After an all time great opening playoff game from De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and the Sacramento Kings resulted in a win for the hometown team, the defending champions are back in Sac with their three Hall of Fame players looking to avenge their game one blunder. Can the Warriors overcome their miserable regular season road record, a blitzing Sacramento Kings offense and 19,000 Kings fans reigning sonic warfare upon them? Can the starting supporting cast for the Kings find the rhythm they lacked in Game 1? Can Warriors fans in Golden 1 Center reach the triple digits tonight?
Let’s talk playoff basketball!
When: Monday, April 17th, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: TNT
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
For Your Consideration
The Second Album: In the aftermath and pandemonium and sheer joy that so enveloped the waning hours of Saturday night, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander to tonight’s game and how fans, players on both teams, the cities themselves might react if their respective teams won. There’s that music industry adage: you have your whole life to write your first album and eighteen months to write your second. The Kings on Saturday night went triple-goddamn-platinum – The fans were rocking, the players were hyped, celebrities of both local and national variety there to show support, and Sacramento responded to the outpour with a win in a close game. Now, it’s Tuesday. Is 50 Cent going to be sitting courtside on a Monday night in Sacramento? Can the fans, after a weekend of celebration and a full days work still give that level energy to their team?
Don’t get it twisted – this isn’t doubt creeping in, it’s excitement. The basketball world is starting to pay attention to the cowtown out West, with talking heads on national programming spent the weekend apologizing for not knowing that the team with the third best record in the Western Conference had some juice in them. I saw fans of every team in the NBA celebrating with Sacramento and hating on them. The Kings haven’t been relevant since Twitter was created and so NBA fans all over the web have been able to hide in their bubbles and never had reasons to see, to celebrate, to scorn our city for the way we celebrate our team, our wins, our way of doing things.
They’re starting to see us now. They’re starting to understand.
So I wonder: what’s Sacramento’s second album going to be like? What have we got left collectively in the tank? Our love is endless, but how’s the vocal cords? Down ten in the fourth, how loud are we going to get. We’ve seen this Warriors squad come back from 3-1 to get to the Finals in 2016, but how much more pressure do they feel seven years later if they go down to a Sacramento squad with the best road record in the West? How shook are they on Thursday night when they see that Kings fans travel too and get loud when the Kings need them? How much talking gets done on national TV and with the schedule makers and at every internet water cooler in the sports world in the Kings push the defending champions to the brink or in the first round?
There is so much to speculate and discuss about these two teams: players on both sides struggled because schemes on both sides worked. There are going to be counters to the counters and players that struggled will get comfortable and players that over-performed will sag in the games to come. The margin of error for either team is microscopic, regardless of pedigree or experience.
There was a Domas dunk in the waning moments of Game One that put the Kings up five – I was there, with my brother, with nineteen-thousand of my brothers and sisters, high fiving, chest bumping, cowbell ringing, all vibrating like a colony of bees that sensed the intruder was close to perishing. People I’ll never meet again, in a moment, all one feeling the frisson of a culmination of nearly two decades of bad basketball. I could have lived in that moment for the rest of my life, never worrying about my hands feeling numb from the clapping or my voice being hoarse from the hype or my vision being blocked by the foam stick slapping me in the face because the 59 year old woman next to me was feeling exactly the same amount of hype as I was.
I haven’t heard the Kings second attempt yet, but if its anything like Saturday’s, it’ll be music to my ears.
Prediction
Quadruple platinum. Lasers lit over houses all over America. The end of world as we know it. In a weird glass cube in Silicon Valley, someone calling themselves a fun-trepreneur gets an original idea to put a line of gold-lit drones over Chase Center every time the Warriors win. Ten years later, he’s the richest man in the world. Fifteen years later, he’s in jail for crashing the world’s economy.
Kings: 131, Warriors:124
In game one we beat last year’s champs;
For game two got to ramp up the amps.
Showed the “experts” were wrong,
And now know we belong.
Atop G1C beam all the lamps!
Playoff limericks are my new favorite.
Let’s go up 2-0 heading in to San Francisco!!!
LFG ????????
Jman’s poem is better. But I’ll rec you for the sentiment
I talked with my brother this morning. He lives in NC and hasn’t really followed the Kings in a while as they play late and haven’t been that great in a while. He watched the game yesterday and ended up watching two more games from recordings. He was just like the national media having no idea how much fun this team has been to watch. He’s excited again about Sactown!
Yet TNT’s whole commercial advertising game 2 is all Curry highlights, litarally no purple is seen in the ad, it’s as if Curry is the only one playing in the game. Ridiculous.
in the press conferences post game- TNT, ESPN and ABC, it would seem that the duds won.
oh, except that “Wigs” missed a shot he always makes- well he missed 3 from the same spot in the same game. “Always” has a different duds definition.
