And just as quickly as it started, it was is over. Yes, tonight’s sequel against the Warriors marks the last of a preseason that has been equal parts refreshing and fun to watch as it has been a harbinger of all the bad things to come in the 2020-21 season. Kings getting beaten up by random bench players? Check. Kings winning games at the buzzer against teams they were up big on? Check. All the Kangz classics have been there if you squint hard enough and the collective of them all is pretty much pointing a bright neon sign that says tonight is the last exit before a long a bumpy regular season. Get out of the bandwagon now and you can still be happy this winter. You all ready to see how the Kings fair against a pistol whipped Warriors squad who want to fine tune in their last game before a playoff push? Let’s talk Kings basketball.
When: Thursday, December 17th, 6:00 PM PST
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: ESPN, NBCSCA
Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
Bottom of the Barrel: These games mean nothing right? If the team is undefeated in preseason, we tell ourselves it means nothing to help guard against regular season disappointment. If the team is winless, we keep hope alive by saying it don’t mean a thing and point to the minor improvements of such-and-such- or so-and-so to justify it. This preseason especially, coming off of a very short break for players, in the middle of the pandemic with an absolute hydraulic press of a schedule – the Kings have very little room for win column daydreams or playoff fantasies. But this preseason, for whatever reason, feels like it means a little something. On the surface the Kings have beaten lower tier playoff squads who didn’t play their big timers many minutes but, watching the bench work this season has been nothing short of… well… fun. Kyle Guy’s game winner was as frenetic and absurd as one could expect, but it was simply fun to see a kid like that perform in the moment. Tyrese Haliburton has come on and immediately flashed his offensive and defensive versatility and with some absolute bonkers steals, the kid has raised his hype to another level across the fandom. I didn’t think he’d be ready for regular minutes this season. Three games later, I comfortable with him as one of the first guys off the bench. That’s what preseason does to you.
It isn’t just the headline grabbers like game winners or Rookie of the Year candidates either though. Guys like Chimezie Metu have been a lot of fun to watch. His length and shooting at times have impressed, as has willingness to zip a pass to a cutter in traffic. It doesn’t always get there but there’s a hint of something he could unlock in his game that could make his very valuable as a bench guy in this league and he’s fit in with the bench unit very well. Same goes for the Kings other rookies: Jahmi’us Ramsey and Robert Woodard II. They’ve both come in during these first three games and shown plenty of reason to assume they’ll end up as rotational players in the league. They aren’t there yet and I really wish we could have seen them in a summer league setting working out the kinks, but there’s certainly enough evidence to feel justified in the happiness over this previous draft.
I could write about Fox buffing up or Buddy’s trade value ticking upward due to his recent play or the impact of Hassan Whiteside or Glenn Robinson III in their minutes, but these things felt a bit… expected? There was always going to be a bump in the starters and veteran role players profiles. There was no expectation that the young Kings off the bench would be this fun or this semi-competent. There’s no greater takeaway, no overarching point to get to here. The young guys have been fun in meaningless basketball. For a weary fan, that means a little something.
Prediction
Kyle Guy is going to 40 tonight. Steph Curry is retiring. Kelly Oubre Jr. is going to look into the camera with those piercing eyes and attempt to hypnotize the entire Bay Area and Sacramento populace into doing his sinister bidding. Only those of you who know what Supreme is will actually be mesmerized.
Kings: 118, Warriors: 107
One more outing to see what we’ve got
Who’s a keeper and who shows he’s not.
So before the games count,
That becomes paramount.
Maybe then a good Guy gets a spot!
Threezza Guy, activate!
Kings. Warriors. Walton.
Next.
They shouldn’t keep score, just let the players have fun out there. It’s good for their self-esteem.
I’m too broke for Supreme! Does that offer any immunity?
aNOTHER poll!
WHO DID IT BETTER?
I’ll take the player in the top photo – the one wearing the “Air Guys.”
Looks like Scottie agrees with you!
Man, is this good.
OW MY ACHING BACK!
Robert Woodward hasn’t shown anything to me to indicate he’s a rotational player yet. He has no confidence in his shot and despite having optimal size and physique to be an elite SF, looks like he lacks the agility to keep up with 3s.
Until he shows he can guard on the perimter, he’s a PF. That limits his value and defensive verstaility. If he was a switchable defender, able to guard inside and out, then he could get rotational minutes without having a shot. He would just be a defender and an opportunistic scorer off breaks and putbacks and dunks.
As impressed as I have been with Hali and Guy I’ve been equally unimpressed w/ Woodward. That doesn’t mean he won’t be good but his first impression has been poor. He didn’t need to be spectacular to beat out Robinson III but he hasn’t not been competitive to get those minutes. Ramsey seems a little more comfortable on the floor in limited opportunities.
Haha “Twenty-seven entire minutes as a pro, and nothing!“
Ha-ha, I am not closing the book on him after 27 minutes, I am just sharing my first impressions. I await to be impressed, hopefully starting tonight.
Badge Legend