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Kings 135, Suns 127: Huge 3rd quarter lifts Kings to victory

The Kings outscored the Suns 45-26 in the third quarter to even the season series and take a commanding lead for sole possession atop the Pacific Division.
By | 58 Comments | Mar 24, 2023

Mar 24, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

It wasn’t the prettiest of games at times, particularly in the first half, but the Kings rode the momentum of a huge third quarter and the raucous Golden 1 Center crowd to beat the Phoenix Suns 135 to 127.

Kevin Huerter returned from injury in a big way, continuing his scorching hot March by scoring a team leading 29 points on 55.6% from the field and 50% from three. He also added 9 rebounds, 5 assists a steal and a block and was a team-high +20.  Much of that damage came in the pivotal third quarter where the Kings overcame an 11 point halftime deficit to build their own lead.

The Kings outscored the Suns 45-26 in the third quarter (at one point they were on a 24-3 run) and never looked back.  The Suns managed to make it a bit of a game towards the end thanks to the efforts of Terrence Ross (30 points off of the bench for Phoenix) and Devin Booker (game-high 32 points) but Sacramento was able to close it out even without the services of Mr. Fourth Quarter, De’Aaron Fox. Fox played just under 21 minutes and scored 19 points, but left the bench for the locker room towards the end of the third quarter and was eventually ruled out of the game with right hamstring soreness.

The Kings didn’t really look like they were in any sort of rhythm on either end of the floor until that third quarter.  The game started out with Phoenix just carving the Kings up defensively, getting to the paint at will.  Meanwhile the Kings seemingly avoided the paint and spent much of the time settling for outside jumpers which weren’t falling.  Even without Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul kept finding guys like Jock Landale (who tied his season-high with 17 points, most of which came in the first half) for open looks in the paint.  It’s a testament to Sacramento’s effort that they were able to reverse the trend in the second half, eventually winning the points in the paint 64 to 56.

Domantas Sabonis was keen to take advantage of the lack of size that Phoenix had however.  Sabonis scored 27 points on a very efficient 10-15 from the field to go with 9 rebounds and 9 assists in almost 38 minutes.  The Suns were playing a lot of small ball down the stretch which caused several mismatches on switches and helped the Kings close out the game.

Harrison Barnes was also instrumental in the victory, scoring 23 points on 7-12 from the field.  With no Fox to carry the team down the stretch, Barnes took a more assertive role in the offense and scored 11 of his points in the final quarter, including the last six in a row to close out the game.

With the victory, the Kings now have 44 wins on the season, their most since the last playoff run in 2005-06 when they finished with exactly 44.  The Kings now hold a 5.5 game lead for the 3rd seed and are still 2 back of the Grizzlies for 2nd.  They’ll be back in action tomorrow night to face the Utah Jazz and hopefully get a little revenge for their loss in Utah last week.

Random Observations:

  • Keegan Murray is so understated for how good he is.  His stats don’t jump off the page, but this is a rookie who is starting and making big plays down the stretch for a solid playoff team.  Mike Brown threw him right in the fire from the beginning and gave him the assignment of trying to guard Devin Booker, and it didn’t go well at all, as Booker drew two quick fouls on him.  But whereas most rookies would lose confidence, Murray kept a level head and still managed to have a decent game. He scored 13 points (including 3-4 from downtown, the rookie three point record is now 10 away for those wondering), had 4 boards (including an absolutely huge offensive rebound with about 30 seconds left that essentially sealed the game) and dished out a couple of nice assists.  There are definite areas of improvement for him (finishing at the rim in particular) but he’s already so solid as a rookie. I’m really looking forward to seeing how his career develops.
  • Davion Mitchell didn’t have the best shooting night (just 1-4) but I thought he did an admirable job filling in for De’Aaron and playing his usual excellent defense. He finished 2nd on the team in assists with 6 and was doing a solid job of moving the ball as needed. He’s been seeming more and more comfortable in his role within the offense since the All-Star break.
  • Terrence Ross is an underrated member of the Kings killers.  His 30 points alone was more than Sacramento’s entire bench (24).
  • Booker was killing the Kings with his drives and midrange game tonight but I’m still shocked he only took one three the entire game.  The Suns as a team only took 29 and Terrence Ross (6-10) was the only player who made more than one.
  • It feels like the Kings are only one or two pieces away from being truly special. They really need a premiere wing defender (maybe Kessler Edwards can develop into that guy?) and some sort of rim protection. This team can score for days but they’ll need to do a way better job of generating stops to be a serious threat in the playoffs.
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Ellis5
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March 24, 2023 10:11 pm

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Last edited 1 year ago by Ellis5
Jman1949
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March 24, 2023 10:14 pm

The beam shines even brighter…

comment image&ct=g

when there’s a total eclipse of the Suns!