Lame ass excuse.
The duds might yet win the series but don’t be excuse filled wuss’s about it.
Just Curry chewing on his mouthpiece.
Tell your brother that he is a wuss.
I now have to decide whether watching in the middle of the night is worth risking a divorce and since I love my wife I will probably only sneak away to watch the second half.
That’s a jinx. You have to watch the whole thing. Tell her you’ll steal her a Vermeer in trade. I hear they’ve got so many at the Rijksmuseum they don’t know what to do with them. They probably won’t miss it.
Its a Silicone Valley dystopian fest and I’m here for it. Crypto currency is trash (Crapto!)
AI is for dummies and KINGS FOR THE WIN!!!!!
1 down, 15 to go.
Heh, not only do I actually feel pretty good about this team, I don’t think it would even surprise me if they made it far in the playoffs for this year.
Championship or bust!
The Finals countdown
this band has enough content to make the first release a double-album
Thanks Will you just doomed us using God’s name in vain ????.
Putthecrusadersworddown.
You really did, god dammit.
???? don’t worry I’m praying for our team , all of us fans and especially Will as soon as his skin stops blistering from the holy water.
no, that was Ja Morant
To win this series, the Warriors have to do something out of character, slow the pace. I don’t think they can do it. There’s a reason why Klay and Wiggins missed shots in the final minutes of Game 1, they were tired. I expect Klay to have a huge game today, but it won’t be enough, because Sabonis, Huerter and Murray are going to show up.
Based off game 1, if our players revert to the mean and theirs due as well, I’d say we have the advantage, especially considering one of the three best players in this series (Domas) had a horrible game 1.
The Kings play better big and small than the Dubs do. In a game of match-ups, which the NBA playoffs very much are, how many actual advantages do the Dubs have? They were relying on their experience, and IMO needed G1. They did alot to win it, too. Many years they would have.
I know the opinion is that the Kings don’t play defense but the Dubs don’t attack the paint well. The Kings were +16 in paint points and +5 at the FT line. The Dubs were +12 from the 3 pt line (16-50) and hit 27 of their 40 shots from 2 pt range.
That’s the issue here. And the Kings certainly can score with a variety of ways. Who are the scoring threats outside of Curry, Thompson and Poole?
It comes back to your point Oshima. The Dubs are at a disadvantage playing fast (although less so) and are even more of a disadvantage playing slow. If the Kings win tonight, I can absolutely see a victory in 5 games. It’s not going to get easier for the Dubs.
well said.
klank will klank and complain.
4 of the Kings starters had sub-par games- not so for the duds.
if we get regression to the mean, Kings by 10.
Zach Zarba is officiating tonight. I am guessing Tony Brothers game 5.
It’ll be Tony Brothers AND Scott Foster with Dick Bevetta in New Jersey
I’m going tonight and wearing my TKH “Refs you suck” shirt. No way the NBA wants us to win this series.
when will Dick Bavetta show up??
For sure called back from retirement for a Game 7 NBA Finals special 😀
Bavetta is ready
I think this win will be easier for the Kings, once Huerter and Keegan get back on track.
Is Kerr removing DDV from starting lineup? Did McGenius planted Donte as a secret agent? 😀 Let’s go! LFG!!!!
….I’m back in LA, after driving up to Golden 1 Center for game 1.
A few hours before the game, I was in a Greenhaven Walgreen’s asking the pharmacist for the strongest allergy medicine because Sacramento is Allergy Hell. Welp, after eagerly popping the pill, I started to read the box:
.
.
.
“Take at bedtime.”
“Don’t drive.”
“Don’t consume alcohol.”
.
.
.
So during the third quarter I woke up to hear the 18,000+ fans screaming loudly as the Kings started their comeback run. Before that I was in and out, dozing off because of the medicine. I remember thinking, “Oh, dear this is not a good sign” when Slamson missed the spare in his bowling stunt and resorted to a third try. I had doubts the Kings would win the game at that point.
But man, by the time the 4th quarter started, I think I probably looked like I had a Keegan Murray smile (still subdued from the medicine), but was beaming on the inside, because that was incredibly exciting. It was my first ever playoff game, and it was the greatest memory I have of watching a game. I was screaming along all of the other fans in the standing section (gave my wife my seat so she wouldn’t have to stand–she sat with my friend Juan Primo). I couldn’t even see the entire court, so I resorted to watching the giant screen above the court. But it didn’t matter. I was surrounded by maniacs and the place was electric! Never felt a thrill like that as the Kings closed it out.
Sacramento Kings fans energy > Prescription-Strength Allergy Medicine
.
.
.
