The Kings won a game in the bubble! Let us rejoice! But it was a game with very little defense, so let us rejoice in moderation. The Kings dropped an incredible 49 points in the first quarter alone, and five Kings finished in double digit scoring.
Bogdan Bogdanovic came out firing on all cylinders on Thursday. Following a horrible 1-15 performance against Dallas, Bogi had a team high 35 points on 13-20 shooting, including 6-9 from beyond the arc.
De’Aaron Fox finished with 30 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. He was aggressive throughout the game, attacking the basket and trying to draw fouls. At times it led to some ill-advised shots, but aggressive Fox is good Fox.
It was a well-rounded offensive effort for the Kings overall. Harrison Barnes had 22, Nemanja Bjelica finished with 11, and Cory Joseph and Alex Len added 10 and 8 from the bench, respectively.
Buddy Hield was a different story altogether. Buddy finished with jsut 3 points on 1-5 shooting. Luke Walton only played Buddy 11 minutes. Harry Giles also didn’t see much action, only logging one minute of game time. Walton relied heavily on his starters, but it’s hard to fault him for that considering how terrible the Kings looked whenever the bench was in.
The Kings hit their shots, but didn’t put up much resistance on defense. Luckily the Pelicans were also uninterested in defense, so the teams just took turns scoring on each other. Sadly that wasn’t as fun as it sounds. The first quarter was a blast to watch, the rest of the game felt like two out-of-shape boxers lazily swinging until one got too tired and fell over.
There’s little time for the Kings to celebrate, as they play the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow in Sacramento’s only back-to-back of the bubble.
No comments….must be a kings win </sarcasm>
Probably the early start doesn’t help.
There is some truth to that. Kings fans love to complain! At this point, it’s in our blood.
Complain? I think the failure here is to not see the big picture. This team and front office is going no where. It’s time for change. How does this meaningless win change the big picture? We are going to be in last place or near it in the western conference next season at this rate.
I didn’t think there was a worse defensive team than the Kings in the bubble. I was wrong. Pels can score, but can’t stop shit.
I’m gonna add, I really DO NOT like Zion’s game. He gives no effort on defense or the boards. I stopped and rewound the game just to watch him on plays and was not impressed. He is gifted athletically and can score through brute strength, but when his team is playing 4 on 5 defense, his offensive numbers are more than empty.
Agreed Adam. I watched a lot of Pelican games (Ingram and Holiday were on my fantasy team), and when you just focus on Zion, he is not a high energy guy. Some really funky body language out there too. It will be interesting to watch him these next couple of seasons.
I think a lot of it has to do with his poor conditioning. I see Zion being transcendent as long as he can keep his conditioning up to par. His combination of strength, explosiveness, touch, and vision is special.
Paywall, I believe, but:
Will Zion win “the race” against his own body.
Trap game for the Pelicans!
BREAKING: After the victory over the Pelicans, Kings’ owner Vivek Ranadive awards GM Vlade Divac a 4-year contract extension.
Sactown!!!! 5-0! Play-in goes to us!!! Here we come LA!
Wish I could be happy about it, but at this point winning staves off change and lottery balls
Actually, our lottery odds are locked in unless we make the playoffs. Like even if we lost every game and the spurs won every game, as long as both miss the playoffs, spurs will get the better lottery position.
I didn’t realize that. That sucks. We’ll probably finish a few spots lower in the draft otherwise
To add to that, if the spurs or suns do end up beating the grizzlies for the playoffs, then the grizzlies become #14 in the lottery, and the spurs/suns drop to 15-30 moving us up one spot. If the blazers make it, then we stay put.
I thought that was the case, but now I’m not sure. It may be that the eight teams that were not invited to the bubble are locked, and everything else is in play. The teams are currently bouncing around on Tankathon, for example.
Common sense does not always factor into it, but it would seem that 1-8 should be locked, 9-12 & 17-30 will be come the end of the regular season, & 13-16 would be determined by potential play-in games.
All of that said, I have also read that it is locked except for teams that were outside the top 16 that make the playoffs. So it would be 11 or 12 for the Kings and nothing else.