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TerzoM
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March 24, 2023 10:18 pm

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Ellis5
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March 24, 2023 10:23 pm
Reply to  TerzoM

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RikSmits
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March 24, 2023 10:19 pm

Virtually locking up the 3rd spot. Excellent.

Get well soon, Fox.

I really hope that they’ll try to bring Sasha Vezenkov over to augment our bench. Not to replace Barnes, because that would probably not work out great.

TheGrantNapear
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March 25, 2023 6:16 am
Reply to  RikSmits

Sasha Vezenkov
what type of game does Sasha have?

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
March 25, 2023 7:39 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

A younger and bit quicker Nemanja

Want2win
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March 25, 2023 8:44 am
Reply to  Adamsite

That is a good description probably a better shooter

murraytant
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March 25, 2023 10:50 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Look at his videos- one claims 673 points on 27 dribbles! yes. He does not put the ball on the floor- he makes standstill 3’s and cuts to the hoop for a pass and score. One of top players in Europe. Hits an astounding percent from the corners. Rebounds fairly well.
Is bulky and a bit slow afoot but can play. Belly is a good comp.
I see him as complementary- using cuts to get free. This will change Kings slightly, but his cuts are far more effective than Keegan.
I would keep HB and Lyles and add him. Kings need better back up PG (Delly ought to coach). Patty Mills for one year? and need rim protection.
The 2023 draft picks will probably be developmental although there is a tall guy in France who could help with rim protection.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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March 24, 2023 10:22 pm

comment image&ct=g

Kings Kevin: Big
Suns Kevin: Incomplete

ManilaBayCleanerCrew
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March 24, 2023 11:12 pm

We have the better Kevin.

Daydreamer
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March 25, 2023 7:02 am

Ours is not a big crybaby.

Ellis5
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March 24, 2023 10:27 pm

Kings/Suns = Kelvin scale to be replaced with KVon scale

Last edited 1 year ago by Ellis5
andy_sims
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March 25, 2023 12:52 pm
Reply to  Ellis5

Solid joke for dorks like us.

Timmy_13
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March 24, 2023 10:43 pm

First half was one of the worst defenses I’ve ever seen in my life.

Chris Paul is still a bitch.

Timmy_13
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March 24, 2023 10:48 pm
Reply to  Timmy_13

Also, Kings should take a good hard look at Leonard Miller. He doesn’t shoot well from three but he’s a decent defender and cutter with length and great wingspan. He’s someone that could develop into a 3 and D glue guy for us. He’s slated at the mid 20s to late first. If we can develop his shooting, he can be the perfect fit next to Sabonis for weakside help defense.

Ellis5
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March 24, 2023 10:49 pm
Reply to  Timmy_13

naw

TheGrantNapear
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March 25, 2023 6:24 am
Reply to  Timmy_13

I’m hoping we can nab a legit defensive minded stretch 4 in this draft to eventually start with Sabonis. The eventual starting lineup:

Fox
Velvet
Keegan
Stretch 4
Sabonis

Keegan’s lack of athleticism excludes him from being a legit 4 and matching seamlessly with Sabonis.
Given our trade history with ATL, I could see a buy low trade for Hunter this offseason.

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 11:09 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

We should target some of BKN’s wings like DFS. Or go big with OG Anunoby.

murraytant
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March 25, 2023 10:52 am
Reply to  Timmy_13

possible –or Clowney.
But pick will not help next year. The mid 20’s picks usually do not contribute right away-
trade?

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 11:10 am
Reply to  murraytant

Yea at this point any length would help

Kingsguru21
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March 25, 2023 12:43 pm
Reply to  Timmy_13

Like, Kessler Edwards? 🙂

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 2:53 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

Hopefully!

krswin
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March 25, 2023 12:31 pm
Reply to  Timmy_13

CP is a comic genius. His flopping is so incredibly theatrical it’s mesmerizing. He gets away with it because the refs are so entertained.

andy_sims
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March 25, 2023 12:55 pm
Reply to  krswin

Out of the first-ballot lock Hall of fame guys, it’s tough to think of one that I enjoy watching less than Chris Paul. Trae is just a really shitty copy of Paul, but CP is so damned talented, and he dirties up his game with bullshit.

And the refs are absolutely complicit. Do your fucking jobs.

