Last night was rough. What should have been a gritty Sacramento Kings victory instead fell apart at the end as the Kings fell in overtime to the Clippers. It’s a tough loss, especially with most teams ahead of the Kings in the standing surging. But the Kings don’t have much chance to mourn what could have been as they’ll have to face another tough opponent tonight in the New York Knicks.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Sunday, March 9th, 6:30 PM PT
Where: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ESPN, NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
The Knicks have done very well this season, and thoroughly trounced the Kings back in late January (with yours truly in attendance – Madison Square Garden definitely lived up to the hype) 143-120. New York saw every single starter scoring at least 18 points, with OG Anunoby leading the way with 33 points on 12-18 from the floor. Anunoby, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges combined to shoot a ridiculous 13-20 from distance and the Knicks scored 32+ in each quarter.
That kind of offensive production has been more of the norm for the Knicks this year, as they hold the 5th best Offensive Rating in the NBA. When you think of Tom Thibodeau-led teams, you don’t typically think of high powered offenses, but that’s kind of been the tone for his Knicks teams the last few years since they acquired Jalen Brunson. Brunson however, will not be playing against the Kings tonight due to a right ankle sprain he suffered a couple of games ago, making New York’s offense a lot less potent, if still dangerous. The Knicks still have plenty of guys who can score the ball in bunches, but Brunson is definitely the engine that keeps them going. Brunson has also been one of the NBA’s best clutch scorers this season, second to just Trae Young in clutch points this season. In his place, the Knicks will have to rely on the likes of Cameron Payne and Miles McBride, both capable players but a far cry from Brunson’s ability.
The Knicks stop in Sacramento will be their fourth straight in California and they’ve yet to come away with a victory. They’ll be eager to leave the West Coast with at least one win, and they’ll be rested compared to the Kings who played an exhausting game last night. The Kings will once again be without Domantas Sabonis, but Malik Monk may be available, which would be a welcome burst of energy and playmaking for the Kings who have seen their offense bog down at times in the clutch of late without their two best playmakers. DeMar DeRozan has increased his workload in all regards in their absence, averaging 41.6 minutes a game over the last three games. At this stage in his career, I’m not sure how much longer you can continue to ride a 35 year old at that kind of capacity before the wheels come off, and we’re already seeing a dip in efficiency from DeMar as he only shot 43.7% from the field in those games, well down from his season average of 48.5%.
With Brunson out, Karl-Anthony Towns will likely be a focal point for the Knicks offense. Towns has fit in well with the Knicks, averaging 24.2 points and a career-high 13.3 rebounds a game. Towns can score inside and out, and will likely spend a lot of time on the perimeter where he is making 41.9% of his threes. Despite that, and the fact that the Knicks shot lights out against the Kings in their first matchup, New York loves scoring in the paint, ranking 5th in paint points in the league despite playing at one of the slower paces in the league. The Kings also need to be aware of Josh Hart, who always seems to channel Moses Malone against the Kings and get a ton of rebounds. Hart is the best rebounding guard in the league, averaging 9.8 a game this season, including 2.2 on the offensive end. The Kings need to put a body on him and keep him away from the offensive glass if they can because giving an offense as good as New York any second chances is a recipe for disaster.
This is gonna be a tough one, especially on the second night of a back to back, but it’s at home and the Kings really need this one. Hopefully they’re able to shake off the bad taste from last night’s loss and come away with the victory.
Prediction
Keegan Murray posterizes Karl-Anthony Towns and cracks half a smile.
Kings 123, Knicks 116
Brunson’s injury gives us a chance
At a win that can help us advance.
Our defense has been grand;
And the Knicks undermanned,
Let’s light up the beam and then dance!
+1 Confine the Knicks to…
&ct=g
Nix the Knicks! And make their balls drop!
Need to win because
Um … I have some questions!
So that’s why Vivek was at the game with Vlade. He’ selling the team to Ballmer! It’s at the one yard line already!
The hairs stood up on the back of my neck when I saw Vlade sitting next to Vivek at an away game last night. The guy set the Kings back decades due to his poor decisions at 5 years as GM. He’s likely cost Vivek hundreds of millions in blown potential revenue. I just don’t get why he is still around.
(I don’t think Vivek’s elevator goes to the top floor)
If Vlade and Vivek are still on good terms despite Vlade’s incompetence as GM and Vivek losing on millions for his FO bungles, then it only means one thing: Vivek was the one who did not want to draft Luka and Vlade gladly took the blame for it. Effing dismissive little chap.
