The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and these are your Sacramento Kings for the rest of the 2024-25 season, for better or for worse. Last night was definitely in the “for worse” category so hopefully tonight they can get back to “for better”. But to do so they’ll have to topple the Portland Trail Blazers, who have won 9 of their last 10 games.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Thursday, February 6th, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Moda Center, Portland, OR
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
The Portland Trail Blazers are the hottest team in the NBA right now, winners of 9 of their last 10 in a row. In fact, if they were to beat the Kings tonight, they’d only be two back in the win column of the Kings after starting the season 13-28. Portland’s recent victories have been fairly substantial too, with 6 of them coming by double digits. Portland is largely doing it on the back of their defense. For the season, Portland is just 23rd in defensive rating, but over the last 10 games, Portland has been by far the best defensive team in the league, posting a 104.7 defensive rating and a +12.7 net rating. That’s comparable to the numbers that Oklahoma City has put up all season. It’s perhaps because of this latest success that the Trail Blazers, long thought to be sellers, stood pat at the deadline.
In many ways, the Trail Blazers are similar to the Orlando Magic who absolutely decimated the Kings last night, except the Blazers might have even more size, particularly up front with Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara (who is quickly making a name for himself as one of the best defensive wings in the entire NBA). As of the time of writing this preview, it’s unclear if Sacramento’s new backup Center Jonas Valanciunas will be available tonight, but these are the exact type of matchups the Kings could use him in. Newcomer Jake LaRavia almost certainly won’t be with the team as the Kings just traded for him today.
The Kings and Blazers have split their two previous matchups this season, although the Kings were without DeMar DeRozan in their last trip to Portland, but Portland was also without Jerami Grant and Scoot Henderson in that one. Portland won that game by absolutely dominating the paint, outscoring the Kings 64 to 34 in that area. The Blazers actually made more field goals in the paint (32) than the Kings even attempted (26).
Newcomer Zach LaVine struggled in his Kings debut, scoring just 13 points on 4/13 shooting, and the whole team looked as if they hadn’t played with one another, which is understandable since they hadn’t. These first two matchups for LaVine are pretty tough to try to make an impression as both the Magic and Blazers have a whole lot of length and size to prevent you from getting easy looks, but for the Kings to have a chance to win tonight, LaVine and the Kings will have to be better. In particular, LaVine needs to be able to bring reliable three point shooting to this team, and the Kings need to find ways to generate some open looks for him. Last night, LaVine was 0-4 from distance, a far cry from the 44.6% on 7.3 attempts a game that he had been generating with the Bulls. The Kings as a team seem to have come back down to earth lately in their quest to find threes as well, as they’ve attempted just 27 and 24 threes in their prior two games, both being the lowest attempts they’ve shot since Doug Christie took over.
Doug Christie made a very confusing decision last night to have DeMar DeRozan start the game running the point, something I wholeheartedly disagreed with. Malik Monk has been running the point well for a while now, and is the best playmaker on the team. Last night, Monk struggled and only played 25 minutes dealing with foul trouble and I wonder if some part of that was the role switch. I’d like to see Malik be given the reins from the beginning of the game, but he will also have to act as more of a facilitator than just looking to score, which is where he got into trouble a few times last night.
Prediction
The Kings bring out the garden shears and trim Portland down to size.
Kings 125, Trail Blazers 116
SEGABABA while heads are still spinning;
Hoped that Zach could help us start winning.
The Blazers are hot—
Been winning a lot.
While the Kings’ results have been thinning!
+1 Blaze Portland!
&ct=g
Jonas should have fresh legs on this SEGABABA. We really also need Ellis in the starting line up. That is all.
Sabonis back in the motherland.
Let’s go!
Game 1 of the Baltic Bros Dynasty!
“Jonas and Sabois!” sung to the Seven Nation Army melody.
Lithuatripsy
The Lithium Battery.
I like “The Iron Curtain” which would have worked with Len as well, but that was Soviet Union era so it might be inappropriate.
Nothing but nyet!
I really hope we see them on the floor together.
There are still $8 tickets to tonight’s game, and I’ve done nothing and gone nowhere since returning from the hospital Tuesday morning. Do I dare risk it? I haven’t seen the Kings win in Portland since the playoff drought ending game in March 2023.
