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Warriors 113, Kings 98: Valiant effort from the Kings, but the Warriors close out the fourth

Shorthanded Kings left it all on the floor, but fell to the best defense in the league.
By | 25 Comments | Dec 20, 2021

Dec 20, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) scores a layup against Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

As the pandemic continues to rage, what’s left of the Sacramento Kings took a short trip to the bay to face the similarly depleted Golden State Warriors. Both teams were missing some of their key players, the Warriors mostly due to injuries, and the Kings to health & safety protocols. In the absence of De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton was ready to continue his excellent play at the point guard position. Across from him was only Stephen Curry, who I will admit, was a worthy opponent to Hali’s Highness. In a battle against the second best team in the league, let’s see how the Kings did:

Quick Stats

Outcome: Kings lose, 98-113

Sacramento Kings: 98 pts, 44.6% fg, 40.6% 3pt, 68.8% ft, 23 ast, 37 reb, 21 to

Golden State Warriors: 113 pts, 52.3% fg, 40.5% 3 pt, 66.7% ft, 28 ast, 42 reb, 16 to

The Kings were able to hang around for a solid three and a half quarters, but the Warriors ultimately turned up their execution on both ends of the floor and ran away with the game in the final six minutes. The Kings were noticeably gassed in the final stretch of the game, as they relied on heavy minutes from Tyrese Haliburton (41) and Buddy Hield (40). The better team won tonight, but the Kings showed consistent effort and put up an intrepid effort to keep things interesting.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good
  1. Point Hali: Tyrese Haliburton showed more aggression, control, and confidence in his third game in a row filling in at the point guard position. He finished with 24 points, 11 assists, and led the team in field goal attempts with 18. Everything flowed through Haliburton on the offensive end. Aside from the numbers, the most impressive thing is seeing him embrace the responsibility. He seems to be getting more comfortable in being aggressive on offense, something the Kings will desperately need, even when De’Aaron Fox returns.
  2. Hanging In: Stephen Curry had a cold first three quarters from behind the arc, going just 1-8, and the Kings were able to take advantage of this and keep themselves within striking distance for most of the night. A late arrival from Buddy Hield helped. After starting out 0-7 from deep, Buddy finally found a rhythm in the third quarter and made 6-8 in the second half to keep the Kings in the game. Timely shooting from Buddy, paired with consistent effort from the Kings kept this game from being decided early.
The BAd
  1. Bench Production: The Kings only got 11 points from their bench tonight, with Moe Harkless contributing seven of them. To be fair, half of the Kings’ usual bench was pushed into the starting lineup, so tonight’s bench unit consisted mainly of Moe Harkless and Damian Jones. It was just unfortunate to see Jones have a scoreless showing after having such a big night against the Spurs.
The Ugly
  1. Dull Execution: The fourth quarter shows you who you really are. The Warriors tightened up their play on both sides of the ball and it really exposed the Kings’ lack of executional skills. The Kings committed 9 of their 21 turnovers in the final quarter and scored just 19 points. In the end, the better team did what better teams do – get stops, run smart offense, and value the ball. The Kings just aren’t there yet.
The King of Kings

I thoroughly enjoyed all 41 minutes of watching Tyrese Haliburton play basketball tonight. Although he had five turnovers, I wholeheartedly forgive each and every one of them. As as second year player, Haliburton played his heart out tonight and did all he could to lead this depleted squad. Haliburton logged his third double-double in a row and gave a fearless performance against one of the best teams in the league.

Up Next

Wednesday, December 22nd vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7:00 P.M. (PT)

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rockbottom
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December 20, 2021 10:32 pm

Tyrese is a legit leader and point guard ! Makes this team fun to watch !

satdawg
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December 21, 2021 2:05 am

Man, what happens when Fox comes back

HongKongKingsFan
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December 21, 2021 5:57 am
Reply to  satdawg

I think we had been seeing Fox handling the ball less after Gentry/Doug took over the team.

And I think Fox better shoot the ball for fewer times.

RocklinRoll
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December 21, 2021 6:56 am
Reply to  satdawg

Probably the same stuff that happened before he left.
He’ll put up decent individual stats and then not come through in the clutch.

The Kings just look better as a team without him on the floor (just my opinion), which isn’t good when you’re talking about the “face of the franchise”.

1951
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December 21, 2021 8:18 am
Reply to  satdawg

We get Sabonis?

