An ugly showing in Los Angeles.
Full recap to follow.
Postgame Thread: Clippers 104, Kings 88
A stinker in SoCal.
By Greg Wissinger | 91 Comments | Nov 22, 2024
Nov 22, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) dribbles the ball past Sacramento Kings forward Doug McDermott (7) during the first quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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coach Brown got his butt kicked tonight.
His entire roster was right there with him.
Mike Brown is not the right coach for this team. He is still basking in the glow of making the playoffs. He helped lay the foundation but they need another coach to take it to the next level. Similar to mark Jackson being replaced by Steve Kerr.
I agree. How do you not start the game going through Fox? He just scores 109 in two days, only Kobe has more in the modern era with 110. Let Fox break down the defenses and draw doubles in the half-court and get him the ball in transition. I love Demar and Domas with the ball in their hands, but I think Fox should initiate the majority of the inital actions, break down the D and make it easier on everyone else.
I’d say the GM had gotten his ass kicked all season long for poor roster construction.
What is Mike Brown supposed to do with a roster full of guards, 1 wing, and no bench? What is he supposed to do when the GM drafts another guard who can’t play for most of this season while passing on a shooting wing? How about adding Derozan to a team where the best two players operate inside the key?
I have no idea how McNair still has a job. He’s missed the playoffs every season but 1, which is beginning to look more and more like a fluke. Despite this fact, he’s missed on pretty much every pick and done a poor job of accumulating assets.
Keon brought me to Huerter starting with how bad the starting unit looked in the preseason with him and how bad he looked, now Huerter has done the same in the regular season. Carter can’t heal fast enough, but in the meantime at least Keon is good at something
Colby Jones out played both of them tonight.
No Robinson. No Len. Colby Jones out played all of the other shooting guards.
I have had seventh grade teams hit 90 points before. Who knew that the Clippers are a defensive juggernaut?
This team had their pride challenged and they ducked their heads and bent over.
6th Rated in the NBa Why? The Genius of Van Gundy. Man knows D.
He has something figured out.
Maybe it’s time to start Monk when he comes back so we don’t have a 2 guard that is scared to play basketball. I’m so done with Huerter. I don’t care if he plays in a Kings uniform again. Yeah, that will make a weak bench weaker, starting Monk. That’s what trades are for. Dallas didn’t bring in a superstar last year. They brought in PJ and Gafford for very little and they have blossomed. PJ won them their game tonight and they made Finals last year. Moves can be made to improve the team! Bye Huerter, Lyles, Colby, or Keegan and draft picks. Something has to be done.
I agree with you. I always believe in starting the best five. This ain’t no championship team to be forcing a guy to play the manu, Jason Terry or Lou will roll. Monk is the only one haven’t had the chance, and honestly he deserves it.
when should the team get prepared to start playing? opening tip-off or start of 2nd half?
Yeah, I had hoped they’d leave that annoying tendency behind them this season.
yeah, I was just recalling your critique in the offseason. I was hoping for that as well. too slow in making in-game adjustments and counters.
Clippers Absolutely suffocated the Kings on D in the first half.
Sorry, but I have to say it was pretty amazing to watch. The constant attention to detail on defense , always attacking and relentless clogging up every passing lane and Dhos.
if the Clippers had a player like Lavine or Ingram they would be awfully scary.’
call a timeout and change it up.
Doesn’t matter. They are ranked 6th in the nBa on defense. Kings have never played D like that ever for more than a few minutes. Bottom line Clips are better coached. Play disciplined. Have zero stars. Unless it’s Norm Powell.
Better than the Kings and not even a conversation.
Kings have a collection of 3 very good players. With Monk 4. Not much else.
Iam also of the opinion bringing in. Demar was a net negative. Fewer touches for Keegan. Could have developed a more cohesive offensive game. But now is a 4th option.
okay, so you agree the Clippers are better coached
Couldn’t agree more. A lot of fans are in roster construction denial and are missing the bigger picture.
Flawed roster and HC in so many ways, but McGenius keeps doubling down on it.
Yup, I’m now in this camp as well.
But this was so obvious.
Everyone was complaining about the lack of rim protection, of a good PF, length and athleticism.
