“I’m extremely disappointed in our guys’ ability to mentally come into a game like this and lock-in,” said Mike Brown following Sacramento’s 115-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. The public call-out didn’t stop there: Brown’s entire postgame press conference was an airing of grievances. He’s upset about on-ball defense, hustle, paint defense, turnovers, and his players caring too much about offense.
No arguments here.
I’d just like to add that Mike Brown is having an equally atrocious season from the sidelines, and the seat is looking pretty hot from my view. He’s pressing a ton of buttons (seemingly at random) and nothing is working. His rotation, from the starting lineup down to the 12th man, has been a mess all year. If the players haven’t tuned him out already, Sunday nights matchup against the San Antonio Spurs will provide us with a pretty good indicator.
So, I’m dubbing this the “do these players give a shit about their head coach?” game. Let’s get into it.
When: Sunday, December 1, 6:00 PM PST
Where:Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBCSCA
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
This is a must-win from a team vibes perspective. 21 games into the season and the Kings have already had players only meetings, coaching callouts, media callouts, and fan sentiment is in the toilet. Where do you go from here? This feels pretty close to rock bottom while there’s still time to turn things around. The Kings are 2.5 games out of 6th place in the Western Conference.
Of course things can get worse, and knowing this franchise, they probably will. But if you don’t show up tonight, after the coach called your effort and focus out to the extent he did, we can probably stop waiting for a switch to flip for this group. It ain’t happening, and it’s time for big changes. That’s where I’m at.
While this is clearly a winnable game at home, the Kings have already lost to the Spurs once this season, a 96-116 defeat on November 11th. And that was with the squad at full strength.
The good news is that DeMar DeRozan is expected to return to the lineup tonight. The bad news, although that categorization is up for debate considering how poorly they’ve played this season, is that Trey Lyles is out and Kevin Huerter is doubtful. More Isaac Jones, please.
Victor Wembanyama was a monster against the Kings in their first meeting: 34 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks on .591 shooting from the field, and 6/12 shooting from beyond the arc. As a team, the Spurs shot 48% from three, and that is what having one of the NBA’s worst 3-point defense will do to you.
Unlike the Kings, the Spurs are playing some respectable basketball right now. They’ve won 4 of their last 5 with the one loss coming on November 27th, an 18-point loss to the Lakers. They’ve been off since Wednesday, and should be well rested.
Prediction:
Honestly, I have no idea what to expect tonight. While I acknowledge the roster construction issues and obscene lack of depth, I also think this team, as currently constituted, is capable of playing much better basketball than we’ve seen lately. Exactly why they are underperforming to this extent is confounding. So, for the sake of my own sanity, let’s give them a W.
Kings 114, Spurs 108.
Last time ‘gainst the Spurs we got pounded,
Out-hustled and out-rebounded.
Though Wemby’s their guy,
Black Falcon could fly.
We’ll have to keep Harrison grounded!
Keep the Black Falcon cold!
That’s former WC Player of the Week Harrison for you. And me. Them. Everybody!
I’m going to say the Kings will win and turn things around because I’m being completely self-centered and saying 2024 has been too hard for me to add a full dose of KANGZ to close out the year.
Do it for me, Kings, after the post Turkey Day trots you left on the court for us fans in Portland.
We are close to 2025. Hoping that you find the new year less difficult and more pleasant.
Great preview.
And yes, that rant of Brown feels a bit hollow with him being a big factor in it all.
I can see them respond and win a few only to fall back to earth in a game they should have won, to keep hovering around.500. It feels like such a roller coaster season, so far.
It’s them, not me.
That’s what we get from Brown a lot. He rarely takes ownership of his part (at least that we fans know about via interviews and post-game conferences). Not solid characteristics of a good leader.
Coach isn’t reaching the players. Players aren’t listening to the coaching staff.
Coach calls out team in public at a post-game presser. I don’t expectuch to change at this point.
Someone on these threads mentioned the other day the PDX and the Spurs may have already passed the Kings with their rebuilds. It sure appears Houston has, and OKC definitely has. Does that leave only Utah behind in rebuild status?
The Spurs obviously have Wemby, but also have solid youth in Sochan (21), Vassel (24), Champagnie (23) and Castle (20). I also like their vet placeholders in CP3 and Barnes to mentor the youth. The scary things…they potentially have 4 first round picks this summer! They have their own, ATL’s free and clear, Charlotte’s lottery protected first, and the Bulls protected 1-10. Those last two may or may not convey, but damn, they have some nice draft capital to add to their solid youth.
One of the recent pleasures of the NBA for me, is watching the Phenom known as Wemby, grow his game (His height needs no further growth).
He showed off his 3 Point game impressively the last time these teams met (as Tony describes above) and he seems very comfortable from 23’9” and beyond (French Curry? Wembeyondama?)
I liken him to a past Superstar, Legend, Icon – prior to MJ, the GOAT- Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who left Power Memorial
High in NYC and headed to the West Coast under the tutelage of Superstar, Legend, Icon Coach John Wooden and his UCLA Bruins. Wemby wasn’t required to spend 4 years in University as Lew Alcindor did. I see Superstar, Legend, Icon Coach Greg Popovich as his John Wooden.
Now – why the heck isn’t he (or anyone else) learning to dominate with one of the most unstoppable shots in NBA history- the Sky Hook?
It’s a 3 Point League:
I just don’t know anymore – to me, Keegan is more the disappointment than Huerter. do we expect much? Yes. Too much? Perhaps. We know the skill is there- it’s just buried under a bunch of angst, self doubt, something – who knows? Hope he finds his shot again soon.
Is Keegan the simulacrum of this Kings team and season?
Light that Beam! Go Kings!
Rec’d for “simulacrum”
Well it is Dec 1 now, so the return of Threegan Murray?!
The players who matter in terms of Coach Browns job are Fox and Sabonis. If both are on board with a change, expect a change. If not, then not. James Ham suggested that Fox would not react well to firing Brown.
Ham also mentioned that the 1st player of one of the more recent games was scripted play, and the players didn’t get in to that set and run the play.
What was the consequence? Nothing. They all just played on like nothing happened.
Brown needed to send a message and bench their asses. Right after the 1st play. Just call a timeout and sub out as many as your are allowed at a time. Walk down the bench and ask “who is ready to run the plays and give a shit?” Then sub in whomever says they are.
Maybe they’re playing poorly because they’ve already tuned him out?
I am glad Harrison was able to get out of here and play out his career with dignity as part of a winning organization.
Coach Pop (I hope he gets well soon) has a knack for stretching the value in vets. He did with Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Belineli, Aldridge, Rudy Gay, and now Barnes. There are probably a ton of others I’m missing.
He sees the game at a much higher level and allows them to use their gifts as they fit the game.
You are aware the Spurs have had 5 consecutive losing seasons . Having a Spurs fan as a close friend not all are excited about the future even with Wemby . Need to win this season .
I think this is going to be the season the upward trajectory is solidified once again.
Boy, if they’re worried about their future with the personnel, draft assets, and coach that they have, we should be TERRIFIED about ours.
He’s a nice dude, deserves it!
Think Brown’s master plan was to get his big extension, punt the season, get canned then he can go vacay with his 27 mil for the next 3 years, haha. Maybe he was pissed about them hard balling him on the amount, wouldn’t give him his preferred 10M, and how long it took for them to extend him. Now he’s getting his revenge. Just kidding with most of this, kind of, lol.
You might be right?
Get the money locked up and deal with a quick beating or drag it out over a few years and forever be labeled as a KAnG.
Badge Legend