We are officially over the 15-game mark and those “it’s still early” and “small sample size” arguments are starting to lose their vigor. The Kings can no longer lean on these early crutches and must now start standing on two legs to prove what kind of team they will be moving forward. Tonight’s matchup against the Raptors was a good place to start, as both teams have struggled to find a consistent identity to start the season. A win for the Kings would mean a relieving step in the right direction, while a loss would signify yet another step towards acceptance that this year is no different than the last 15. Relief versus defeating disappointment – really gets you amped for some Kings basketball, right? Let’s see how they did:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings lose, 108-89
Sacramento Kings: 89 pts, 38.1% fg, 24.3% 3pt, 64.0% ft, 15 ast, 39 reb, 13 to
Toronto Raptors: 108 pts, 45.8% fg, 38.7% 3 pt, 83.3% ft, 20 ast, 53 reb, 15 to
I guess I hadn’t considered a third possibility besides a win or a loss: a humiliation. I’m not sure what this exactly means for the Kings, Luke Walton’s job, or my sanity, but I know it ain’t good any of them.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good
- The First 12 Minutes: The Kings came out with a high level of intensity on defense, forcing five turnovers from the Raptors in the first quarter and converting them into easy points. The first score for the Kings came from a Tyrese Haliburton steal and emphatic slam in the open court and it felt like the boys might have taken Tristan Thompson’s scolding to heart and were ready to play. Harrison Barnes had a strong start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and going a perfect 8-8 from the line. After 12 minutes of play, the Kings trailed by just three points and I was foolish enough to hope that they could carry this over through the next three quarters.
The Bad
- The Last 36 Minutes: That hope I mentioned was quickly squandered as the Raptors took complete control of the game about two minutes into the second quarter. Gary Trent Jr. lit the Kings up for 15 points in the second quarter, while Pascal Siakam hit about 1,000 step back elbow jumpers. The Kings showed no recognition of the fact that these two went on multiple heaters and instead remained in single coverage on both for the entirety of the game and let them combine for 55 points. On the offensive end, we saw the same old story. After relying on Harrison Barnes to bail them out on every possession stopped working, the Kings failed to find any consistent source of offense. We saw the same one-dimensional strategies from the Kings and the Raptors were able to stunt each one. If the Kings tried to go inside, the Raptors clogged the paint and hounded the rim. If the Kings passed around the perimeter and chucked up 3s, the Raptors were there in passing lanes and closeouts. There were no inside-out actions or multi-layered movements. The Kings kept it simple and the Raptors had an easy night on defense.
The Ugly
- My Soul: I am dead inside.
The King of Kings
The bar is low, man. Tonight’s King of Kings goes to Harrison Barnes for hitting all eight of his free throw attempts tonight. Woohoo.
Up Next
Saturday, November 20th vs. Utah Jazz – 7:00 P.M. (PT)
I’m glad Grant and Jerry don’t have to deal with this.
If you don’t like this, you don’t like turd sandwiches!
All Kings lives matter. There. I said it.
Well, maybe except Luke.
He’s a dead man walking.
Seriously, f*ck Grant. Wish he had to deal with all this and all kinds of other crap.
Nah
“All kinds of other crap”
What does that even mean?
They sound like they want his personal life harmed. Weird and Vindictive
Grant was a douchebag to hundreds of people for decades, so I wish him ingrown toenails, hiccups that won’t go away, uncontrollable back hair, loud neighbors, shoes a half size too small and the New York Giants to lose for the next 15 years,
I would wish Grant a long life in an old folks home, surrounded by other obnoxious residents like him.
Yea, fork him if he has an opinion that differs from mine. Fork him.
Being deaf and blind to racism is not ”an opinion that differs from mine.”
Deaf and blind to racism? Lol ok
That, of course, depends on the opinion. We shouldn’t pretend that all opinions are equally worthy of respect, much less, air time.
We also shouldn’t pretend that Grant’s dismissal wasn’t entirely his own fault and easily avoidable, or that his interaction with Cousins was some one-off indiscretion.
Let’s also not pretend the the “all kinds of other crap” qualifies as an opinion not worthy of respect.