Daydreamer
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December 21, 2021 9:35 am
Reply to  satdawg

With correct coaching: Fox is the 2-guard, slashing and popping 12-15 foot jumpers, his strength. He checks the opponent’s 2, Davion guards their point, Hali covers their 3.

HongKongKingsFan
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December 21, 2021 5:59 am

Once again…….

METU showing that he can play…….

His defense had been above average……can stick with his man, make deflection…hustle..
can make smart pass….and taking less 3 in last two games…

Make METU the full-time PF………..

RocklinRoll
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December 21, 2021 6:58 am

Agreed.
I don’t see any better options currently wearing a Kings uniform.

kings4ever
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December 21, 2021 7:14 am

Ty has been a joy to behold these last few games, now there is no turning back. He’s shown what a dynamic engaged savvy player he can be, with ability to take teammates with him. It is less important he’s shown this ability to us, more important he’s shown this to himself, and those who can nurture this budding stardom.

The post by Blake from yesterday was well done but something was conspicuosly missing from the breakdown. We know Ty has the laser eye from deep and when he turns the corner on the pick and roll he can slice and dice, but to this repertoire he has added the one and two dribble pull-ups, the juke moves in isolation to step away from the defender and be all twine.

This was the hole in his game holding him back, but hes been spending time in the lab, so to speak, doing science. There is an unorthodox quality to his moves, and maybe this is a good thing because the defender is not used to it. But his footwork is precise, his balance and reads are exemplary and the arc on his shot is beautiful despite the awkward release.

In absence of half our roster Ty has had the ball in his hands a lot more, being the floor orchestrator, the lead conductor, master of ceremonies. He has gravitated to this role like moth to a flame. When the former coach was around wasnt there some rule about making a decision within 0.5 seconds? You can play hot potato motion offense or put the ball in the hands of those trusted to handle with the most care and prudence. You cannot do both.

Buddy Yield played one of the worst halves of basketball I have ever seen. He cannot get open. His handles are atrocious. And no matter how hard he tries on defense he is going to get torched. No wonder Moe Harkless lit a fire under his ass. Way to go Moe!

Is it just me or does Buddy have a harder time getting himself open? He moves like he’s constipated, as if the digestive tract is not flowing properly. I may start calling him Backed Up Buddy. He needs an ex-lax and a new home. Backed Up Buddy got hot in the 3rd, but there was never any sense this could last, be part of an epic upset. You would have to not know the history to not know better.

Backed Up Buddy is a flame in the wind, extinguishable soon after it is lit. Poof. Defenders of Buddy have claimed he creates gravity, draws excess attention, tilting defense to help others player feast. But look what GSW did. They swarmed him not just to prevent shots but to exploit his butterfingers.

Credit GSW for having a #1 defense but this happens against bottom feeders too. Buddy does not exploit his rep as a marksman, he proves hes nothing more than this, and only this for quarters at a time between games at a time. This would be okay if he found a way not to be so bad between hot streaks.

I would not be compelled to make the same point over and again, but it appears that the interim and the interim of the interim still think Buddy can still be part of something. Less is more with this guy and none at all is best of all and best for all. I do not fall for the hot streaks, they are empty and hollow, like calories from soda, no nourishment provided. Then you get the pose and flex, the screech to the crowd, the irrational exuberance from a career loser.

I suggest the emotional investment placed in Marvin be shifted to Metu. Metu is not going to make up for drafting a bust, but it is consolation to degree. As I have always said Metu jumps off the screen as an impressive raw talent that only needs to be nurtured and refined. Metu was throwing in the running hook, flashing along the baseline, flipping it in with the left hand. Woo! He missed a vicious jam but the idea was splendid. Just like I did not lose faith in TD, I have not lost faith in Metu. There is a player there, a damn good one!

With his ability to probe the defense, and the high release on his shot, should not Metu just completely abandon his 3 pointer? He can also attack closeouts and dish which means he is not always having to go into the lane with intent to shoot. You cannot say this at all about Marvin.

Before the season Marvin had the edge over Metu as a defensive rebounder, 22% to 18%. Both players have improved, with Metu holding a slight edge this season, garnering 25% of his defensive rebound opps. So the basis to play Marvin, to address one of the primary team weaknesses, has been statistically negated.

Metu needs to get more than 6 rebounds per game like he has in the last two games, but he is in there fighting and holding his ground, and this is keeping the ball alive for a teammate to get it. Marvin does not have this fight or presence. The question is will the interim see this, and act appropriately, since one of his first moves when being installed was moving Marvin over Metu.

