[Game] Kings @ Warriors, 10/23/2022 5:30pm Pacific, 8:30pm Eastern

[captain bill]

Everyone is down on the team right now but we have been competitive in every game. Maybe we should of won against the Blazers, but they are also 3-0 right now, and beat the Suns.

Does our defense need work? Of course, but it has shown promise outside of this last game. A game in which the other team had the number one defensive rating last year, and we hung 125 on them with Huerter and Keegan being off. We were on the second night of a back to back, and it showed.

Probably fatigue from this drought but it's frustrating how much it feels like everything is just as bad as it's been for a long time. It's game one but in my mind Portland was absolutely a must-win. We need to beat fringe teams like Portland San Antonio and LA that will be competing for the play-in, maybe even put Utah in that group (it's early but the little I watched of them they do look good and Marraken and Vanderbilt in particular might be continuing problems). Especially when it's winnable we need to close those games, which are really what can sink our season

Fox going for 30 and playing D is exactly what we needed but everything else seemed to regress, in particular Barnes and to some extent Sabonis. Feels like we just keep regressing to mediocrity.

Davion is still something of a question mark.

We have four reliable NBA players is how it looks.

We are on the best track for trying to make the play-in but there's still a world where we have Hali, Keegan, and maybe Hardy if we went full tank (probably hard to get him over Utah but who knows).

Instead we are near a very possible end of the line of a core we just put together. If we suck and Sabonis leaves we might end up with Fox / Huerter / Keegan which is maybe fun but not really a winning team and still looking to rebuild again. We got lucky jumping to 4 and getting Keegan but we can't rely on being the 10th-12th team in the West every year and hoping we jump or top tier talent falls to us. Talent can be found but year-over-year being 4-5 picks lower is a lot of draft value attrition.

 

[macadocious]

Something is wrong with Barnes. We just haven't been told what yet.

 

[New Era]

it was especially bad yesterday. We couldn’t go one possession without a foul call. It was almost unwatchable. Additionally, we are being just aggressive as the other team and yet they still shoot 10 more free throws than us. We always seem to have a massive free throw disparity.

I think last year we were in the upper tier of opponents FT's attempted, but that could also have to do with the fact that we literally didn't even attempt to play defense. I think Brown is wanting more aggression, which is leading to more FT's by the opponents so far this year but I do admit there have seem to be a lot of marginal calls this year. I wonder if that is a point of emphasis for the officials this season.

 

[PorchSurfin]

Something is wrong with Barnes. We just haven't been told what yet.

He's clearly mentally checked out.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1584596040036278272

for all the doom and gloom, our numbers have been decidedly average. In other words, we’re still playing better than we have over pretty much the entirety of the last 16 seasons.

 

[macadocious]

He's clearly mentally checked out.

I don't buy that for a minute. He's frustrated. He has lost some focus. But it's not being checked out, that dude isn't wired that way. There is most likely a physical issue going on (he keeps heading into the tunnel during the game) or, there is some personal thing happening.

 

[dude12]

FYI, NO started last season very poorly and then got it turned around. I’m going to be patient for awhile knowing that the 3-4 guys who are playing way below their norm will get back on track and we will start progressing from there.

 

[reptilexcq2]

The good news is if the Kings keep losing, they get a chance at Wenbanyama lol.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Memphis, Miami and Charlotte are all winnable. If we end this stretch 3-3 we can feel better. If we end 0-6 might be time to think about Wembayama.

I consider Charlotte must win. Maybe we can eek out 1/2 with Miami. I don't think we'll beat Memphis. Could be wrong. I understand that many feel they aren't up to the standard they set last year, and Fox always plays Ja hard, but still.

 

[dude12]

I consider Charlotte must win. Maybe we can eek out 1/2 with Miami. I don't think we'll beat Memphis. Could be wrong. I understand that many feel they aren't up to the standard they set last year, and Fox always plays Ja hard, but still.

Will the refs let us be as physical as Memphis is going to be because you know they will be physical.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1584596040036278272

for all the doom and gloom, our numbers have been decidedly average. In other words, we’re still playing better than we have over pretty much the entirety of the last 16 seasons.