Yes, I have heard from the readers here that Grant was a bad racist guy, I never followed what he said except when he was calling games, he was one of the better ones. And all he had to do was not take Boogies bait.
Monte, where you hiding at, bro?
BREAKING: Vivek Ranadive pushes Kings GM to sign Monte Ellis. Cites fan wishes.
They have to go to Christie to instill some degree of excitement.
Gentry is a retread bore.
And even then, Monte has to blow the team up with some kind of big deal. Everyone is on the table. Everyone. Tyrese, Fox, Barnes. Everyone
https://twitter.com/netauri/status/1461930443540996101?s=21
Well they ain’t getting Popovich so unless Gentry get you all tingly, ain’t much of a choice.
It’s coming. No bullshit it’s coming.
Why would that instill excitement.
If they’re looking to continue losing, then Christie as HC would make a lot of sense.
Time for the owner to own this shit.
No more scape goats. All roads lead to the top. 8+ years of failure is remarkable. It doesn’t take close to a decade to fix things.
I don’t want to hear a player saying the players need to find it within themselves to compete. I want the leaders called out–the architects of this fallen kingdom.
Vivek—An ego so big it blocks out the sun and rational thought.
How the fuck else could one possibly not see the problem
or how simple the fix is….
Hire a GM and let them (basketball people) make the fucking basketball decisions.
Step back. Try it some time.
But hey, the arena sure is pretty…
Which means all of jack and shit to those of us not living in Sacramento.
Exactly my point. I’d rather see a good team play in a barn than watch a crap (Kangz) team at G1C
Except for the leg room.
If it hadn’t been for that win against Detroit, this would be a seven game losing streak, maybe enough to get Waltdumb fired. That was a counter-productive win. At least we have this current losing streak to extend…
That was ugly. Couldn’t finish watching the game. It’s remarkable how different we look now versus the first few games.
Tell me why Bagley can get playing time……………
His defense is the worst……………
If this team need rebounding, then play TT/Len/Jones……..
– Please fire Luke Walton
– Trade Fox, Bagley…
yeah, there’s no need to rebound a made shot
Bagley played just a few minutes and was a plus minus O in a game they were manhandled in. I think it’s funny that’s where you go to in this game lol
Mitchell + Holmes + Buddy= not much at all. Hali- good early then gone
I am a masochist
Pathetic. I will “pass on” before the Kings make even the play-in. Seriously
Toronto plays some serious defense- crowd everyone, stop the pass but do the Kings counter? nope.
I had some faith in Monte- but D. Wright for TT, TD signing, Damion Jones, Len and Harkless? not a lot of value. The Holmes signing was a B. and the Kings did need a back up 5 or two back ups- got that.
Draft picks- good but not great. Role guys, not a star.
Next year’s draft- weak. A FA- are you kidding?
Kings will finish just above the 4-5 teams that really seriously want to lose. But below ANY team that wants to win.
I have reached acceptance. I will continue to go and to watch because it is a habit now like an old Cubs fan. I have no more expectations and just accept the torture, the ineptitude and depression.
Bagley is being show cased- he is worth a 55-60 pick in 2035. Maybe
Oh, yeah. Gary Trent- selected by the Kings, traded draft day for two future second round picks. He looks like he wants to play.
Please do not financially contribute to this team.
You have to have some mental issues to be financially contributing to this franchise, no offense.
Placing some modicum of blame for the continued ineptitude of this franchise on fans who enjoy watching NBA games live and having a good time carousing versus stewing on the couch on a Friday night.
Such a weird position.
I like to get out and see at least 1 game a season and have a good time. Is it nice if the Kings win? Yes! I’m rooting for them. Does it suck if they lose? Yes! I’m hoping they don’t. Does that make someone have some sort of mental disease? No, but thanks for your comment of no worth.
I’m thinking about becoming a warriors fan
This is never going to end until we get a new owner
Agree! You can change coaches, GM’s and players and it’s been done several times in the Vivek regime but nothing will change as long as he remains in charge !
That’s how good team utilize and free up their shooters……..and shooter like Trent Jr. rarely handle/dribble the ball..
And for the Kings, we would never set up some decent screen with ball movement to free up Hield.
