Royal Roundtable: Playoff Basketball is fun

With the Kings having some playoff wins under their belt now, we asked our staff to look back at the last two games and also for their expectations going forward.

Q: With the Kings going up 2-0 against the Warriors, who or what has impressed you the most?

Akis: I think just the overall poise of this team has been the most impressive. The Kings have taken the Warriors punches (sometimes literally) and instead of crumbling they’ve withstood and come right back. Curry hits a huge three? Fox comes back with his own. Wiggins hits a tough midrange shot? Monk takes it to the rim. It’s just been a very impressive showing for the Kings in their first real big playoff experience as a team. It’s a testament to the work the team has been putting in all year and the culture that Mike Brown and the staff has instilled.

Tony: Where do I start? This team has impressed me on so many levels. Their defense in Game 2 was some of the best defense they’ve played all year. But if I have to give kudos to one area in particular, I’ll shout out the bench unit.

Led by Malik Monk, Trey Lyles, and Davion Mitchell, this crew has been spectacular. Kings starters have struggled in both games. Monk’s energy and scoring off the bench has turned both games around. Davion Mitchell’s defense on Steph Curry has been stellar. Trey Lyles has hit some tough, clutch shots, especially in Game 1. They’ve been a streaky unit all season, but they are kicking ass against the Warriors reserves when it matters most.

Kevin: I think everyone can agree that they are impressed with the Kings level of composure in this series. Sure, we’ve seen flashes of this throughout the season but these guys are as untested as it gets, and have been playing in uncharted playoff waters. Despite that lack of experience they’ve shown an elite level of both physical and mental toughness that I don’t think anyone, even us, were expecting from them. This is truly the kind of stuff that can take you deep into the playoffs.

That said, I’m also just incredibly impressed with the adjustments Mike Brown and his staff have made both on the fly and between games. This series has turned into a chess match with Mike Brown’s staff countering each and every one of Steve Kerr’s defensive gimmicks. In game 1 the Warriors went all out to stop Sabonis, Huerter and the DHO. They spent an incredible amount of energy trying to nullify a key part of Sacramento’s offense and the Kings recognized they had an opportunity to step on the gas, attack the paint, and feast in the midrange. Secret weapon Alex Len was deployed, to all of our surprise, and exploited the Warriors lack of size. By the end of game one, half the Warriors starting lineup was gassed and Fox and Monk were getting whatever they wanted. In game two the Warriors inserted Wiggins into the starting lineup to try to slow Fox down. The Kings recognized a lack of size and offensive firepower on the Warriors bench so they got physical, set out to get the Warriors in foul trouble early and turned on the jets whenever Curry hit the bench. Looney was ultimately relegated to the role of bystander and the Warriors absolute lack of depth, of any kind, was put on display. Mike Brown and the Kings have taken whatever the Warriors have given them and countered in ways the Warriors have had no answers for, it’s truly been a masterclass.

Rob H: The poise of this team, every one of the players that has been on the floor. Fox has ascended to the moment, and guys like Lyles and Mitchell have played their roles expertly while staying firmly in the moment. This has not looked like an inexperienced team in any manner. And my goodness, Mike Brown. The recognition of Mitchell being locked in down the stretch of game two and letting him close it out. That is special.

Honorable mention to the stamina of the G1C fans. I did not know if the fans would be able to sustain playoff level engagement. They have been magnificent. A joy to watch.

Melissa: I have to give serious props to the fans. In the arena, around DOCO, at the outdoor watch parties… we knew Kings fans would show up, but the way they have made national NBA writers and fans of other teams take notice has been awesome.

On the court, Davion Mitchell is having a moment. He completely understands his role in this series and is doing his part to try and wear down Steph and make him as mortal as possible in late-game situations. And you have to give it up for Malik Monk – there’s no shot the Kings are up 2-0 without his contributions on both ends of the floor off the bench. De’Aaron Fox has proven himself to be an elite player when the lights are brightest, but I don’t know that anyone expected Malik Monk to be the 1B to his 1A in his postseason debut.

Q: What’s been the most unexpected surprise of this series so far?

