[Game] Kings @ Suns, 3/11/2023 6pm Pacific 9pm Eastern

[PorchSurfin]

Feel free to pump your brakes my friend but I've already uninstalled my brake pedal.

Even the Nets (fans) said he was always good on defense - just had too much pressure on him too early to perform on offense and shoot. We give him a nice little bench role of 20-25 minutes and ask him to do what he does best and this dude is going to crush it. Screenshot this!!

This is coming from a guy who thinks Keegan is our future #3 of a Big Three - I see Edwards as being our 7th man behind Monk, and crunch time stopper. The more I see of this young team the more I think we might actually already have almost all the peices we need for a serious championship run - CRAZY as that sounds.

I think Keegan and Kessler will be interchangeable at the 3/4 position as early as next year. Kessler is to replace Keegan as Keegan is to replace Barnes. I just want 2 more years of Barnes to groom his eventually replacement

 

[Padrino]

The Kings scored 128 points tonight. They had 7 guys in double-figures. Nobody broke 20. What a wild team this is.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I still can't believe we're 8-1 since the break when everyone was dooming our lack of movement at the deadline.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Stoked that he played as well as he did today, he completely disrupted Booker and I'm sure the Sun's game plan

Monte is playing chess. Say what you want about our defense (I personally believe many defensive stats are rendered irrelevant by the modern NBA game) - but it's becoming very very difficult to game plan against us. Our offense has shown the ability to adapt to attempts to shut down any single player, and our defense just got a whole lot better. We have legit specialized perimiter defenders now in Davion and Kessler. Yeah Booker got 29 points but it felt like he was a non factor - and like you said he was disrupted. That matters much more than the final stat line. And by the last half of the fourth, he was essentially completely immobilized. I know I'm gushing right now but what I saw against a team I was really worried about was, pardon the pun, game changing.

 

[See_Hanks]

Wow Edwards, and the bench......Brown needs to consider extending their minutes or letting them start! Metu really picked it up this game. Lyles another great game. At this point, I think Brown needs to start subbing more freely to keep the energy flowing. This was one of the best defensive games of the year. It was somewhat similar to the Knicks game in tone - Kings let the Suns back into the game after controlling for a quarter and a half, but the Kings didn't let the Suns on the boards. This game was not nearly as frustrating as the Knicks. The bench was playing at an exceptional level, better than the last Portland game even.

You don't mess with the starting lineup at this point in the season. Especially on a team that's in a good position to have home court for most of the playoffs. Don't screw with the chemistry. I assume the players on this team right now are ecstatic that they are about to enter the post season. No reason to screw it all up.

 

[The_Jamal]

I still can't believe we're 8-1 since the break when everyone was dooming our lack of movement at the deadline.

Really helps when every single bench rotation player is like "Don't worry Monte, we got your back" and is playing at a seriously high level

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

The Kings scored 128 points tonight. They had 7 guys in double-figures. Nobody broke 20. What a wild team this is.

The word I keep coming up with is ADAPTABLE.

We don't need to rely on a star, but we can if we need to. We don't need to get everyone involved, but we can if we need to.

It makes it very hard to gameplan against us. Monte is playing chess.

 

[miltonap]

agreed, but almost all of us said the same things about Jeffries and he did it for a longer stretch. I’m enjoying it, just not ready to check that role off the list just yet.

I don't remember Jeffries doing anything of note on offense.

I remember him being built like a tank and looking like he could be a force on defense but I don't remember much of note on the offensive end

 

[PorchSurfin]

Monte is playing chess. Say what you want about our defense (I personally believe many defensive stats are rendered irrelevant by the modern NBA game) - but it's becoming very very difficult to game plan against us. Our offense has shown the ability to adapt to attempts to shut down any single player, and our defense just got a whole lot better. We have legit specialized perimiter defenders now in Davion and Kessler. Yeah Booker got 29 points but he felt like he was a non factor - and like you said he was distrupted. That matters much more than the final stat line. And by the last half of the fourth, he was essentially completely immobilized. I know I'm gushing right now but what I saw against a team I was really worried about was, pardon the pun, game changing.