And the Monte picked up DDR, and suddenly the story was: “Yeah, what we really needed was another clutch player to create his own shot in the 4th quarter.”
It was a mesmerizing pivot by the fanbase and the local talking heads, and when some here were pointing at that it was waived away with: “Yeah, we may have other urgent needs but talent trumps all.”
I’m still waiting to see how that talent all fits together and gets utilized in the best way possible.
Oh, and everyone was sneering at the national media who questioned the fit because they just like to shit on Sacramento.
We’ll see.
DDR was a sideways move. I got ridiculed on this site at the time
for mentioning the relevance of the pick swap. The pick swap will be another nasty impediment hanging over this franchise.
Only if Wemby becomes a generational big man for the Spurs and the Kings continue to peak at average. I mean, what are the chances of that happing?
…oh wait.
This. And how much of this team’s success is tied directly to Tyrese Haliburton being available at #12? Tyrese led to Sabonis, and I’d argue that was the single move that actually made this a playoff/play-in team.
Awful first half that led to a well deserved loss .
I sort of have a feeling the Kings just kinda suck. The parts don’t fit which I sorta worried about going in but it’s kind of amazing how stagnant this team is on offense. The reason they can’t shoot is because there’s no spacing. Teams don’t fear anyone on the team hitting a three right now. I expected the defense to be middling at best but I hoped they’d find some way to hit some shots.
We’ll see if they can get a rhythm with everyone healthy but if this team is looking middling and there’s any chance they’re in the 12-14 range they have yo tank. This draft looks way too good not to consider it with their pick going to Atlanta if it isn’t top-12.
lf we get into the top ten picks we will pick another guard we do not need. This team needs to improve in free agency and trades. Known players are needed. Go get the big this team obviously needs now please.
They don’t have very many assets which is the issue. There’s no one for them to trade for with what they’ve got. This draft looks excellent. You can trade the pick if you want,
We have quite a few to trade.
Not really. At least not compared to other teams.
Who is off limits?
I’ll repeat my comment from above. A lot of fans are in roster construction denial and are missing the bigger picture.
Flawed roster and HC in so many ways, but McGenius keeps doubling down on it.
I don’t know about this team right now.
Brown is stubborn and plays his way, rather than adjusting to talent. But Monte is not necessarily getting players that best fit Browns scheme/way of playing.
Seems like a disconnect. And is there any Vivekery mixed in? I don’t know but this way ain’t working.
A couple NBA analyst folks mentioned that for whatever reason, teams with DeRozan always seem to be less than the sum of their parts. I think that with he and Sabonis they just don’t have enough spacing. It’s even worse when Huerter and Keegan can’t make a three to save their lives. Part of the problem is they aren’t getting very open looks because Sabonis and DeRozan aren’t even guarded outside of 15 feet. The defensive issues were always going to be there but the offense has zero flow. They looked better on offense with Sabonis and DeRozan out which is a bad sign.
The team they built (have right now) is counterintuitive for todays game.
I can see how this team can be very good on O in end of game/iso situations. Good FT shooting. Mid range.
But this group of players doesn’t quite fit it seems. It’s obvious to me that Monte hast to move a few people and change the complexion of this team.
Yeah, that seems to be a persistent story about DDR. No-one can really pinpoint the reason for it, though.
I think part of the issue is his ballstopping style of play. It gets masked because he’s not an unwilling passer or even a bad one, but the majority of his game is based on slow, methodical iso-plays that seem to ruin the flow of the offense.
Yes, three of the Kings top four players are ISO players (Fox, Monk, DeRozan). That’s going to be tough to make work in the modern NBA no matter what.
(Yes, I think Keegan is the 5th best player on this team. He’s maybe a better FIT than some of the other players, but he’s not better than they are.)
is it really Derozan’s fault when the problems we see now are similar to prior seasons?
Also keep in mind. Even if the Kings make the play in or playoffs, two of their best 3 players have a history of sucking in the playoffs. IMO, because their games don’t translate to playoff BB. This is all on MM.
Glad to see the improvement tonight as Game1 vs Clippers, Sacramento shot 3/26 for 11.5 3FG% and nearly doubled their rate this time at 7/35 for 20%. as a team though the starters shot 5/26 for 19.2%.
