It’s a Friday in November so that means it’s once again In-Season Tournament time! The Kings have been on a roll, winners of four straight and now face the San Antonio Spurs as part of tournament and regular season play. The Spurs have lost six straight games since a couple of surprising wins against Phoenix, and they will be missing some key players like Devin Vassell. But this will be the first time the Kings get a look at 7’4 French phenom Victor Wembanyama up close and personal, and Gregg Popovich led squads are never to be taken lightly.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Friday, November 17th, 4:30 PM PT
Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
TV: ESPN, NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
In-Season Tournament West Group C Standings
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 2-0 (+10 Point Differential)
2. Sacramento Kings 1-0 (+7 Point Differential)
3. Golden State Warriors 1-1 (-1 Point Differential)
4. Oklahoma City Thunder 1-2 (+27 Point Differential)
5. San Antonio Spurs 0-2 (-43 Point Differential)
Three in the Key
Wemby Mania
Victor Wembanyama hasn’t exactly been lighting the NBA on fire just yet, but he’s still been far and away the best rookie in the league and has the looks of a generational talent. He’s currently averaging 18.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.0 steals in just 30 minutes a game. His efficiency hasn’t been great but it’s clear that once he gets comfortable with the NBA game and builds some strength up he’s going to be absolutely incredible. For being 7’4, he doesn’t move like a typical big man, moving more like a guard or wing and looking very comfortable shooting from outside. He’s like a weird blend of Rudy Gobert and Kevin Durant, except taller and longer than both of those guys. Domantas Sabonis has faced some relatively long and lanky guys recently and beaten them with strength down low and that’s an area where the Kings will probably look to attack tonight if Wemby gets matched up against Sabonis. I would imagine that Pop will probably have the more veteran Zach Collins matchup with Sabonis for the most part but the Kings should at least have the strength advantage down low. Now on the other end of the floor, let’s see if the Kings can keep Wemby and his long arms out of the paint and away from inevitable lobs.
Don’t Get Comfortable
On paper, this should be an easy matchup for the Kings. Vegas has the Kings favored by 9 points on the road and the Spurs have been losing a lot of blowouts recently, including a 36 point loss in their most recent game to the Thunder. They’ll be without Devin Vassell and Tre Jones, two of their more important players. But this isn’t a game the Kings can just afford to take lightly. Maybe it being a tournament game will help on that front since it counts for just a little extra, but we’ve seen the Kings lose focus at times when the opponent isn’t as flashy, or when a lead balloons such as during last game against the Lakers when the Kings let the Lakers cut a 26 point 4th quarter deficit all the way to 9 before finally regaining control and closing the game out. Even last season, the Kings played a Spurs team in Sacramento that didn’t even have Wemby yet and lost in Overtime, allowing guys like Doug McDermott (30 points) and Julian Champagnie (26 points) to run amok. I would like to see the Kings play a complete game and not discount a young Spurs team that has nothing to lose. Plus, one of the tiebreakers for the tournament is point differential, so the better Sacramento does, the better for their chances to make the knockout stages.
Size vs. Speed
Coach Pop is trying something new this season at Point Guard, having the 6’9 Jeremy Sochan run the offense. Sochan hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire as a playmaker yet, and if Tre Jones can’t play, the only other true Point Guard on San Antonio’s roster is Devonte’ Graham. Sochan is a physical player on both ends of the court and it should be an interesting matchup to see how he tries to deal with De’Aaron Fox on both ends of the court. Fox has the speed advantage for sure, but long, rangy defenders have tended to bother him a lot more than other guards. Still, Fox has been playing like an MVP candidate this year, and this is a matchup where the Kings should have a clear advantage.
Prediction
Domantas Sabonis continues to tear through opposing bigs that weigh half as much as him and leads the Kings to a comfortable tourney victory.
Kings 142, Spurs 109
Wembanyama is now all the rage
As he enters the NBA stage.
Hope Domas out-duels him,
Perhaps even schools him,
And keeps the Kings fully engaged!
+1 Cut Slenderman down to size!
Pedal on the gas early, take care of business, and ride the easy wave to a victory.
I’d not be surprised to see Keegan putting pressure on Sochan if he’s running the point. Since JS doesn’t take a ton of shots, whoever covers him will be primarily engaged in preventing him from initiating the offense, which hopefully forces San Antonio into a number of late-in-the-clock shots.
Maybe I’m just getting soft, but I would put numbers like that for a nineteen-year-old under the “setting the league on fire” umbrella.He’ll certainly take time to adjust to the NBA, and have some rough patches as he does, but good god, Wemby is going to be a problem for everyone. As a defender, he’ll distort offenses similarly to Gobert, and on offense? A defender really has no good choices. We’re going to see some excellent defenders play VW perfectly on a possession, then be deflated when the kid scores anyway.
Sabonis and McGee will be able to push him around without too much trouble, but getting shots away cleanly is still going to be difficult. If Wembenyana is covering anyone other than our centers, it will be that person’s responsibility to hit shots and pull Wemby out of the paint. If that’s workable, the Kings ought to be able to cruise at the end.
I could see Keegan on Keldon Johnson a lot tonight. Keegan is a bit taller and oddly quick on the defensive end this season.
I could see Sabonis putting Wemby in a blender down low. His plethora of post moves and spins may get Wemby off his feet and into easy fouls.
Wemby will only end up on Sabonis by accident.
Not much need for him to get off his feet.
Quite right, and our kid Domas isn’t exactly a world-class leaper.
Whoever is being guarded by Wemby has a better chance of driving and kicking or getting into his body. Trying to make an outside shot against Wemby is a really bad idea, unless you have 10 feet or more of space, because his closing ability is insane.
I want to see Fox on Sochan , and Keegan on Wemby. Thats the best plan. We could put Keegan on Sochan, and he’d do a great job, but then who guards Wemby, because it sure as hell will not be Domas. I can almost guarantee Keegan will get the starting nod on Wemby. Our coaches are smart, after all.
Maybe Kessler gets some run tonight to check Wemby when Keegan is off the floor. We do not want Sasha on Wemby. On the other end Collins will be assigned to Domas. The Spurs should put Wemby on HB so he can act as a Roamer and weak side protector when Fox and Domas attack the rim.
HB could have success against Wemby, not shooting over him, but driving at him and into his body for a foul. I predict HB gets his corner three ball swatted into the third row. It is inevitable. LOL. Then for more entertainment value there will be a Summit at the Rim between Monk and Wemby, winner TBD.
If it’s a close game, or the Spurs are running wild, Brown will send McGee at Vic. Javale is the only one remotely close to Wemby in length, and can still get up on shot defense.
We’re all going to learn a lot tonight, none of our guys have ever dealt with a player like Vic. Should be a fun game.
Frost Bank Center? Shouldn’t it be Wemby Stadium?
Give it a couple of years.
Killing some time in the shadows of G1C while the car is in the shop today. Sometimes it’s still hard to believe we have a a good basketball team to root for. Let’s make it 5 straight!
Not only are the Spurs an inferior team, but I also think we match up well against them. Expect Sabonis to dominate the paint, Fox to be essentially unguardable, and just enough input from the supporting cast to make this one pretty easy. Nonetheless, can’t fall asleep at the wheel. This team has talent and Pop always knows how to win basketball games.
Just Say No to Zach Lavine
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