Rojoking
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March 24, 2023 10:48 pm

Coaches need to figure out Kings defense.
Reverse engineer each failed defensive set, isolate exactly when the failure begins, then re formulate the scheme. This defense will not rise to the occasion in the playoffs. There has been no improvement over time. Week side perimeter defense is failing, players jumping to defend passes leads to the defense chasing the offense and failing. Players jumping past 3 point shooters, that statistically wouldn’t result in a blocked shot anyway, leading to players scrambling to chase the offense. If you are not set and ready to defend a 3 point shooter, which is a mistake, why would you jump past the shooter, effectively making the defense a 4 against 5 liability compounding the original mistake of being out of position in the first place?

Ellis5
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March 24, 2023 10:53 pm
Reply to  Rojoking

I love week side… It’s the only time I get 3 days off.

Timmy_13
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March 24, 2023 10:56 pm
Reply to  Rojoking

This team plays defense with energy but they’re not a smart defensive team. Missed rotations, miscommunications, overhelping, late helping, etc.

There was a possession that summed up Kings defense perfectly. Lyles and TD doubled Book and poked the ball away. Metu wasn’t paying attention and Jock grabbed the ball and scored. They’re only active on ball. But Passive on the other facets of defense. And when you keep letting guards drive into the paint consistently, you open up Domas to fouls or weak contests because of his T-Rex arms. We don’t have a Gobert down low. I don’t know if it’s scheme or just general lack of talent in the defensive end (or a little bit of both) — it clearly ain’t working.

Hopefully a full offseason can help with team defense and personnel. Monte has to look for perimeter wing defenders to hide our lack of paint defense.

RobHessing
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March 24, 2023 11:07 pm
Reply to  Rojoking

Defense is for nerdz.

Jack
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March 25, 2023 8:16 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Look at any professional or even college sports. The teams who consistently win are those who have good or great defenses.

RobHessing
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March 25, 2023 2:07 pm
Reply to  Jack

Wooosh.

Kingsguru21
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March 25, 2023 9:13 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Also for teams in the top 10 in DRtg….. like Phoenix.

andy_sims
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March 25, 2023 12:57 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

Nice defense you have there, Suns.

Well, had.

Hobby916
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March 24, 2023 11:56 pm
Reply to  Rojoking

4 on 5. Go on…

Ellis5
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March 24, 2023 10:58 pm

Akis working OT…. thank you.

RikSmits
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March 25, 2023 12:04 am
Reply to  Aykis16

Happy for you and the whole TKF staff.

Not easy to keep covering a team that loses for a decade plus with some form of enthousiasm. (Even though the dysfunction gave plenty to write about, I suppose)

UpgradedToQuestionable
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March 25, 2023 9:35 am
Reply to  RikSmits

From STR to TKH – winning is a new chapter.

No longer a hope and now a reality.

so darn weird and so darn wonderful. Best of all- we get to share it together! This makes me happiest!

Fan Family FTW!

Kosta
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March 25, 2023 12:41 am

Is De’Aaron going to be out for long? Hope he’s ok.

RikSmits
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March 25, 2023 1:17 am
Reply to  Kosta

I think I found the moment he injured his hamstring.

https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1639469001821802498?s=20

The re-enactment of Paul’s flop probably required use of muscles he normally wouldn’t use.

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 5:59 am
Reply to  RikSmits

Which type person watches Chris Paul play and say, “you know what, this guy is a clear winner and he deserves a ring.”

Serial whiner and constant flopper who deserves to be in a theater rather than a court. Hope he gets a solid career acting.

Last edited 1 year ago by Timmy_13
TheGrantNapear
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March 25, 2023 6:21 am
Reply to  Timmy_13

He may complain and whine a lot but it doesn’t negate the fact that he’s an all time great PG.
No one deserves a ring. Either you have em or you don’t.
Ewing, Barkley, Stockton, Malone etc. could say they deserve a ring but they don’t. MJ aside they had plenty of other seasons to win it and they didn’t.

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 10:51 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

He’s an all time great PG who’s a bitch.

RikSmits
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March 25, 2023 7:25 am
Reply to  Timmy_13

Many say Vlade Divac invented the flop.

So it really is an ode to a Sacramento great.

Jack
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March 25, 2023 8:19 am
Reply to  RikSmits

I really don’t care about the past. Nice to look back but give me the Kings future.

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 10:49 am
Reply to  RikSmits

It really is poetic that I can’t even look at Vlade in a positive light anymore.

AnybodyButBagley
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March 25, 2023 10:02 am
Reply to  Timmy_13

Smart enough to know that sometimes it works. Has a few rings.

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 10:50 am

But he doesn’t have rings and hopefully he won’t.