Kessler took Booker right the F out of the game. He basically turned Book into a secondary player. That crap was glorious to watch.

 

[The_Jamal]

Like wtf is this. Last 9 games:

Davion: 73.9% TS----12.4% USG
Monk 71.9% TS---24.9% USG (holy)
Lyles: 73.6% TS---- 20.2% USG
Metu: 64.4% TS----14.4% USG

The rim-running C who rarely takes anything outside of 3 feet any more is the low man on the efficiency totem pole lol. And 64.4% TS is still an elite number.

 

[kingdivac]

The Kings scored 128 points tonight. They had 7 guys in double-figures. Nobody broke 20. What a wild team this is.

This is exactly what you want.....lots of players scoring in double digits - in simple terms - "load balancing".

 

[The_Jamal]

agreed, but almost all of us said the same things about Jeffries and he did it for a longer stretch. I’m enjoying it, just not ready to check that role off the list just yet.

Yeah, agreed. What's exciting is you can easily see if things break right for Kessler on how he's absolutely perfect as an archetype to fill out the starting 5 with Fox/Huerter/Keegan/Sabonis as that potential defensive lynchpin. First step is showing he can do it consistently off the bench in a smaller role.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Kessler took Booker right the F out of the game. He basically turned Book into a secondary player. That crap was glorious to watch.

Glorious. Absolutely glorious. We've been waiting a long time for a player that can do that.

 

[See_Hanks]

I still can't believe we're 8-1 since the break when everyone was dooming our lack of movement at the deadline.

I was one of the people that wanted to stand pat. This is the first year this current team has been good. No reason to trade players that got us here. Even if it was the last player on the bench, and what could you have even got for a last on the bench type of player anyway? Surely nobody that could have helped..

Now after the season I would be looking at trading Holmes, Mitchell and a couple other players. I would keep Barnes (for his experience and ability to fit in without needing the ball to score), Fox (knock on wood that the injury bug doesn't pop up again), Sabonis, Lyles, Metu, Monk and Murray.

I am on the fence With Hueter but would be perfectly fine keeping him, but I am thinking Monk might want to start along side Fox next year though.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Really helps when every single bench rotation player is like "Don't worry Monte, we got your back" and is playing at a seriously high level

It's one of the gambles when you don't waive guys who stuck with you from the lean years to do some tinkering for the 13th guy on the bench. I do think it was the right call. Obviously you probably don't bring Len back, and maybe Metu moves on and we upgrade, but at least we didn't do those guys dirty for some other teams cuts.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I don't remember Jeffries doing anything of note on offense.

I remember him being built like a tank and looking like he could be a force on defense but I don't remember much of note on the offensive end

there was some thought he could be a three and D guy. He had a stretch where the three ball looked pretty good but it never materialized.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I was one of the people that wanted to stand pat. This is the first year this current team has been good. No reason to trade players that got us here. Even if it was the last player on the bench, and what could you have even got for a last on the bench type of player anyway? Surely nobody that could have helped..

Now after the season I would be looking at trading Holmes, Mitchell and a couple other players. I would keep Barnes (for his experience and ability to fit in without needing the ball to score), Fox (knock on wood that the injury bug doesn't pop up again), Sabonis, Lyles, Metu, Monk and Murray.

I am on the fence With Hueter but would be perfectly fine keeping him, but I am thinking Monk might want to start along side Fox next year though.

Holmes is maybe the one guy I think I'd have been ok moving because it seems that he is being a good soldier but I know he wants to play elsewhere and probably can. All the other guys we'd cut for some small upgrade probably wouldn't have a role on any other playoff team either.

 

[miltonap]

Yeah, agreed. What's exciting is you can easily see if things break right for Kessler on how he's absolutely perfect as an archetype to fill out the starting 5 with Fox/Huerter/Keegan/Sabonis as that potential defensive lynchpin. First step is showing he can do it consistently off the bench in a smaller role.