Adamsite
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December 21, 2021 7:41 am
Reply to  kings4ever

I had serious doubts about Metu being a contributor, or even an NBA player, coming into this season. I know believe he can help, but in reality he has no business starting and getting more than 15 minutes a game on a good team. He is a hustle and effort big that could play very well off the bench on a team that utilizes his strengths. He’s currently a poor man’s stretch big, which is fine, but the Kings still need major upgrades in talent that would relegate him to a bench role.

SelecaoKOJ
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December 21, 2021 7:58 am
Reply to  Adamsite

I have to agree. If people think Metu is the answer at 4, you’ve really set the bar low for this team. Metu has looked good for a couple games. But, then you easily forget how bad he’s looked against the likes of the Grizz, Raptors and Cavs. HE got his Azz handed to him. Metu looked good against a SPurs team that has no semblance of a PF, either. Metu looked decent against Green last night. But, Green still had a much better game. One was a net negative, Green was a net positive. Metu is no better than a 10-15 minute a night player. He can definitely be a bench guy. In no world is this guy a starter.

Last edited 2 years ago by SelecaoKOJ
Adamsite
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December 21, 2021 7:49 am

OT: McNair missed a golden opportunity here. He could have had all the royalty. Louis King, George King, Sacramento Kings!

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1473318544662319112

1951
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December 21, 2021 8:19 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Did he lose IT and Reke’s numbers or something?

We could have used the best (rookie) player from the 2009 draft class last night.

Last edited 2 years ago by 1951
Adamsite
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December 21, 2021 8:37 am
Reply to  1951

I’m a bit surprised no one has given Tyreke a shot. I’d be totally down with bringing him in on a 10 day. If anything it could be a nice second chance/redemption story.

Klam
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December 21, 2021 10:15 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Same.

Kosta
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December 21, 2021 7:42 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Would be Tyreke’s third tour of duty!

The Sacramento Kings have agreed to trade DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Tyreke Evans, 2016 first-round draft pick Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway and first- and second-round draft picks this summer

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/philadelphia-76ers/reports-kings-trade-demarcus-cousins-pelicans

Hobby916
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December 21, 2021 7:56 am

There very so many bad turnovers by the Kings. Careless hand offs, passing without even noticing a defender was literally standing in the passing lane, etc. Live and learn I guess

1951
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December 21, 2021 8:17 am

All we could ask for.
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RobHessing
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December 21, 2021 9:07 am

Usually it is Kings fans that leave it all on the floor.comment image

Klam
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December 21, 2021 10:17 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Kings fans just have to have bags ready when they watch the team play.
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Kosta
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December 21, 2021 7:45 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

That’s about where Tyreke heaved it from.

nonstripedzebra
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December 21, 2021 9:29 am

The franchise is so much influx and still seems dead set on pursuing a nonexistent playoff chance, but Tyrese since Fox has left I would hope would be taken very seriously by the organization.

This is a player under whats basically 7 years of control. Obviously with the caveat of players today often pushing a move regardless of contract status, but still. The grounds for his improvements being primary ball handler seem apparent with the uptick in usage and role, while also more evolutionary to developing competitive teams for the future.

I appreciate Fox and his commitment to the city and adopting a leader persona, but the whole franchise should be oriented around Haliburton’s timeline. And the context considering the Kings assets and the league broadly all support an ability to establish I assume a fairly engaging foundation.

Fox’s value is perplexing but likely able to retrieve multiple parts and picks. Barnes improvement have been admirable and staggering to the point where he could be real difference maker for a contending team. And broadly the roster has a diversified payroll to work out deals. It would seem the right move in an organization with aligned priorities or one simply weighing their best path based on probabilities.

Last edited 2 years ago by nonstripedzebra
KingOfTheMonsters
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December 21, 2021 10:14 am

I agree.
I like the idea floated on this site of starting Davion/Ty at point and using Fox as the SG. I think that improves the defense and makes the offense more dynamic.
Looking long term, sell off the assets for the future.
How about Barnes for Kuminga and change?
Fox (as a basis for a deal) for Siakam or Reddish or Jerami Grant.
Or get a bunch of picks.

RikSmits
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December 21, 2021 11:00 am

Shorthanded Kings left it all on the floor, but fell to the best defense in the league.

It’s crazy that this can be said about a team where the guys leading the team in minutes per game are Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins.

SneakerKing
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December 21, 2021 2:00 pm

The more Hali is allowed to cook, the more he will develop and thrive here in Sac. I want him seeing every possible PnR situation he can so he can keep a mental rolodex of what to do/not do.

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