Golden 1 Center was abuzz with excitement and anticipation. After 16 miserable years it seemed the Kings were about to officially end their playoff drought. But that early energy seemed to rattle the Kings, who played out of control early in the game, and never fully found their rhythm. The Timberwolves have been a tough matchup for the Kings all season, and tonight was no different, with Minnesota ultimately winning 119-115.
This game was a huge disappointment not only because the Kings failed to officially end the drought when they had the opportunity to do so at home, but because of how it happened. We got a horrible combination of the season-long issues (bad defense, inability to grab a defensive rebound, letting opponents shoot lights-outs early in the game), some semi-consistent issues (inconsistent production from the bench), and some issues that are pretty rare for Sacramento (Kings being unable to hit from deep).
I’m trying to find it in me to provide some in-depth analysis, like talking about how Malik Monk needs to stop trying to win the game with a hero play in the middle of the second quarter, or about how Alex Len’s hands are reminiscent of Mikki Moore’s, or about how you’d think the Kings would eventually learn that they can’t leave Naz Reid open for three, but I just don’t have it in me.
This game sucked because I had hopes.
I was ready to believe. It sucked that the Kings didn’t clinch last night, and it annoyed the hell out of me seeing so many Kings fans rooting against the Warriors when a Warriors win would help the Kings. I understand wanting to clinch on your home floor, it would have been a great moment for the fans. But there was nothing about the Kings previous matchups with Minnesota to warrant such hubris and the basketball gods struck us down tonight. The Kings were 5/27 from 3 in a game they lost by 4. Tell me the basketball gods weren’t angry at us for daring to fly so close to the sun.
I should note that De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis absolutely did their respective parts. 29 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds for Fox. 24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for Sabonis. Barnes had 19 points, Huerter had 13 despite picking up his 5th foul early in the third quarter. Keegan Murray had a really rough night, going just 1-8 overall and 1-6 from 3, several of which rattled in and out.
In the end, does it matter? Probably not. The Kings will likely clinch in the coming days as they have two games in Portland against a Trail Blazers team that is shifting the tank into high gear. It will be fun and we will celebrate and I will be happy again. But not right now, right now I’m mad, because the double-edged sword of the Kings finally being good again is that the losses hurt more than they did when we expected losses more than we expected wins.
Operation M.C.N.A.I.R.
Tonight’s Operation: M.C.N.A.I.R. donation of $10 goes to Women’s Empowerment (@WE_Works)!
If you’re donating tonight, please feel free to post yours below!
Link: https://t.co/FwSZeIkUF1#SacramentoProud #OperationMCNAIR
— Will Griffith (@WillofThaPeople) March 28, 2023
Up Next:
3/29 @ Portland Trail Blazers, 7:00 PM PT
I really hope we don’t face the Twolves in the playoffs because this team is a terrible matchup for us. They didn’t even have KAT tonight. I’d much rather play the Warriors or the Clippers.
I completely agree, and it seems a lot more likely that the Wolves climb into the 4-5 matchup than fall to 7. But I am worried that it might be the Suns instead of the Clippers who fall down into 6, and I don’t really want to face a Durant-led Suns team if he returns. Is it crazy that Wolves and Suns are my two most feared playoff matchups, even more than Nugs, Griz, Dubs, or Fakers?
Yup. I mentioned in the preview thread that I just don’t like the matchups that Minny brings. The Kings really struggle against lengthy teams.
I’d rather face the Wolves with KAT than not. Without KAT they are a better matchup against Sac than they are with him. Which is strange because, overall, I don’t think they are a better team without KAT. Just against Sac.
Yeah I think you’re right. They play more wings and their defense gets worse with KAT in there even if their offense improves. Kyle Anderson is really good and the more minutes he gets against us, the harder it is for the Kings to score.
Had to dust this one off.
Haven’t used it since the 4 game losing streak to start the season, I think.
♬…the drought will go on and on….♬
I’m being incredibly reactionary right now. I hate the Suns but I will root for them on Wednesday. Fuck the Wolves. I’m salty as fuck right now.
Gotta root for the favorable match up lol
These thoughts about what the favorable match-ups are, they’re just opinions. Everybody has one. Some extrapolation based on a few regular season match-ups, without accounting for the fact that the play-poffs are a different animal.
We’re a better team on the road, yet I see no-one rooting for us losing out and getting to the 5th place.
I’m not too worried. If you want to be champion, you have to be able to beat any team.
Only have to beat the 4 teams you play in the playoffs. 😛
Gets kinda hot in these…Playoffs…
I’m not worried in the playoffs. The only thing rattling this team’s strong point is length and the Wolves have plenty of that.
I don’t think we’ll be champions either. We still have to work on our defense. I still think we’re better than the Wolves. We might be an elite wing defender or two away from seriously competing against the Nuggets. Maybe a weakside shot blocker next to Domas. I don’t know, Monte has work to do.
And yea at this point I’m rooting for more road games. /s
To be fair, it’s been 17 years.
To be fair,
This franchise has aged us quite a bit
I think just about anybody will be a tough match-up for us in the playoffs. Our lack of defense automatically makes that the case.
I think length is extremely bothersome for the Kings. We’ve seen it vs the Raptors and Milwaukee. I’m not too worried. Just upset that we didn’t get to win and clinch last night.
Yep. How we lost yet another rest disadvantage game for the other team at home is vexing as well.
Who do you consider a favorable matchup?
I think the only “bottom” teams who I really don’t want to see are the Raptors and Wolves.
“Top” tier teams would be Philly, Bucks, Boston, and maybe Phoenix. But Suns have a tendency to implode if calls don’t go their way. Clippers might be a threat but they’re old and we can tire them out.
I have to clarify this comment. This includes the insane 0.1% chance that we see the Eastern teams in the Finals.
There’s rarely such a thing as a “favorable matchup” in the era of parity. And I’ve not seen this kind of parity in the West since… ever.