I totally understand your trepidation, and your not wrong, but, first off, not every decision he made was bad, (Fox) although he was obviously over-his-head in the GM spot. Second, he’s a HoFer and local icon in both Sac and LA. Third, he’s known, universally, as as super nice gentleman, and great human being. It was Vivek’s money Vlade flushed down the drain, so that isn’t an issue for me, and good on Vivek for getting past it, one more reason why he isn’t the absolute worst owner in the NBA. Vlade’s most famous mistake, and there way too many to list, as GM was passing on Luka, and that day felt so disappointing I actually wanted to cry, just couldn’t find tears. I was so dismayed! Distraught! Hurt! It had to be the most painful day in the history of my Kings fandom (again too many to list).
Today I see why Vlade passed on Luka’s fat ass, knowing him well enough to be uninterested in the whining, unprofessional little brat. Not saying Luka didn’t turn out to be the generational star we all saw at the time. Not saying it was the right decision. Hard to say which was more painful, passing on Luka, or wasting a #2 overall on on Bagley. I’m just saying that now, after watching Luka outshine Cousins as a crybaby, I begin to understand better. I think it’s time for us to forgive Vlade.
I personally think his worst mistake was the JJ Hickson trade. That pick swap ended with Sac settling for Fox when they could have had Tatum. I would trade Doncic for Tatum in a heartbeat, and Nico Harrison’s trade for AD was only slightly less ridiculous than the Bagley decision, but I understand why that franchise didn’t want to invest over $300 million in a guy who doesn’t take care of his body, acts like a spoiled bitch, and is one injury away from being very pedestrian.
Hamlet, there is no question about Vlade’s abilities as a person and most especially as a player. Top 5 Kings of all time, as a player for sure. But as a GM, one of the worst FO decision makers. Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Elton Brand, even Phil Jackson and the GOAT himeslef, MJ, were equally as bad as GMs. But for every bad player-turned-GM, there is a Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, and Jerry West too.
Vlade was just not cut out as GM, and it has tarnished his legacy as a legend here.
And who cares about hi ability as a player or being a good person. So Fucking what? It’s about the job. Vlade was horrible
Well if you read my comment again, i said he didn’t do a good job as a GM.
AAnd speaking of doing his job, he did do a good job in being part of the glory years Kings (except for that back tap). Being a good person matters too because some kids look up to players and unfortunately mimic them. I’d be scared if my son would look up to Ja Morant and start waving around guns, pretending to be badass.
But please, by all means…let the hate flow through you. Nobody should tell anyone how to fan. Peace amigo.
Sometimes I tend to over-state my case. After thinking about it, there was one decent thing Vlade did as GM, draft Fox, and even that was mostly dumb luck. But here’s the thing, those of us who are old enough to remember, got to enjoy exactly one true championship contender here in Sac., and Vlade is as responsible for that as anyone. Vlade had the 3 days ago comment. He admitted he didn’t even know what the stretch clause is! Horrible! My bad for trying to defend the indefensible. Still, he didn’t do it on purpose, he’s not the Maloofs, he didn’t try to fuck us, and I still don’t see why anyone should have a problem with him taking in a game with Vivek, who is the real problem, and has been since he got here.
I should have focused on how I grew to hate Luka in Dallas, and I hate him even worse where he is now. We got rid of Cousins’ fat ass just in time with that stupid trade for Buddy. At least we didn’t extend that big ol’ bitch. He was likely the most talented player ever in a Sac Kings uni, and by the time he left, he was almost unwatchable. Professionalism matters, and I’m just glad we never had to put up with Doncic. Now that Cousins fucked off his career, he sits around on social media and talks shit about us. FUCK HIM!
I’d like to get Luka’s big ass in the cage and take him from zero to 100. He’d puke before he even sweats with his conditioning level. It’s only a matter of time before he tweaks his knee, and he’s too lazy, and out of shape to do his PT, and then he’ll be sitting on the couch drinking beer with DeMarcus. Or even better, maybe Trump will deport that Euro-trash, lazy foreigner. FUCK LUKA DONCIC!
Luka is a many time All League player and led Mavs to Western Finals in 2nd season and NBA finals last season so hate at your own expense . Teammates , fans and Coaches loved him . He is no Couisins by any measurement except yours .
Have you watched him? Just like Cousins, he takes plays off complaining to the refs. He is currently the worst whiner in the entire NBA. And bitching is part of his game/act. He berates the officials into giving him calls, to the detriment of other players/teams/the entire NBA. You can love that bitch-ass Laker scum to your hearts delight. I’ll just continue to hate, unless he changes. Scratch that, too late, FUCK HIM!