Kingsguru21
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March 25, 2023 12:08 pm

Did you say Chris Paul has several rings?!? 😂😂😂😂

With who? Cirque du Soleil? 😂😂😂😂

AnybodyButBagley
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March 25, 2023 10:30 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

….my bad. Thought he had some rings. I write what I think instead of copying random stats and other journalists work.

Last edited 1 year ago by AnybodyButBagley
murraytant
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March 25, 2023 10:55 am
Reply to  Timmy_13

he already has a career that includes acting.

eddie41
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March 25, 2023 9:03 am
Reply to  RikSmits

injured hamstring while hamming?

Kingsguru21
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March 25, 2023 9:15 am
Reply to  RikSmits

That was so funny to watch live. Even from the 2nd deck.

murraytant
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March 25, 2023 10:56 am
Reply to  Kingsguru21

I felt like decking him myself from the first deck

Kingsguru21
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March 25, 2023 12:06 pm
Reply to  murraytant

Being that close to a world class fuckhead like Chris Paul, I don’t blame you.

JoeEnzyme
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March 25, 2023 10:41 am

I am sure this sentiment has been expressed already, but we made out much better with Huerter than with DiVincenzo

Timmy_13
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March 25, 2023 11:11 am
Reply to  JoeEnzyme

I think it more had to do with the signing of Monk than the Huerter trade. If Monk stayed with LA, I think we would’ve signed DDV as a backup.

Kingsguru21
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March 25, 2023 11:29 am

So a few observations from the game. Go in the G Spot, and sit in the upper deck, and you’ll see large pockets of seats empty. Go to the first floor concourse, and it’s jammed during TOs/halftime. In the 1st half, I walked around. I stood at a few spots (where I could) and watched the game as much as I could. Wow, that’s a view. Can’t imagine how amazing those seats are. In the 2nd half, I was back (kinda) near my seat. And boy, was that a doozy. That Chris Paul flop was clear as day and its such a shame that he ended up picking a tech on that transition take foul. Such a shame that a well heeded star like Chris Paul would take a tech in that situation. /snark De’Aaron’s reaction was perfect, as well.

Some of the calls on Booker, outside of that silly absolute ridiculous flop by Paul, were really egregious to me. I was watching total FAs attempted by both sides, and after the first qtr that disparity disappeared. By the 4th started, the Kings were neck and neck in made FTs with the Suns. But…. my thought is that the Suns (and a friendly middle aged woman, and her friend — whom I wasnt sitting next to so I don’t know her thoughts about FVV, with an awesome foam finger mentioned this; along with Fred Van Vleet’s comments that she wished more players made and called him a hero 😂 😂 😂 ) got a far friendlier whistle than the Kings got. Which is a problem. I don’t think it cost the Kings the game, but I do think it reduces substantially the quality of your product from a legitimacy standpoint. In a very noticeable way. This is no longer fans complaining and being homers, it’s a very visible problem the league knows exists but has no answers for. And the more eyeballs notice it, the more of an issue it becomes. This isn’t me complaining the refs are unfair; I expect the Kings to get screwed on 65% of the calls in the game. It’s a bi-product of being a have not, and emotions running way too high over a game.

How does the NBA fix this? I used to think it was a communication problem. Only allow a captain and alternate to talk to these refs, like hockey. But that’s….. never going to work. Partly because most guys aren’t really having issues with the refs. If a Kings player like Barnes or Huerter drive into the lane and do so out of control (like they did in the late 4th) should they be rewarded? I think not.

Hobby916 mentioned this the other day in terms of adding the 4th ref. I didn’t respond then but I don’t know what the answer then is either:

Would adding a 4th ref make a difference? It seems like there are calls that are made where the ref is obviously being blocked by a player, or they are out of position, etc…or maybe that would just be another set of bad eyes calling the game, idk.

Nobody will have a definitive answer, and whatever solution would likely be opposed. I think the nature of the problem, and a 4th ref might help on some things, sure, is more a fundamental one. Kevin Huerter is expected to play as if this doesn’t matter, but Devin Booker is allowed to be far more demonstrative because he’s an all NBA player? If Luka Doncic and Draymond Green got whistled for 60 tech’s a year (minimum; I’d argue they deserve at least a 100 techs with their constant chirping), this shit would stop. The NBA would take a hit for it in the interim, but they’d put a stop to it. It’s a competitive environment and professional sports with lots of money on the line; if these players aren’t cheating, they aren’t trying. This is not little league. But essentially what the NBA has allowed for is idealized cheating on the basis that it’s okay because it falls within the realm of competitive spirit. There are two sets of rules: One for the have’s and one for the have not’s. That is not entertainment, it’s not fun. And it’s idealized because people pay to see these players…..play basketball. Not whine. And do they ever whine. Booker and Paul are the absolute embodiment of that. And they aren’t even the most egregious whiners, which is the low the NBA is hitting. But the NBA doesn’t see it that way, and you have media/fans who find this entertaining. Who constantly shrug it off, no less.