Also, who the hell would still let Hield dribble/handle the ball when you get Mitchell/Fox/Tyrese on the court with Hield at the same tiime.
The raptors aren’t a good team.
Lucky for them, the Kings are worse.
That’s just it though, the Kings have done this this year, until recently.
There’s no quick fix.
We never did a true rebuild, just did a quick retooling. When the foundation is crooked, you have tear it all down.
Fox, Buddy, Barnes, they should all be on the table for picks and young guys. In fact, Fox has to go. He just doesn’t have the right mentality to lead this team out of the mess we are in. He’s a good guy, decent player who will thrive as the third guy on a good team.
This is a great year to tank.
Take the season to find a good coach, a guy that can teach, hold everyone accountable and build a winner.
This is basically it. Other than Davion and Tyrese, everyone else can be moved.
This post has to be a copy/paste from last year right? (Or any year in the last 10+)
No comment.
Do you believe in Vivek ? I do not with plenty.of evidence ! Just moving deck chairs !
I don’t believe in Vivek and that is a good point.
But I also recognize that a change in ownership is the most unlikely thing to actually happen. So I focus on scenarios that are a bit more likely to happen.
The only hope, and it’s small, that I have is that Vivek will back off at some point and just let a GM do the work. . Like what happened w Dolan I’m just not sure what motivates Vivek to back off.
Good point.
Let me expand on ownership/FO and how to go forward a bit. Okay, more than a bit.
If a professional organization underperforms for a longer time, like 8 years, usually it understands that something is fundamentally wrong. The Kings have to understand that there is more wrong than can be fixed with swapping one coach for the other, or one GM for the other.
So either:
(1) they bring an external consultant to analyze what was wrong and hand over a report with plans for improvement; or
(2) the organization wisens up itself and acknowledges that there is no quick fix and that they need a plan. They set goals, prepare a detailed and comprehensive mid-term and long-term strategy with well-defined short- mid- and longterm goals and KPI’s and based on certain principles and a clear vision. AND ACCOUNTABILITY!
This organization has been all about short-term thinking and reactionary moves. There are no identifiable goals, there is no recognizable strategy. There is no clear offensive philosophy, defensive identity, nothing. They zigged, zagged and zigged again, each time tripping over themselves.
You build a plan, and you identify what kind of coach and players you need to execute that plan. And you stick with it for as long as you think it takes to reach the identified goals, or you make a change if KPI’s are not reached for a certain period of time.
You have to be, for a large part, analytical and methodical in your approach. You also need a certain amount of flexibility, because certain factors can influence a plan (like the new defensive rule changes), but even then you amend the plan methodically.
As I was taught; A plan is the foundation for amendments. No plan at all is stupidity.
The Kings have chosen stupidity for a long time. Now they should choose a plan.
I actually think he already has but who knows. If he was allowing Monte to trade Buddy to the Lakers that tells me he has stepped away. I could be sooooooooo wrong about that but all signs of late seem to point to him stepping away.
monte just needs to step up and actually make a significant trade. Get someone good in here, get multiple first round picks, trade up in a draft to get the superstar. DO SOMETHING THAT HELPS! not continues the cycle of bullshit.
The problem is with Fox on a max deal we’ll have to attach some draft capital to trade him. Honestly who would be crazy enough to give up something of real value for this guy at that price
If you don’t think Fox has positive value then we are truly fucked either way, no?
This is a bad take. Can’t believe people are giving up on Fox after 15 games.
It’s not 15 games. He’s always been a ball dominant player with limited court vision who doesn’t defend. There’s a good argument to be made he’s not even a PG, because he still can’t consistently run a half court offense. His scoring has value, but is it 30M a year? I tend that think that it isn’t.
You’ve said a lot of stuff lately that I agree with. +1
You are going to get back some equally flawed players who cost as much as Fox. But a good GM might get some players who would be a somewhat better fit.
True…and I agree with Smits, we are truly fucked. Terrible team, coach, owner. No star or path to get one. I love fox the guy and he’s given us some great moments but he was never a max. Not even in Sac
A lot of teams
I say don’t trade him unless you get a great offer. I would put the ball in Haliburton’s hands. Tell him he is the leader of the offense and let Fox be the guy you go to at the end of the shot clock to try and get a bucket if Hali can’t get something going first. Fox can be a very good 3rd player on a team. Let’s treat him as the 3rd guy for now (behind Hali and Barnes) until we can get better players or move him.