Akis: Honestly? The fact that Alex Len is actually getting playoff minutes and is a real contributor. I know that Mike Brown was playing him towards the end of the season, but I thought that was more in case we ran into a team in the playoffs that had some size and we needed him to be ready as a possible counter. When we matched up against the Warriors, I thought for sure we’d go back to going small with Metu or even Lyles at the backup 5. But Mike Brown has stuck with Alex Len and he’s been great in his minutes so far, providing much needed rim protection, solid screens and doing well in the Pick and Roll.

Tony: Honestly, the biggest surprise to me is the fact that the Kings are up 2-0 against the Warriors, and they haven’t come close to their peak offensively. Kevin Huerter is shooting 14% from 3. Harrison Barnes is shooting 14% from 3. Keegan Murray is shooting 0% from 3. All the shooters in their starting lineup are ice cold, and they’re still up 2-0.

This needs to change, fast, by the way. Those shooters need to hit their shots. This is unsustainable. But I am shocked that the Kings have played so well despite a starters-wide shooting slump, and are walking away with a 2-0 series lead anyway.

Rob H: I would have wagered that the Kings could not win while scoring under 120 (or maybe even 125). In game 2 they shot under 25% from 3, under 73% from the line…and won by 8. They held the Dubs to 52 in the 1st half, 54 in the 2nd. Had Memphis done this, “grit & grind!!!” would be bellowed from the Great Smoky Mountains. If anyone’s heading up to the Sierras this weekend, give a little mountain top shout out for the black and blue collar effort that the Kings have shown thus far, especially in game 2.

Also, personal apology to Davion Mitchell for preferring Moses Moody in the draft.

Kevin: The Kings defense in game two. I didn’t see this coming AT ALL. Mike Brown finally found the on position on the Kings defense switch or something because they showed us a level of sustained defensive effort that we simply haven’t seen all season. Davion Mitchell played the game of his career, absolutely smothering Curry at times, frequently forcing him to pass out of drives and holding him to 3-13 from deep. But beyond that, the entire team effort was just shocking to see. De’Aaron Fox’s defense has been a revelation. Kevin Huerter is showing out on that end. Even Domantas was out there sliding and steering Curry and others around the perimeter. Whatever the hell Mike Brown, Jordi or whoever said to these guys WORKED.

Melissa: Everyone says playoff basketball is a different game, and they’re right. So it has been a little bit shocking to see how physical the Kings are playing when so few of them have any notable postseason experience.

The defense has been so meh all season, to see these guys flip the switch and totally buy in on that end of the floor is a revelation. The Warriors have been the bully for so long this time of year, but the young, fresh legs of the Kings are really trying to turn the tables and doing so with success to this point in the series.

Q: What has this last week meant to you personally as a Kings fan?

Akis: Honestly, this might be the most fun I’ve had as a Kings fan in my entire life. This season has been special, but the postseason is on another level. I was never able to attend a playoff game during the early 2000s, but I vividly remember going to family watch parties and even going to the annual church Easter picnic bringing small TVs with bunny ears so we didn’t miss a moment of the game. When my dad bought season tickets in 2012, it was to show our support for the team and try to keep them in Sacramento. I had always hoped that the team would do well enough so I would get to experience the playoffs in person with my Dad. He’s the one who started me on this road to Kings fandom and I wanted to share that moment with him. A few years ago, he gave up the tickets as the product wasn’t worth the money or time and it was hard to blame him, but I still held out hope that when the Kings became good again we’d be able to go to a playoff game. I got to finally realize that dream with my Dad this last weekend and the experience was everything I could have hoped for: A raucous crowd, a back and forth entertaining game, and in the end a Kings victory. These are the moments that create memories for life, and I will cherish it for a long time, regardless of the outcome of this series or season.

Tony: It has been so long since I had a real rooting interest in playoff basketball that I forgot how fun this shit is. I think I can speak for the entire fanbase when I say we needed this.

I’m just so happy for everyone involved. My experience from 3,000 miles away is different. I’m not celebrating any of this in person. Nobody in my offline life gives a shit about the Kings. But I get to enjoy it with everyone at The Kings Herald. The community here, Kings fans on twitter, Kings fans at the arena, outside of the arena – I can still feel how much it means to everyone. It means that much to me, too. It’s everything I hoped it would be, and then some.