Hospital? You good?
Doing fine now. Jolted in the wee hours of Tuesday with a fever and a heart rate like a Neil Peart solo. So I’ve been informed, there are more viruses floating around now than just COVID and flu. A fever is one thing, but no one should try “waiting it out” when their heart doesn’t feel right.
Just been isolating at home like a responsible person.
Recovery has been a blast with the Kings community online through this truly historic trade deadline.
That’s kinda scary. Get well soon, friend!
Appreciate it!
Damn. Take care, but yes enjoy an $8 game if you feeling up it. We never get those opportunities anymore in Sac.
We get $8 in value though! That’s just not what the ticket costs.
Uhhhh…yikes!
He’s starting to swipa back. Good for him. I’m way Team Fox over Team Vivek / Matina / Monte / Wes. Fuck those guys. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Jeebus, this organization fucked this up in every which way. No way up. No way out. Meanwhile, Fox playing with Wemby and Mike Brown collecting checks. What a circus.
Yup, it seems at every crossroads of decision making our franchise’s FO made the wrong choice. It’s like having the most amazing significant other you’ve had in darn near 30 years, and then bringing up politics, religion, and even the blue/gold dress debate during first time you meet their parents. Just dumb fuckery.
I feel like I missed something. Did someone from the Kings org blame Fox for…whatever, or is just the usual social media nonsense?
I don’t recall specifically, but I do think there have been instances of the Kings org trying to blame players after they’re gone. (I feel like this may have happened with Isiah Thomas).
Or is Fox reacting to McNair’s comment that Fox refused his extensions and that’s why they moved him?
not sure. it would be nice to have the context.
This seems like “social media nonsense” to me.
I heard Damian Barling going at Fox about something, but I missed the start of it.
Damian said he had sources that said Fox was a lot of the issue in the situation, or something like that.
Good to know. Thanks! I’m not sure if Damien is on radio or TV or whatever (too lazy to look it up) but in the few times I’ve seen him, he does seem prone to ranting about stuff.
there have been plenty of F-ups, but Fox wanted out. Monk said it after last night’s game also.
Yes, because of the F-ups. Not exactly the first time that we have seen this dynamic under this bonership.
This
That’s about the least surprising news possible. There will always be dysfunction in a Vivek led organization. Coach got fired, best player got traded, yeah, sounds dysfunctional!
Fox will absolutely get the last laugh here. He will be collecting chips as a Spur. While the Kings will still be a middling mess of mediocrity. Now and for years to come.
we don’t even know who or what Fox is responding to. the organization and fans aren’t laughing at Fox. We’re crying.
Well, we’re on the road, so we have a chance.
When the Kings landed in Portland this morning Kayte was still telling Kyle about the takeoff.
LOL Marty!
I kid you not, during last night’s game the Mrs. sat next to me and right as the Mrs. began to talk I yelled, “shut up, Kayte!” as Kayte was going on one of her stories over three possessions.
The Mrs. looked at me with utter disgust and confusion…as her name is obviously not Kayte.
It took a few minutes of explanation.
In the meantime, I missed like 3 more possessions and I immediately thought of you.
It’s unbelievable. To be at that level and not be able to stop yourself.
It would be fun to edit game highlights together when she’s talking about something two plays behind.
I could go on and on about it, but I’m in this for the long haul so I need to pace myself.
Her insights and takes are fine, or good really.
I can just stand to lose the “that goes to show ya…..”.
NO KAYTE. NOT EVERY PLAY IS PROOF OF SOME BIGGER NARRATIVE.
Sometimes DeMar just hits a turnaround jumper. That is all it is.
What you need to understand Kyle is…
Don’t get it twisted.
Hey, let me tell you…
When the team is winning, I tune her out. When we play like shit it seems her voice takes over the remote and surround sounds the TV. Still better than Doris Burke I guess.
Reggie Miller is the fingernails on the chalkboard for me.
I’ve always liked Burke, what’s the complaint with her?
The worst or best case scenario depending on your take. This team doesn’t make the play in and is overtaken by the Blazera and Spurs.
Hey, we lost the first game of our last era change and then went on to win the next 9 of 10. You never know!
[Pass that copium over here, man, I’m gonna need more.]
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