The Kings continue their march through their foes in 2021 and after taking down the team with the fourth best record in the West on Saturday, they’ll face off against the team with the third best record, on the road and on the shortest rest possible. The Clippers come into this afternoon’s game winners in four of their last six contests, though they’ll be playing without Patrick Beverley or Paul George. The Kings are going to need that injury bug to continue to guide them towards a winning record – this schedule ain’t getting any easier. Don’t eat all the bean dip before the game!
Let’s talk Kings Basketball!
When: Sunday, February 7th, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: NBCSCA – Mark Jones on the call.
Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
And Now, The Bummer: So the Kings had themselves a pretty damn good game yesterday – with four players scoring 20+ points for the first time since Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton and Boogie Cousins did it back in March of 2013. What’s more is that they survived a FIFTY piece from Nikola Jokic to do it. They’re now winners of five of six games, a game and a half outside of the eighth seed and playing genuinely good basketball. So, how long until the utter collapse of everything we’ve grown to love? It might be sooner than we think. For one, the Kings have the fifth hardest remaining schedule in the league, with only Utah and OKC as the only Western Conference teams above them. The schedule this season has been torn in two due to COVID-19 but even when the first section ends on March 4th for the Kings they will have to face the Clippers, Sixers, Nets twice, Bucks, Knicks, Lakers and Blazers. This also isn’t mentioning a team like the Grizzlies, who have a better win percentage than the Kings currently, will play them again this month but will also have two more chances to face off later this season due to the rescheduling of previously postponed games. I’d also say it’s fair to say that the Kings have been extremely lucky when it comes to their health this season and whether we like it or not, someone at some point is going down a stretch. The Kings rank fifth lowest in total games missed due to injury and they’re incredibly top heavy when it comes to production. Monte McNair has constructed a dangerously thin group outside of their starters and Tyrese Haliburton, so any extended time missed by any of those six and the anchor around the Kings necks could drop incredibly quick.
Am I raining on the parade a bit? Oh, probably. Am I trying to fill space so that you all can run to the comments and post gifs? Sure. Am I trying to reverse jinx this team because I’ve foreseen great calamity with my Pupils of Prognostication? I mustn’t say.
Clippers are going to be without Paul George and Patrick Beverley today so, hey! Kings AGAIN have a decent shot at a win here!
Prediction
Nothing bad will come to the Kings as long as I continue to ward off fate with my “Previews of Destiny”. De’Aaron Fox is gonna hit five three pointers tomorrow. Haliburton will score 20+. The Kings will never lose again.
Kings: 122, Clippers: 117
Kansas City wins by 3 touchdowns.
All of a sudden the Western Conference has three elite teams and fifty mediocre teams. I’m so torn! All this winning is so damn fun but one more stud to go with Haliberryburton and Fox seems like the smartest approach.
Despite Buddy’s nice passing yesterday, the chucking from deep has been tough to watch lately. He seems to be rushing every shot. The lack of basketball IQ displayed by Buddy and Bagley doesn’t fit with Fox, Hali, HB, and Holmes. Move those two for something useful!
Also, BEAT LA. Happy Super Bowl Sunday fam.
Agreed, and I think it’s gonna split the fanbase. Some are going to want to push for the playoffs while others are going to want to tank for a stud prospect. I read somewhere that the first 5 picks in this draft are projected to be all-stars. That is just insane.
I’m not too hot for playoffs if it’s bubble type again. I want to rock G1C when we have contender team in a few years. But could this current team miraculously make it deep into the playoffs? damn this dilemma
If Vlade was still in charge I would probably support the playoff push, since there is zero hope for a championship. But with McNair I do honestly see something there. We are fking due for something big
The team and coach were constructed by Vlade except for Tyrese so he still has a bigger imprint than McNair ! We will learn about his imprint soon ! Just sayin !
Yes McNair’s next moves will define this team. Contenders or rinse-and-repeat rebuild
I think there’s probably a middle ground between those two extremes. Teams are capable of incremental rebuilds. Just look at the team they played yesterday. The Nuggets built through the draft, trades, free agency, continuity, front office competence, and player development.