Sabonis with 24 and 15 but 4 assists with 6 turnovers. Fox keeps rolling hitting his current season average of 29 on an off night.
Not one King with positive in +/-
12 points in the 1st Q, 15 in the 2nd.
I guess for this season, the role of the New Orleans Pelicans will be played by the Los Angeles Clippers. I am not sure I can watch them play them again two more times. I am sure, that at season’s end the Kings will face the Clippers in a Play-In or other similar deciding game.
LAC knows how to unplug the beam.
Next.
Not sure if that first part about improving from 10 to 20% on 3s was sarcastic but I laughed hard
Silver Linings my friend. (Trying to wipe away all that tarnish)
I thought I might get over my Kings PTSD (Players That Shoot Deplorably)
but that was not meant to be, it appears.
Gotta move on; learn from the bad to make the good better.
Got to hand it to the Clippers; their defense the first half was stellar. Yes, we missed some open shots but when you’re constantly hounded every possession, once you get an open shot or an open passing lane, you get hesitant and rushed.
I still don’t know what this Sacramento team is, neither from an identity standpoint nor from a contender standpoint. I can see things starting to click at one point and they’ll take off, but I think it is at least as likely that they’ll implode and even won’t make the play-in.
They are currently better than Portland, Utah and New Orleans (and the last one may change once they get all their injured players back). Are they better than San Antonio? Memphis? Dallas? I really don’t know.
Man I can tell you who the kings are? The kings are a team with no length, girth or size. The kings are going to beat inexperienced teams. Win games when fox gets hot and go crazy. Competitive on some nights. Don’t care at all some nights. Great coaches will out coach the coach. Fun and excitement with moral victories.
No girth ???? I can’t be calling out anyone’s girth but you’re not wrong
Two straight losses and right out of the playoffs. Yay, we’re as good as the Spurs. Other Western franchises have continued to lap around us as we’re mired in perpetual medioctiry because Vivek from day one has refused to ever do a full tank, while every other non-LA Western team has it figured out. Even the Warriors have done a tank or two just within in the Curry era!
Oops.
https://x.com/CarmichaelDave/status/1860182517149770212
Things could get ugly(ier) for the Kings real quick.
Yup, 4 of their wins are against the worst teams in the NBA and the only wins against a winning ball club was against the Durantless Suns. They really haven’t beaten anyone.
I fell asleep before this one started. SEems like that was a good decision. After reading the comments and checking the box score, I saved myself from watching some ugly Kangz basketball.
This team needs to order some rubber sheets because they definitely shit the bed in this one. Besides the lopsided roster, I’m trying to figure out what’s gone wrong. Except for the addition of Derozan this is the same first 9 or so guys on the roster as the last 2 years. It seems like half the team has forgotten how to shoot and defend.
If one or two players were struggling from 3, then I would accept that maybe they were out of rhythm or need some mechanical tweaks.
But nearly the entire team is struggling from 3, especially the higher volume guys. Leads me to believe it’s something else. Scheme, spacing, players are unsure of the offensive plan, etc.
Something needs to be figured out quickly if they want to stay in the playoff picture.
Is it the shoes, Money?
&ct=g
No, Mars
One of the uglier efforts I’ve seen from this team. 10 baskets in the first half???
Turnovers have been a massive problem this season & speak to something being wrong with the offense. Every one of the starters has increased their turnovers compared to last season (Demar up over his own stats from last year and over HB’s numbers), and Domas in particular has had a horrible stretch recently (27 turnovers in his last 5 games). There are so many live ball turnovers, which ruin any offensive flow AND typically allows their opponents to get out for easy transition opportunities.
It’s also quite clear that Keegan is playing scared right now. Last night there were several plays where you could see him visibly hesitate & think, rather than just reacting and playing ball. Even his first three, it seemed like he didn’t want to take it, and only shot it because no one stepped up to defend him. He and KH used to rip around the wings for those DHO 3s, but those don’t seem to be there anymore either.
It seems like there are too many wrinkles in the offense for the shooters to feel comfortable. They should just shoot when open, but seem to catch the ball and process how to move it to demar or fox or sabonis instead.
