The Kings are on their second night of a back to back after beating a depleted OKC Thunder squad and will roll against a sickness-riddled Dallas team just hoping to get above .500 before the new year. Missing Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr. and a slew of role players, the Mavs will lean on second star Kristaps Porzingis to get the job done… but forget all that. ISAIAH THOMAS IS IN TOWN PLAYING FOR THE MAVS TONIGHT!
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Wednesday, December 29th, 7:30 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBCSCA – Kyle Draper (play-by-play)
Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
Through the Luka-ing Glass: Before we get down the road and I forget and my point gets muddled a bit, I’ll state it right off the bat – this should be a competitive game that, on paper, the Kings should win. Any team missing eight players should be the ones at a disadvantage, especially with one of those eight being Luka-freakin-Doncic. The Kings are the healthier, deeper team, with a better coach and yet, I can’t help but feel we may be in for a dogfight tonight.
While Tyrese Haliburton has continued his streak of good fortune with De’Aaron Fox back in the starting line-up, Fox has yet to really come back to any kind of form after his time off from COVID, having yet to get over 12 points in either of the two match-ups. Yeah, one was a blow-out and the other came with decent spurts of defensive effort against an All-Star level guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he hasn’t looked himself. COVID is obviously tricky and I lay a ton of that as the reason for his slow recovery back into the fold, but this supposed Kings playoff vehicle is going to need all tires rotated and pumped their factory recommendation if they’re going to even have a chance at crossing the finish line, and Fox right now is playing deflated.
Same too with Richaun Holmes coming back to the mix. I can search for reasons/excuses for these guys all day and, well, getting an eyeball jabbed twice in a season is a decent reason to play differently after coming back. Adjusting to wearing goggles would too. He’s an integral part on both sides of the ball for the Kings and averaging 19 minutes in his last two just makes things so much more difficult for Sacramento. Playing against a Mavericks team that has some truly massive guys playing big minutes for them right now, the Kings are going to need every single big body they’ve got available.
Really, it’s those two guys. If Fox can get rolling with Haliburton’s development not being impacted, and if Holmes finally finds comfort with those goggles – the Kings could run away with it. But the Mavs aren’t slouches, even with all of these guys out. They’re 2-2 in their last four, beating the Timberwolves and Trailblazers and losing to the Bucks by 7 and the Jazz by 4. The league is topsy-turvy and anything can happen, but a Kings loss to a team like the Mavs are wouldn’t exactly be surprise.
Prediction
Isaiah Thomas goes for 40 and all of G1C cheers him on as he does it.
Kings: 116, Mavs: 109
Me rooting for IT > me rooting for the Kings tonight.
Great to see him playing again. Be good if the Kings picked him up. Might as well have six guards as long as two of them produce.
Relax, you won’t be rooting for the former laker
I’ll leave this here for discussion.
https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256906472.html
A good article that I totally agree with. The principle of it me a lot of the Warriors pulling the trigger on Monte Ellis and handing the keys to Curry. Their fans booed the decision but their management had a plan and the guts to do it.
I still think Fox is probably the most talented player on the roster. If they want to win sooner rather than later (and they do), they should keep their most talented player and try to add to him and Tyrese, going after players on the block with picks and matching salary.
If they do trade Fox, I think it should be for a better talent by attaching a pick with Fox. For the draft, I’m all for BPA when you sucked that year. I’m getting on board for BPA with any win now trade. Improve the talent on the roster with each trade and sort out the fit later. This team needs more talent under contract.
If anyone balks at shipping picks, I believe we can replenish the draft pick cache and even have more than prior to a pick-including trade if the team decides to sell off, tear down, and start from scratch. Some of the players already on the roster will generate protected first round picks if we trade them for matching salary that are also bad contracts. Holmes, Haliburton, Mitchell, a really good player we trade Fox for – I believe they can all get protected firsts. John Hollinger and Nate Duncan agreed that Barnes could garner two first rounders. They may be delusional, but we are probably a little delusional in how we may be undervaluing him and others.
But, spoiler alert, that sell off ain’t happening.
I don’t think the Kings should trade one of their own sure to be lottery picks and “replace” with a #27.
For the first time, I am not against trading Fox but unless the pick is highly protected, then I would not let it go. Like a lottery protected pick swap might be ok- Kings are protected for lottery and the other team can swap a non -lottery for their non lottery.
Most of the teams wallowing in the mud with the Kings who have risen- like Bulls, Cavs, Griz and Suns, all kept a single key asset as they tanked. Keep Hali or Fox and the rest can be converted into bitcoin.
I only wish Barnes could garner a couple of first rounders. That would be the steal of the century if the Kings can pull that off.
I can see at least one first rounder possibly, but I’m afraid Barnes’s stock value diminishes the longer we keep him.
I’d be calling Celts and start with Fox and Top-3 protected first rounder for Jaylen Brown and keep adding players until they say yes.
No thanks.
no thanks
They might say yes to Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.
