Well, that ending sure sucked. Kings lose. React away, we’ll have a full recap up later.
Postgame Thread: Clippers 101, Kings 100
A heartbreaking ending to a hard fought game.
By Greg Wissinger | 23 Comments | Apr 11, 2025
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings
Apr 11, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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Clutch or Klutz?
Yeah, that was deflating.
Kudo’s on Keegan for getting that steal with 3.9 seconds to go.
I understand it’s a split second decision, just wish that in that split second he’d continue the fast break, because they had an excellent chance at a 2 on 3 fast break, with Bogi and Powell asd the defenders against Keegan, Carter and Kean.
But hindsight is perfect.
It would have been a steal, because the Clippers basically controlled the game.
My guess is that DC made the call during the Clippers’ timeout, and Keegan followed those instructions. I agree though that continuing the break would have provided more of an advantage.
I agree with both of you on the continuation but as an old coach when it came to the inbound IMO don’t go to either Derozan or Lavine. Everyone in that arena including coaches, players, fans , attendants and vendors ( probably not Vivek) knew who was going to get the ball. I listened to Matt George this morning and he thought that the ball should have gone to LaVine. I disagree with both of them. Murray made the play that got them where they were period. Great play. Win or lose if I was the coach I would have the ball go to Keegan Murray. First nobody would have thought he would be the one but more importantly I would be looking at next year. Murray needs that confidence going into next season. Derozan probably won’;t even be here next year. Second he deserved the ball. Work the place for him. Third the Clippers are a very good defensive team and would defend either Derozan or LaVine. Again Murray deserved the ball.
Actually, the play freed up Keegan but Lyles didn’t pass it to him.
and if he had streaked to the hoop and chucked up a running one hander and it missed, we would’ve questioned why he didn’t call a time out.
The last play was awful. Just my opinion, but if this is what Coach Christie has in his arsenal of plays to run the offense, or Jay Triano, or whomever, then someone else needs to be coaching.
It was a well fought game. I thought the defense was especially good last night, as Kawhi was feeling it and Harden and Zubac were also up to their “A” games. There was a brief stretch of the twin towers – Two Lithuanian Large – that seemed to work nicely. I wouldn’t mind seeing that again. And hats off to Trey Lyles who seems to be hustling and making plays. I like this version but wonder where that was the other 65 games where he seemed slower and more complacent.
What will tomorrow bring? Inconsistency they name is Kings.
Mavs have AD back and he is looking tough and returned to form. But they don’t have Kyrie.
We may need the Lithuanian Leviathans against the Mega Mavericks front line.
Based on his body of work, I don’t trust Keegan to be able to finish a fast break with 3 players around him. Great steal though.
Then his timeout was what he should have done.
Agreed. I also don’t trust him to take the last shot. I would have gone to LaVine or at least a better designed (no dribble) play to DeRozan.
Went to check the box scores and seen DDR with low points and thought “he must have took 20 shots for those 8 points…”
6-20 shooting. Please for the love of gord, trade him in the off season. I’d almost rather watch buddy dribble off his feet than watch DDR go iso over and over again.
Good lord this team isn’t very fun to watch anymore
I got roasted on this site for calling the DDR trade another dumb move by MM.
Trading for career losing players isn’t a recipe for success. But MM doubled down with the Zach trade lol. You can’t make this stuff up.
I also got roasted for not liking the inclusion of the 2031 pick swap and got the usual fan replies of who cares about a pick or swap in 2031.
That 2031 swap is a juicy asset that MM’s sorry arse couldn’t even get back in the Fox trade.
MM should be fired for the below trades. And fired now.