Barnes's ability to ISO is a really important part of this team IMO.

It gives the team another weapon when all the drop offs and pretty ball movement isn't getting it done.

I'd be weary of not bringing him back unless a similar skill set can be found and I don't think that'd be an easy to do considering his position and that he can also play average defense and shoot at a respectable clip (when averaged).

Hopefully he could accept a lower deal

 

[kingdivac]

You don't mess with the starting lineup at this point in the season. Especially on a team that's in a good position to have home court for most of the playoffs. Don't screw with the chemistry. I assume the players on this team right now are ecstatic that they are about to enter the post season. No reason to screw it all up.

Brown won't, and it was a bit tongue and cheek, but when the bench starts outplaying the starters as they have in a couple games lately, you see the interchangeability becomes a real advantage. Keeping players fresh for full effort is a luxury. When the Kings had their initial win streak of the season - it was heavily due to their bench. Granted the bench have had their share of terrible games even in wins - like the Thunder. I think if Brown can give more breaks and interchange players, its a testament to player buy-in. Fox has looked tired, and could probably use longer breaks.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Another Kings win means just ONE thing, Fam Bam...

#BeamTheMuthaEffingLight

JUST.
BEAM.
THAT.
MUTHA.
EFFING.
ISH.

Also...

ZERO wins away...From having the MOST wins since the postseason drought began.

We hit the big 4 0, gang!!!!

WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILD!

 

[Padrino]

Brown won't, and it was a bit tongue and cheek, but when the bench starts outplaying the starters as they have in a couple games lately, you see the interchangeability becomes a real advantage. Keeping players fresh for full effort is a luxury. When the Kings had their initial win streak of the season - it was heavily due to their bench. Granted the bench have had their share of terrible games even in wins - like the Thunder. I think if Brown can give more breaks and interchange players, its a testament to player buy-in. Fox has looked tired, and could probably use longer breaks.

Use of the bench is going to be really important in the upcoming stretch, which is honestly kind of brutal from a rest standpoint. Starting with Monday's matchup with the Bucks, the Kings play 6 games in 9 nights, with 4 of those coming on the road.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1634799394523430914

Vibes remain spotless

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I think Keegan and Kessler will be interchangeable at the 3/4 position as early as next year. Kessler is to replace Keegan as Keegan is to replace Barnes. I just want 2 more years of Barnes to groom his eventually replacement

What McNair does about Barnes in the offseason is very intriguing to me. He has the kind of game that should age well, so McNair should definitely try to see where he stands. If Barnes wants to play for a title contender, then you let him go with gratitude. But the thing is, Barnes has already gotten a ring, and he's already gotten his money, and he seems like the kind of guy who could be talked into giving the incumbent team a discount, to stay on and be a part of building something he believes in.

Meaning that the 12-15 million dollar question is: does Harrison Barnes believe in what the Kings are building?

 

[iowamcnabb]

Use of the bench is going to be really important in the upcoming stretch, which is honestly kind of brutal from a rest standpoint. Starting with Monday's matchup with the Bucks, the Kings play 6 games in 9 nights, with 4 of those coming on the road.

The Bucks game is the last in what I consider our toughest stretch of the year. We are either going to end up 4-2 or 5-1 in that 6 game run which is incredible. Still, I can’t help but feel nervous about the last 16 games. 5-11 probably ensures a playoff spot. 10-6 and we get to 50 wins. How do we maintain the momentum we have for 16 more games? Unreal season

 

[206Fan]

Barnes's ability to ISO is a really important part of this team IMO.

It gives the team another weapon when all the drop offs and pretty ball movement isn't getting it done.

I'd be weary of not bringing him back unless a similar skill set can be found and I don't think that'd be an easy to do considering his position and that he can also play average defense and shoot at a respectable clip (when averaged).

