The 0-3 Sacramento Kings are making a change. After practice on Wednesday, head coach Mike Brown revealed that Keegan Murray will get his first shot as a starter in the NBA on Thursday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mike Brown started off by telling us Keegan Murray will start tomorrow against the Grizz. pic.twitter.com/p3UAbFkMCJ
— Morgan Ragan (@momoragan) October 26, 2022
In two games off the bench this season Murray is averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on .542 shooting from the field, and .438 shooting from three. Murray has aced every test since the Kings drafted him 4th overall back in June. Whether it was summer league, preseason, or the real deal in the regular season, Keegan has remained steady and productive, and it’s nice to see his play rewarded so soon.
Based on practice scrimmages, it appears KZ Okpala will be taking Murray’s seat on the bench, and Brown’s new starting unit will be Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Murray, and Domantas Sabonis.
I’m not going to call tomorrow nights contest against the Grizzlies a must-win, but the Kings are 0-3 with a rough schedule ahead, and the urgency to try something new so early before this season falls entirely off the rails is refreshing.
I’ll be saying my Hail Murrays tomorrow for sure.
We need an exorcist for our cursed franchise
“The power of Keegan compels you!”
Regan Murray?
I dunno…I mean, it didn’t work for Puke Guy.
A cursed franchise could be the King’s destiny
I’m glad they listened to me.
Sims is sad.
Oh, do tell!
Who could possibly object?
Okay, everyone. Let’s take a deep breath and edge away from the hyperbolic ledge.
awesome
Golf clap for you, sir.
This is the sound of one hand golf-clapping.
MVP campaign starts NOW!
I’m happy for Murray, but Barnes is still deserving a starting role? Unfortunately it looks that way, and there’s probably not a better option right now. Or Barnes starts because Coach Brown wants him to play his way out of this slump he’s in?
Let’s see how this plays out. Harrison has only one way to go, and that’s up. The Kings need his production of at least his career averages, or we’re probably sunk.
Let’s get a win Thursday night!
Barnes is probably the 5th scoring option in that starting lineup. In his mailbag article, Tim didn’t state that, but he did lay out how Huerter and Keegan are more versatile scorers, and Domas and De’Aaron are obviously ahead of Barnes. I don’t think expecting his career average in the shooting areas is realistic.
Of course, we do need Barnes to do more than he’s done up to now this season. But I think it’s small sample size theater. Something is weird and off, but HB will most likely revert to somewhere around his mean on the FG%/3P%/FT% stats.
Alternatively, he could be the leading scorer of those that don’t start. In that case, I would start Davis. But I wouldn’t do it. Barnes is the elder statesman of the team, a great citizen, and in his contract year. If he is moved to the second unit, he will probably stay professional, but all the same it could disrupt team chemistry, and we don’t need to stack that on the losing.
Keeping Barnes in the starting 5 might be the correct call for now. Should be difficult to guard that frontcourt.
Barnes is a perfectly solid 5th option in a starting five. If the Kangz are losing with Barnes as a 5th option, Barnes is not the problem.
So 79-3 is still a possibility!
JLV’d
KZ wasn’t getting that many minutes, Keegan got a lot in his two games. However, if this allows the Kings best players to play more often together, then that sounds good to me. With one exception IMO. I am on Stagger Fox and Domas Island. I’m selling real estate here if anyone wants to join me. It’s lonely here, but I don’t think it really should be.
It’s about time! Overdue already!
Badge Legend