Kings receive: DeMar DeRozan
Bulls receive: Chris Duarte, two second-round picks, cash
Spurs receive: Harrison Barnes, 2031 unprotected pick swap with the Kings
San Antonio Spurs get:
Sacramento Kings get:
Chicago Bulls get:
Love that take, Napear, so I guess that means ‘I love NBA basketball!’ The kind of basketball where you use trades to upgrade your team, not just jockey salaries around. Monte had a good 2022, and it’s been downhill since. Maybe he’ll revive his career in his next job, like Huerter. After Domas, all his moves all seem more focused on who he gets rid of, not who he’s getting. My estimate after the Fox trade was 41-41 and 9th. Looks like I was one game off. Good job going nowhere and getting the roster older. As bad as the Fox deal was, it’s still better than getting DeRozan. What a transformation from young, plucky, watchable Beam Team to a no-plan, alternating one-on-one moves, unwatchable mess. And that includes last night, when they really tried. What an appropriately weak finish to a good comeback.
You could make a documentary on the precipitous fall of the 2022 Kings after the light the beam season.
It’s inexplicable in many ways.
Without going into all the reasons why but IMO Sabonis who is going to evaluate what to do this summer I personally believe he needs to be traded. I sadly believe he has had his chance to win in Sacramento but it hasn’t happened. He is a great player but I question whether he is a winner to bring the Kings to constant playoffs. IMO he has had his chance so let’s do a rebuild not a complete rebuild but one that brings in players who fit what the Kings are trying to do. I think they have a vision believe it or not but need players who first want to be here. Second they need to buy in. Third they have to be corhesive and last play for the organization, the fans and for each other. How to do this is a great question but first and foremost keep Vivek out of way. Either Monty or whoever has the GM job needs to do their job without Vivek. Someone he trusts needs to talk to him and convince him to keep his nose out of the decisions that have to be made. Next you hire a coach and I believe Doug can do the job to run the team and good assistants that Doug believes in to listen to. Third you don’t need all stars to have a really good team. You need vision and sound trades to liven up the team. IMO you have a core to start with. Murray, Ellis, La Ravia maybe Carter and then you have trade chips and after this year picks to rebuild your team. I think LaVine will also be here at least 2 more years but he is a great offensive player but needs to be taught to play better defense if he wants to. Now go out and find the rest of your team. You might just do better next year than a play-in. GO KINGS!
I am all in on Carter replacing Monk next season in the rotation. The defense he brings is so damn good. He hasn’t played much because of injury, but I have seen him grow during the short time he has been healthy and received minutes.
That allows for Monk to be traded to try and help balance the roster, along with DDR. The team needs more size and better defenders in the court, and Monk + DDR ain’t that.
Just my opinion but Carter isn’t ready to handle the starting point guard duties. He would be a good backup next year. I would go out and find a starter in a more proven player. My choice would try and get Ty Jerome. He is a unrestricted free agent. The Cavs really don’t have the money to retain him and we could get him with our MLE. Like 12mil over 2 years.
Yeah, Monk should be a backup PG/SG, but was trusted into the starting role. Carter can fill those minutes. Monk really ain’t nothing special. Inconsistent scoring, turnover prone, no defense. He can get hot and have some amazing games, but he isn’t a starter level player, imo.
I have Momk traded to the rockets for Smith and Whitmore. Monk is a better player than Dillion Brokes. If you don’t believe look it up in comparisons. He could replace Brooks as a starter.
Does anyone remember whether we used both of our coach’s challenges? I can only remember the one where DC successfully challenged an out of bounds call that was actually off of Harden. I was wondering why DC didn’t call for a review of the foul called on Carter when Harden clearly elbowed Carter in the neck. That call precipitated the technical on DC.
DeMar DeRozan is now on the NBA Top 25 total points List, passing Reggie Miller, and 52 points behind Steph Curry, and about 1100 points from Top 20.
CONGRATULATIONS!
The last 2 DDR games have lacked in luster, and as much as the Kings run their offense too often through DeRozan, he has passed less out of coverage than at the start of this season. I believe, rightly or wrongly, that the aforementioned Top 25 list was an agenda item for him to accomplish before season’s end. Now that he’s in the club and too far to significantly advance. I contend this is a “legacy” emphasis for him, and I am hopeful that both DDR and the Kings will find a more balanced attack on offense in these (at least two more) upcoming games
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