too short to defend above two.
just play Monk/Ellis
NO MORE MITCHELL !
if you’re not first, you’re last.
I’m disappointed in Sasha’s 3 point shooting. The dude can sling that ball but he’s been too shy.
But I’m most disappointed in Davion, he’s been mostly infective in the floor.
I still haven’t watched him enough to fully understand his shooting mechanics, but I feel like he’s short-arming his shots and not following through.
You can’t untrain decades of doom in one season. It’s such a relief that we stink again.
Doom in the DNA?
Comfort in chaos? wretched relief?
And I am not knocking it – I don’t just understand it, I live and breath it as well.
Our scars run deep, don’t they
remember when Keegan dropped a 40-piece in the California Classic?
I wonder if Coach Brown is overthinking things a bit. He talked about being willing to trade a slightly lower quality offense for better defense. It didn’t make sense to me. Why say that about the BEST offense in the league’s history?
Let’s be fair. The only way was down.
Very good point.
The offense will be fine, but not likely to be the most-efficient in history.
When I look at this list, I think the only players exceeding expectations at the moment are JaVale, Colby, and Fox. Even our #2 Monk has been playing some horrendous defense (worst on the team in my estimation) and making boneheaded errors.
Sabonis just got outplayed badly by Sengun, a guy who Domas regularly gets compared to as superior. He hasn’t been the worst player, but relative to expectations he may be the most disappointing thus far.
And Davion…what happened? It’s still early and plenty of time to turn things around, but the whole team seems completely lost all at once and it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
And just as an aside, what’s going on with Lyles? We sure could use our most reliable bench player from last year about now.
He has a calf injury, and those take forever to fully heal. I’d rather he sat another month than not have him when spring arrives.
This is garbage.
Chucking threes yet again.
Badge Legend