AND that includes yesterday accounting for 33% of the defensive metrics.

 

[Kingster]

The Clipps game was very physical and the team was obviously tired. I was hoping for 1-2 at this point. The Portland game was a bummer. A win over either GS or the Clipps early in the season with a new coach is asking way too much.

The absolute key for this team is to win against winnable teams like Portland, Hornets and the Magic. I think they also have a shot at winning one of the two Miami games coming up. The Grizzlies are tough because they are physical and the Kings, other than Sabonis, aren't there yet. I do, however, think the absence of Jackson Jr. is to the Kings' favor and the Kings should be as fresh as a daisy when they play on Thursday.

If Barnes doesn't look better on Thursday, then something is up - either he knows he's going to be traded soon or some other emotional/physical issue is at play.

 

[Kingster]

Will the refs let us be as physical as Memphis is going to be because you know they will be physical.

I still think that the Kings need an enforcer - Len would be ideal - to create a faux scrum just so the refs call the game tighter and to the Kings' advantage. Other than Len and Sabonis (and I don't want him getting technicals) I don't see anybody on this team that is willing to get down and dirty.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I am not sure why Len didn't come out to bully on Portland and Clips physical centers a bit. Especially with Sabonis not having great games.

Hopefully the next 3 days will allow for some quality adjustments. I just want to get some results so the team doesn't tune Brown out because I think he's much better than anything we have had.

 

[The_Jamal]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1584596040036278272

for all the doom and gloom, our numbers have been decidedly average. In other words, we’re still playing better than we have over pretty much the entirety of the last 16 seasons.

Literally just make your damn FT's.

 

[Kingster]

I am not sure why Len didn't come out to bully on Portland and Clips physical centers a bit. Especially with Sabonis not having great games.

Hopefully the next 3 days will allow for some quality adjustments. I just want to get some results so the team doesn't tune Brown out because I think he's much better than anything we have had.

It's a mystery to me why Len has not played. Especially because Holmes has been non-existent and Sabonis has been subpar. There must be some reason, but I don't know what it is.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

It's a mystery to me why Len has not played. Especially because Holmes has been non-existent and Sabonis has been subpar. There must be some reason, but I don't know what it is.

He looked like a contributor during the preseason which makes it biggest mystery of all.

 

[Kingster]

He looked like a contributor during the preseason which makes it biggest mystery of all.

I can't help but wonder if management has encouraged Brown to play Holmes to showcase him for a trade. If so, their "showcase" has been horrible so far.

 

[ESP47]

Len is that player that we always want put in to change the tone of the game and then 5 minutes later we want him subbed out because we forget that he's still Alex Len.

 

[The_Jamal]

Len is that player that we always want put in to change the tone of the game and then 5 minutes later we want him subbed out because we forget that he's still Alex Len.

Yeah he's not the answer. I think Lyles or Metu as a small-ball would be a better look to shake things up. Hell, putting in Metu last night helped spark that late surge in the 4th.

 

[ESP47]

Yeah he's not the answer. I think Lyles or Metu as a small-ball would be a better look to shake things up. Hell, putting in Metu last night helped spark that late surge in the 4th.

Yeah Metu isn't normally the answer either but he contributed last night. He's actually not a bad defender but he can be a total dum dum on offense sometimes.

 

[dude12]

I’m down with the smaller lineups utilizing a Metu at center. If the smaller lineups can create a mismatch where we are quicker, then that is an advantage. Worked on Portland for a bit when it was the 3 guard lineup with Huerter at PF. Wouldn’t work against the Clippers but that fourth quarter against the Warriors was a smaller lineup. I think the Murray, Barnes and Domas lineup is overall not quick enough

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I don't think you would put Metu in against bigs that are giving Sabonis trouble but he makes sense as energy in a small lineup. Seems like this is the sorta end of bench depth we've clamored for but not quite maximizing. I am not better equipped to coach this team than Brown is and if he thinks letting Sabonis and Barnes play out slumps right now is the way to go, ok. I am definitely way more concerned with Barnes because we don't have a lot of options aside from KZ and Keegan unless we commit to going small with Huerter at the three.

