The Sacramento Kings finished the preseason 0-5, and that really doesn’t mean much, as we have already pointed out, but head coach Mike Brown addressed it Friday to media. He highlighted the team’s turnover issues, the type of offense he has been testing and provided some updates on players.
Offensive Struggles and Turnover Issues
The Kings played well offensively in the first two games, according to Brown, and had its struggles in the last three. Brown points to turnovers being a big reason. When turnovers happen, it cascades into other issues.
The team had 26 turnovers against the Portland Trail Blazers and 22 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Brown analyzed it from the perspective of the segments of the games in which the team’s main players got time.
“I thought we played two really good offensive games in the preseason, the first two. … Game one and two, we averaged four turnovers for both games in the first half and four points off those turnovers. Game three, four, and five, we average 11 turnovers and 16 points off those 11 turnovers in the first half. And when you’re turning the ball over 11 times in a half for 16 points, which equates to 22 turnovers and 32, you’re not giving yourself as many opportunities to score, A, and you’re giving your opponent confidence,” he said.
Coaching Strategy: The “Flow” Offense
The turnovers could be somewhat related to the offensive approach the team is testing. Brown is trying to establish an offense that is resilient and adaptable with a “flow” offense during the preseason. This involves reading the defense instead of utilizing set plays for individual players. He suspects overly relying on this in the preseason as a test has caused some of the challenges so far, but thinks it will help in the regular season when teams throw a variety of defensive schemes at them.
“In our players’ defense, I’ve only allowed them really to play out of our flow. And so, we’re not going specifically to this guy, or that guy. If a team is blitzing or if a team is switching, we’re trying to see if we can still score or attack whatever defense we face, and we did a decent job at it at times, but it puts them in a predicament because at times it’s hard, and it just kind pound away at something that they’re not used to, but I’m hoping that they can get used to it. So, when we do play in flow during the game while mixing in our other actions, it’s a lot easier to do in the future. So, part of it is our fault [coaches], but then part of it’s their fault [players] in terms of taking too many chances on the turnovers.”
Player Updates and Development
Brown provided an update on Trey Lyles and Kevin Huerter, who have been sidelined during the preseason. Lyles participated in one-on-one drills during practice and Huerter practiced with the team, and seems to be ramping up for his return.
“Trey is playing live against players in one-on-one situations. … To me, that’s progress. … I don’t know what the timetable is on it, but we’ll see in due time,” Brown said.
On Huerter: “We have a game that we call the next game. We had guys in here before practice playing five on five live, and Kevin was a part of that.”
Brown also spoke about newcomer Doug McDermott, who scored 14 points on 5-13 from the field against the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday:
“For him having just a little bit of time hearing what we do and going through it in shoot around, I thought he did a heck of a job. I thought he did it not only offensively, but even defensively. Some of his shifts and his help defense and all that, they were pretty good for getting thrown into the fire with basically one shootaround. And then you could tell, he’s got a quick trigger. And you imagine him on the floor with guys like [De’Aaron] Fox and Malik [Monk] and those guys that are going to get downhill. Because at times, he had to take some difficult shots last night. He still, I think he got 11 threes up, I think he was four of 11 or something like that. And every time he shoots it, you think it’s going in. So now, if he’s out there with those types of guys, with the way that we spray it, the way that we touch the paint, I think he’s going to get easier looks, which is going to be very good for us. If he doesn’t get easier looks, that means they’re guarding him like that, which is creating more space for the rest of our guys. So, he knows what his job is, and he did it well. The last thing I would say about it is you could see, I’m not saying he’s Usain Bolt out there, but you can see when he moves, he moves with a pace.”
Preparation for the Regular Season
Brown said leading up to the regular season the team will be working on refining the offensive system, shoring up defensive strategies and revisiting plays from last season.
“We’ll add some familiar stuff for the most part, get reps with that, we’ll tighten up some things on the defense end of the floor. One of these days, we’ll scrimmage. We’re going to give them tomorrow off. Another day will just be a shooting day. Then hopefully, we’ll have a couple of good practices around that,” he said.
The season kicks off Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
I like Brown’s comments, but I don’t put a lot of stock in his games 1 & 2 reference. It could be that the Kings were doing some different/better in those games, but since they were both against the same team, it could just be that GS wasn’t very aggressive on defense, or that they were playing a different kind of defense where it was just a better matchup for us. When you have two good games against one team and a bunch of bad games against three others, it’s much more likely that the one team was an anomaly.
Bottom line, I accept that this is the preseason and they were trying new things. But until I see different, I expect turnovers and 3pt shooting to be an issue with this starting group, at least at the beginning. It will help when DD gets more used to fitting in with the team, and them with him. And it will help even more when Lyles and Huerter get healthy so we have a deeper bench. But I won’t be surprised if it takes the new starting five time to find a flow.
Last comment, I still want the kings to sign a SF/PF, but I feel like McDermott is going to be a solid addition. He’s not a starter, but he is a legit bench player who can bring it on nights when other players are injured or aren’t shooting well. With injuries throughout the season, that’s a big value. Especially on a cheap one year contract.
