The Sacramento Kings defeated the Detroit Pistons Monday to stop a four-game losing streak.
Leading into the game, of course, there was a lot of buzz surrounding the report that head coach Luke Walton is on the hot seat. Following the game, the topic continued to remain a topic of discussion as the players were asked about the status of their coach. Additionally, the nice performance of Chimezie Metu (16 points and 10 rebounds) as a starter, the effort to improve the team’s rebounding, and the on-court chemistry between Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox was discussed. Plus, Iman Shumpert becoming a finalist on Dancing With The Stars.
Walton said he played Marvin Bagley and did not play Moe Harkless or Terence Davis because he wanted to go big, and the team needs to rebound better. The Pistons and Kings both had 47 rebounds, but the Detroit had 16 offensive rebounds to Sacramento’s 11.
Here is what Walton, Haliburton, Richaun Holmes and Fox had to say.
On Support of Walton
Tyrese Haliburton: “That’s our coach, so we’re coming out here playing for each other all as one team. He’s the coach, the leader of our team so we’ve got his back, just like he’s got ours.” “That’s my coach, we have a good relationship, get along well so I’ve got his back.” “We’re not really listening to the outside noise or anything like that, we’re just worried about ourselves internally and we understand that we’ve got to be better.”
Richaun Holmes: “Regardless of anything we always stick together. We never really let outside noise effect what’s going on in the locker room. So yeah, we just stick together. Coach has done a great job putting us in good positions and we’ve got his back when we step out there, we’re going to compete hard and play as hard as we possibly can. So, no matter what, outside reports things of that sort, we’re all about sticking together in this locker room.”
On Chimezie Metu
Luke Walton: “He’s been gaining trust of his teammates and his coaching staff by how he works every day in practice. And we know rebounding has been an issue for us, Chimezie is a fantastic athlete, he’s got good size on him, he plays with an edge, he’s tough, so look, we’ve got to keep searching things out to find what works best for our group and he had another very solid game for us tonight. So, we’re happy to see that his hard work is paying off right now.”
Tyrese Haliburton: “Mezi works so hard, I’ve always said that. You guys know the relationship between us two, how close we are. So, I’m really excited to see him play well and he’s always been an energy guy for us – whether that’s when he’s not playing in just his voice – but it’s awesome to see him perform well and that’s my brother.”
Richaun Holmes: “Mezi has been huge for us. He comes in, works every day to make sure he’s ready when his number is called and the last few games he’s been prepared, he’s been a threat for us – spacing the floor, tremendously active on defense, he provides a lot for us and we’re going to need him to continue to do that.”
De’Aaron Fox: “He’s definitely helped us. We know what he can do, and his work ethic. He brings a lot. He bring versatility to us, a big guy who can move his feet, offensively, defensively crash the glass, block shots, shoot the ball. So, it’s definitely help for us, and it’s great for us seeing him play with confidence.”
Rebounding
Luke Walton: “We’ve got to rebound the basketball. So, it’s like I’ve said from day 1, we know we’re a smaller group, we’ve got a lot of guards we’re playing and how much I can play certain groups together is going to be all dependent on how well we can rebound the basketball and unfortunately, even though I thought we’ve played some really good basketball through these first 12-13 games, throw out two awful games, but we’ve played some really good basketball, we’re not finishing possessions. So, I’ve got to re-evaluate, look to try something different so we went bigger tonight. I’ll re-watch the film. We did a good job on the rebounds total, I know they missed a lot of shots, but 16 offensive rebounds, not much better than we’ve been doing. So, we’re still looking to figure that out as something that’s a priority for us right now.”
On If There Is Any On-Court Chemistry Issue With Haliburton and Fox
Tyrese Haliburton: “I thought we both played well. I don’t think either of us, or anybody here feels like we have a chemistry issue. I feel like I was asked that question last week, last game, and I feel like it’s a non-existent thing. It does not exist, but yeah, I don’t really have to say much, you guys read the box score and tell me how that chemistry issue is looking.”
On Iman Shumpert’s Success on Dancing With the Stars
First ex-NBA player ever to advance to the Finals of Dancing With The Stars: 10-year veteran and 2016 champion Iman Shumpert.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2021
De’Aaron Fox: “I would say it’s not surprising, but people are kind of shocked because he’s a taller, bigger guy, but he’s a guard so he’s got footwork and he’s from Chicago, so you know he’s got some type of soul in him,” Fox said. “He’s doing a great job, he’s doing a hell of a job. Like I said, we all know Shump and the type of person he is and obviously you see Shump on TV, so I don’t think it’s surprising that he was doing that, but am I shocked that he’s doing well? I would say, ‘nah.’”
A Few Takeaways
- The players are expressing support for Walton, which isn’t surprising, but obviously something to watch over the next stretch of games.
- Metu’s 10 rebounds was five rebounds more than Moe Harkless has had any of his 12 games this season. Harkless only had 1 rebound in his last three games. Terence Davis has not had more than 3 rebounds in a game this season. Bagley had 3 rebounds in 18 minutes against the Pistons. Holmes was the only King who had more than 1 offensive rebound, finishing with 4 and 9 total rebounds.
- Even though Haliburton had a good game with 17 points and 10 assists, he only had two rebounds in the game, and 1 offensive rebound, which Walton jokingly got on him about in the postgame. Haliburton said: “I was trying to get into transition, make stuff happen. But yeah, I’ve got to crash the glass a little bit more. I’m sure they’re going to kill me in film.”
- The match of Haliburton and Fox in the backcourt has been a question this season in terms of whether it is impacting Fox’s scoring output. Clearly, Haliburton isn’t buying it, and Fox replied about it with a simple, “nah.”
The Kings take on the 4-9 Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Has anybody been keeping up with the blazers front office? I’ve read olshey is out and ainge is in, or maybe that’s wishful thinking there. If so, that team might be the first domino to getting the NBA trading season going.
Olshey is under investigation, no one knows what the owner is thinking, and the team president resigned.
Olshey will not be missed in Portland if/when he’s shown the door.
So, this is the beginning of the KIngs being mentioned with every trade as leverage for another team to take advantage: Wood, Reddish, KAT, Siakam, Simmons, Dort, etc, etc, etc.
The team ends up tweaking with 1-2 new role players, thinking that this will move the team into playoff conversation.
Until this team makes a significant change(s) or Moves.. This team is no better than a playin by default.
I gotta give credit to Karnisova in Chicago. He knew that Chicago team was bad and made wholesale changes. Sure, that team has no first rounders for the next three or four years, but they look like a shoo in for the playoffs for the next few years.
The comments supporting Walton seem to be less about him in particular, and more along the lines of, the group sticks together, and Walton is in the group. Either way, it’s pretty noncommittal.
Yes, and I don’t give a fuck if they get along with Puke. It has zero to do with winning and how unbelievably crappy Walton is at coaching.
Following the big “win vs. Detroit”, I get an email from the Kings saying I should celebrate the the win by buying some Kings gear!
Really?? The bar is that low?
Not relating to anything is this thread. I just thought it was funny.
Badge Legend