Its easy to look to the Eastern conference and just assume its better because they have Giannis and the Tatum/Brown duo over there, but its not like the West is just garbage, especially post trade deadline. 1-8 is going to be a tough out no matter who comes out of the play-in. Including us.
Its basically gonna look like –
A lot of whining on this thread. They’re allowed to lose games.
We know the issues this team has (defense) and that’s not going to change in the playoffs. Just enjoy the fact that we’re making the playoffs after almost two decades.
Who said I wasn’t enjoying the season? Am I not allowed to be upset after a loss?
After suffering through all of these years yes, of course you’re allowed to be upset after a loss.
Fan and comment how you please. 🙂
Yea I mean I don’t get upset with a lot of losses. I’ve seen plenty of that in the last 16 or so years. But this was one of the nights that felt like a must win for us fans and the Kings totally just squandered the opportunity.
Apologies, I shouldn’t have said whining. I just mean, this team is damn good and a pleasant surprise after 16 years so when they lose it doesn’t phase me. I’m just glad to finally have a winning team.
#soft
Will the real TheGrantNapear please stand up…?
I kid. I’m not used to you being agreeable / nice. Winning truly does cure all…lol
Gobert, va te faire foutre!
We are Les Misérables one day more…
♬There’s a grief that can’t be spoken
There’s a pain goes on and on…♬
Glad I could you annoy you Greg. Given the opportunity to do so again, I’d do so 101 times out of 100.
How fitting: Charlie Brown is from Minnesota, and he missed the football tonight.
On the bright side:
Keegan can break the rookie 3-point record against Dame in Portland.
Sabonis gets the important win against his old man’s team.
DJ Rick sees the Kings beat his team.
The hopeful in me sees a team that has gone, what, 13-5 since All-Star break and I was absolutely dreading the month of March.
Misery March I expected: 16 games in 31 days.
If they could just go 8-8 please please please to stay 4 games above .500.
March 2023 thus far: 9-5
Feb 2023: 8-4
Jan 2023: 9-6
Dec 2022: 8-6
Nov 2022: 9-5
Oct 2022: 2-4
Two games to go against the TankBlazers. They will win at least one. That would 10-6 or 11-5. When’s the last time Sac had a double digit win month?
Fifteen games above .500 atm. Exactly .600 ball
House Money. Gravy. Cake with Icing incoming.
I just can’t muster more than a morsel of disappointment.
Putting back on the sunglasses because the future…
&ct=g
They’ll do it Portland. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But it will be done. Oh yes. It will be done.
(and please, stick a bandaid on Monk or something)
Exactly, glass half full status for me. The glass half empty doomers are welcome to transport themselves to the previous 16 seasons of bball hell.
This is why I pump the breaks on any playoff success by the Kings. The offense generates enough good shots to get a win against any opponent, but it has to be combined with enough stops. These last couple of games, the Kings managed to string together enough of them, but not against Minnesota.
Why? The Timberwolves simply seemed to know the weaknesses and exposed them time after time. Especially Huerter looked like a turnstile, even before his foul trouble.
Look at the opening possession of the Wolves:
This just can’t happen. A simple pick and roll shouldn’t expose your defense this much. Looking at Fox and the Wolves players involved, it looks like the assignment is to switch. Huerter steps up, reaches foolishly, and is a step behind. McDaniels, a heck of a player, benefits.
A couple of minutes later:
This one’s even more frustrating. Nothing happens here. Gobert is just…there. Huerter walks into him, McDaniels makes a random (good) cut. Lay-up.
I could go on and on, but the bottom-line is: these two things can’t happen in the playoffs. We can speculate about opponents all we want, but whether the Kings play the Clippers or the Thunder, they won’t get far ‘defending’ like this.
Being in the playoff IS the playoff success. (And officially, we’re not even there yet)
It’s just a matter of perspective, and which brakes to pump. 🙂
Sacramento wasn’t built in a day. This team has holes, obviously.
So personally, I’ll be coming into the playoffs with zero expectations and just hope to be pleasantly surprised.
But I agree that come playoff time, teams will be relentlessly hunting mismatches, and defensively we provide some mismatches. And when we bring in the defensively stronger players, we may suffer offensively. It’ll be an interesting bridge to cross, for sure.
I couldn’t agree more. For me, reaching the playoffs is the success as well. Being competitive in the playoffs would be a nice bonus.
I’m still wondering how a defensive-minded coach couldn’t coax any meaningful defense out of this bunch. I give Brown a ton of credit for the team’s success this year – very definitely the best coach in forever. But why they won’t listen to his defensive preaching is just puzzling to me.
I’m going to disagree with this. Simply, the Kings shot 5-27 from 3.
They’ve made 8 3s in a game twice this season. Sure, the Wolves had something to do with it, but the Kings missed clean looks all night. Combine that with the Kings only forcing 6 TOVs by the Wolves and I think the solution is simple: Hit more 3s and force more TOVs.
What stands out is the 4th qtr. The Kings usually do well in the 4th, but they didn’t last night shooting the ball. Minny was 11-21 overall, 2-5 from 3 and 9-14 from the line. The Kings were 7-23 overall, 2-10 from 3 and 14-18 from the line. I don’t care how bad your defense is, you can’t shoot 7-23 in any quarter let alone when you’re a team that wins on the basis of having a quality diversified attack on offense.
The Kings didn’t lose this game on defense, they lost it because they were never able to string enough possessions in a row to really pressure the Wolves with their offensive attack. The Kings didn’t get the crowd involved enough, and we were ready to explode.
I won’t argue that the team ranked 26th in DRtg showed up. But I don’t see how anyone can argue objectively that the team ranked 1st in ORtg showed up either. That’s the real problem I saw last night. Your formula for success against the Wolves was not working last night. They are not only a bad matchup for Sac (more without KAT than with him IMO), but their defense was rather effective in jamming up the Kings. Conley controlled the tempo (he’s probably been the best trade acquisition of all the moves made at the deadline) all night and really brings out the best in Gobert.
In the playoffs, if you don’t have the ability to dictate your style, you don’t have the ability to control the game and I thought that’s what won the Wolves the game.