Seems like our flow sent us downhill…
Bunch of players waived today, see if the Kings claim anybody that might help. Lonnie Walker might be interesting. Kevin Knox has the size to play backup 3/4, but he hasn’t figured it out yet at his age.
The Kings released a version of Kevin Knox – Skal Labissiere. Guys whoncan score a bit but can’t seem to defend at the NBA level despite their length and mobility. There is a reason they are both available. Shame isn’t it? Skal seems to be among the nicest of people. I wish him luck, and the ability to get that click that will have him back in The League.
Boogie Ellis is the mystery- of all of the 14 Sacramento is keeping on the roster (the League minimum): (alphabetical)
Carter
DeRozan
Ellis
Fox
Huerter
Jones, C.
Len
Lyles
McDermott
McLaughlin
Monk
Murray
Robinson
Sabonis
The 3 TWC:
Crawford
Jones, I
Jones, M
I am a know nothing fan, I understand that, but I see/saw more good with Boogie Ellis than either Mason or Colby Jones, and though other positioned – no better from Isaiah or Isaac.
I still get my feathers ruffled when I see Jaden Hardy with the Mavericks (he was picked by Sacramento 2022 Draft at 37th and traded to Dallas on draft day for their 2024 and 2028 2nd rounders . Boogie seems Hardy-esque to me. But I am a self certified NBA talent scout only. The Kings traded the 2024 pick 45 (theirs) to TOR (Jamal Shead). Maybe 2028 is included in the Chris Duarte and two 2nd rounders to Chicago deal.
As for the Kings – regular season will reveal all. (by the by – Grizzlies and Ja look ready: healthy Morant, Bane, Brandon Clark, Marcus Smart and one giant rookie in Zach Edey). I am looking forward to the Regular Season prediction post in the next few days.
Brown is playing to win and I think he is coaching players that need to learn how to compete at a high level. Sabonis and Derozan have it. The rest have never done it consistently. Sounds like McDermott might steal a bunch of minutes or the entire spot from Keon. Huerters return is going to equal more points in flow. Might be Huerter and McDermott with Keon fighting for minutes. Brown needs to kick these guys in the ass and get them to play defense. That might mean benching guys.
IMO McDermott with steal minutes from Huerter not Ellis. Huerter might be on the trading block but IMO I think Monty can trade Lyles and Ellis and a first for Tari Eason and Jae Sean Tate. Move Derosan to shooting guard move Keegan to SF where IMO is where he should be. Eason to PF to backup Sabonis. Shoots the 3, protects the weak side rim and rebounds. Very good defensive player.
Tate is a tough defender who IMO is as good as Ellis. He doesn’t shoot the 3 ball as well but is a better rebounder. Until Carter gets back your bench is now McLaughlin, Monk. Huerter, Tate and Len. Good bench. You also have McDermott to shoot the 3.
Does a combo of Lyles and Ellis work for Draymond?
Without looking I think those salaries might work?
Bring a talented and highly competitive player on to help an overall soft roster.
So slide Keegan to the 3 and DeRozan to the two?
That would be an all in move with no outside shooting. I don’t feel that would work with today’s NBA. Ben Wallace era Pistons or 80’s NBA, sure, but not today. You have to have shooting.
Keegan is a natural three and he is not a shooter now as a four. Still have the shooters we have now but we also have an athletic big that impacts games in a positive way. It has worked a few times for Golden State.
How do we lose outside shooting by moving Ellis and Lyles?
IMO Eason would out shoot Draymond and run circles around him all night. Eason is up and coming where Green is basically over the him. Draymond IMO would not fit in the King’s organization. Not only Eason but you also get Tate a strong defender with a high motor.
You lost me at McD is going to take minutes away from Keon……
They play the same position. He is a solid vet. He seems to have Brown’s attention.
But McD is a forward and Keon is a guard?
Yeah. They need one of those too. Derozan can play the two or three. Keegan can play the three. That leaves Huerter and Ellis looking for minutes when Mcdermott is in the game.
I’m not totally sold on the new “flow” offense idea. It sounds like a read and react mentality for Fox, Sabonis, and DeRozan. I’m of the opinion that a coach is supposed to coach. I like the Kings roster and all, but I don’t feel any of them have that live coaching ability in the speed of the game. Plays work. There is a reason why they are designed. I’m hoping Brown is just toying with some new stuff that may or may not work, but in the end runs solid sets so the offense doesn’t look like it’s free balling it.
Play with pace and run the floor but have some realistic ability to run a half court offense to lock down a win.
Run the floor and if the opportunity is there to freely run and get points in transition, then take that opportunity. When the defense takes away the transition, run a set in the half court. It seems logical.
Yup. Agree with both of you.
If the Kings have the break let it “flow.” If the defense is set, run some plays.
I do NOT want to see a “flow” offense after a made shot and someone walks it up the court.
It ain’t rocket surgery.
