To anyone still connected to the space-time continuum in any meaningful way – Happy St. Patrick’s Day! To everyone else unmoored and bobbing in a sea of never ending Wednesdays: there’s a Kings game today, it’s the seventeenth of March and if the sun is at it’s highest point in the sky when you’re reading this, well then its around noon! Also, I’m sorry to report that it is still Wednesday.
The Kings are in Washington D.C. tonight to protest the use of win percentage to determine lottery odds as they attempt to curry favor with the basketball gods in order to land a Top 3 pick in this upcoming draft. Sure the Kings might have gone on a little win streak in the middle of all this, but look how bad they’ve proven they are! And how nice are the Kings for attempting to get the old people off the sinking ship first before it plummets entirely into the cold depths of this massive tank! (Please, Adam Silver, I beg you.)
On the other side of things, the Wizards had reeled off their own reality bending win streak of seven in eight games only to see them fall right back into their ways – losing six of the last seven. They also have a healthy Russell Westbrook and the leading scorer in the NBA in Bradley Beal so, don’t start writing a positive recap yet there, Mirann! Alright, let’s get this thing over with. Let’s talk Kings basketball.
When: Wednesday, March 17th, 4:00 PM PST
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC.
TV: NBCSCA – Mark Jones on the call.
Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
No Russ-ing to Beal-eve In This Squad: I know I was a little extra down in my preview the other day against the Hornets, maybe tilting into morbid and for that I have to say, we’re going to be absolutely swimming in it by the end of this season without some major changes! This train of thought is barreling through the desert of discontent, on fire, looking for some unsuspecting cows to crush on my metaphorical cattle guard, while I’m holding onto the roof at the caboose, choking on the smoke and waving a Jimmer Three Pointer Foam Finger like I’m Slim Pickens at the end of Dr. Strangelove.
Every trade rumor that dies, every single national reporter mentioning that the Kings seem more intent on keeping vets than originally thought, it’s fuel for this loco-motive. There’s only so many times one can hear Mark Jones say “De’Aaron Fox is playing MAD AT SOMEONE… and the Kings are now down sixteen.” before their brain turns to absolute soup. I’m there. I’ve been there before in previous seasons but, boy am I there now.
Should we hope that the rest of this supposedly easy second half schedule will save The Kings Herald from converting one of our offices into a padded cell? Let’s sneak a peek at the rest of the month: Kings are at the Celtics and Sixers on back to back nights – not a good start. They then take on the Cavs on the Kings’ third game in four nights – Cleveland isn’t good but they’re talented and play hard, so anxiety remains. Then it’s the Hawks and Warriors in their own back to back – not really feeling the love here, schedulers. Then it’s the Cavs again and finally, the Spurs twice in three days. So that’s eight games between now and April and the Kings should be favored in absolutely zero of them. If you’re going to argue that Cleveland has the same record as the Kings and the Kings are more vet-ladened and therefore should be considered the favorites, I posit back to you the sound of a small puppy farting into a microphone with high echo. Tie goes to the team that’s made the playoffs in the last three presidential administrations. Strap in, folks. This season isn’t done trying to hurt you.
Tonight the Kings take on the Wizards, a team that swapped their injury prone, long-term star point guard for another injury prone, star point guard in the hopes of shaking things up for Bradley Beal, a man who at any second could demand a trade and the league collective would just say “yeah, he probably deserves that.” That being said, I’ve seen those who think the Kings could swap Hield, Haliburton and three first round picks for Bradley Beal and I’ve got to just mention that there is no universe in which that deal is 1) accepted, 2) another team doesn’t top it 3) is something Bradley Beal would want, then commit to this team long term. I know it’s fun to make trades in our heads and convince ourselves that it could happen. That one isn’t happening nor would it happen from either side. So tonight when Bradley Beal goes for forty-five and eight assists, it isn’t because your deal was good. It’s because the Kings are bad, the defense trying to stop him is bad and Bradley Beal isn’t.
Hey, get this for a ray of sunshine: the Washington Wizards give up .1 more points per game than the Kings do, making this a match-up of the two worst defensive teams in the league. Oddly enough, they’re also 9th and 10th in points per game, with the Kings once again slight ahead of the Wiz. Wow! So many points, so little to play for! Some things to watch for in this game, if you decide to do this to yourself: The Wizards shoot more free throws than any team in the league, a problem for a Kings squad that’s so handsy they could find themselves in the penalty during a call-your-own pick up game. The Wizards also foul the second most in the NBA so hey, if Fox decides to play a game at full tilt and his screensaver mode doesn’t kick in the second the Wizards make a run in the second half, I’d say the Kings have a decent shot at making up what they give away. I think that’s it, you have a solid idea that this team is less than mediocre, right?
Prediction
Someone told their friend at the water cooler yesterday that both Jerry Reynolds and that other guy have both mentioned the Kings moving due to financial problems in recent weeks and their friend told them that they were probably being sarcastic or at the very least over-inflating those chances for the sake of discussion or comedy. That friend at the water cooler was right and the Kings don’t leave Sacramento for 35 years. The Kings also win this game.
Kings: 132, Wizards: 129
Uh I don’t think this is accurate:
If you were to rank the most attractive non-player assets in the NBA, then a Kings unprotected future FRP would be at or near the top. I honestly can’t think of a better realistic trade package for the Wizards than one of the top three players in last year’s draft plus three additional unprotected Kings FRPs. If I was the Wizards GM, I’d have to put McNair on hold for a second to gather myself to not sound too excited.