Not that it matters with this front orifice.
So, we’re going to massively overpay Bogi, aren’t we?
Yep. This is a classic Kings fools gold game.
First, play yourself out of contention with a series of shit games, and then shoot lights out and win when it doesn’t matter while getting remarkable performances from wildly inconsistent players.
Sadly yes. Tomorrow they will come out flat and get blown out by the G League Nets……
I think they’ll win tomorrow. And they’ll poach another win from the Rockets or L*kers who will be resting their players. So we’ll end up around 3-5 in the bubble. No play-in. But the talking heads will write off the 0-3 start as rust and focus on being 3-2 in our last 5. So we’re definitely on the upswing and we should all be hyped for next season! When our “young, inexperienced” group takes their game to the next level.
We’ve all been tuning in to this shitshow long enough; we know the drill.
Considering those talking heads (I’m pretty sure we’re referring to the same group of Kings-friendly media people) gushed about how well the Kings were doing post AS break and ignoring their shiftiness in the rest of the season, I’m inclined to agree.
This is the way.
Unless we’re saving it for Bagley!
An empty win, is still a win. But also a loss, I was looking forward to 0-8.
First win in The Kings Herald history!
That’s awesome.
KANGZ!
You’d wish there would be a shirt for that?
Abysmal defense only got bailed out by an even worse defensive team today.
I know it probably just buys Vlade more time, but hey you gotta celebrate the wins!
Sorry Max. I can’t do it. Rooting for complete and total embarrassment even though I still know it’s unlikely to result in actual, meaningful change.
Got your email. Get back to ya soon.
I am glad for the win for the mental stability of some of our players. It is hard to root for this team right now, but I must admit that I think they played well. Yes, hitting shots helped, but they did a good job as a team of working for good shots and making smart plays. Defense was still not great.
Whatever happens the rest of the bubble I don’t care, I just want a new GM and HC. And that royal blue Kangz hoodie.
Is it my imagination, but I am beginning to think Buddy and Bogi are a bit inconsistent?
Both are treadmill players.
Id prefer both gone going young next year. Id rather watch youth bringing it nightly
I agree they are inconsistent and I believe we should move forward with just one this summer.
Bogi – His secondary playmaking is what makes him higher for me.
Buddy – I believe his issues are low basketball IQ and Luke is using him wrong. Much like Ben Mclemore in Houston, its a fit.
Unfortunately, Buddy may have set the market for what Bogi will ask for. If we could get $15-18M for Bogi and move Buddy, I would be for it!
Short List if we move both:
Jaylen Brown for Buddy package (Vlade vs Ainge….)
Matisse Thybulle for Buddy package
Dorian Finney Smith for Bogi package
I dont think either will be a positive contract going forward. Buddy’s value is almost non existent. We’d be looking at another high paid disappointing player like Horford if we look to move him.
If Bogi gets hot, I could see V&V giving him a near max. Even without a breakout, Bogi may get a Serbian bonus. I dont see him getting less than $20 million a year as his worst case.
The problem with that is that I have zero faith in this coaching staffs´ability to develop young players.
Doesn’t matter. Bogi’s style of playing is winning basketball. Everyone knows it.
And God makes no mistakes; he just lets Buddy miss a lot, every now and then.
? Where was Bogi the first 3 games of the bubble. Oh, yes. Winning Basketball. He showed up today. Let’s see how he plays the remainder of the bubble. On a side note, I am not a huge fan of Gentry. Sure, the NBA community loves this guy. But, I really don’t see the Pels becoming a real force until they move on from Gentry. Giving up 49 in a Qtr. WOW!! That is a team that does not give a F… They look really good some nights and other times play they just don’t care. (sounds familiar) Kings won. But, to reiterate the article, it was dull after the first quarter. If Pels make a few more 3s and Kings miss a few more, the score could have been different. Both teams shot an insane pct and neither team committed to any type of defense the entire game.
Playoff Experience X
Formerly Associated with Golden State X
No proven winning at any level X
Introducing Your new Head coach Alvin Gentry!!
The sweet, sweet spoils of the eight seed cycle.