Brown admits that this team does not play defense when in the “flow”. When a team is focused on scoring while constantly moving and out running an opponent the natural tendency is to slack off on defense to create a quicker push up the floor on offense. When we are up by 25 because we are out running teams we can, and do, lose those games when that opponent disrupts the flow and dominates the time of possession. Dominating the time of possession creates more time to score and they catch up quickly.
This happens in the half court offense. The Kings need to use some form of that as well. If we will not play defense then having the ball more than the other team is an easy way to keep them from scoring without playing defense. That is middle school basketball.
Brown isn’t saying they’re only going to run flow in the regular season. He’s saying they weren’t running set plays in preseason. They kept those for the regular season and used preseason to practice the flow offense.
To me, it’s about improving the team’s ability to react when a play breaks down.
I think this is exactly what is happening. The flow would likely be used when sets break down. I love not showing your hand in the preseason. Thursday I imagine some set plays will be run.
The Kings did not just run a “flow” offense in preseason. Watch this video from Skyler (@sacfilmroom on X) for a play they ran A TON of times with all the units: Elbow Series.
Basically, a big is on one elbow. At the other elbow are three players. Two set a stagger for the third but any can cut to the rim and set additional screens for each other.
Again, this was run a dozen times a game at least. I’m sure you saw it.
BREAKING: Willie Cauley-Stein to the Kings!
https://x.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1848368063478948106
You got me. I clicked. Very good!
If you are demanding ticket prices like a top 6 team, maybe have a team that is close to a top 6 team, or at least a payroll close to it?
https://x.com/SportsByTone/status/1848398888459186556
GS just extended Moody for three years at about thirteen mil, per.
The numbers match up decently with Huerter’s. Now I know that Kev would absolutely destroy us whenever Sacramento played the Warriors, but buying low on Moody feels like it could pay off in the short and long-term. That nearly 7’1″ wingspan really equalizes things a bit against taller players, and if he’s playing SF or even PF in a small lineup, his defense would be of great help.
He is Keon Ellis but more expensive.
All I know is that at Fanfest yesterday the security lines were insane. They need to speed that up for regular season.
It was dumb. Honestly the last few months of the season I noticed a huge drop in guest services quality. I often give my tickets to people to use and many have told me that guest services has been rude and asking for their tickets multiple times while sitting in the seat to verify they belong there.
G1C has gotten noticeably lame. I went to a concert there a month or two ago and they were total nazis about vapes, bags, and lighters. Fun police everywhere scanning the crowd. Luckily the cart bartender hooked me up a bit that night.
I think I’ll stick to concerts at Casinos and just do a couple Kings games a year. It’s just not as fun. This year’s Cali Classic is another great example.
It has gotten more strict but also in sort of a weird way. They are not nice about it. I have seen them be blatantly rude in a first response then after talking end up realizing they were wrong and the customer simply had a question of where to go. They implemented the clear bag or tiny bag policy over night and were upset at people bring purses and small bags to the security line. There was not any sign until someone reached the metal detector. I go to games often because I have tickets. I stopped going to concerts there a while ago.
The clear bag thing is so dumb. They still check the bag if it’s clear, so why does it matter if the bag isn’t clear???
I see some logic but not really. If someone is bringing something dangerous they are not putting it in a clear bag to comply. They will carry it in their pockets.
Anyone catch the WNBA Finals – New York
LakersLiberty vs. Minnesota Lynx?Nice series coming down to a winner takes all final game of a 5 game series. The game went to OT – and the Liberty won for the first time in their history. Unfortunately, the game was officiated in a manner that was shades of 2002 Kings/Lakers. A great disparity not just in free throws for New York but the end of regulation had Stewie egregiously travel (5 steps) and then get rewarded with a phantom foul with shots. The foul was challenged and not reversed on review – remarkably. She made both FTs, the game went to OT and NYL took home the trophy.
It was the first WNBA game I have watched in over a decade, and sorry to say, if this is the officiating, I don’t know that I can return to watch more – because that is a bad product. A game without integrity is too disheartening to engage me. I will add, that the WNBA game has advanced greatly since my last time watching and I am impressed with the heightened skill of the players.
The only reason I paid attention the the WNBA was because of Caitlin Clark. She got assaulted nearly every game and still dominated. The league hates her for some reason. Once her team was out of the playoffs, the entire league became irrelevant once again.
The WNBA is amazing. We watch it in our home whenever we can. Go to Vegas and watch an Aces game live. Flying there and getting an Uber to the stadium is faster than going to the Bay Area.
That was a travel and there was no foul on that play. When the play happened, Stewart didn’t even react like she’d been fouled- she was crashing the boards not looking around at the refs looking for a call.
Lousy to have that big a free throw disparity in a championship game and lousy for a non call to be called, then not reversed when it clearly wasn’t a foul. And the ref’s explanation that the defender “wasn’t in a legal guarding position” made zero sense to me. Tough beat for the Lynx.
Agree, Stewart traveled before the phantom foul was called . League wanted NY to win and got it . Very bad look for the WNBA .
Badge Legend