I also don’t think the players are taking to Brown’s message of not hesitating, just shoot it when open. Maybe it’s his delivery of the message? Maybe he gives conflicting messages? We will never know. What we are seeing shows that something ain’t right between the coaches message to the players, and the players receiving said message.
i will give them 10 more games to turn things around. If not then Monty better get busy and make some drastic changes or this team definitely(so far) won’t make the playoffs or probably even the playoffs. Right now they are looking at a 40 win season. The championship is not even in the thinking. I have some ideas but will wait 10 more games. I really hope my instincts are wrong.
Huerter and Lyles combined had 3 points. Murray only 10. Did Brown really but McDermott on Harden? What a disaster. If so I don’t believe it. 20% from 3. 70% from the line. 29 points in a half with 3 days rest. Sabonis and Derozan back. Something’s wrong. Enough.
First we were told to wait 10 games before “freaking out”, then 20. I predicted that the injuries would push that number even more due to players being out and needing to reintegrate, and by Christmas we would be allowed to judge their play this season.
16 games now, and I think the issues are very apparent that need to be addressed. It’s been long enough.
If we wait until Christmas and nothing gets better might as well tank if Monty isn’t able to make some meaningful trades or doesn’t want to.
I cursed out lout when I saw McDermott pick up Harden, not once, but in two consecutive possessions. He then got blown by by Harden. Insane.
Were the Kings still switching everything?
No, McDermott picked him up as he crossed half court.
Harden probably smiled when he saw that
I also noticed last night when he got a DHO handoff he immediately dropped the ball quite a few times. That throws off his timing and alows his defender to cover him. He did this not once or twice but a lot.
That was ugly
I’m not clear on why the 3pt shooting is so bad. Especially historically good shooters like Murray and Huerter. They are getting a lot of open shots and just can’t hit them.
I am clear that those shots being missed causes a chain reaction of bad decisions and scenarios. The opponent can now crowd the paint more taking away efficiency from Fox, Sabonis and DDR, many players start forcing 3s or start over dribbling, etc.
And that was on three days rest and just super sloppy. I’m wondering if the coaches are losing this team.
How many minutes did Huerter and Lyles play combined ( and Huerter started)? How many points did they score? 3!. Just doesn’t make it.
It’s starting to look like Keegan’s first season may have been an outlier, and I’m worried the Warriors series broke Kevin Huerter. Huerter looked in that series like he had the yips, was down from his historical averages last year and looks like he has the yips again this season.
I’m also not sure if it’s reasonable to expect a player’s career high is the new norm.
Agreed, I have thought (feared) the same points
Jared McCain and Dalton Kenecht putting up big numbers while we draft an injured small player, truly McGenius. Our stars are not elite, nor is our GM, this roster is a mess. I do think he’s handicapped by being in Sac, tough to get guys here but Presti did it in OKC and Houston is looking good with a proper rebuild. This team is built to do what it’s doing, not much, a little above average.
I’ll my judgement on Carter until a see him get some solid NBA minutes. If he comes out looking an All-Rookie Team, then great, but he’s just the second coming of Davion Mitchell, then yeah, I’ll be upset.
ME TOO!
Look on the brightside though,we made the playoffs 2 years ago so our playoff drought can’t hit 17 and set a new record for 16 more years… who’s laughing now?
There’s also the drought without a play-off series win to consider.
IIRC, at 20 years and only a few years behind Charlotte in play-off series futility.
Series win, man you getting greedy lol. Did you not get the paper bag in ur Kangz fan starter pack.
I vomited in it one draft night and it wasn’t recyclable.
Thanks, Vlade!
Lord give me the strength.
i wonder if there is a fox or Domas package that could get the wheels spinning on Giannis. This team has no assets.
im also confused why Monte didn’t sign a Trey jones or Derrick jones jr. seems like a lot of these players could be had over the offseason
I have never said my life, “They’re gonna get 26 points in one half.”
Stuff like this prevents me from buying tickets. For much of the game they looked like people who shook hands and just met prior to tipoff.
