[Game] Kings vs. Lakers, 10/29/2023 6pm Pacific 9pm Eastern

Status
Not open for further replies.
Couldn’t jump out here as we were late starting game but I want to say welcome back Huerter he showed up when we really needed him to. Monk well what can I say unbelievable I think 21-22 pts and they did it without Fox and Domas. I was a little nervous going into OT cause we were in so much foul trouble but hey I BELIEVE. And my wish came true
#BEAT LA
#FEEL THE ROAR
#LIGHT THE BEAM
 
Took Vezenkov 3 games to fully win me over. Has a brilliant understanding of off-ball movement offensively and he's got that fire that every 3pt sniper really needs to be successful in this league. Where it doesn't matter if he's 1-6, dude is going to pull every open look he gets and then some. We absolutely needed that last year in the playoffs. No doubt he's going to have some 5+ 3PM games this year where he pops for a monster game.

And he competes hard, especially on the glass.
You and I are in the same boat regarding Vezenkov.

I love what he brings, and I think he is having fun. I dont think he is starter worthy but super sub at 20 - 24 mins per game is absolutely worth him and his role. He could change that and surprise me for sure tho.
 
This could be a great thing for Davion to get going but yeah, the leash is probably a short one if he doesn't work out.
Thing is, Davion has pretty much always looked pretty good when he gets in the starters role his whole career. He just hasn't figured out with any consistency on how to be an effective 15 MPG offensive player.

Monk showed it tonight; he's got that ability to be a feature offensive player and deliver. He's obviously not Fox, but I think he's the only guy with any sort of chance of replicating the rim pressure and speed that Fox puts on the defense. At least until Keegan fully trusts his new-found role/ability to put the ball on the floor
 

hrdboild

Moloch in whom I dream Angels!
Staff member
I generally agree, but the Lakers also hit a bunch of clutch shots (mostly 3s) where had they missed the game would have been over. I’d say those bricks evened things out a bit
That's true. But I'd like to see this team take a step forward on defense and that means forcing misses not just playing the averages and hoping they miss when one shot could be the difference in the game. I do feel good about Keegan accepting the mantle as one of the team's go-to guys in the second half. I do feel good about "the league's next superstar" Austin Reaves having a 1-12 night. I do feel good about Fox's ability to get whatever he wants with the game on the line (and hopefully he can recover quickly from the ankle sprain).

I will give credit where credit is due...

This team is tough mentally. They elevate their play when the game is on the line and they can hang with the best in the league on offense. There's a lot to be happy about with this group. To take the next step though from entertaining regular season team to actual playoff threat we need to completely re-think what we're doing defensively. I see a lot of overplays leading to open shots and guys just hoping the rebounds find us instead of sealing off and owning a spot on the floor. We're a high-wire act and we can overwhelm teams with relentless offense but we almost need to because we cant stop anyone from scoring on us.
 
Thing is, Davion has pretty much always looked pretty good when he gets in the starters role his whole career. He just hasn't figured out with any consistency on how to be an effective 15 MPG offensive player.

Monk showed it tonight; he's got that ability to be a feature offensive player and deliver. He's obviously not Fox, but I think he's the only guy with any sort of chance of replicating the rim pressure and speed that Fox puts on the defense.
I have said Malik could be a top 10 lead guard. I think we will find out as Fox’s ankle looked pretty bad.
 
Thing is, Davion has pretty much always looked pretty good when he gets in the starters role his whole career. He just hasn't figured out with any consistency on how to be an effective 15 MPG offensive player.

Monk showed it tonight; he's got that ability to be a feature offensive player and deliver. He's obviously not Fox, but I think he's the only guy with any sort of chance of replicating the rim pressure and speed that Fox puts on the defense.

He's got the explosion, now to see if consistency follows. If it does, then someone might indeed have to fill that bench production for him. Knowing Brown he'll probably keep it the same and Manu his minutes like in the playoffs where he basically gobbles up one of the starters time from the bench.
 
I have said Malik could be a top 10 lead guard. I think we will find out as Fox’s ankle looked pretty bad.
Top 10? So like... Ja/Trae Young range?

Probably not. His stat profile was actually far closer to Lavine and Beal funnily enough. Two players that were floated around as trade targets this off-season. But yeah, I'm right there with you. I think his offensive potential is through the roof good and we got some real data, especially in the playoffs, to show that.
 
Top 10? So like... Ja/Trae Young range?

Probably not. His stat profile was actually far closer to Lavine and Beal funnily enough. Two players that were floated around as trade targets this off-season. But yeah, I'm right there with you. I think his offensive potential is through the roof good and we got some real data, especially in the playoffs, to show that.
Monk hasn't started a bunch so we'll see if he does. It's all efficiency. LaVine and Beal have had multiple years of 20+ per, Monk has topped out at 16-17 which is actually more JR Smith/Jordan Poole stuff. Of course he's also a bench player so they do have more rope to burn and minutes historically.
 

Kingz19

Hall of Famer
Great win

and much needed likely heading to San Francisco Fox-less.

Hopefully not for too long. The roll looked pretty nasty and the adrenaline didn’t keep it loose for too long to keep him in until the end. Let’s just hope he doesn’t miss any significant time with it. His return saved the game though.

Monk and Huerter picked him and Domas up in the end. Last season without fail this team fell apart without one of Fox or Domas on the floor.. tonight they beat the Lakers. Even at the end of the third without Fox and Domas, they didn’t lose any ground really. Didn’t gain any ground but didn’t blow the game.

