There are some that believe the NBA season doesn’t truly begin until Christmas Day. For anyone just tuning in, I’m quite jealous. Also, here’s what you’ve missed. The Kings are pretty much a disaster right now, having lost four straight. The failures can be attributed to all levels of the organization. Some blame the coach. Some blame the GM. Some are calling for trades. And while it’s hard to imagine the Kings organization seeing the state of this team and the rising anger within the fanbase and still doing nothing to correct or change anything, here we are! The Kings didn’t make any holiday moves, so toss that lump of coal on the fire as we dream of the Ghost of Beams Past.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Thursday, December 26th, 7:00 PM PST
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBCSCA
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
The Sacramento Kings enter this game with a record of 13-17. They host the Detroit Pistons who have a record of…13-17. Yep. We’re neck and neck with the Detroit Pistons. Except they play in the East so they are the 10th seed while the Kings are 12th in the West, so despite the identical records the Pistons are ahead of the Kings at this point in the season. The Kings are hosting this game, but are just 6-11 at home this season. The Kings are coming off three days of rest, but the Kings are 1-2 in games with 3 days rest this season. In short, despite a “weak” opponent the Kings are very much the underdogs here. Hopefully somebody instills this thought into the Kings players, lest they come out still lacking any sort of competitive fire until they fall into yet another double-digit first quarter deficit.
The Pistons won’t come into this game full strength, as Isaiah Stewart is questionable with a knee injury and Ron Holland II is questionable with an illness. Jalen Duren is also dealing with an ankle injury but is listed as probable. For the Kings, Domantas Sabonis is listed as questionable with an illness. Hopefully he gets to feeling better, as I am not excited about the prospect of a center rotation relying on Alex Len, Trey Lyles, Orlando Robinson, and/or Jae Crowder. What about Isaac Jones, you ask? Well, that assumes Mike Brown decides to actually play him.
The Pistons will be led by Cade Cunningham, who is off to a great start this year, averaging 23.9 points, 9.7 assists, and 7 rebounds per game. He’s also been hitting threes at a career-best clip of 37.3% on 6.4 attempts per game. Jaden Ivey is also having a nice season, averaging 17.4 points, 4.2 assist and 4.2 rebounds, and has taken a major step forward with his shot this season. Ivey is hitting 38.4% of his threes this year, while taking 5.1 attempts per game. Turns out Fred Vinson is worth his weight in gold as a shooting coach.
Prediction
Keegan Murray remembers how to shoot. Kevin Huerter remembers how to shoot. Mike Brown remembers how to play Keon Ellis real minutes. The Beam is lit and everyone is happy again.
Kings 127, Pistons 103
Hopefully these dudes did some soul searching and looked in the mirror.
A young and upcoming roster vs our playoff ready vet stacked squad? Sheesh! It will be a cakewalk, amirite?
In all seriousness, Detroit is starting to turn things around while the Kings are well…Kangzing. A loss tonight could easily snowball into 7 straight losses to finish of 2024 as the Lakers and Mavs are all that remain for this calendar year. But hey, Jimmy wants out of Miami and it might be nice if Monte could get in on what would likely be a blockbuster multi-team deal.
We need some wins to avoid that things start snowballing.
Luka and AD got injured, but with the Kings, that means little.
+1 Possible opening for Fox as an all-NBA PG selection?
An All-NBA selection by default?
That would be so Kangz.
Fox isn’t a top 15 nba player. Squeaking in by default, just like the 22-23 season.
And Ja has already missed a dozen games as well, so he may not qualify either.
I’m going to go the other way and say we need some losses to make sure we retain our draft pick.
F it up so we blow it up?
Play like pooper for Cooper?
Pat Riley just said they aren’t trading Jimmy. Take that for what it’s worth.
I take it as the Heat trying to re-gain their leverage lol
Smoke, mirrors… full blown Riles.
I did not drive over two mountain passes in the rain to not see the Beam with my own eyes for the first time.
Do your &#%$ing jobs tonight, Kings.
Really hoping you’ll get to see that beam after such an arduous journey, SMF.
I will be there as well and I have been beam deficient my last two times going to a game.
Good luck! Hope you get to see the beam, unlike my Dad and I on Sunday against the Pacers.
High expectations for this home stand
Got sucked down in losing quicksand.
We can’t go dismissin’
The now-rolling Pistons.
A Kings loss could get someone canned!
+1 Pistons vs Kings? Could be exhausting!
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https://x.com/BrendenNunesNBA/status/1872356505405866035
No sign of Domantas Sabonis at this morning’s shootaround.
Kings host the Pistons tonight.
The Pistons are better than the Kings so I expect another loss.
If Kevin AND Keegan remember how to shoot this will be a blowout.
I had the distinct displeasure of attending last season’s Detroit Pistons visit to the G1C – and the Pistons had just ended their 27 game losing streak before this time. This game resulted in a Pistons win, and it really disheartened me. Awful loss, but it would portend other disappointments last season (Charlotte was the next one).
Anyhoo – that was then, this is now.
As an example of how the right coach in the right situation can find the right path: JB Bickerstaff has these guys playing well. And that is much better than the unfortunate Monty Williams experiment of last season – a costly change in direction for the Motor City.
And as good as JB has been – look at the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, starting 15-0 under Kenny Atkinson. Amazing stuff when you think about it (or at least, when I think about it).
In the Harrison Barnes role for San Antonio, we see the doppelganger – Tobias Harris, who has to be counted as part of the solution. (side note: Chris Paul has also done wonders for the Spurs. If you didn’t catch the Spurs v. Knicks battle Christmas day, it was a fun watch).
It’s a 3 Point League:
Detroit is 16th in 3PA, 17th in 3FG%. Sacramento is 24th 3PA and 24th in 3FG%. It’s the Kings, expect more 3PA and higher 3FG% for the athletic Pistons. Expect…. expect the unexpected, predict the unpredictable, make something for Sacramento – I have no idea if they will shoot well, poorly, or who will shoot well or poorly. Detroit 25th in FTA, Kings 14th in FTA but 4th in FT%. This has been important in keeping the offense up, because it sure isn’t the 23’9″ line. Malik Beasley leads the way for the Pistons, as he is 2nd in the Association in 3PM (116). Beasley (aka the other Malik)is 34th in 3FG%. The only Sacramento King in the Top 50? Keon Ellis at 47th
I’d also like to see a return to the beginning of the season performance from DeMar DeRozan – mid game and charity stripe – 20+ points.
Light That Beam! Go Kings!
Time to shift gears to… Trade Machine Magic!
We have a real 4! Murray’s a 3 again! Murray’s shooting 3’s again!
3. Bonus (quick, while Pop’s in rehab): San Antonio: Fox; Kings: Jeremy Sochan, Stephon Castle, Zach Collins
Youth! Athleticism!
Happy Boxing Day! Enjoy the fantasy. I am. Better than Kings-Pistons.
Who had “Pistons/Kings with identical records 12/26” on their Kanzgo card?
Uh-oh
Opportunity for McDermott to start at Center!
Ouch. Brown and the bench are going to be tested tonight. My guess is Lyles starts at center tonight and Crowder gets minutes behind Keegan.
Looking forward to seeing the Kings play tonight and that Mike Brown can shift the gears Forward-wise. Murray and Lyles have been underwhelming, and Crowder and I Jones haven’t been getting enough of a look.
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