The sum is less than the parts at this point, and it’s pretty obvious.
i respect you opinions a lot. Do you think we need to reconstruct some of our bench including Huerter instead of Ellis as our bench? The Bulls want to reconstruct their whole roster for young players, a solid shooter(right) and picks. I did some comparisons on Huerter vs Williams and Lyles vs. Jalen Smith. I propose a trade of Huerter, Lyles, C. Jones a first and a second for Williams and Smith. Williams right now is a better player than Huerter. Definitely plays better defense. Smith at 6’10” replaces Lyles. He can rebound, shoot the 3 be Sabonis’s backup and help Murray out. With Monk back you have McLaughlin/Carter, Monk, Williams and Smith on the bench. PS Williams can also shoot the 3. Can’t be any worse. What say you?
I think it’s a lot more than a simple piece or two being swapped out. Is it the roster construction and roles, coaching, management, ownership?? Yes. it’s a bit of all of those.
If you get a 3 and D big, it won’t matter if Brown continues to get out coached.
If you changing coaching, it won’t matter if the pieces don’t work.
If you change the GM, then most likely everything built up to now is out the window, and it’s a hard reset.
If you change owners…oh who am I kidding, that’s not happening.
I don’t Fomas is going anywhere while Monte is in charge. That was his biggest acquisition.
Is Fox/Sabonis the right duo? If it is, what the hell else needs to be inplave for them to succeed? Different system or coach? Different complimentary players? It really is a tough one to decipher
There is more talent (on paper) on this roster than there has been in over 20 years, yet they look average at best. I think part of that is there is just that much more talent in the league, but it’s also mismatched parts, and poor coaching. For me, Brown has been the biggest disappointment so far this season.
As an example and IMO, f you put Keegan down on the Warriros, he’d look like the second coming of Klay Thompson. Just look at what Kerr and company have done for Buddy.
They are trying to make Keegan some type of Paul George/Kawhi type of offensive player, and that just isn’t him.
Keep it simple. Catch ball, shoot ball. Go play defense.
No zoomies, just doomies and gloomies. Hash tag sad face.
Team looked lost. DeRozan was off. Not sure the coach had them dialed in for this one. Keegan looked better, finally started progressing out of his slump, tho too little too late in this one. Colby Jones? Why? As in, why was he the 3rd best player? Why was he even getting minutes? Let the 7 or 8 guys who created the funk revel in the funk and work out the funk, its their funk. Colby “jack” Jones is “break glass in case of emergency”, not “pull this team’s head out of its ass” quality player. TF, Mike. Hash tag WTF.
DeRozan’s leash was way too long for the way he was playing. Keon’s either over thinking or distracted. Huerter got the slump, now. And the whole team doesn’t seem to have 48 minutes of gel, just parts trying to mash together. I don’t think more team dinners together are going to cut it, they need to start holding each other accountable and working better as team on the floor or the front office needs to fast track a trade chip if they want to see the post season this year because that shit absolutely isn’t going to cut it.
That was trash. Hash tag poomoji poomoji poomoji
Seems like a decent over reaction happening today. Yes the first half was awful but it looked to me like Ox and DeMar were rusty and took some time to get going. They took a lot of shots in the first that normally go and weren’t going. Yes they played better in the second half and ended up with good stats but hardly anyone besides Fox , Ox and DeRozan scored any points. Missed Monk tonight.
The Kings really didn’t do mich right last night. The team is broken and has massive holes. The roster is unbalanced and Brown’s answer seems to be to have the most inconsistent rotation in franchise history while not installing an offense that utilizes the team’s few strengths. The Kings are three spots out of LAST PLACE in the Western Conference. I don’t think anyone upset with this team is overreacting.
Here’s what I don’t get…Brown said in the post game presser, that Colby Jones came in and gave the Kings some good minutes. He complimented Jones. Then why did Jones only play 6 minutes? Jones went 2-3 with 5 points. And why no O-Rob or Len? Brown switched O-Rob and Len in and out nonstop last game and now it’s DNP? It doesn’t make sense.
I just don’t understand Brown”s coaching philosophy period. Would someone break it down and let an old coach know. I don’t have a clue. I don’t understand McNair’s philosophy either. IMO the Kings aren’t going anywhere with what they have now. Maybe a play-in at best.
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