Fox is a star. He was the best player on the floor all game until they had to sit him.

Even with one leg Fox was still clearly the most dangerous player on the floor even with AD, LeBron, and D-Lo playing well. I’m happy that he’s a King.

Domas had a solid game. I would very much like more than 8 shots though. I know AD looms but we need closer to 15 every night. Most nights I’d prefer even more than that.

I’ve actually been fairly impressed with his defense in the first three games. Getting his hands on balls and using his body. He got familiar treatment from the refs tonight though. He’s back to eating up the boards and had some sick dimes tonight..just wish he took more shots in this game.

Keegan had another coming of age game. Last season with the start he had and then pissing off Brown like he did. It would’ve been a wrap for Keegan and he wouldn’t have played the rest of the game. Tonight he finished with 15-8-5 and a +11. Think he went 6 for 8 after starting 0-6 and got Showing a little more each night.

Huerter and Monk as mentioned had great games and won it in the end. Especially on the glass for Huerter and Monk finally had a good revenge game. Last season he never played well against his former teams be it the Lakers or Hornets. Buried them tonight.

Sasha is awesome. He’ll just keep getting better and better. Basically the game from the highlight videos is translating from what I can see. Makes sense that it would. The NBA game allows more space. Just more length and close out speed but he has such a quick release that it wasn’t much of a question he would be able to get looks at this level…and the dude is holding his own on defense for now.

i don’t know if I want to see him at small ball 5 again though but MORE SASHA otherwise.

The bench in general has been much better than they were last season thanks to the added punch from Sasha and Duarte. Also, the useful size of Javale which was absent last season.

can’t wait for Trey to get back.

Above all else. Even had the Kings lost tonight. The Kings look like a better team than they were last season and that’s what I want to see during the first couple of weeks.
 
He's got the explosion, now to see if consistency follows. If it does, then someone might indeed have to fill that bench production for him. Knowing Brown he'll probably keep it the same and Manu his minutes like in the playoffs where he basically gobbles up one of the starters time from the bench.
Funny you should bring that up:

Sasha has now scored 8, 10 and 11 points in his 3 games. You need a playmaker to get him the rock, but I think he's very much making a case for taking a big scoring burden off the bench. Perhaps you cycle Monk/Domas like you cycle Fox/Domas and just make sure one of them is on the floor at all times.
 
Funny you should bring that up:

Sasha has now scored 8, 10 and 11 points in his 3 games. You need a playmaker to get him the rock, but I think he's very much making a case for taking a big scoring burden off the bench. Perhaps you cycle Monk/Domas like you cycle Fox/Domas and just make sure one of them is on the floor at all times.
If Keegan got his wakeup call from Brown, they might not need it. Hate to say injuries are a good thing but this coming this early in the season basically gives Monte a lot of time to analyze this team.
 
Top 10? So like... Ja/Trae Young range?

Probably not. His stat profile was actually far closer to Lavine and Beal funnily enough. Two players that were floated around as trade targets this off-season. But yeah, I'm right there with you. I think his offensive potential is through the roof good and we got some real data, especially in the playoffs, to show that.
Ja is probably more top 5. Trae, Darius Garland, Jalen Brunson. Yeah I think he could be that good….
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
Funny you should bring that up:

Sasha has now scored 8, 10 and 11 points in his 3 games. You need a playmaker to get him the rock, but I think he's very much making a case for taking a big scoring burden off the bench. Perhaps you cycle Monk/Domas like you cycle Fox/Domas and just make sure one of them is on the floor at all times.
One of these nights Sasha is going to bury five 3-pointers in a row. He just hasn't found his rhythm yet. I thought he wasn't going to cut it on defense, but I've actually been favorably impressed. He's a physical and tough player.
 
Shout out to Monk, Huerter and Keegan. Obviously we don’t win this without Fox but holy moly those guys came through when he went down. What did the telecast say about De’Aaron?
Watching Drapes and Barnes and they’re saying sprain but that’s about it no time mentioned how long he will be out
 
Took Vezenkov 3 games to fully win me over. Has a brilliant understanding of off-ball movement offensively and he's got that fire that every 3pt sniper really needs to be successful in this league. Where it doesn't matter if he's 1-6, dude is going to pull every open look he gets and then some. We absolutely needed that last year in the playoffs. No doubt he's going to have some 5+ 3PM games this year where he pops for a monster game.

And he competes hard, especially on the glass.
Can't wait till he learns more of the NBA game. I loved it when he guarded Lebron 1 on 1. Held his ground with no help and forced a tough turn around J that was missed.
 
If Keegan got his wakeup call from Brown, they might not need it. Hate to say injuries are a good thing but this coming this early in the season basically gives Monte a lot of time to analyze this team.
I’m as big a fan of Keegan as any but I think we are likely asking too much of him to be a take over type guy this season. Sure he will have his moments but I think the ultimate goal is for him to be aggressive consistently and continue to improve defensively. He’s averaging 16 a game so far and that’s without even having a particularly good offensive game. I think it’s likely he is around 16-17 this season which would be a substantial jump especially if the rebounding and other contributions continue. I think one thing he might be struggling with is striking the balance between jacking 3s and driving to the basket. Brown has put so much pressure on him to shoot he occasionally hesitates when he goes to the hoop. It will be interesting to see how he navigates that this season.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.