I think that, in a way, the Celtics exposed the Kings, and showed how to monkeywrench the Kings halfcourt offense. I don’t know if it’s really clicked since then.
No, I don’t think the Celtics did it. Chris Paul did the same thing Feb 14th and Mar 4th, the last time the Wolves came into town, Conley did the same thing.
I think it’s the book out on how to beat this team. Attack their lack of rim protection offensively, slow them down as much as possible in the halfcourt, and do not let them go on extended runs.
/shrugs
I will add I think the Kings put added pressure on themselves to get this win at home for the fans.. They are aware of the fact our fans loyalty has been amazing and it felt like they rushed some things and tried a little harder to make things happen resulting in some poor shooting and bad turnovers. I’m bummed it didn’t happen for everyone last night, but if I am correct in my logic it brings me great joy that they want it for us as badly as they want it. I don’t think you can say that about all teams..
That’s how I saw it, too. I was unable to watch the first half. After watching a bit of the third and fourth, I got pulled away by other obligations. I didn’t mind as I was getting sick of all the missed threes. They hit more of those threes, they win the game. Of course, it would be nice if they improved their defense.
That first play was just so, so bad.
I know it’s completely unfair to but defensive on any one player, but when I look at the most egregious breakdowns, Huerter seems to be a common denominator.
I think Huerter is better on defense than most think. Its actually the one thing that has stood out to me about his game that I wasn’t really expecting. Not the be all / end all stat for defense, but not for nothing, neither; Huerter is tied with Fox for steals on the season.
I think our team concept requires a ton of rotations after switching. For it being our first season with the scheme our rotations aren’t terrible. And they seem to lock it in significantly better in the 4th. Usually.
I’m not that concerned with Huerter’s defense, individually, tho. He gets switched out a ton on much bigger and much faster players quite a lot and he (usually) holds his own at a much better clip than he showed last night.
I think he generally has pretty good instincts for team defense. On-ball it’s more often bad than good though.
I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t try, but he just isn’t fast enough laterally and he has trouble fighting over screens (like many others).
I agree. In what was the most significant (notice I didn’t say most important) game of the last 15 years they didn’t show up. Instead of coming out with aggressiveness they came out flat. The starting 5 play zero perimeter D, and Sabonis is not a good defensive center.
I am excited they will make the playoffs, but a game like this doesn’t bode well for the playoffs. I don’t see us coming out of the first round unless something radical changes on the defensive end.
Also, why no TD? Last night he may have hit some threes and provided the spark we needed. It was obvious Keegan and Monk weren’t on last night.
But, but, the Sacramento Twitter Homer Sports Media folks told me all day how historic the game will be.
Hardly the same as guaranteeing a win, wouldn’t you agree?
I agree with above statements and also the question. Yes the Kings should have won the game if they even shoot 30% from 3. 19% just doesn’t cut it. Just a thought maybe they were trying to hard because they wanted to win for the fans. About defense I just don’t get it. All year long they haven’t improved especially the starters. Yes we will get into the playoffs and unless we shoot out of the park with how we play defense we might win a game or two but that.s it. Greg said in above post he basically didn.t care about last night but we will eventually get into the playoffs. I respectively disagree. We need the best possible way of going into the playoffs at a running pace. I again agree with my grandson when he said the team who is the hottest going into the playoffs with have the chance to do the most damage.On defense we will not even get through the first round no matter who we play if we can.t improve on defense more than the fourth quarter.
I guess my thoughts about them trying to win for the fans wasn’t so outrageous, I just said a similar thing above
If you say so.
Now and then the Homers in sacramento sports media show themselves, yesterday was one of those days.
I’m appalled at what some of the SAC sports journalists post on twitter, it’s obvious their only journalistic training is GO KINGS.
We need a couple of local media to change it up a bit and start actively rooting against the team.
I’m going to start calling Marty and yourself ‘Hekyl and Jekkyl’ BTB. LOL
Ha! I’m in favor simply because of sheer entertainment value from the chaos that would ensue.
Over the years i sometimes wonder if Marty hate-watches the Kings. 😀
You’ve seen the same things I’ve seen, and it’s certainly made an impression on me.
Two points:
1 – Define “journalist.” I would immediately discount anyone that primarily blogs (and only blogs) about this team. As it pertains to this site in particular, I define Blake as a journalist and the bulk of the staff as very talented writers/Kings fans.
2 – I can cut any journalist that has covered this team for the long haul a little break for getting a little excited over the prospect of the playoffs, even if it is mildly premature. We’ve all lived it, and the people that have been actually paid to cover this team have probably lived it even more – they are not permitted the opportunity to take weeks (or months) off as the rest of us can / have.
Adding, Marty, you’re not wrong. It’s just that times have changed.
I look at a guy like Matt George, and he would have been (at best) a cub reporter back in the day. No way he has the pulpit that he has now. It is amazing (and a sign of the times) that he possesses his current standing. And I’m not meaning to pick on him. He’s a poster boy, but he’s not alone.
The “journalism” that you and I grew up with and learned under is all but non-existent at this point. Guys like Stephen A. and Bayless and Cowherd have nailed that coffin shut, and it has now bled down to the local levels. And that’s too damned bad for a team that (finally!) deserves balanced, unbiased, local coverage. And again, the TKH guys, as a group, do a great job of not being the sound of one hand clapping. But man, the days of asking a tough but earnest and honest question at a post-game presser seem to be long gone. It’s either pandering or gotcha moments, nothing in between.
/End rant
For sure.
that’s what rubs me the wrong way when I see a sports reporter who works for a NEWS station, spending all day on twitter saying what the Kings should do.
That should never happen, but here we are.
Here I am learning that Matt George is apparently more than just a hapless board op who is way too unhinged and emotionally invested in the team. Does he really have a following that takes him seriously?
Absolutely amazing that this team has won so many games this year. I am simply going to enjoy that. The playoffs are basically guaranteed so we will get to enjoy the team being discussed as part of the playoffs and promoted by the NBA.