The nuggets are pretty darn credible argument that you can build without a complete tear down. Houston has also done it more than once without top draft picks. Other teams have built contenders by hitting on late lottery and non-lottery all stars. Still, Evan Mobley would be great. Thanks!
I’d argue there really hasn’t been a rebuild. From the end of Maloof era where profits took the driver seat until the Vivek era that operates in a win now mentality.
Have the Kings really ever done a rebuild?
You are right. 13 years of suckiness and laughing stock of professional sports. Looking forward to change this miserable sausagefest
I’d be interested in an article about how the Kings could improve their team without sacrificing any of their core assets. It would be nice to compare and contrast against the rebuild through the draft approach we typically see in TKH articles.
Seconded!
My kings group message is ready to drop me because im pro tank. They cant understand why i don’t want to fight for the 8th seed to break the streak and get dominated by a top seed.
Adding someone like Mobley to Fox and Hali is way better than the 8th seed in my opinion.
You think Cuttino Mobley would want to come out of retirement?
Mobley for Doug Christie 2005. Wow ð
Christie was effectively done at that time and Mobley had several good seasons left ! Fact !
Yes was just reflecting back the Golden Era guys before the one-by-one dismantling. We need to get back there.
If I’m remembering correctly, he had some problems with plantar fasciitis at the end of his career…?
My memory has gone downhill, though. 🙁
–
I think the days of hoping for a top 5 pick are over unless we get rid of Barnes and Buddy for strictly pick-driven packages which is unlikely.
We’ll have to follow the Phoenix Suns. You think CP3 would have looked at the Suns or the Suns would have even considered that they could get CP3 if they didn’t go 8-0 in the bubble? Winning and culture fixes everything.
So I think it’ll be alright to keep Buddy and Barnes this season as we are playing well, then use their contracts to get that $30-$40 million All-Star/veteran in the offseason. Nikola Vucevic anyone? Disgruntled star? Mortgage the future for KAT maybe? Unlikely, but another avenue could be sign and trades for restricted free agents on perennial losers. John Collins or Lauri Markannen come to mind. Even DeMar DeRozan in a sign and trade would be a could fit for this drive and kick team. His passing has improved immensely.
Just some options out there.
There are thirteen teams with fewer wins than the Kings,
three of them are probably aready out of reach. Even with a poor second half, the 8-12th pick seems likely to me at this point.
Agreed.
With Fox and Hali and the progress with our play, hoping for a top 5 pick would mean wishing for a season wrecking injury to our main players or complete regression in our level of play. Knock on frickin wood.
This 6-1 stretch has changed my mind. I want to see a winning team. Let our wins now fix our ability to get better talent for the future and let McNair find the mid-round talent to fit our system.
Early start with the Clips in LA
There’s some football game later today.
The Clips are elite,
But they can be beat.
They’re short-handed, so let’s make them pay!
Let’s sink this Clipper boat
Let’s run them out of town!
Love the Californians
What if I told you, the Kings are going to the Playoffs!
And they will play this team at least 4 more times ..
Fox-trot shuffle? ..Posted below on last nights postgame thread:
CELEBRATION-
Thumbs down or up??
Thinking of a fourth quarter celebratory thing for Fox if/when he’s really figuring out this closing out games down the stretch¦so here’s what I got:
Not sure how many of you all have heard of the Foxtrot..and before those of you who know the dance rush to thumbs down it, stay with me for a sec. I know that it’s more of a traditional boring ballroom dance BUT, what if Fox added a bit of swag to it and made it his own! A la Dames dame time moments. Just something Fox could do when he gets on a roll¦
You know, have fun with it.
Dame Time is way cooler and it’s become a time in the 4th quarter where the opponent is scared shitless.
Why? Because it’s “DAME TIME”.
We have a perennial all-star possibly superstar on the rise. He deserves better than “Foxtrot Shuffle”. Are you Dr. Suess? If you are or aren’t here’s a STAMP. Wear it proudly. Only remove the STAMP when Fox has a legendary nickname.
