[Game] Kings @ Grizzlies, 11/22/2022 5pm Pacific 8pm Eastern

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Padrino

Padrino

All-Star
#31
#31
The_Jamal said:
It really is funny how damaged we are as Kings fans. We literally have the best ORtg of all-time right now and we're like "Eh, we'll just have to wait and see".

I think one things that's impressed me most this season is 5-0 vs teams "we should beat" on paper. The Kings a lot of the time did get up for the marquee matchups and play really well only to blow a home game to the Pistons in the next one. And for a good chunk of those games, I wouldn't say we played particularly well either; just enough when it counted.

The other is we have yet to have a game where the team just flat out quits. Maybe the Memphis game? But even that Warriors game where we let them drop 89, still found a way to surge back and at least make it competitive into the 4th. There's a real resiliency with this squad that the Kings just haven't had in 16 years.
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It really is a case of feeling hesitant on account of the lessons of history. Every time it seems as if the Kings are about to "break through," something within the team breaks down instead, and the hope of a better tomorrow for this franchise fades away like a wisp of smoke.

So much is already pointing at sustainability for the '22-'23 iteration of "This is our year!" That said, I'm still not ready to fully commit to belief, even though I'm among those who were crazy enough to predict that the Kings would make the playoffs without need for the play-in. Something special is brewing here in Sacramento... but I can't completely trust my eyes yet since we've been here before.
 
QWERTYLICIOUS

QWERTYLICIOUS

Starter
#32
#32
Padrino said:
It really is a case of feeling hesitant on account of the lessons of history. Every time it seems as if the Kings are about to "break through," something within the team breaks down instead, and the hope of a better tomorrow for this franchise fades away like a wisp of smoke.

So much is already pointing at sustainability for the '22-'23 iteration of "This is our year!" That said, I'm still not ready to fully commit to belief, even though I'm among those who were crazy enough to predict that the Kings would make the playoffs without need for the play-in. Something special is brewing here in Sacramento... but I can't completely trust my eyes yet since we've been here before.
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THIS...is basically also where I am at right now. The current success is music to my ears. Pleasant to look at with my own eyes.

BUT, I am not going to buy into all of the early season hype until that final buzzer goes off in game 82 of the regular season, and our next game is days away. Until then, I'm not expecting anything. Because I've been there before. And I don't wanna go there again.
 
pdxKingsFan

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#33
#33
iowamcnabb said:
I just came across a game recap for our last game on a Pistons post game show. They were giving us a lot of praise but described our defense as “the time when they can’t play offense” :D

we have had a signature offensive performance, how about a signature defensive performance tonight!
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The Adelman Kings "couldn't play defense" either.

I think not playing defense on a winning team vs. not playing defense on a dog poopoop team is a world of difference, see "Sabonis can't play defense".
 
TaxMan

TaxMan

Starter
#34
#34
iowamcnabb said:
I just came across a game recap for our last game on a Pistons post game show. They were giving us a lot of praise but described our defense as “the time when they can’t play offense” :D

we have had a signature offensive performance, how about a signature defensive performance tonight!
Click to expand...
It's weird. The eye test tells me they are getting a good defensive gameplan going into each game. While there are defensive breakdowns here and there, they playing with energy and executing on the plan. This is not as discouraging of a defensive unit as it has in the past. I know a lot has been made of the stats that suggest we're defending the three very well but teams are just making them at an abnormal rate, but it really does feel that way also. I mean as a gameplan, doesn't seem crazy to let Kevin Knox and Killian Hayes shoot as many threes as possible, but what are you going to do when they somehow find Jesus and make a ton?
 
pdxKingsFan

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#35
#35
Padrino said:
It really is a case of feeling hesitant on account of the lessons of history. Every time it seems as if the Kings are about to "break through," something within the team breaks down instead, and the hope of a better tomorrow for this franchise fades away like a wisp of smoke.

So much is already pointing at sustainability for the '22-'23 iteration of "This is our year!" That said, I'm still not ready to fully commit to belief, even though I'm among those who were crazy enough to predict that the Kings would make the playoffs without need for the play-in. Something special is brewing here in Sacramento... but I can't completely trust my eyes yet since we've been here before.
Click to expand...
Biggest difference to the last time we had hope (I'd say hot start before Boogie got sick and Malone was fired and Joerger's last year) was that in both of the prior cases the coach was on the hotseat if not plotting to be fired before the season began.

I'm just so glad we drafted Murray and his dad is a decent human so that when our rookie struggles it isn't taking away from the team's success.
 
iowamcnabb

iowamcnabb

Hall of Famer
#36
#36
pdxKingsFan said:
The Adelman Kings "couldn't play defense" either.

I think not playing defense on a winning team vs. not playing defense on a dog poopoop team is a world of difference, see "Sabonis can't play defense".
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coach, the players and the fans all know we have to do better and probably will on that end.

this team is the most enjoyable to watch for me since the glory years so no complaints from an entertainment perspective. I think getting to 19th in the first year under Brown would be a huge win.
 
pdxKingsFan

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#37
#37
iowamcnabb said:
coach, the players and the fans all know we have to do better and probably will on that end.

this team is the most enjoyable to watch for me since the glory years so no complaints from an entertainment perspective. I think getting to 19th in the first year under Brown would be a huge win.
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I don't see any reason we can't get to that middle third and if our offense remains elite we're a 4 seed at worst.

Until then I'll take some small satisfaction that the team is good on defense when it really needs to be. I'd like to not wait until the last two minutes because it is agonizing.
 
funkykingston

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#42
#42
Capt. Factorial said:
I mean, it was the personnel moves that signaled the tank.
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It might be semantics, but I'd argue that "rebuild" and "tank" aren't necessarily synonymous. Yes, they traded there best players for draft capital, young players, and cap flexibility. But that doesn't mean they also have to purposely field a roster designed to lose as many games as possible. Utah has never really "tanked" and ownership may not want to fully commit to that path.

If so, I applaud them.
 
Bosnian Diehard

Bosnian Diehard

Starter
#44
#44
Morant was just upgraded to a game time decision. I’m torn on this because obviously I’d like to win this and him sitting out helps our odds tremendously. On the other hand, a win vs. the Grizzlies with Morant would be a legit good win.
 
K

kingsfan_4Life

Bench
#49
#49
The_Jamal said:
It really is funny how damaged we are as Kings fans. We literally have the best ORtg of all-time right now and we're like "Eh, we'll just have to wait and see".

I think one things that's impressed me most this season is 5-0 vs teams "we should beat" on paper. The Kings a lot of the time did get up for the marquee matchups and play really well only to blow a home game to the Pistons in the next one. And for a good chunk of those games, I wouldn't say we played particularly well either; just enough when it counted.

The other is we have yet to have a game where the team just flat out quits. Maybe the Memphis game? But even that Warriors game where we let them drop 89, still found a way to surge back and at least make it competitive into the 4th. There's a real resiliency with this squad that the Kings just haven't had in 16 years.
Click to expand...
I think what we also need to understand is that this same Kings team also went 0-4 our first 4 games of the season, so we are capable of slipping into another losing streak if we aren't careful...All I'm hoping for is a 40 win season this year. I try to keep my expectations realistic even when I get excited...
 
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