Any single win in the playoffs is another miracle. The lack of any defensive desire and ability is going to be exploited on the national stage. Is what it is.
Hoping that someone on the team absorbs the idea that defense is what will make this team truly special.
Yup, Monte has done an excellent job building this team into an offensive juggernaut, but there is still work to be done when it comes to the defensive side of the floor. The Kings are not going to get out of the first round if they play the type of defense they did last night and their perimeter shots aren’t falling.
Yep, I don’t even care if we get swept in the first round, just thankful to have Kings playoff bball after so long.
One thing I definitely took away from watching the Kings play the Wolves this year is that Kyle Anderson is criminally underrated. That guy just does all the little things correctly AND in slow motion so you can really see the details.
Yeah, I had a feeling he’d be good when Popovich drafted him.
One thing I always wonder when we play the Wolves is how in the world Anderson isn’t blocked more? His gather takes so long it seems like someone could run from the opposite side and get there before he releases.
It’s because you never know WHERE he’s going to release it. His shooting mechanics start behind his head (terrible!) with his wrists turned (criminal!) Then he brings the ball around the front of his extraneous dome (maybe he has to cuz his arms aren’t long enough to just go over it?) before centering the ball just above eye level, ya know that area most of us begin our shooting motion at? Then, when most of us would jump, he just extends his knees a bit, never leaving the floor (a masterful bit of trickery, that) before twisting his left wrist sideways (the horror,) and giving the ball that final push and flick. The final piece to his mechanics is the mumbling of the phrase “Aloha Mora”, which I think is the key to the ball actually going in, since he was a one and done for Hogwarts, basically…
Rec’d for watching his mechanics in order to write that!
Its a captivating thing to behold, mostly because he’s managed to parlay that atrocity into a respectable career.
Yeah, he has a really ugly, effective shot. Amazing.
Man, you could just FEEL the sense of disappointment inside Golden 1 during the 4th quarter, but it was still a fun game and experience. Disappointment is part of the bargain of being a sports fan, as all of us know all too well.
One observation I had in the building that I’m not sure was covered in the broadcast: Rudy Gobert was BIG MAD in the 2nd. After he went to the bench, he came up the baseline to yell more at the refs, and players on the court had to urge him to chill. He refused to sit down until Mike Conley got out of his seat and relocated to the very end of the bench. Kept yelling at teammates and refs until the half. Seemed close to loosing it and thought for sure he’d get T-ed up.
Was thinking early on that getting Gobert in foul trouble and out of the game would be the only real way to neutralize him, and it seemed like that was finally starting to happen later in the game, but oh well.
Glad I made it out to Sac this week. Bummed they didn’t clinch, but them’s the breaks. On to Portland.
He plays well against us, although Domas rudely dunked on him so hard that he thought he was in Waterloo.
Oh man this was so good. Totally forgot it happened just before Rudy’s little tantrum
I was going to say, I don’t think he took kindly to getting brutally racked by Domas. That one gets a vote for Dunk of the Year…
I haz sad
It really would’ve been nice for the drought to officially end with a win at G1C in Sacramento, rather than, say with a Golden State loss tonight (crosses fingers), or a road win in Portland soon.
But the first home playoff game at G1C will give fans a chance to celebrate like they wanted to tonight. It’s going to be a party!
Totally. The crowd was on edge the whole night. The anticipation was palpable to the point of anxiety. No wonder our guys were rattled and shots weren’t falling. They wanted it bad too. 3 point deficit does not tell the whole story here.
Aw man, I’m now remembering you went to the game.
Sorry they lost. 🙁 That would’ve been a great experience.
….or maaaaybe…. they lost because you attended! Thanks, Mr. Jinx! 😛
I’ve been to three games this season. The season opener, vs the Knicks on March 9th, and last night. I’ve seen two losses in person and one win…TLDR..it could be me 😭
In my history of attending the Golden 1 Center for Kings games, the only victory I saw was in December 2017 when we beat Cleveland (LeBron’s last year on the Cavs).
Damn that’s rough. Get ye to a game soon!
My son and I watched the T-Wolves the night before at Chase. They are a very good basketball team with Conley, with no real weaknesses. To defend them, you have to leave someone open, and the players on the court usually find that person with good spacing. They execute on both ends of the floor at a high level. One reason the Kings missed a lot of 3s last night was because the T-Wolves often closed out on the shooter pretty well, or pressured the pass, at least enough to disrupt the rhythm of the shooter.
Kessler had a nice turnaround jumper in the paint.
Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee has a good analysis of why the Wolves’ defense was able to stymie the Kings: superior rim protection + pressure at the 3-point line, forcing the Kings’ shooters into driving, then taking two-point jump shots https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article273666470.html#storylink=mainstage_lead.
Well, it looks like we can still clinch a playoff spot tonight if Golden State loses to the Pellies.
https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1640726704355246081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1640726704355246081%7Ctwgr%5E529f14f0aca177b36cb5df8291d8e9f13aa63441%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fnews%2F2023-nba-playoffs-clinching-scenarios
Hoping for a Pelicans win over Golden State!
Go Pelicans!
Yup, I was thinking how cool it would be if the Warriors and Lakers met in the play-in with one of them having to go home. The collective outcry from the losing fanbases might be enough for Silver to changes the rules for next year.
Looks like the clinch will likely have to wait another day.
At this point I don’t care about clinching the playoffs, it’s about the 3 seed or the very, very small chance the Kings could catch the Grizzlies. This basically requires the Grizz to lose their next 3 games. IMO, it might be more valuable to rest Sabonis and Fox than it would be anything else.
Get to 48 W’s and call it a day.
What I saw was a team on the verge allowing the pressure to create a vacuum that suffocated their fire a bit last night. Maybe it was just Keegan, cuz had he hit his averages from 3 the Kings would’ve won this game, but Huerter looked like he was trying a little too much on defense and we allowed Conley to get loose, all of which I think is fixable.
In fact I’m fairly confidant we could beat the Wolves in 7. Especially if they’re a bit tired from having to play-in. I guess what I’m saying is the Kings can make it up to us when we face them in round 1 with home court advantage.