Wow what city am I in? I feel like I’ve been waiting 20 years for an article like that.
I only wish the Kings would do this-rebuild.
Problem- 4 teams have a serious head start- traded most all assets, are losing now and gobbled up ALL the loose future draft assets. OKC has something like 17 first round picks in their quiver. Next draft about 6 teams have no pick. This is like picking over the turkey carcass 5 days post Holiday.
I’ve looked this over, and you’re right. Of the buying/contending teams, Cavs, 76ers, Hawks, Celtics, and Warriors (in ’22 only) have their picks fully available to trade. Other buyers have their picks tied up with protections or are prevented from trading by Stepien indicating they’ve already delivered some of their draft capital. Presti has gobbled up the picks.
New Orleans, Houston, and to a lesser degree NYK and MEM also have excess picks. There are likely opportunities to be had. I could easily see NO, NYK, and MEM being more interested in acquiring proven NBA contributors over drafting more rookies. Most fanbases/orgs don’t have much appetite for more than a couple/few seasons of stockpiling. I suspect we’ll start to see those pick stockpiles being cashed in for current talent rather than more projects. Memphis, for example, currently have 3 picks this draft. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they would consider trading two of those in for a solid, versatile player at a position that could use some shoring up like Barnes or Holmes.
***BREAKING*** Porzingis out two months after being leaned on by toddler.
The first thing is the sound it made when it happened? In other news, Marvin Bagley to miss two months after an inner ear sprain, suffered from the sound of Kristaps Porzingis breaking in half.
I am trying to imagine an inner-ear sprain. And I must congratulate you, I always like when I see words strung together in a way that has probably never been done before.
For example, “God damned fucking hummingbirds!”
Getting troops back.
As we move past the protocol phase,
With the Mavs here for a few days
Play them twice in a row.
Hope Tyrese will still show
He’s aggressive whenever he plays!
Edit
I live in the Bay Area and raz every Warrior fan I see how stupid and classless that was. Of all nights to boo the owner on I believe a national broadcast were they retired Mullins number and Mullin had to take the mike from the owner and settle the crowd down. I was embarrassed for them. Though our product has been s#/t well into a second decade I believe at least those on this board would not adhere to such behavior booing ownership for trading Fox at JWills number retirement. We would just boo him for all other meddling the submissive little chap has done basketball related. I like George Karl’s idea of Sacramento fans owning the team as Green Bay owns the Packers #herewebillboard!
the dud fans were stupid then. That was a good move. Now they just jump around in their stupidity and act all entitled, like their team. The team is talented. The fans are rude. The players mock other fans and other payers by “we are just having fun!”
Don’t at all like the antics and will forever hope they lose. Almost as bad as the LAL
IMO, the new Dubs “fans” are some the worst in all fandom, they’re made up almost entirely of bandwagoners with brand new gear, most season ticket holders couldn’t name the starting 5.
That franchise sold its soul when they built the new stadium and priced out their long-time fans. Fans who I very much used to like chatting up with during games. Some of the best and funniest shit-talkers I’ve ever met.
Play-ins? To me, it’s just a made-up word. A Silicon-man-turned NBA owner word. Fellas like yourself can wear a tie and a suit and buy an NBA team.
Play-ins? That’s just a bull-shit word. So you go on and stamp your form, sonny, and stop wasting my time because to tell you the truth, I don’t give a shit.
I see what you did there.
yup. left off Valley purposely!
This is perfect.
Thanks!
still one of my favorite monologues of all time, from one of my favorite movies of all time.
and by the way, Red’s parole was approved instantly, perhaps because of that perfect monlogue! harbinger of Kings making the playioffs (not through play ins) in 2-3 yrs max?
fingers crossed.
You are the controlling owner, Fredo, but you broke our hearts! YOU BROKE OUR HEARTS.
Don’t ever take sides or meddle with the family affairs ever again.
Don’t watch games anymore. I keep track on Twitter, then sometimes tune in if it sounds like something really interesting is happening.
But I would love to watch IT torch the Kings so I might tune in tonight.
So, not a fan of the team in any way, yes?
Is that so hard to believe?
That part, no. The hard part is trying to understand why a person wastes free time on something that they hate, and which makes them unhappy.
For 25 years I’ve watched them. If you haven’t noticed, they still SUCK.
lots of opinions for someone not watching.
And who reminds us of that over and over and over.
Ignore by brilliance. Up to you.
To be honest, knowing this makes some of your comments less irritating to read. Sometimes I’m thinking, what are you watching? Like…how can people see the same thing and disagree so much over what they just saw.
This puts your comments into a slightly better context, as in nothing really matters until they start winning. Its an understandable take from someone a little “removed” from the day-to-day failings.
Rubio is out for the season. Kevin love and picks for some of our guards?
Cavs have hopes. Cavs lost Rubio AND Sexton and need back up PG but who to trade- Fox, Hali,or Mitchell? Seriously Love is good for a year and their picks are too low. They may be looking for part time replacement since Sexton will be back in 2022. season.
