fbpx
Mar. 29, 7:00 PM
DAL @ SAC
Mar. 31, 6:00 PM
UTH @ SAC
Apr. 02, 7:00 PM
LAC @ SAC
Apr. 04, 4:30 PM
SAC @ NYK
Apr. 05, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BOS
Apr. 07, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BKN
Apr. 09, 5:00 PM
SAC @ OKC
Apr. 11, 7:00 PM
NOH @ SAC
Apr. 12, 7:30 PM
PHO @ SAC
Apr. 14, 12:30 PM
POR @ SAC

Kings vs. Warriors Preview: Steph Up or Step Out!

The Warriors are playing on the second night of a back to back in a game where Steph Curry scored 62 points. The Kings are... well... they're Kangzing.
By | 29 Comments | Jan 4, 2021

The Kings have returned home to California after their stay out in Texas and after chalking up two more moral victories, they’re ready to get back to winning actual ones. Standing in their way? Fathers on Twit- I mean, The Golden State Warriors! Steph Curry is in his bag, Draymond Green is slowly regaining the use of his limbs and rookie center James Wiseman looks every bit as good as advertised. While rumors of their demise might not be as premature as previously thought, the Warriors still have the greatest shooter on planet Earth and as long as he’s healthy and breathing, they’re never out of a game. Let’s talk Kings basketball!

When: Monday, January 4th, 7:00 PM PST

Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA

TV: NBCSCA –  Mark Jones on the call.

RadioKHTK Sports 1140 AM

For Your Consideration

The Rumors of My Demise : Let’s get this out of the way – Steph Curry scored a career high 62 points last night in a barnburner against the Portland Trailblazers. With various Twitter loudmouths and blog boys basically advocating for Curry’s retirement after a disappointing start to Golden State’s season, it was just a matter of time before that small gathering of loose hay and Twigs that comprise Curry’s body from Davidson felt enough pressure to combust. Boy, did he ever. I was paying light attention to this game when I looked down at my phone and saw he had climbed over the 40 point mark and had played something like a total of 28 minutes. At that point, all there’s left to do is shake your head and wait for the final results and if I’m being honest: 62 points, 18-31 from the field, 8-16 from three sounds like a pretty decent message that the man isn’t done doing things quite yet. Sure, he has to wait for Andrew Wiggins narcoleptic talent to come around every other game and yes, Kelly Oubre Jr. has proven that giving the rim “The Smoulder” doesn’t improve shooting performances, but the Warriors aren’t finished with anything yet. Sitting at .500 with the key support pieces either injured or slumping is nothing to laugh at and games like Sunday night’s against the Blazers are sometimes all other players need to re-energize themselves and breakout of whatever funk they’d started their season in. Coach Steve Kerr seems intent on sticking with the same offense that got him to The NBA Finals five times and while it might be due some simplification just because of the random new parts and change in skill levels over the last few years, his team is still at .500, in the West and getting more and more comfortable moving the ball the way it’s asked of them.

So let’s talk good news vs. bad news. Good news first! The Warriors give up the highest points per game of any team in the league at an average of 123.7 points a contest. They’ve got the fourth lowest defensive rating in the league, they give up the most three point attempts in the league and allow teams to shoot the second highest percentage from deep, while also allowing the most free throw attempts as well because, well, they foul more than any other team in the league. If you’re expecting the Warriors defense of old, you are sorely mistaken. One last ray of sunshine – while they do have Steph Curry shooting ungodly hot on occasion, he’s only one guy and as such, the rest of the team are pretty dependable on denting rims and chipping backboards – they have the second lowest field goal percentage in the league and outside of Curry’s 32 points a contest, they have Wiggins averaging 17.8 and only rookie James Wiseman and Eric Paschall averaging over ten points a contest, at 11.7 and 10.2 respectively.

All this to say that the Kings are going to have a great chance at extending their current three game winning streak against the Warriors. Buddy Hield is going to have room to shoot all night. De’Aaron Fox is going to have room to drive. The Kings will be encouraged to play fast (something they’ve been allergic to so far this season) and will be encouraged to chuck the ball, all they have to do is accept the challenge. I mourn the missed opportunity to see Tyrese Haliburton out there against bad defenders or lazy defenders in a game that was designed to be a statement game for him and his heady style of play, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Can the Kings play more than six games this season without being unnecessarily dramatic off the court? Find out next on … One Hand to Give? The Old and the Pitiful? The Kangz of Our Lives? Ah, hell, you pick one.

Oh, real quick.

Today marks the 5th anniversary of this crew asking me to officially come on and write for you all. I tend to get very mushy and spend far too much time on it, so I’ll keep it short today. I just want to say thank you for these last five years and how much I appreciate every single one of you. I couldn’t have done any of this if it weren’t for your encouragement and engagement, regardless of the quality I put out. I feel very blessed every day to have you all, but especially today.

Prediction

Buddy Hield goes off for 40 and De’Aaron Fox records a triple double while also ringing up three long balls. Draymond Green reminds us all why he so much fun to hate. Steph Curry scores less than 62.