I respectfully disagree. The Wolves will be tough to beat in 7. They actually pay defense, starting with Conley. His on ball D was excellent last night.
I disagree with your disagreement.
#winning
#in7
Tiempo de números!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah, ha ah ha ha ah. Made you look.
The league average rating is 114. Offensively, the Kings, per 100 of those possession thingys, are 118.9 ORtg or 4.9 points per 100 possessions on average better than the NBA as a whole. Defensively, they are at a 116.5 DRtg or 2.5 points worse defensively than league average. Which is how you get a positive Net Rating of 2.3. In this game the Kings ORtg was 119.3 and DRtg was 124. Ballgame. Right?
Nope, not even close. In a 96 possession game?
The name of the game in the playoffs isn’t defense. The name of the game in the playoffs…..is to outscore the opponent. Still. James Naismith invented this marvelous game in 1895 and the goal of the game with peach baskets was to outscore your opponent. I say this because the common narrative is the Kings don’t play enough defense to win consistently in the playoffs. Well….gee….yeah, that’s probably true.
You know what also does not work in the playoffs? Shooting 5-27 from the 3pt line. You can be the greatest defensive team in the world AND YOU AREN’T WINNING BECAUSE YOU COULDN’T HIT WATER IF YOU FELL OUT OF A BOAT FROM THE 3 PT LINE. But sure, known issues defensively, mass hysteria, dogs and cats living together, etc etc Bill Murray. I see you. Go kill that dopey Sailor Hat wearing Marshmellow thingy now. And get the fuck off my goddamn lawn, boyo.
The Kings didn’t lose this game because they couldn’t stop the Timberwolves. They did about what they normally do which is force just enough to miss shots, create some fast moving sets offensively……CLANK. I’m sorry, I’m going deaf because there were 22 missed 3’s last night. They hurt my eardrums because the crowd sure didn’t.
CLANNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Kings average 87.5 FGA, 36.9 3PA, and 25.6 FTA. Last night they attempted 87 FGA, 27 3PA, and 40 FTA.
They shot 56.6% from 2 (36-60), they shot 80% from the FT line (32-40) and 18.5%from the 3pt line (5-27).
One of those is not like the others. But sure, defense was the probem.
The Kings don’t win or lose games on defense. They win or lose games on offense…..and unfortunatley that’s what the Timberwolves did quite well last night. Hats off to those players and that coaching staff, there’s alot of talent in both of those ranks if we’re being honest and they’ve underachieved until they’ve gotten Conley. They were 30-28 when Conley got there and are now 39-37. They’ve been up and down with Conley and what not, too, I know. But….between the Wolves young springy athletes like Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards, effective (if not outright annoying as all hell) defenders like Rudy Gobert, somewhere in this mix Karl-Anthony Towns fits in (although I’m not a big fan of his), and Mike Conley might be the exact piece they needed to tie it together. The Wolves, before they got Conley, were a bad matchup for the Kings also, but they simply didn’t utilize their strengths as well before he got there.
I could focus on McDaniels being a springy athlete who bothers players like De’Aaron Fox, but that’s what Twitter is for. And he was certainly the piece that the Jazz was angling for in the trade for Gobert that nobody in their right mind says yes to. (Walker Kessler isn’t a bad consolation prize, to be sure.)
Mike Conley won this game for the Timberwolves, and he’s the exact definition of leader, crafty, smart, and he’s pretty spectacularly talented too. Much like Jrue Holiday, he’s spectacularly underrated. It just doesn’t seem to be mentioned as often because Conley hasn’t been on true championship contenders and frankly, has never gotten the opportunity to play with a talent as sublime as Giannis Antetokounmpo. (That’s not a shot at Holiday. He’s exceptional, too.) Mike Conley, just like Jrue Holiday, is a smart, crafty veteran who knows how to manage the game. He doesn’t get caught up in the theatrics, and he doesn’t get caught up in nonsense. Those moments where you need a steady, veteran hand? Mike Conley is it.
The Kings are down 101-99 with 7 mins to go. Conley has just re-entered the game right before Barnes 2 pt basket cuts the Wolves lead to 2.
Conley hits a 2 putting the Wolves up 103-99 with 6:25 to go. The next possession Monk has the ball driving against Conley who is screened by Sabonis. Conley gets around the screen and gets near Monk to contest the shot. McDaniels grabs the board and Finch calls time.
The next time down for the Wolves, Conley is in the corner, dribbles out to the top of the 3 pt line and simply hands the ball to McDaniels who has a wide open driving lane. What’s important is that the Kings have Monk on McDaniels (more or less) and Conley recognizes the mismatch. He simply makes a very basic pass recognizing what’s happening. Conley gets an assist (generously but I’m fine with it as long as it’s consistent on both sides) out of the play but the value was being able to flash open to a spot, get the ball from McDaniels who was inbounding the ball, Conley runs out to the top, and what Monk should have done was trap Conley with the ball. Barnes needed to rotate on McDaniels, Lyles onto Edwards (who was standing at the 3 pt line), and live with a corner 3 from Slo Mo Anderson. The scramble defense was not there…..and Conley simply understands how to exploit this.
But this play is precisely my point about the defense: You simply don’t have the impact defenders to stop Minnesota every time in these sets. The Kings didn’t have the guy they really needed on the court last night to stop McDaniels: Keegan Murray.
And that really is where the rub lay at this point for this team. They are an offensive team where people focus on the previous set I just talked about.
[video src="https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2023/03/27/0022201128/573/da9c66ad-48b5-940b-0836-bc689b3be6d2_1280x720.mp4" /]
Here is another example of Conley being a smart, smart player. He uses the Gobert screen to keep Fox off him long enough to get in the lane, and by the time Fox gets back into the play he’s already going after Sabonis who isn’t contesting as hard as he would like given he had 5 fouls at this point. And why did Conley do that? For the same reason anyone does: To get Sabonis 6th foul….or an easier shot.
