Perimeter defense was still an issue. Utah kept the game close off of their rebounding dominance and three-point shooting. The Sacramento Kings lose shooters. It happens all the time. You can blame scheme, you can blame poor perimeter defenders (you should probably blame both) but it's an issue that isn't going away.

Offensively, I thought a lot of players played with more purpose than we had been seeing. Rudy Gay, for example, played an extremely simple, straight-line-to-the-rim offensive game. No flash, no moves, no long possessions holding the ball. He got the pass and went to the rim, or he got the pass and shot the ball. It's simple stuff, but that quick decision making worked for him. It was one of his better games this season, and his play allowed the Kings to survive while Cousins took a breather in the middle of the fourth quarter.

DeMarcus Cousins still looked hobbled, to an extent, but he at least he played with some post presence. The Kings need to get him more post touches, but the some post touches he got tonight were a lot better than the none post touches he had been getting. Beyond just the post ups, it looked like he was playing closer to the rim (at times!) particularly late in the fourth quarter where he had a couple 'I'm the biggest, strongest guy out here' offensive rebounds and putbacks. I don't know what's keeping him out of the post, I don't know if it's coaching, if it's health, if it's flow of the game, or if it's Rondo's traffic directing, but it needs to be rectified. I saw some of that start to come back tonight. Not nearly enough, but it could be a sign of things to come.

Oh, and that Rajon Rondo pass.

Alright, let's take a look at the notes –