The Sacramento Kings will take on the red-hot Phoenix Suns on Monday evening, looking to redeem themselves after their disastrous post-Thanksgiving performance against the Boston Celtics last week. Unfortunately for Sacramento, Phoenix may be an even more complete team than Boston, even though they’re missing Chris Paul, Cam Johnson, and Jae Crowder, as they’re the third-best offensive and the fifth-best defensive team in the NBA. The Kings will need to play at a top-notch level for all four quarters if they hope to prevent their second three-game slide of the season.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Monday, November 28th, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
For Your Consideration
Can (t)he(y) play small forward: If the Kings want to pull off an upset victory tonight, they’re going to need big games from all of their starters, something that hasn’t occurred in quite some time, especially in the forward realm. Mikal Bridges, one of the most versatile perimeter defenders in the NBA, may get the assignment for Kevin Huerter or Harrison Barnes, and if it’s either one of those, Keegan Murray is going to have to step up. The rook simply has to more aggressive in his shot-taking and shot-making. The Kings can’t afford to battle 4-on-5 on offense against one of the league’s most effective defenses.
Defend or lose: During their seven-game win streak, the Kings developed a habit of play-no-defense-until-we-need-it-in-the-last-six-minutes-of-the-fourth-quarter, but that kind of approach won’t work against Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Cam Payne, and Deandre Ayton. They’re too good. The Suns are going to score. The Suns are going to defend. The Kings are going to score, but will they defend? It’s going to take four quarters of two-way basketball to secure a win for a Kings team that has quite the tough schedule (Pacers, Clippers, Bulls, Bucks, Cavaliers) in the near future.
Prediction
The Kings double-team Devin Booker for one possession, causing him to throw a fit, get T’d up twice, and ejected, and the Kings win on a Kevin Huerter buzzer-beater, who scores a career-high 41 points. After the game, the Kings light the beam and Huerter attributes his level of play to the slice of yogurt pie (okay, it was two) he enjoyed pre-game.
Kings 125 – Suns 124
It Paynes me to say that, but this thread has now become a players names pun thread.
Put in the Booker and send him to the line.
We’ll cross that Bridges when we get to it, er him.
And the puns are absolutely aPauling.
You must be smokin a Jae to think the Kings will win and make it more Crowder at the top.
I expect Ayton of points from both teams!
That is the worst/best player name comment of this thread
This is a game that either gets an entire city fired up with a win, or a shoulder shrug with a loss. The Kings have shown to me this season that they can keep a game close with anyone (except a pissed off Celtics squad). Hopefully we end up on the right side after 48 minutes.
Can one shrug with another body part?
Kegels
Avoid the shoulder shrug!
That made me coil up real hard.
I know that Thanksgiving was last week, but win or lose, I am thankful that I won’t have to watch Chris Paul flailing and flopping for forty-eight minutes. The man is a legit genius, and as good of a point guard as ever was, but so often, watching him play can be utterly joyless. If he was an average player looking for an advantage, you could almost forgive the histrionics, but a player of his caliber should just play basketball.
P.S. This comment will be what motivates him to change his ways.
For sure because TKH is his must read every day.
Next up back at home ‘gainst the Suns;
To win, need to go on some runs.
On “D” pressure cooker
To stop Devin Booker.
Light the beam and cheer on our young guns!
The Kings are at home, had two days off and should be motivated to get the stink of the Boston game off them. If they are to be considered a legit playoff team, they have to win these kinds of games.
Just once, I’d like to see Keegan Murray get mad.
He needs to get to the hoop, and I’d like him to foul out of the game with six charges, if need be.
This is in response to both you and sims. I agree with both of you. It’s always been said ever since the Kings drafted him is that he’s unusually mature for a 22 year old and doesn’t get to high or too low. It looks to me like he playing a depressed game.
If he can get low why can’t he get high (emotionally) and play like a madman regardless of how his actual stats shake out. Just blow the shit out, like mr.sim s says, go get 6 fouls. Get a tech. If he’s in a place mentally where he needs to get some counseling go get it. Whatever he does the coach can’t continue to let him play like this. IMO
I like this matchup
Couple of tough teams in the East we just lost to, only to come home and get the Suns. The NBA is a tough place to earn your keep…
Suns are very beatable though. I like the chances much more tonight than I did Friday against Boston. They’re just annihiliating everyone right now.
Badge Legend