Kevin: This has just been so much fun!! The 6th man has been fully activated. The crowds are insane. The post-win celebrations have been like nothing I’ve ever experienced as an adult. The vibes in the city are electric. Yesterday I was walking around East Sac in a Sabonis jersey, looking for a scooter to take to the arena, and every 3rd car screamed “Light The Beam!” at me as they drove by. This is genuinely why we wanted so badly for this team to stay. The vibes, the sense of community, the renewed civic pride… it’s just so bad ass. I’m just so grateful for it all.

Rob H: As many of you know, my office is decked out with Kings swag dating back to 1989. Golden age gear, a picture with Tyreke, my most prized Jerry Reynolds Carl’s Jr. trading card, etc. For the last decade plus, the collection has been viewed by guests with bemusement, sympathy, and longings for better days. In one season the collection has been transported from sad to cool, and the conversations have transformed from exasperation and resignation to excitement and celebration. What a fun team to root for, and what a fun time to be a Kings fan.

Melissa: I am an OG Kings fan, going back to when they first moved to Sacramento. But Monday night was only the second time I have gotten to see this franchise play a playoff game in their home arena, and the first time I have seen them win.

My fandom certainly waned over the last decade – the team was bad, I was out of state, I had few connection points to the franchise – but being back in Sacramento and having my pride for the city and the home team swell has been such a gift. Walking around the arena Monday, high-fiving and hugging strangers during the game, listening to national pundits talking glowingly about the players, the fans, the Beam… it’s just been so damn cool. And getting to be a part of the community at The Kings Herald during it all has been the icing on the cake.

Q: What do the Kings need to most improve on in order to close out the series?

Akis: I think it really comes down to shooting. The Kings have been one of the better outside shooting teams all season, but so far in this series they’re at just 30%, and in Game 2 they shot just 9 for 38 or 23.7%. And they still won by 8 somehow! The Warriors deserve a lot of credit for mucking up the dribble hand off game that resulted in a lot of the open threes the Kings got in the regular season, but the Kings are still getting decent looks that just aren’t going down right now. Keegan Murray in particular has been a relative non-factor in the first two games. If the Kings can get him going, that’s just one more threat the Warriors have to deal with and it opens up the floor even more for Fox and Monk’s dribble drives. Other than that, I think the Kings should keep doing what they’ve been doing. They won’t have the energy of the Sacramento crowd behind them over the next couple of games, but they’ve been a strong road team all year, and I trust that they know how important getting at least one of those games would be.

Tony: The starters, namely Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, and Keegan Murray, probably need to start hitting shots from beyond the arc. While I do think Barnes and Huerter have been valuable in other areas, Murray has been pretty invisible out there overall.

The bench has made their shooting struggles survivable, but what if the bench isn’t scoring like this on the road? They’ve got to make up points somewhere, and I’ll be looking squarely at these three to get it done. They’re due, they’re capable, and I think it’s the final piece to putting this series away.

Kevin: It’d be pretty rad if the Kings started hitting their outside shots. These all out brawls have been fun and all but if the three-ball starts falling early in either of the last two games, you could have lit the beam in the 3rd quarter. I have to think (I’d like to think?) the Kings will break out of this shooting slump eventually and then it’s going to be up to the Warriors to prove they have even more in the tank than what they’ve displayed so far.

Rob H: Keeping my heart rate down? I don’t know. I’ve watched this team all year and have grinded a little over quick 3s, but it’s part of the team’s plan and DNA. It’s a piece of the larger puzzle. So in that regard, I need to adjust, not the team.

Continuing to finding help for Sabonis on the glass. I’d say getting Murray more engaged, but Brown’s rotations are working around / through that.

It may be less about where they need to improve and more about where they need to continue their focus. Value all of your offensive possessions and defensive assignments. Sell out for one another. Continue to be the team that is concerned more about the team result than just getting yours. Continue to focus on the task at hand and not the surrounding noise.
…
Or just start hitting a much higher percentage of your 3s!!!

Melissa: They’re going to have to make some of their outside shots early if they are going to keep winning games, and if they’re going to steal one on the road. I fully expect the Warriors to come out sharp Thursday night, and the team and the home court is going to get an emotional boost from feeling wronged by the Draymond Green suspension. It will be much harder to come back from a deficit at Oracle than it is in front of a frothing at the mouth home crowd.

My biggest concern defensively is figuring out that little double screen action at the top of the key that has led to so many wide open looks from deep for Klay Thompson. He absolutely killed them in game two off that set, and over-adjusting is only going to clear things up for Steph.