[video src="https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2023/03/27/0022201128/584/af69b766-63ad-a45f-81cb-c51648898a5b_1280x720.mp4" /]
Don’t take my word for any of this. Mike Conley is just that good. I’ll say this unequivocally as I think it matters a lot: The Kings lost the tempo game to MIke Conley….and the 3 pt line to the Wolves.
Ballgame.
I didn’t ignore Anderson or McDaniels or Naz Reid for that matter. But Conley is their table setter and the guy that stirs all of that drink. As Numbr mentioned (I couldn’t really see it all from the 2nd deck), Gobert was ticked all of the 2nd qtr (I saw the waving at the refs and his walking onto the court– nothing he did there was in any way worse than what Monk did to get ejected IMO) and that was about the time I got to my seat (and then later went for a beer). I was very hit and miss all 1st half. But that being said, Mike Conley just came in and did what he does. He manages the game perfectly, and the Wolves did not do the one thing that D’Angelo Russell did for them a lot of the time: Commit live ball TOV’s. As a team, the Wolves had a TOV% of 15.4% before Mike Conley. They played at a pace of just under 102. They are now playing a bit under 101 possessions a game, but now turn the ball over as a team at a 13.9% rate. It’s not just that Conley doesn’t turn the ball over himself, it’s that he puts guys in position to make plays so they are less likely to turn the ball over, too.
It’s not that the Wolves made the Kings play slow. It’s that they broke up the rhythm they play with when they go on offensive runs. They controlled the tempo in the halfcourt game by using McDaniels on Fox, all the hard shows, Gobert was not attacked effectively (outside of Fox and even then by Fox sometimes) by the G’s in particular (Sabonis was terrific), and Huerter’s foul trouble was just simply a problem.
The Kings didn’t lose the game because they lost on defense. They lost the game within the game stuff. The tempo game, the counters to using McDaniels on Fox — i.e. Keegan Murray was terrible last night — the inability to make the Wolves in the penalty really swing in their favor….and mostly they missed 3’s. I don’t hang losses on rookies….but Keegan was really why the Kings lost. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it’s bound to happen running a 22YO out there every night. Keegan has also helped the Kings win a few games along the way, too, and that shouldn’t be forgotten either. It’s just in a bad matchup where the Wolves have length and athleticism, they need Keegan Murray to be an effective counter to combat that. And they just don’t right now.
Did I mention MIke Conley won the game for the Wolves last night?
The Kings might have lost the game not on the defensive side but you can’t convince me that defense isn’t needed but offense. You need both if you want to go any further in the playoffs. Look at all major sports events( football both college and pros. Basketball both college and pros and others) that don’t win or have any oppotunity to win without defense.I still believe that offense wins games but defense wins championships. I have always believed this and with 47 of coaching it worked for me.
I respect your opinion, but I don’t really see how the Kings improve the defense without doing so at the expense of the offensive value you’re giving up. If you’re losing 5 points of offensive value to gain 2 points of defensive value, how does that help you?
It’s tricky to build a winning team, I agree, but the first step is to establish one side of the floor IMO. The Kings have done that. The trick is now to maintain that value while improving the other side….and that will likely take at least a season to do so.
To your point, I don’t think that you have to be a better defensive team than offensive team to win a championship. I think that you have to be at least adequate on each side of the floor, with each side feeding the other.
The Kings are not adequate defensively. On the other hand, teams like Charlotte and Washington have shown more defensive acumen than the Kings this year, but who would you take in a playoff series?
This is one area where I give Mike Brown huge props. A guy that has hung his hat on defense has coached up the strengths of this roster, eschewing his preferred historical methodology. Had he put his foot down on and played the roster to its defensive apex, the team probably has a significantly worse record.
As you said, it’s a work in progress.
Before I delve into another point, your point about Mike Brown is why I think he’s COTY. But I also think Brown understands how important balance is. And I also don’t think he gives two shits about that COTY award either. He got one, won 61 games the next year and got canned because the Cavs thought Brown wouldn’t allow them to retain Lebron James. It’s a pretty silly award, which is a double negative. But I digress. I have a War and Peace novella to write.
A quick math point. Wolves scored 70 points (54 in the paint) off 2s, 22 points at the line and 27 points from 3s.
Kings scored 68 points (60 in the paint) off 2s, 32 points at the line and 15 points off 3s.
Nobody believes the Kings really lost by 4 points but let’s extend that to a 8 point loss in actuality. The Kings lost because they literally missed 3 3pt shots. Not turnovers (although they had a few more), not rebounding, not the scheme. Missed shots. It’s a make or miss league and the Kings missed. And I don’t buy for a second the Wolves caused all those misses. Less attempts, sure, but not all those misses.
The Wolves average 50.3 points in the paint allowed (the Kings average 52.3 scored in the paint), the Kings scored 60. The Wolves average 26.2 FTA for their opponents on the season, the Kings had 40.
I know this doesn’t fit the narrative, but the only way to make this a league avg defense is to either A) take Domas off the floor (LOL) or B) find a pairing with Domas that allows you to function at a league avg level or better on 2 ends. Turbonis didn’t work in Indy. They never could solve that puzzle, but they were far better defensively. But those Pacers teams were never a top 5 defensive team either. Let alone a top 10 team on both ends. There’s a reason Indy made the trade.
You brought up the issue awhile ago, Rob. How do you upgrade? I don’t really want to discuss the offseason (I wanna enjoy the playoffs first dammit!!!!) but Harrison Barnes seems the obvious spot. But will there be an upgrade worth pursuing? And, I know some will really disagree with this, but keeping Barnes was the right call for this season. Much like Conley, he’s a steady veteran hand. You’ll need that next year, too. Having a reliable veteran can be more valuable than a 1st rd pick.
The defensive problems are a feature, and a bug, of building around Sabonis. He doesn’t offer rim protection, nobody else on the Kings does either that’s in the rotation anyway, and every team knows it. The Wolves attacked Sabonis all night…. and on a night where the Kings hit their season low from 3 (by a big amount), they still lost by single digits to a talented, and underachieving to a large degree, Wolves team. And the Kunfs offense wasn’t far off their normal averages either.