I started watching the Down in the Valley video the night before, which was the perfect prep for the significance of the day.
And now starting to watch the recording of game 1, to relive it (and see what I missed when I was knocked out).
Seeing Bobby, Vlade, JWill, Kenny (woof!) Thomas, Harrold Presley!!! (Doug on the bench)……most of all, I got the biggest kick out of seeing JASON THOMPSON, flash his beautiful smile for the camera.
Jason Thompson. The first draft pick when I signed up to follow StR, and a poster-child for the drought years. I was giddy as all hell when I saw him.
And I cried. I didn’t think I would. But it was an emotional, cathartic, electric day/night.
The Beam was glorious, and seeing all of those fans at DOCO was what I imagine heaven is like.
My takeaway: Benadryl makes Kosta cry.
Next time I’m using Layupdryl.
“Dad, where’s the bathroom?”
“You see that man crying at the top of the stairs? Go past him and take your second left.”
thought the only ben that made Kosta cry was B McLemore
I hope your allergies are dying down by now!
You guys are all soooo lucky you got to go to the game. I think the game wasn’t so close to me flying out to London (tomorrow!) I would’ve maybe gotten a ticket. Hopefully by the time I get back we will be in the second round and maybe I will splurge then!
Thanks, Klam!
You are going to see kings.
When you come back you can watch the Kings as well! (maybe I can meet you there)
Have a smashing time on your adventure!
If we end up in round 2 this year, I’m down to either fly up to Sac to meet up with you guys or we can go see the Kings at Staples. 4 hr drive for me.
Hell yeah!
Or at least a watch party at the MGM grand?
I’m a 4 hour drive to Memphis so I’m rooting for a different upcoming opponent. But looking forward to the same outcome either way
Silly Gonzo, allergy medicine consumption is for professionals.
My wife’s coworker has a picture of someone sleeping throughout the game. I’m now 80% sure this is Kosta. Lol
Oh damn!
It probably was me….ow.
I teared up as well when the lights went out, with the glowsticks out, and with the deafening cheers for x minutes non-stop. Yes same here Kosta, first playoffs and first time witnessing the beam. What a day.
That’s amazing!
Light the Beam, Terzo!
What three hall of fame players on the Warriors are we talking about?
hall of flame (out)
They actually have 4 if you include Steve Kerr
I agree. Sacramento is more than ready for primetime and even more ready to dispose of the former champs for a second game in a row. The Dubs have no answers for the 3 men formally from Kentucky Wildcats. No answers for Offnight either. Fox is the man and the ox will return tonight.
We should note that this Curry led Warriors dynasty have never gone down 0-2 in a playoff series. Let’s make it happen tonight Kings.
Ha! Windhorst doesn’t think it’s important for the Dubs to win game 2…
When did the the Dubs become “sort of the underdog team”?
Until we eliminate the Dubs for good, Windhorst will never believe that we will beat them.
Kings will be the Rodney Dangerfield of any series until they show that they can win in the playoffs.
And TBH, that seems right.
Vladdyshack.
actually yes.
unfortunately
Fake news.
Excuses
WTF Windy?? the duds the underdog team?????
Homecourt- irrelevant!!!! of course they are the favorites.
Unless you know Basketball and have been watching the Kings
I bet Windy could not name more than 5 Kings players or more than One coach.
go get another cheeseburger from the house of Kobe
I am one of those superstitious sort – not regular stitious. Well, since the Kings won and I am wearing my lucky underwear – I am leaving it on.
I am headed to the game tonight and I hope they win, mostly, but the fabric is getting kinda sticky, and I don’t want to the reason they don’t keep home court advantage is that I changed my lucky underwear.
Should I change it? Is it okay? What if they lose?
oh – and I’m asking for a friend.
fossilizedflatus wearing his Kings baby-blue underwear for good luck:
My boxer’s are the air apparent!
Maybe Ben Affleck will make a movie out of them.
wear it.
I are supposed to take your lucky chonies off and put on after a fresh shower… I am doing this with my Jersey. I changed clothes when kings went down 10 in third. So I am wearing the jersey I changed too… I don’t wear underwear (except for work slacks) so I can’t rewear nothing. Will be at arena looking for guy with sticky chonies!
Kevin Huerter’s been really good about our history:
https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1648050592575639563?s=20
Peja is one of THE main reasons I ended up here. This is a good sign.
Perhaps he can try shooting a little more like Peja tonight.
I’d be all for that!
If the Kings win tonight (and I think they will) then they will win this series. Can’t see the duds beating them 4 out of 5.
Adam Silver is a Kings fan now!
https://twitter.com/CarmichaelDave/status/1648126464754323456
Only four warriors fans around me in 114 today. But we’re half full so far, since it’s a work day i think.
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