Tonight marks the start of a five game road trip for the Kings, and the beginning of a very road heavy schedule. 19 of Sacramento’s next 26 games are on the road where the Kings have gone 8-7 overall. This could be a make or break portion of the season for the Kings. Last year they were one of the only teams in the Western Conference to finish with an above .500 road record and it helped carry them to the 3 seed. They’ll have to start by taking care of business against teams like Detroit tonight however.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Tuesday, January 9th, 4:00 PM PT
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
This is the first time the Kings have played the Pistons this season but last season the Kings won both games in the season series.
Three in the Key
No Time to Waste
The Western Conference is incredibly tight with only a few games separating the Kings from both the 1st seed and being out of the playoff picture entirely. Sacramento has had some bad losses of late, getting blown out by the Pelicans (again), dropping a home game to Charlotte (who they’ll see tomorrow) and getting blown out by a young Portland squad a couple weeks ago. This team has been inconsistent all year despite their record and with the season almost halfway done, they’ll need to refocus and get more disciplined. The Pistons sport a 3-33 record and will be without Cade Cunningham, one of the few bright lights in their bleak season. But the Kings can’t just take this Pistons team for granted. Nobody likes losing, and the Pistons have been playing hard of late. The Kings need to make a statement, especially after how they got manhandled by New Orleans on Sunday. Also, with a back to back in Charlotte tonight, getting out to a big lead and being able to rest some of your players would be helpful.
How does the Fox play?
De’Aaron Fox is in the midst of the worst stretch of an otherwise incredible season. Over his last four games, he is averaging just 18 points on 36.4% from the field and 22.7% from three. There hasn’t been any indication from him or the team that he’s playing hurt but something is clearly off as this isn’t the Fox we’ve seen for most of the season. The Kings offense has struggled as a result, and the Kings need their best player to either get out of his funk or if he is hurting, let the team know so he can rest up and recuperate.
Get to the Line
The Kings have been an awful free throw shooting team this season but that doesn’t mean they should avoid getting to the line as much as they can. The Pistons foul the most out of any team in the league and allow their opponents to shoot almost 28 free throws a game. The Kings should take advantage and attack whenever they can. I think this would be a good game for Harrison Barnes to be in attack mode as he’s one of Sacramento’s best at drawing fouls over the last few years aside from Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
Prediction
The Kings wash the taste of Sunday’s loss with a triumphant start to the road trip, beating the Pistons by 30+ while also not allowing them to top 100 points on the other end.
Kings 127, Pistons 97
MB3 total points today?
zero, rides the pine
“And action!”
“And cut!”
“Ow! I sprained my finger!!!”
Technical Foul: Demarcus Cousins
Speaking of Bagley, has the crushing setback of blowing that draft officially passed, or does the shadow of it still hang over the franchise?
Basically, when can we say those ripples are no longer present?
I ask this because the incarnation of today’s Kings team shows little imprint of Vlade’s blunder. The Kings very likely wouldn’t have Monte, hired coach Brown, wouldn’t have drafted Hali, traded for Sabonis, drafted Keegan, etc, etc.
The only thing for certain would be the Kings having Luka and possibly Fox.
and GM Divac
I think this team stopped looking back as soon as Monte McNair gave Mike Brown the reins. And that’s when they started progressing.
Hopefully the Kings are running on all cylinders tonight.
hahaha marvin bagley is injury-prone lulz
Remember that time when there was a bunch of people trying to say that Jaden Ivey was the better draft pick over Keegan Murray?
We see it every year. There are guys who put together incredible resumes of collegiate/overseas basketball, demonstrate a wide variety of skills, with a projectable role in the league.
And then everyone watches some 19 year old jump 40+ inches in the air and proceeds to forget everything they knew about basketball.
Fundamentals league, along with being able to shoot. Ivey was a straight line driver that didn’t play much defense.
Luckily Monte assessed Keegan’s skill level well, and saw where he would fit in the league.
Hopefully, the Kings won’t play as gassed as they seem to be these last couple of weeks.
Has there been a more disappointing team this season than Detroit? Long term commitment to a well respected coach and gentleman, in Monty Williams, lots of high draft picks on the roster and yet – they have now garnered a new low in futility with their record 28 consecutive loss record. As a long time Kings (nee Kangz) fan, I sympathize with the fan base.
The Kings should win this one, but we’ve see Boston almost lose at home to this team and given the Kings recently outings and their long term reputation, this young team is likely going to be “up” for this one, even with Cade Cunningham out.
Go Kings.
This should be an easy win and never in doubt. Anything less is cause for concern.
Alec Burks is going to go off for 40, isn’t he?
My money is on Killian Hayes to go off tonight. Can’t shoot so he goes 7-9 from 3, obviously.
Jaden Ivey with career high
The Pistons just came home from the road.
On their trip they got back in loss mode.
Now their best player out
For us causes doubt.
If we lose, our threads will explode!
+1 Let’s avoid that downhill slide!
OT: The Beam won an NBA award!
How do you celebrate a celebrated celebration?
Light a beam for The Beam!
I think Fox is tired. They should rest him for a single game preferably on a SEGABABA and let him catch up.
Minutes and usage are up from last year, plus the ankle injury earlier in the season. He could a game or reduced minutes here soon. Maybe an early blowout will provide that tonight.
tired and hurt. Malik said so in an interview post Raptors game. Hip, hand and ankle.
I do want to see some improved ball movement.
I hope you read my(and my wifes) comment on physical capabilities. We both think that could be part of the problem.
I did read that Jack.
Has an effect.
Driving to the lanes and getting pummeled all season is tough. Add in the no-calls makes it worse. Hope he gets some time-off today. Oh more Keon, less Davion please.
Getting to the line doesn’t help if you can’t hit your free throws.
Badge Legend