The school of thought from the naysayer, coming into the season, was that Sabonis couldn’t be a truly core piece because you couldn’t build a truly elite offense OR defense around him due to rim protection and shot creation issues. One half of that equation seems solved as nothing the Kings are doing offensively seems particularly flukey.
Jusuf Nurkic in trade for Richaun Holmes? Jaxson Hayes in FA given the Pelicans are likely in the tax next season and won’t match an offer sheet? Still keep Barnes in either case? S&T him? The Kings could have cap space and about 25M worth at that…. but the issue is do you want to renounce Barnes cap hold and I’m guessing the answer to that is no unless that unicorn is coming. I, too, doubt that likelihood.
I think this season is successful on a number of levels. You’ve proven you could build an elite offensive unit. You have a playoff team with this group. You have a playoff run that will go however far it does. On top of that, your key players are under contract, your FO and HC are on the same timeline, you have flexibility to build out a roster where 6 of your 9 top players are under contract for at least another year.
Yep. And I don’t see the Wizards keeping that group together much longer. I’m not sure what Charlotte is doing really. But I don’t understand many things.
Anyhoo, I look back at where this started in Sept 2020. McNair has raised the value of assets on this roster, managed to hire a head coach everyone I’m using this term loosely) could agree on, build the roster out and get fans excited. Last night might be a disappointment but overall the excitement is back. I was in there Fri night for the Phoenix game and it wasn’t as full as last night. A Monday night game for the Timberwolves was packed to the gills with fans. Special circumstances or no, the fans showed up. I’m hoping to go Sunday and I’ll bet it’s similarly full. The arena was ready to burst when Keegan missed that 3 with 40 secs to go.
Sure, there might not be a championship team here yet. But a turnaround from perennial lottery attendee to solid playoff team is a great start. You have to walk before you can run. And since this organization is walking these days, perhaps a light jog for next season is in order.
All of this is to say, you need the playoffs to find out what this group really is and really on both ends at that. But I can guarantee this: You aren’t winning any games if you shoot 18.5% from 3. Below league average defense or not.
To tie this thing up, Mike Brown and Monte McNair have done something remarkable. You managed to build an elite offense AND with Sabonis as the lone big which in years past proved to not be nearly effective. You got alot of talented players to produce at a high level on one end and high enough on the other to win games at a 60% clip. For my money, that’s a better start than anyone had a right to expect, defensive criticisms and all.
You hit the head on all your points. I agree with all of them. I don’t want to go into next year and just enjoy this year but one last comment. IMO we need a backup to Sabonis that is a stud on defense. I know they are hard to find but I have all the confidence in Monty, Brown and the rest of the organization things like mentioned above will be solved either by trade, draft or FO. Also I am really happy we have Domantis Sabonis on the Kings rtoster.
Jack at this point, we all kind of know what this team needs really. I think rim protection is the biggest one, and that’s tough to find without the right elements in play.
There’s options out there. The same as always. But I think the playoffs are critical to really evaluating what this team needs. We’ll learn alot from a 7 game playoff series even if the Kings don’t make it out of the 1st rd.
I also would praise NcNair for getting players like Mitchell and Edwards. In the GM and coach we are better off at least since 16 years ago.
PS It takes 2 to tango. Offense and defense go hand in hand.
I agree totally and also know the Kings have a long ways to go to become a good defensive team. I love how the offense has played this year and understand that Monty had to address the offensive part of the game. The kings will win a lot of games with their offense and in last nights game also lose some due to the lack of it. Even with a defense in the middle of the league they will even go farther. Monty has addressed this issue somewhat with drafting Mitchell and getting Edwards. Fox has also improved over the year. I have all the faith in Monty and Brown on how thet will handle this issue. GO KINGS!
Saw the first sentence in Spanish and was actually interested. Lost it after that.
Try more Spanish?
This was amazing, and I thank you for it.
OK, so I’m a weirdo. I honestly don’t care who the Kings face in the playoffs. The playoffs are house money this year, and the bigger the opponent, the bigger the progress, regardless of winning or losing.
I don’t think that this permutation of front office, coaching staff or roster really gives the Dubs or Lakers any more / less consideration than any of the other teams in the West. I think that’s more of a fan thing, and the players don’t sweat it at all.
I also believe that the rule is that teams that play well during the regular season do better in the post-season than teams that try to squeak and peak. I could be wrong about that, but I just don’t have much memory of 5-8 seeds getting to the conference finals or championship. I’m sure that it has happened, and perhaps even recently. But I’m also betting that it is the exception and not the rule. Keeping that in mind, I probably want to face Denver last/least, then Memphis, then the next best record team, etc.
A lot of this is my old baseball coach, who used to preach to us to not look into the opponent’s dugout, because it did not matter who they had in there if we did what we were capable of doing. And the best victories always came against the best talent.
Bring ’em on, I say. Bring ’em all on. After 16 years of tomfuckery, the last thing that I am going to worry about is the playoff matchup. Let the team that pulls the Kings as an opponent worry about that, about losing to a team that Vegas had pegged for fewer than 33 wins this season.
Heh, after reading your comment, I wanted to see if any lower seeded teams made it far in the NBA playoffs.
From what I dug up, only one lower seed (5-8) has won a championship: the 1994-95 Rockets were a 6th seed. The 1998-99 Knicks are the only 8th seed to go to the NBA Finals (but didn’t win). The 1986-87 Sonics team were the 7th seed and made it to the Western Conference Finals.
Also, no team has won the title with a losing road record in the regular season. That would immediately eliminate the Warriors, Grizz, Suns, Mavs, and the Lakers…all of which currently have better odds with Vegas to win the title than the Kings do. SMH.
Match ups Matter – and it’s hard to know which team Sacramento will play and which players on those teams will be playing. Are Durant, Wiggins, Paul George, Zion available or not? and the list will go back and forth, up and down, in and out. Even for the Kings.