Comments useless when you say Luca is a fantass waste.
He’s all NBA badass. End drop.
Vlade was terrible as a GM. Vivek is terrible. What kind of fan base celebrates this horseshoe.
Luka’s a bitch
One of many 3 stooges reboots
Ridiculous. Fuck Vivek. He’s oblivious. How could you have Vlade there?
Vivek continues to be a weight around Sacs neck. He’s still meddling. Saw some tidbit about Sabonis unsure about future and vets saying the Kings are in chaos.
As they have been since V took over. He’s the worst and zero excuse to have Vlade court side.
Celebrating incompetence and striving for mediocrity at best. – Your Sac Kings
I specifically had Josh Hart in mind when I first started praying for MM to draft Devin Carter. If they wanna be giving Carter mins. tonight is the night.
If Sac wins tonight, they wipe away the loss last night as a win against the Knicks would be unexpected.
It’s a 3 Point League:
New York is 6th in 3FG% yet 27th in 3PA and 23rd in 3PM (tied with Sac). The Kings have broken into the Top 20 in 3FG% for the first time this season (with thanks to Zach LaBeam, despite last night’s 1/7). New York and Sacramento are 7th and 8th in team PPG (116.9/116.8). And in the rebounding dept. – despite the impressive numbers from both KAT and Jason Hart – the Kings are 10th, NYK 23rd.
Certainly, Thibodeau’s squad is in a relative slump, going 5-5 their last 10. Sac drops to 6-4 after last night.
It’s games like this – how they respond after a tough loss – with these last 20 games of the season. It’s the season crunch count down in full swing – we get to see their mettle, on their home court.
Light That Beam! Go Kings!
As an aside:
It’s season ticket holder renewal time. FYI – the prices for our current seats (I split with some buddies) are going up 4% for next season.
4%? Fox wears number 4 on the Spurs. It’s tin foil hat time again! LOL
Fox was drafted 5 + Luka was drafted 3 = 8 divided by Bagley was drafted 2 = 4!!!
Also Mike Brown has been a head coach with CLE, LAL, CLE again and SAC – That’s 4!!!
It’s all starting to make sense.
That’s some next level conspiracy shit there Kfan. LMAO
I disagree with that first paragraph a bit. Last night’s loss was a double whammy. It was a loss to a division rival that is just ahead in the standings, and they’ve now lost the tie breaker to. That really stings, so a win tonight wouldn’t make up for it.
Totally correct. I called it a triple whammy in the previous thread, because it all but locked the Kings into #9, and a 2 game play-in scenario.
I can’t argue with that.
But the best way to reverse a double whammy is with a turnabout – even if it’s only a single whammy (one whammy > no whammy on the whammyalogic scale).
I think triple whammy labelling is making it an over-damning shammy whammy.
The long and the short of it: The Kings have to put together some wins.
Sac has struggled with this Clippers squad mightily this season. A low point for me was attending the game where Sac went 3-28 from 3 point land and lost to LAC at G1C. It was a horrific game to attend.
Fuck you Whammies
Love your enthusiasm. Love the way you think.
LTB! Go Kings!
Injury update: Monk will play tonight, per reports. Nove! However, LaRavia is a game-time decision with a knee injury (hopefully he plays and defends OG or Bridges).
I had wanted Brunson to play so that Keon could redeem himself from that look-away freeze that Brunson did to him last season. Keon has been humble about it and a good sport, but I bet he is just inching to go at Brunson again.
LFG Kings!
Very tough test tonight but good teams beat good teams. The idea that the Kings need an easy schedule is funny because that would mean they’re not a good team, so what are you rooting for anyway. Kings have what it takes to beat the Knicks, at home, No Brunson. If you want be considered a good team then come out confident and prove it.
“at home”
I don’t know about that, the article still says:
More Keegan staredowns and trash talking and I’m happy with this season.
He definitely seems to be coming out of his shell, and I’m all for it!
a more confident Keegan should be a more productive Keegan
Last bit of Vlade court side.
Look at how Dallas fans are reacting to an inept GM and owner. Chanting fire Nico at MLS game. In restaurants. Amd what he did wasn’t as bad as Vlade
And Vlade sits courtside. Ridiculous. Most nba fans would be upset with Vlade and the owner and/or protesting.
Looks like Monk will play
Crandell’d
Badge Legend