Kings vs. Warriors Preview: The Best vs. The Rest

Currently held together by duct tape, G-League players and Tyrese Haliburton’s smile, the Sacramento Kings are in San Francisco tonight to take on MVP front runner Steph Curry and well, whoever the hell isn’t injured or held back by COVID for the Warriors. Draymond Green – day to day with a bum hip. Andrew Wiggins – out in health and safety protocols. Otto Porter – day to day with a foot thing. Andre Iguodala – day to day because the elderly are just like that.

Suffice to say, unlike the last two games, we can guarantee there’s going to be a game today! Who’s playing and whether or not billionaires are risking millionaires livelihoods and long term health to keep profit margins afloat is all up in the air! Yay!

Let’s talk Kings basketball!

When: Monday, December 20th, 7:00 PM PT

Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA

TV: NBCSCA – Mark Jones (play-by-play)

Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM

For Your Consideration

Hal About That: As these unprecedented times grow more and more precedented, and a few extra doses of chaos are just things we live with, I’ve found there’s one immutable truth through it all: Tyrese Haliburton is pretty damn good when he’s forced to be. Sure it’s a two game sample size and as Jerry Reynolds likes to say “someone’s gotta be the best player on a bad team” but these last two games have been interesting viewing, in good part because that best player has been Hali, with no fit issues or learning curves to worry about, balling the hell out. Is it perfect? Heck no. Is it more than what I’d hope for from a 10th pick in their second year? Abso-freakin-lutely. With second and third and fourth string guys suddenly getting minutes, Tyrese is the axel of the whole damn wheel – hitting timely buckets, making every pass known to man look easy, using gas and brake moves that would make a traffic school teacher blush. He’s having fun out there being completely himself and I’m having fun watching.

Sure, this is the point where I could make a ham-fisted segue into how seeing young guys work hard for their buckets makes me think a short-term tank would work in Sacramento. Damien Jones working his tail off for 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in less than 20 minutes was a ton of fun and a perfect example of what kind of – WILL. NO. STOP. You were just saying you weren’t going to DO THAT.

Alright.

You’re right.

I’ll regroup.

What I can say about the silver lining in this calamity that is the current NBA situation is that we are getting some extended looks at young guys of the Damian Jones and Jahmius Ramsey variety, as well as our first looks at guys like Neemius Queta. I’d also throw Chimezie Metu into that group as well, though, he’s obviously been starting and getting far more minutes than the rest. Metu especially is trying incredibly hard in the minutes he’s getting to show he belongs in the league. Sure, hoisting up NINE threes in that Memphis game probably isn’t the best strategy for winning ball games, but I can’t fault the kid for doing too much in what might be the only season he ever gets a really good chance in this league to establish himself. He’s had a bit of Buddy-itis all season, but, any frustrations with him pass fairly quickly into a begrudged understanding that I’d be out there doing waaaay more if the opportunity arose. Getting a long look at these kids has legitimately been fun for me and is certainly more interesting a watch. That isn’t to say that I wasn’t happy to see a solar flare moment from Buddy in the last game. He’s a ton of fun when he’s hitting everything he touches. I’m more trying to dance around the fact (and my previous statements about not talking tank) that when the struggles are there and it’s not a flame thrower moment for vets like Buddy – my brain is just wired by all these years of meh-to-bad basketball to prefer watching a Damien Jones work to make it in the league than Mo Harkless needing to throw up shots for a short-handed Kings roster to have a chance. Sure, more of the young, unheralded try-hard types end up going the way of Skal Labissiere than Richaun Holmes, but, for a team looking for players that give a shit… it’s obvious where they are and where they aren’t and now this pandemic has forced the Kings to use some of the former – win or lose.

I’m wishing all these players affected by the virus a full, healthy recovery and I hope they’re back soon. In the time between now and then – I’ve found some joy in watching Kings basketball and it has nothing to do with wins and losses.

Prediction

Hali is getting that triple-double tonight. Neemias Queta gets significant minutes in a rout of the Warriors and gets a rare, 5 block-5 assist game. He’s then elected leader of Portugal and mayor of Sacramento. Peace and prosperity come to both.

Kings: 131, Warriors: 111