I heard the Sugar Hill Gang was in the building.
“Hotel-motel-Holiday Inn…”
Gotta know where Heuristic Lineup’s meter rating has us at right now.
This is fine.
The team needs to be rebuilt. But it lacks the ownership and front office to do it effectively. Can only fall back on the idea of bringing in someone to fix it by giving them an ownership share, a Spoelstra, a Myers, someone like that, the way Aronson did with Riley in Miami.
100% correct ! The only way that can work long term !
For the most part, these players all seem to be likable guys: Fox, Tyrese, Harrison, Richaun, Davion, even Buddy all show good work ethic – and there are a few blue-collar types on the bench.
But, at some point, they have to win – or likability and trying hard just mean less and less over time.
Front Office, please fix this. Or call Jerry West and ask him to help fix it.
Please… Anybody home Mc
FlyNair?!…Change it up… Please….It’s times like these that I’m glad I moved from Folsom to the Bay.
BJelly is also hella happy to be a significant contributor on a contender.
He earned it
amazing how unwilling we are to accept the obvious consistency of the Sacramento Kings franchise.
I go to recap from “https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401360062”
and see this…
And I was thinking “WTF, is this possible or I missed something when I watched the whole game….that Bagley had 6 assists? That’s just cannot be real”…….
He may could have 6 assists for one whole season..
In conclusion, ESPN sucks that they cannot even get a figure correct and of cousre, Balgey and the Kings sucks..
Weird.
6 rebounds, 1 assist in this game.
yeah, I remember seeing that play and thinking, “Damn…he actually passed it.”
It’s almost like experience taught him passing in that situation is always the way to go.
I watched the postgame interview from Tyrese…….he said Siakam got hot, but we got no one that can stop him ….
I want to say, and that’s why McNair bring in Harkless, he got the size to matchup with Siakam….I know Harkless sometimes sucks at 3pts line, but still, he is a good defender…..
There is no way Walton bench him for few games all because he cannot make 3s…we need defense and that’s the reason why Harkless need to play…at least for some certain matchup.
Please fire Luke Walton……..we need a real coach………..!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty hard to disagree with that. It’s sort of, … you know, … why we have Harkless.
Blow it up!
Firing Luke won’t change a thing until roster changes are made.
8 years of Vivek is the problem.
Blow it up and tank before the trade deadline. Instill DC or BJax as the coach for the rest of the season to see how they do.
Trade Fox for Simmons.
Trade all the vets with value. Buddy, Barnes, Holmes etc.
Tank for Chet.
After this ignonimous curb stomping, I can imagine the coach going to the mic saying “I have a lot to think about…”, just like he said so after the MIN debacle, trying to create impression of being a profound and erudite guy, resolute to right the ship.
Then with each sucessive humiliation, another season in the dumpster, he goes to the post-game and says “Well, I have a lot to think about…” but he mixes up his words with help of a thesarus, or more prescisely therasarus dot com, since this coach is allergic to books in physical form, so he also says “I have a lot to ponder….”
And ” I have a lot to contemplate…” And the zinger he keeps in his back pocket certain to blow away Ham and Cunningham with his intellectual prowess: “I have a lot to ruminate upon….” This last one he practiced in the mirror and aloud, since ru-min-ate is a three syllable tongue twister.
After this goes on for a while, more disgusting defeats with the team tuned out and dead inside, he goes to mic and says “I have figured it out. I know what the problem is.” Then he engages in a dramatic pause, the sycophantic press wait with bated breath for the reveal. Here comes the revelation and source of angst and failure, the profound erudite has found the answer we have been waiting for.
“The problem is me,” he says. He repeats himself again, and again, each time with more force and consternation. “The problem is me. The problem is ME. The PROBLEM is ME”. Then he starts to wail. The sobs grow louder and face distorted in pain, the tears roll down, the snot protruding out the nostrils. James Ham rushes to his side with a box of Kleenex.