Last week or two – Lakers claim they would like to play Sac in the first round, and not to be outdone – Draymond claimed that he thinks the Warriors match up best against Sac as well. It’s media noise and nothing more.
Sacramento will be the most picked on team – because they are the surprise team that nobody expected to be where they are and have a record of unmatched futility. New day – same old spit.
Sacramento will earn it’s respect by winning – just like every other squad out there. And us fans will have that chip on our shoulders that every call is going against us, that it’s always 8 vs 5, and the League hates us.
Same as it’s always been.
But this team has moxie. They have dealt with those issues from the start. They know of the Introduction to Hell Handbook. And that’s because, IMO, Mike Brown and Monte McNair seem to really get that about this Kings franchise. I recall Coach Brown voicing these issues right from the get go when he addressed the media. And since Day #1 – he’s made a change in culture his battle cry. My interpretation is that it’s a sort of “that’s the old Sacramento” – and that this is the dawn of a new day. It’s probably just me fanboi-ing but this team, this season has exceeded every expectation, jumped every hurdle and done it with style and team attitude.
And I agree – the players and coaches have a “bring it” vibe. They will be happy to prove themselves against any opponent.
I too don’t care who they play because the goal is a championship and that means everyone is in the way. It matters little to me if they lose in the conference finals or in the first round, because IMHO neither guarantees they’ll take another step next year. That’s just not how it works, no matter how much the Homers say it does.
While the goal is to win a championship, I think that you can fall short of a championship and still have a successful season. That is, I do not believe that there is one champion and 29 failures.
I also think that there are ascending and descending teams. A team like the Kings (or Oklahoma City, for example) has the appearance of an ascending team. Teams that are aging or mired in bad roster construction are descending. Now, this can all turn on a dime. Injuries, trades, etc. can alter the landscape. But I don’t think that it’s championship or bust for the Kings, and while the next step is never guaranteed, I’ll feel good about the Kings going into next year regardless of their playoff performance.
I agree with all of that. As I’ve progressed in my 50s, sports are just fun now and not so serious. A surprise season and some playoff wins is a good enough ride indeed.
My Eagles just lost the Super Bowl and there was barely a feel. 30 years ago I would have been devastated for weeks. I guess in the end we all end up like our “Oh well” dads.
It’s interesting over the last six or seven years I too have gotten to the point where I really enjoy winning and no longer let losing impact my mood for more than a few minutes
Yep. My goodness, I remember how a mid-season Giants loss would ruin my next day. And if my softball team lost it could impact the rest of the week. Now I’m just happy when I don’t hurt myself while I sleep.
I totally agree. Just one example. Sabonis is 26 and every player that starts (other than Barnes) and those who play regularly from the bench are either 26 or younger. Now look a the Warriors. No comparison. Do you think Monty planned it that way?
I really agree with you. I don’t care who we play its all about HOW WE PLAY. If we play to our potential we can beat anyone. I do agree with my grandson who is 15 and a really go BB player that the team or teams entering the playoffs and are hot going in will do the most damage.
Blazers making it official with Damian.
https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1640819291783323648
Welp, we’re going to get blown out of both games against the Blazers now. It’s the rule!
“I’m your huckleberry.”
Don’t jinx it!!!
https://twitter.com/TrailBlazersPR/status/1640853040520658944
Coach better suit up.
Are they going to sign a couple 10 days for tomorrow?
Screw the rule!
I very much want to play the Warriors in the first round.
Me too. That would be a very fun, classic 7 game series.
Naw. Kings in 6.
Seems like that’s the way it SHOULD be.
Take down the Dubs in the 1st round. Take down the Lakers after they upset the Nugs. Exorcise all fan demons.
YEAH!!!
It would be poetic justice to beat the Warriors, shutting up Draymond for his preseason comments about “not being able to get up for teams like the Kings (chuckle, chuckle)”.
rather than being cocksure, it sure sounds like that makes him self-impotent
A lot of great comments in this thread, including some great and thoughtful arguments around matchups. I am going to take a Gallo (hope is wife is managing) or JLV approach and be positive where I say the other teams need to figure out how to match up with our fantastic and fun to watch offense. Yup that is my story and I’m sticking with it! Go Kings and let the beam be bright tomorrow night. it’s all about cowbells and beams while we chase our playoff dreams.
I’ve read everything everyone has posted, and the problem I had with the game last night and a few other losses is that the Kings rely on the 3 too much. Back in the 70’s Doug Moe was the coach of the Nuggets, and his teams always led the League in scoring(no 3point shot at the time). Moe’s teams would be able to score with any of the teams of today. And I bring this up because last night they only relied on the 3. If they had shot more mid range jumpers, they win that game by 10. The 2 biggest culprets Fox, and Keegan. Let me explain: Fox should never be taking six 3 pointers,only making one, especially when nhis bread and butter is the mid range jumper, especially in the Key. Not only that, but he’d have a good chance of going to ft line and adding to his total pts. Keegan was 1-6 from the 3, and shot NO FT’s. If he had driven to the the basket, or pulled up and shot a jumper he might have been fouled, and shot some FT’s. I never want to see Fox shooting 6 -3″s, 2 maybe 3 at the most. He’s just not very good @ 3’s, go with what you do best. As far as Murray goes after 2 or 3 misses, drive. Wuerter couldn’t defend anyone last night, everyone has those nights. It’s up to Brown to get them out of the game on those nights. When a player is struggling from the field, get to the line. I know I’m an OG, and I did most of my coaching back in the 70’s, but the game hasn’t changed that much. We were tight last night, probably because we wanted to win for the fans so much, and we tighted up. We’ll get our spot in Portland. What a great year it”s been, and Brown has done a great job. The kids still have a few games for Brown to coach them up before the playoffs begin. Go get em!
Different game now.
The King scored 60 paint points & were 32-40 at the line. Their offensive approach was good. Their 3PT shots just didn’t fall.
Pelicans up 63-46 over the Warriors at halftime!!!
Welp, never mind. Looks like they’re choking now.
Badge Legend