 

[The_Jamal]

I don't think you would put Metu in against bigs that are giving Sabonis trouble but he makes sense as energy in a small lineup. Seems like this is the sorta end of bench depth we've clamored for but not quite maximizing. I am not better equipped to coach this team than Brown is and if he thinks letting Sabonis and Barnes play out slumps right now is the way to go, ok. I am definitely way more concerned with Barnes because we don't have a lot of options aside from KZ and Keegan unless we commit to going small with Huerter at the three.

Yeah just letting them play out of the slump is likely the best (and really only) course to go at this point. They've been too good for too long to freak out over 3 games. And Sabonis played much better in that Warriors game.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I’m really curious to see what a Sabonis contract will look like. Doesn’t it seem like a 4 for 109 that Wiggins signed seem appropriate? A lot can happen between now and free agency but if he is an 18 12 and 6 guy with average defense I think that seems more reasonable than say a max or close to it deal.

 

[sactowndog]

I consider Charlotte must win. Maybe we can eek out 1/2 with Miami. I don't think we'll beat Memphis. Could be wrong. I understand that many feel they aren't up to the standard they set last year, and Fox always plays Ja hard, but still.

they have key players out injured. We ought to beat them. Not to mention Fox actually plays defense against Ja.

 

[cwebb2002]

First of all, i knew this freak out session happened. I told people here that I would expect anywhere from a 2-8 to a 4-6 start for the Kings in the first 10 games. I still think that is the appropriate position. BUT they will improve. Other than the 2nd quarter explosion by the Warriors, they havent looked horrible and are definitely a better team. I still think this can be a .500 team (maybe slightly better). I think Holmes could be better, but he is better still than he was last year. They just have to use him better in the second squad. They dont look for him rolling at all, and they are never looking at him in the high post which is where he is the most deadly (push shot). They need to get him out of the middle of the key when setting the picks (elbow or top of the key) because that is clogging up the lane for him to roll. He needs to set the screens a bit further out to give the guard room to penetrate and give him space to roll or pick and pop.

The 2 that Im disappointed in thus far have been Davion and Barnes. I think Davion looks lost out there sometimes (even on defense, he hasnt been stellar). Barnes, i just dont know what is up with him. He has to be hurt. He is not engaged and he is not hitting shots at all. He is barely taking any. He doesnt seem like the quit on your team guy (he tried to play in the mavs game after they traded him to us). So he has got to be hurt. All in all, Im not reading too much into these first 10 games. We knew it was going to be a slaughter anyways. We just have to come and show out few games. Of the next 5 games, grizzlies and heat will be hard but I think we could potentially split with heat. Hornets and Magic should be winnable games.

 

[TaxMan]

I think last year we were in the upper tier of opponents FT's attempted, but that could also have to do with the fact that we literally didn't even attempt to play defense. I think Brown is wanting more aggression, which is leading to more FT's by the opponents so far this year but I do admit there have seem to be a lot of marginal calls this year. I wonder if that is a point of emphasis for the officials this season.

I do appreciate Brown's comments regarding fouls. A lot of coaches say we need to play good defense without fouling, but many times he's commented on what that actually means and it sounds like they are really focusing on it. Playing vertically. Don't reach. etc.... I agree there have been a lot of bad foul calls (many of which I have been critical of and I think turned the momentum of our three losses), but playing defense without fouling is an actual skill that I don't think we are great at so far. Just because the other team shoots more free throws doesn't mean the refs got everything wrong.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

they have key players out injured. We ought to beat them. Not to mention Fox actually plays defense against Ja.

LA had key players injured. Portland Dame was noticeably not himself and yet somehow wins player of the week as Blazers are 3-0 (I still think it was stellar play from Hart, Grant, and Sharpe that did us in - strangely I am totally blacked out of all other Blazers games now as they have a new TV deal with a lousy non-streaming regional, so the Kings game was the only one I watched - but I am curious how much those guys played major parts in their other wins).

 

[Chupacabra]

This team doesn't lend itself well to beating good, experienced teams early in the season. Unfortunately, the beginning of the schedule is all good, experienced teams. However, once the train leaves the station there won't be a way to stop it. The talent is there to scrape some wins together in the beginning of the season.

Can anyone justify trading Fox? lol