It’s not a whistle, or player/official problem. We expect the officiating to take control of these games while expecting them to remain invisible simultaneously. You cannot expect legitimacy while running out of a textbook definition of a paradox at the same time. It’s a fundamental problem. It starts with Adam Silver and the league, and he won’t fix it. It’s not the priority of Silver’s or his office. Because the owners that pay him, and let’s not forget that owners pay both the league FO and players, and specifically the few owners that have more power than others, aren’t really hurt by this. The business is booming, and you don’t waste time fixing something that a very small (relatively) percentage of fans truly see as a problem. Too many focus on the symptoms, focusing on the root cause is the only way to change it. That’s my rant on officiating, or something. And the answer is the NBA has to see it as a problem, and right now they don’t. The NBA sees high stakes basketball games where emotions are often getting the best of those choosing to respond. And that’s not the way alot of fans are talking about it. The NBA, though, is a bottom line business, and complaints about officiating and all, business is booming for the NBA. And there you have it. As always, it’s about the money honey.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Onto the basketball stuff. I kept watching how easily Domas scored inside as the game went along. Maybe he wore down Lansdale and Biyombo? Either way, once the paint points and FT disparity disappeared, Huerter got hot, it was game. Even without Fox. But it’s hard to take much value (other than the W) out of a game where Durant, Ayton didn’t play and Fox didn’t finish.

42 to 32 paint points in the 1st half advantage Suns. 34 to 14 paint points in the 2nd half advantage Kings. That’s what changed.

Focus on Huerter’s 5 made 3’s in the 2nd half, but he grabbed 6 defensive rebounds and had 3 assists.

Speaking of 3s, both the Suns and Kings made 7 3s in the 2nd half. Take Terence Ross (4 made 3s) and Huerter out of the mix, the Kings are 2-9 on made 3s and the Suns are 3-8 on 3s.

My point? The Kings have a very diverse way of being able to score, the Suns do not. Even more so without Durant. That’s why this Kings team has shocked the NBA world, media and a large chunk of this fanbase IMO. They are simply the most versatile NBA offense we’ve seen in awhile. And in this dumbasses opinion, with familiarity, they’ll get better. Look no further than ORtg by month. I know the Kings offense isn’t an all time offense (just outside the top 100) when you adjust for era, but they weren’t supposed to have a 119 ORtg for a season at any point with Sabonis and Fox as the engines. I thought this was a 45 win team with a top 7 ORtg type team; I never thought we were looking at an offense that could make history and be one of the best offenses in any era. What a season. I was already a fan of Domas and De’Aaron, HB and Kev. I was open to the idea of Malik Monk, especially as a super sub scorer 6th man but less optimistic about his playmaking, and spent alot of the offseason wondering what Keegan’s ceiling was. I was optimistic about Davion taking a leap, and believed TD would prove to be valuable over the course of the season. I wasn’t sure who would be more valuable between Metu and Lyles. I was hoping Moneke or Okpala could break out and be our version of Royce O’Neale. I didn’t think Delly was a better use of a roster spot than Sam Merrill, and I still don’t think not drafting Jaden Hardy or not bringing Sasha Vezenkov over is that big of a deal. I thought Richaun Holmes was going to have a better season (and I think a few teams made a mistake not going after Richaun) than he obviously has.

I never thought this was a team that could win 50 games which is very, very possible now. Beat Utah tonight (who got pounded by Milwaukee without Markannen or Sexton or Clarkson) and Minnesota Monday (still without Edwards; also on a SEGABABA) and you are guaranteed a top 6 seed. (When the Kings clinch a playoff spot matters not at this point. It’s what seed they end up in.) Get these next 5 – a now tanking Portland team – and San Antonio at home and you’re at 49 W’s. New Orleans might be done for by the time you hit them in NO Apr 4th (game 79) and the Dallas game (game 80) likely won’t matter on the 5th (plus it’ll be a rest disadvantage SEGABABA for Sac). Apr 7th is the last home game against GSW and game 82 is in Denver. That’ll be meaningless for both teams… unless Sac manages to catch Memphis again. The opportunities are there.

What a season. And I’m glad my memories of this game wasn’t the flopping of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, it was that magnificent 3rd qtr that the Kings dominated offensively.

LIGHT. THE. MOTHERFUCKING. BEAM.

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