Man, woof. I really don’t know about that one. I guess maybe I could have been a little less strong on that particular stance, I just assume that there’s a lot more talent out there for the Wizards to be had then the third best player in a weak draft, a 28 year old chucker and mystery picks from the Kings. Someone would offer an All-Star snub and 4 picks of any variety and I think the Wiz take that deal.
Mostly, Monte ain’t offering that deal and if he did and someone no one came in to beat it, Beal isn’t sticking around to make it worth it. He isn’t enough to take this roster to the next level and I’m sure being swapped from bad to worse wouldn’t do much for his patience.
I guess I think about it this way: every single Kings FRP for the last decade and a half has been a lottery pick. The vast majority have been top 7. Does acquiring Beal on what amounts to an expiring deal drastically change that?
(I do agree with your overall point though. My point is that the Kings can use the perception of their perpetual ineptitude to trade for almost any available superstar. They just need to make sure the timing is right)
Yeah, I generally agree with this angle.
In D.C. and it’s time to get real-
Just a few days to make a trade deal.
Even with lots of booze,
This game’s a big snooze
And no hope that we get Bradley Beal!
Kings. Wizards.
Next.
How does this Kings team look when they play?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day TKH!!! Did anyone catch my Mom on TV this morning???? O’Mally’s was featured on the news. It’s our 24 year anniversary today. It’s a little bit bitter sweet as this is the first St. Patrick’s since my Dad passed away. If you are out and about near Old Sac, stop by and have an Irish Taco and some Guinness! Wish I could be down there to enjoy but tax season has other plans. Stay safe and have a great day! Oh and…..GO KINGS!
I saw that this morning and they showed a picture of your Dad. Didn’t know that was your family’s place. Looks like a fun place.
Sorry to hear about your dad. I’ll tip a Guinness in his honor tonight.
Thanks Rob, it’s been a tough year. After over 15 years battling bladder cancer, it finally spread and it was downhill quickly from there. Both my brother and I were able to be in Sac with him as he passed at home.
So it will be two Guinness then – one for your dad, and one for his sons.
I’m making Irish Tacos at home and putting down a few Carbombs tonight!
I posted video’s on O’Mally’s Irish Pub Facebook page if anyone is interested.
Virtual hugs to you, HumboldtCPA.
I didn’t realize that was your family’s business. I used to eat there sometimes when I still worked downtown some years ago. Loved the pastrami burger and the Henry. I’ll pour one in your dad’s honor after work tonight.
Awesome! Thank you! Henry was an old regular that ordered the same sandwich every time….hence the Henry!
Sorry to hear about your Dad, HumboldtCPA.
Hopefully when it’s safe to gather again once COVID passes, we can all have a great big KH gathering at O’Mally’s!
That would be great!
So sorry to hear about your Dad, Humboldt. Frequented O’Mally’s whenever I was in Old Town because I knew your family owned it and I’ll be there again as soon as it’s safe to.
My first ever StR meet-up was at O’Malleys a couple weeks after I came on staff and I hope we’ll be able to throw many more there in the coming years.
I appreciate Will. We’d love to host another….I mean the first TKH meet-up! It was great meeting the group in person. I guess everyone will have to get their shots shots shots before we can meet up to take some shots shots shots!!!
Nice.
OT: Horrible news about Shawn Bradley. Really sad.
Super sad because he was just out riding a bike too.
Is this sarcasm, or a joke, or did I miss something? Will kinda lost me, and you can’t expect much from a guy who cuts grass for a living.
that other guy was Will himself in his last preview:
Thanks, Jman.
Sorry about that one, Carl. Yeah, that was me. Saw someone in here start to panic that Jerry and I both mentioned that possibility in recent weeks and wondered if there was more to it.
There isn’t. Jerry knows a bit more on the financial side, but I truly don’t think the Kings are in any jeopardy to move.
(Also, I’ve seen people talk about “Jerry, Tony and the other guy” in regards to the podcast and so I’m gonna use that moniker as often as possible)
Kinda like Murray, Akroyd, and the other guy…
That’s the thing, they’re already four wins away from the bottom three, that ship has sailed.
Now that we’re in separation season, we get to see how serious they really are about tanking.
This is definitely a must NOT win game. A win solidifies even more of staying out of bottom 5 and and starts to cement the Kings into their mid lottery purgatory. A loss tonight drops the Kings into sole possession of 6th in the lottery standings and just 2 games from the top 4. Maybe a trade happens in the next 3 hours to help things along?
Go Wizards. Kings just need to keep losing this season. get one of the top 6 picks or next year they’ll be the same as this year. Trash
They will need a lot more than just a good draft to become a legit team ! Scary thought – what if the pick at whatever number is not very good ? History proves that Draft sure things often are not !
We got Bagley at 2 and Haliburton at 12. The draft number is irrelevant for us, because we suck at it.
The good news is “we” don’t have anything to do with it. The people currently (theoretically) doing the picking had little to do with taking Bagley.
Two teams that have each lost 7 of their last 10 and combine for the same number of wins as Utah. This is some must-flee TV.
So, it looks like the Kings are still pretending to play competitive basketball!
Thanks Vivek!
Tyrese starting in the place of Bagley?
You know this coach is giving serious thought to starting Cory Joseph tonight. :P.
I kind of hope he does because it further seals his fate and coaching career.
They already said Halliburton is the starter moving forward
Except we’re moving backward!
So we’re moonwalking?
No game thread?
This may be it
We’re moving again? What the fuck.
Then again, after this year, it’s hard to care anymore.
Speaking of which, I’m in the process of apartment hunting right now…
To all the numb nuts who think Beal is the solution … how good are the Wizards?
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