Hopefully he could accept a lower deal

I brought it up because I find myself subconsciously comparing these Kings to the 2020-21 Hawks: they had success way earlier than their timeline projected that they should have had organically, then had a letdown season, and reacted to that by making panic moves (like not being patient with Cam Reddish, or trading Kevin Huerter for a handful of magic beans).

I worry about the possibility of that happening again in Sacramento. Because Ranadivé is absolutely the kind of owner I can see getting too excited about a run to the conference finals this year, and overreacting if the Kings had a letdown and followed it up with a first-round exit next year.

This is why it's so crucial for Keegan to develop as an on-ball scorer who can get his own bucket. Fox said it himself that in order for the Kings to win a championship, they need Keegan to become an elite wing OR they need to acquire an elite wing (paraphrasing a bit). Any big trade we do will be around Keegan. It's going to be ultimately up to him to step up next year and beyond and be able to expand his game and role on this team.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

The Bucks game is the last in what I consider our toughest stretch of the year. We are either going to end up 4-2 or 5-1 in that 6 game run which is incredible. Still, I can’t help but feel nervous about the last 16 games. 5-11 probably ensures a playoff spot. 10-6 and we get to 50 wins. How do we maintain the momentum we have for 16 more games? Unreal season

I'll be perfectly honest with you here...I wouldn't even mind it at all if we go 8-8 to finish the season. As long as we don't fall flat over the last 16 games, I don't necessarily care what our record is over the next 16. Just the simple fact that we are AT LEAST a 40 win team for the first time since the 2005-2006 campaign, and are well on our way to play past game number 82, makes this a VERY HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL season.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

This is why it's so crucial for Keegan to develop as an on-ball scorer who can get his own bucket. Fox said it himself that in order for the Kings to win a championship, they need Keegan to become an elite wing OR they need to acquire an elite wing (paraphrasing a bit). Any big trade we do will be around Keegan. It's going to be ultimately up to him to step up next year and beyond and be able to expand his game and role on this team.

Agreed. If I were a Kings fan I would want McNair to re-sign Barnes to a short-term deal (2 years max), and see whether Murray works on his game over the summer. The Kings are not on a win-now trajectory, though, so I wouldn't be too anxious to pull the trigger on trying to land a whale.

 

[iowamcnabb]

What McNair does about Barnes in the offseason is very intriguing to me. He has the kind of game that should age well, so McNair should definitely try to see where he stands. If Barnes wants to play for a title contender, then you let him go with gratitude. But the thing is, Barnes has already gotten a ring, and he's already gotten his money, and he seems like the kind of guy who could be talked into giving the incumbent team a discount, to stay on and be a part of building something he believes in.

Meaning that the 12-15 million dollar question is: does Harrison Barnes believe in what the Kings are building?

I don’t think there is a title contender that has the cap space to sign Barnes. One question
HB will have to ask himself, “what do the Kings have planned for me long term? Will my contract be used in a bigger trade if the kings stall out in year 2?

I’m assuming we would be looking at a 4 year deal with a player option in the last year.

 

[Fantazija]

The Bucks game is the last in what I consider our toughest stretch of the year. We are either going to end up 4-2 or 5-1 in that 6 game run which is incredible. Still, I can’t help but feel nervous about the last 16 games. 5-11 probably ensures a playoff spot. 10-6 and we get to 50 wins. How do we maintain the momentum we have for 16 more games? Unreal season

If Kings go 5-11 the rest of the season Dallas or Minny would have to go 11-3 to get past us.Or Lakers 12-3.Frankly 10-6 and 50 wins seems more likely then 5-11

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Yeah, so far Murray is having tough nights against wing teams. This is the 3rd game that Murray has gotten benched against the Suns at some point. His splits against the Hawks, Suns, Wolves, and a few others are pretty telling. Big physical wings are taking him out this year.

He’s a rookie. It happens.

He’s smart, talented, skilled, and seems to be a hard worker. He’ll figure things out.

He’s already shown flashes of improvement in various parts of his game. I’m not worried at all.

Watch him go out and drop 30 the next game.