Then suddenly, a shift. His cries subside, his tone quiets. Then a chuckle. Then another. Louder and the sobs have turned to laughter. Maniacal uproarious laughter. “The problem is me!” Ha-ha. “The problem is me!” he cackles ” All along I have been the problem. I don’t know what I am doing. I suck. Lets face it guys, I am not a very good coach! Nick Nurse, now thats a real coach. Not me! I am a complete and total fraud! I only made the NBA because my Dad was one of the greatest centers of all-time!”
The laughter goes on for a while, then slows, the catharsis complete, the public admission is the weight of the world off his shoulders. Ham wants to rush the podium and deliver a bear hug but resists his deepest idolatric urge. The clown of clowns catches his breath and has one more thing to say before leaving the press room and NBA for all-time. “I hereby tender my resignation as coach of the Sacramento Kings. Effective immediately. Thank you and go Lakers.”
Last time fans were this angry, Vivek and Matina hired Vlade and Peja for jobs that no other team would have put them in because they were popular in town and cheap.
They are firing Walton at some point. Gentry will want a big raise to move one seat over. Bobby Jackson is going to be the next head coach. Zero other NBA teams would hire him for that job.
This sounds alarmingly possible.
Bobby or Doug
Well Matina, we’ve done it again. A few roster changes that won’t lead anywhere and an unqualified nostalgia hire?
Vivek, you had me at nostalgia hire.
Joerger won 39 games with Shumbert, Jackson, WCS, and Bjelly starting. I’m not going to say this roster is good because it isn’t but it’s much better than it was 3 years ago.
We’ve had 150+ games of Walton. Talent level is better. The defense is worse. The offense is worse. How much more do we need to see?
I’d say the roster is about on par, maybe slightly better.
I think your crazy with that one, this roster is SOOOO much better than the ones Joerger had.
I found myself actively rooting for the team to fail last night. Whden Trent Jr. would hit a three I smiled. When Siakam destroyed a King off a pin move I smirked. When the Kings called a timeout I enjoyed looking at Walton’s troubled face and imagined what was going through his mind.
16 games in, and it’s over. I always knew they were a bad team and were’t going to make the playoffs, but at 16 games….16 GAMES! They haven’t even hit the hard part of the schedule yet. The next 8 games are going to be brutal, and I’m going to enjoy it.
Rooting for losing and dysfunction is a lot more liberating, or at least there is a complete lack of frustration, kind of like a quiet smirk. I haven’t watched or listened to any games in two years, and I don’t see that changing. Skip the game, skip the recap, head straight to the comments. It’s all become emotionally manageable to be honest.
An $11 ticket Monday night for my annual trip will probably bring a whole bunch of “meh”. Oh well.
Thanks Vivek Ranadive for trusting your arrogance and ruining this franchise.
C’mon, Marty.
If you can’t trust your own arrogance as a man, what can you trust?
Can’t really see myself doing that, since I am a fan and all, but you do you.
I came here looking for the banner that said Luke has been fired. It’s 9:20 how long can it take to pick up the phone and tell him to pack.
Everyday they don’t fire him is a day they don’t have to give Gentry a pay raise as interim head coach.
The team payroll this season is $131.2 million. Luke makes $6m? Considering Vivek is looking at flushing $137m down the toilet, seems like he would want to do SOMETHING to at least minimize that. If that’s tossing a few million at Gentry, why not, esp if it at least keeps fans from completely abandoning the stadium for the rest of the home games.
The team is worth 1.8 billion, and Vivek paid 348 million. Please save us, Adam Silver.
Another year, another amazing and insightful post-game press conference from a wily veteran goes to waste….
Pouring one out for Tristan, temple, shump, vinsanity, etc..
Pour one out for that truly inspiring performance last night in his roughly 9.5 minutes of playing time: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists!
It should be mentioned that the other team’s coach in the game you just referenced fired up his team to get the win.
What’s the point of a coach if its all on the players 100% of the time? Coaches are supposed to inspire, antagonize, and squeeze the best out of players, sometimes that means they need to fire them up when they’re lacking emotion.
Thompson was honest, but I found it naive and disrespectful to the coaches who taught these young men most of what they know.
Badge Legend