They are interesting: G. Allen + Mobley + Markenon + Love- all 7 feet.
It will be interesting to see if Sexton is back in CLE in 2022. He’s going to be an RFA looking for a big deal coming off a major injury. Meanwhile, Garland is better and younger while playing the same undersized scoring Combo guard type of role. Unless Sexton’s market just don’t show up for him at all, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him playing elsewhere next season.
It’s a shame, because Rubio has been playing so well. But to keep it in context, Cleveland has an exciting young core, and foreseeable success going forward. Rubio isn’t part of those plans, and they’re not going to punch a hole in that just to get a rotational point guard. Rubio is obviously very good, but it’s a spot that can be filled without giving up much of anything.
Does the media get a memo from ownership when a change is happening to help prep the fan base? It has happened many times before, but everyone in media (save Bruski, of course) was “Luke is here – he’s the coach”. And then an article comes out, and all those folk were unanimously saying he’s gone. One puke game later, poof. Now I’m hearing Fox being traded – kinda out of nowhere (and by that, you had the Bags, Buddy, Barnes being the the main focus of trades). Now it seems to be just Fox. Strategic leaking I guess… But after some comments – I have a feeling #5 is playing his last couple games here.
Ok, I wrote that a little wonky. But my main point is, article is written, talking heads change their opinion, thing written in article happens. Talking heads call their sources, get the nod saying ‘yup’, and that’s why they change their tune? Curious on how this all works.
You’re overthinking it.
Teams float these things through media to gauge fan reaction regularly in several markets
Makes sense. Thx!
Prep the fan base? As if any of the 5,000 fans left care whether Fox is traded.
There’s no doubt we need Richaun to show up in a big way tonight, along with a decent game from Fox. I’m expecting Fox to score at least his average ppg. If we can get double digits from both, and that, along with our full complement of players contributing, tonight’s game should be a close win.
There’s really no excuses for tonight, if we lose, but hey, we’re talking King’s basketball here.
This is “come to a higher power ” time. Kings barely edged the G League OKC team and have looked horrible in other recent games. A playoff aspirant team would beat the Mavs twice in this situation- a good team would beat them if Luka is there or not there. Time to put up or shut up and go home.
Kings close to full strength. I honestly think these two games seen as a single event is the pivot point of the season.
If lose both- my goodness !
if split– not good enough. Take the Mav by the horns and beat it.
I look at the Kings roster though my rose colored lenses and see about 10-12 actual NBA players. Opponents don’t have that many. Why is this team not winning?
Granted describing the end of the bench as “NBA players” is risky but Jones, Len, TT, TD could actually play on other teams and be rotation guys.
Y Today’s disappointment: in second round last draft we picked Quetta, passed on Brandon Boston who went to the LAC. He looks like the new Terrance Mann.
NQ has height. Can he be a late bloomer like DJ?
If lose even one to Mavs- rebuild.
I’m pretty sure its due to the worst defensive schemes ever. I feel like we’re the old school dad trying to get a kid to stop smoking by making him smoke all the cigarettes in a pack back-to-back until they’re all gone.
“Ooh, you want a certain matchup, here you go. You’ll get tired of all this scoring very soon.”
This is the start of another losing streak.
Alright boys, let’s get this dub
in old news and beating a dead horse, I for one called out the Kings for not drafting Doncic. Some said, “well we already have point guard (Fox) and you don’t have two basketballs.” I said if you can get a once in 10 or 20 year player you get him — then trade Fox. It will really irk me if we now trade Fox for something less than a very high draft pick or nearly all-star player. If I was GM, I would trade Buddy ASAP, folowed by Fox and Barnes as they will bring a lot more than Buddy. It is hard to believe that Buddy is this many years into an NBA career and never learned to shoot a mid-range jumper. He just dribbles through the key, not even thinking, wait I could rise and shoot a 15-19 footer. He is not very bright or should I say his basketball IQ is low.
Michael as TKH here.
scene: Vito’s garden.
“How’s your boy?”
“He’s smarter than I am. Three years old and he enjoys the funny GIFs on TKH.
“What’s bothering you Pop? I can handle it… I told you handle it. I will handle it.
” I know TKH is gonna go throug all of this… The Maloofs, Vlade, PDA, and LUKE!?
well….. Luke… well…uh, I never wanted this for you. But there wasn’t enough time.
wasn’t enough time. 15 years in a row now….
“Now listen…whoever drafts Marvin Bagley is the traitor. Don’t forget that!
at Vito’s funeral:
“I have always thought it’s gonna be Dumars or Matina.”
“It’s a stupid move. It’s a dumb move. Matina and Joe have always been smart. Vlade is dumb. He’s just so dumb.”
“I for one…”
I was trying to remember who that lone voice in the wilderness was that thought we should have drafted Luka.
Do you have any stock tips? Last you checked, something called “Enron” was going gangbusters?
Badge Legend