All responses, logic, rationale, good points, even if you are right will be DENIED.
Thank you for being a Kings fan.
GO KINGS!!! and one last STAMP IT for the Clips. We owe them a beatdown.
STAMP IT!
Damn right. Let’s destroy their ass today.
As a matter of fact, the entire LA area gets a STAMP.
With All Offense,
The STAMP IT UNIT
Welcome to the SIU.
How about Fox doing some Litefeet, since he’s….light on his feet?
I forgot about you Kosta! You’re SIU too.
Litefeet…ð¤ð¤ð¤
Er, at least maybe Fox will bust out some ankle-breaking moves on whoever’s guarding him today
Stamp it!
How many for the hibachi!
Gilbert Arenas?
Was that Gil’s nickname? I was just going for a random early 70’s prize thingy!
Agent Zero
We have a new SIU. WELCOME MY FRIEND.
Hunt em down and clip em wings Swipa!
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a back to back like this. The boys barely had time to let the sweat dry from their brows before they have to lace them up again.
Before I got furloughed from my job, I would wake up at 5:25 or 5:30 in the morning to get to work around 6:00. But I’ve had a habit of waking up at my alarm around 8:15ish am but then I don’t get out of my bed until close to 9:00. If I go back to my previous job or find a new job that has an early start time, it’ll certainly take a bunch of time to get used to, lol.
No shit! The other day I was looking at my bike commute gear rack. I had to stop and ask myself Ok what was THIS FOR?
Wow, a nooner today! And this after almost missing yesterday’s early start. I will enjoy this game more than the Super Bowl, especially if the Kings win.
Judging from last nights win over Denver, it looks like the Kings now have a 1a and a 1b option in Fox and Tyrese. Stay healthy boys!
For all the youngs, a nooner is when you go home from work for lunch to bang your significant other.
The Kings have some pruning to do with those Clippers.
Keep the streak going fellas! We’re through the quad and into the gymnasium now.
Hippity hop to the barbershop, indeed!
Oof
Don’t fear the clippers!
We got this!
Fox after the win
Clippers after the loss.
Please don’t Boo!
(…oh wow, just learned that Boo had passed away already)
RIP Boo. Your give-smiles-gifs will live on forever
This GIF reminds me how I’m so glad I know how to cut my own hair, especially during this time of staying home.
How hard can it be?
…..”remove your hair”
Holy sheet.
Time to add how many times Mark Jones says BUTTER! to the predictions thread.
I don’t know why, but I find it highly annoying… ð¬
Half way down
Maybe he should remark, I can’t believe it’s not BUTTER!, every time we miss a wide-open three.
Ha! That would be hilarious
Good one
Yeah, he should go with Extra Virgin Olive Oil by Carter Imports!
Healthier, too.
(Showing my age a bit here…)
When he talks about the “itis”, I sit up from my laid back position.
(heard him say it two times, now)
On a different note, Tyrese will not win ROTY because the NBA will not promote him. He has an amazing game and every Kings/Nugget highlight I’ve seen has been Jokic for 99% of the highlight and the Fox layup at the end of the game. Yeah he scored 50 but they lost.
Because of this, Lamelo Ball will win. The media already has been given their narratives.
If the Kings play genuinely good basketball, the parade continues in the rain.
For a long time now i’ve been a big proponent of this 3:guard lineup Fox, Buddy, Hali, Barnes, Holmes because I believe in putting your best players on the court and you don’t let traditional positioning box you into playing an inferior lineup. Having said that, I’d be careful not to write off Bagley too soon. He’s been showing sporadic periods of significant improvement on both ends of the court and his development is important to the future of the Kings. If nothing else right now he has a role to play, we have a weak bench and you need more than 5 players to be successful especially when you don’t have a superstar. So Bagley along with Whiteside are part of the 7 in the rotation, the big question is who contributes in that 8th and possibly 9th player role.
I’ve never understood the put your best players on the court at the same time thing. What if 4 of your best 5 players are guards? Or if 2 of your best players are centers?