Kings 128, Warriors 121

Patreon Membership
* indicates required


To prevent spam, our system flags comments that include too many hyperlinks. If you would like to share a comment with multiple links, make sure you email [email protected] for it to be approved.
Subscribe
Notify of
29 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jman1949
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
January 4, 2021 1:24 pm

Tonight’s game will be down by the bay€”
Our prized rookie not scheduled to play.
It’s the end of a trip;
We can’t let ourselves slip.
Hope Steph tired himself out yesterday!

Kosta
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
January 4, 2021 1:29 pm

Warriors don’t faze us!
comment image

Last edited 3 years ago by Kosta
ZillersCat
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
January 4, 2021 3:18 pm
Reply to  Kosta

comment image

RobHessing
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Author
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Author
January 4, 2021 1:30 pm

Late Christmas game:
comment image
Three. Wiseman. Next.

Kosta
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
January 4, 2021 1:38 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

We Three Kings
comment image

MichaelMack
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
January 4, 2021 1:48 pm

I would love to see Buddy go off tonight. I cant believe we are 3-3 without him shooting well yet. I hope we see a bit more GRIII tonight as well.

GlueAndBold
January 4, 2021 6:14 pm
Reply to  MichaelMack

As a fan of GRIII as a Warrior, I do too!

rockbottom
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
January 4, 2021 1:52 pm

Steph with a below average game after last nites extravaganza means a solid Kings win with Buddy Buckets stroking 7 threes !

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
January 4, 2021 1:56 pm

OT: Could be an opportunity for the Kings to help a contender while getting an asset in return.

CoreyBrewersD
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
January 4, 2021 5:47 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

What would we give them 5.7 million, one year left, not combinable, a stand alone guy, last season on deal worth 5.7 million or less. Holmes , Whiteside, GR3. What would they give back?

Last edited 3 years ago by CoreyBrewersD
Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
January 4, 2021 5:53 pm
Reply to  CoreyBrewersD

It is not just the $5.7M. They need to clear a roster spot as well. There are a few opportunities there.

KingsSince85
Comments
Comments
January 4, 2021 1:56 pm

Suspect that this game will be close (but wouldn’t you all love to see the Kings get a blow out win).

TerzoM
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
January 4, 2021 2:02 pm

Spice up or Spice Outcomment image

Last edited 3 years ago by TerzoM
ZillersCat
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
January 4, 2021 4:00 pm
Reply to  TerzoM

comment image

Kingsguru21
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
January 4, 2021 5:44 pm
Reply to  ZillersCat

This may be the best b2b GIFs ever. Just saying.

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
January 4, 2021 3:01 pm

The game might be exciting sure but the Kings won’t win if Bagley doesn’t see minutes in the 4th.
comment image

ZillersCat
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
January 4, 2021 3:20 pm

Hey .. yo!
comment image

Last edited 3 years ago by ZillersCat
TheFifthMookie
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
January 4, 2021 5:05 pm

Papa Bagley has a TKH burner account!

RORDOG
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
January 4, 2021 3:07 pm

The Kings actually have the 3rd most transition possessions per game so far this season. They’re right around 24 transition possessions per game. That’s basically the same as Joerger’s last season, and 7 more than their per game average last season. This could be a fun game.

Kingsguru21
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
January 4, 2021 7:05 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

There’s a difference between possessions (shots, TOs, FTs) and pace (how many times up and down the court).

We need to discuss this more, me thinks.

TheKingsGuard
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
January 4, 2021 5:02 pm

Congrats Will on 5 years! Love a snarky preview!

TheFifthMookie
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
January 4, 2021 5:04 pm
Reply to  TheKingsGuard

Wills game previews are a part of why I signed up on Patreon (my very first patreon at that) the day The Kings Herald opened up.

TheFifthMookie
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
January 4, 2021 5:17 pm
Reply to  WGriffith

and not hyperbole. It is one of the highest compliments I can pay (puns!) to people, and you and the other TKH writers deserve that compliment, and I’m proud to be a patron of yours.

ninja edit: My kings fandom benefits from all of yours – especially when one of ya’ll geeks out on a team detail or trend I never ever would have noticed on my own. Love it.

Last edited 3 years ago by TheFifthMookie
TheFifthMookie
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
January 4, 2021 5:03 pm

Dallas is a measly 4-2. Know what this means? The Kings with their superior record are showing us that which only a few people knew previously:

Bags >>> Luka

it’s in the scoreboard!

GlueAndBold
January 4, 2021 6:08 pm

Hey y’all, visiting from letsgowarriors.com – I love the look of your site!

satdawg
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
January 4, 2021 6:26 pm

Let’s get this dub baby

TerzoM
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
January 12, 2021 8:42 am

sorry testing only

Last edited 3 years ago by TerzoM

Badge Legend

Patreon Supporter Patreon Supporter   Registered On Day 1 Registered On Day 1   Published Post Published Post  Published Post Nostradumbass
Comment Up Votes 200 Up Votes   Comment Up Votes 500 Up Votes    1,000 Up Votes    3,000+ Up Votes

Comments 50 Comments   Comments 100 Comments    250 Comments    500 Comments    1000+ Comments