Sounds like Luke finally read TKH about Buddy.
I doubt Luke reads.
but does he WATCH?
maybe..
Looks like he sat on a mousetrap
Couldn’t watch the game today. Does anyone know how the offense looked systematically? Was it a bunch of iso and lost looking dudes who just happened to score?
ps
It feels weird but for the first time in my life i’m rooting for the Kings to lose. I really dislike Vivek for wanting to feel important and making stupid moves that are out of his league. I think he has little man syndrome and I imagine him driving a gigantic pickup truck with metal ball sack dangling in the rear.
The offense was mostly pretty good I thought. A lot of Fox iso where he made some tough shots, and Bogi was on fire so he was just chucking (which was fine when you’re that hot). But other than that, I thought pretty good passing. Smart plays. Good hustle.
I picture Vivek more in like a 7-series Beemer. Maybe some spinner rims he saw in a movie once, weaving in and out of traffic berating some Starbucks manager on his bluetooth because the poor little peasant barista spelled his name wrong on his frappuccino cup.
He sounds like an Ass
I just realized that I hadn´t shaken somebody´s hand in 5 months
we might be able to resign Giles. the last two games he fouled and lost his temper which might hurt his free agency market value. Would be nice to have him in a Kings uniform next year.
I was impressed by Fox and Bogi, but I want to shout out that performance by Barnes. He was locked in all game and was damn near unguardable for stretches. I may be old school, but having a small forward who can post up with that variety of moves is so fun to watch. I’m glad he’s a King.
Losing the first 3 games really put the Kings at a disadvantage. They are in a 4 way tie with the Spurs, Pels, and Suns. You could say the Kings could plausibly win out. Mostly, due to locked in playoff teams sitting their starters. Well, that also applies to the other 3 teams they are tied with, as well. With the exception of the Pels. Facing the Wizards, Spurs, Magic, and Kings again.
No defense and relying on jump shots…. what a combo!
But can he play SF? Oh wait
Meh.
Whatever.
Hmmm. Okay game.
I keep wondering if the Kings can swing a Bagley/Buddy/First Rd pick trade for Beal. Beal and Fox could look pretty good. Bagley is pretty low value though. Wizards are better off paying Bryant pennies.
Thus the inevitable is delayed once more.
Kings are 1-0 since I got my new putting green. Coincidence? I think not.
I’d return it. They misspelled Kong’s.
I didn’t want to pay full price.
1951, you just don’t like that it came with a cat!
that’s my cattie Princess Ponch
What is this thing called defense that you speak of?
“Yay…”
I was genuinely floored by how little defense the Pels play. I knew Gentry’s teams had a reputation, but wow. That was something. It was also….refreshing? Reassuring? To see tweets from Pelicans fans and beat writers commenting about their odd schemes and general lack of maturity as a team.
Of course it’s all fun and games until they get someone like Van Gundy, Atkinson, or Joerger as coach next season and become borderline unstoppable.
Have to agree. I know the NBA community loves Gentry. But, he’s always treated coaching defense as secondary. With Zion on the team now, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pels let him go at the end of the bubble. If the Pels don’t make the playoffs. RIght now, it doesn’t look so good. A defensive minded coach would really maximize the talent on New Orleans. Looking at their roster, it’s quite awful to think they gave up 49 in the first and another 40 in the third.
Team shot the lights out. They were exciting even though they didn’t play defense and I still feel nothing. I love Bogi and all I could think during the game was great now they’re going to give him 20 mill a year. I find it impossible to get excited about this team.
Fantastic. They will tie up 180 mil in salaries for the next 3 years. Make that 320 mil. With Fox, Barnes, Buddy, and Bogi. They still won’t make the playoffs with that lineup. But, hey, continuity is important.
Nice game from Bjelica……….although he played only 18 mins…
Nice move and a nice block
(Nice fake and nice finish)
Only Bazemore in this team have the ability to drive into the lane, and way too rely on jump shot…….the team got lucky this time as Bogdan got hot….
Also, A big body (Alex Len) is cruical to this team…to set screen and stay in the paint and fight for rebound….
backlink from wikipedia
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