Hold on. He has a fair point. Because isn’t that technically what your best lineup should be? The 5 best players. Now, to his point, he didn’t specific positions on the court. But the idea is to have your best players on the court. The players you trust. If the best players are all bigs, then that’s a GM problem. That has Vlade written all over that. I can’t say right now, but very soon Hali will take over as point and Fox will be the secondary ball-handler/scorer. No one IN THE LEAGUE can stay in front of Fox. If that jumper gets right, we could best Portland or even GS as the best backcourt in the league. I believe in these two kids.
We have to keep Barnes. Barnes has been in go mode since he became a caveman last season. He now provides what Shump used to provide…leadership and confidence. Barnes is a lot steadier though. I have steadied human behavior for the last 19 yrs. Pay attention to Barnes demeanor now or even Fox for that matter. They have the “I will not let my team down” look. I may be on Mars right now, but if we get into the playoffs, and I’m taking into account how well all 3 are playing, it won’t be Fox or Hali leading the way, it’ll be Barnes. It would be very similar to Igodola for GS in 2015. Now Fox and Hali will go absolutely nuts on the other backcourt. Holmes is steady as long as we can keep a rim protector behind him due to has fairly frequent foul troubles.
We have got to replace Buddy and Bags and get one exceptional return and a few pieces that we can plug in. Who would have thought the Kings would have a big 3 of Fox, Hali, and Barnes.
Compliment these players (however that looks) and we have struck gold without a full rebuild.
We can kick anybody’s ass anyday. But if Monte can guess right on the correct pieces, specifically for Buddy and Bags…well and Bjelly, CoJo, GRIII (looked a little unorthodox playing the other night), Parker, James, etc., we will be a FORCE. Monte has his work cut out for him. We look to ready have a solid 3. Monte only has to be right once.
Premature STAMP IT for the LA Zips.
You focus on skills sets and not no much nebulous labels like 1,2,3 etc. Can your lineup shoot, rebound, play defense etc. How about these 5 point guards in at the same time. You think they could win. Luka, Lebron, Magic, Curry, Westbrook. Hypothetically if you had all those guys on your roster wouldn’t you play them all and at the same time.
A little more of reality, you don’t play Bagley instead of Haliburton because your lineup doesn’t have a traditional 4. Remember you may give up something but what you gain is more significant. Also remember the opponent also has to guard you, The Warriors old death lineup was another example of a very effective lineup that disregarded traditional positioning.
I’ve coached high school basketball for many years, won two state championships and learned this lesson well into my coaching career. I tried to play a bigger and less talented player because I was locked in a paradigm that I needed a 5 or a big. Sure I may have picked up a little rebounding or interior defense but what I lost by sitting the more talented player was significant. Often I found when I played a non traditional lineup my opponents tried to counter by matching it and then the advantage widened.
Teams use to do that to the Warrior death lineup, they countered by going smaller and all they did was bring in a smaller lineup that was inferior to the Warrior smaller lineup. How teams should have countered and some started to do it was go even bigger but most often they didn’t.
You may remember the old Rockets with Sampson and Olajuwon. If you’re best players include 2 bigs or even 3 bigs, find a way to play them all.
On the offensive end in todays game you never get hurt with this concept. It’s a lot of position less basketball with 5 out mixed in with flex and triangle concepts. On the defensive end it’s more challenging but you can mitigate the disadvantages with schemes although admittedly in the NBA a little tougher given the zone defense limitations but with proper switching, employing some extension and trapping along with good help positioning you can really be effective defensively with a non traditional lineup.
I predict the Kings will win the Super Bowl this year!
Kings, Chiefs…..(Monarchs!)
HAIL TO THE KINGS!
When you want a high draft pick but the Kings keep on winning
It’s all good. Increase HB and Buddy stock price for the upcoming Short Squeeze profit selloff
OT: LOL, Knicks giving up draft compensation for Rose, but at least Detroit is tanking correctly.
The Kings only won because the Clippers were shorthanded
Am I doing it right?
Badge Legend