[Game] New Orleans Pelicans @ Kings, 1-7-24 3PM PST/6PM EST

[iowamcnabb]

Sasha took advantage of his minutes even though he couldn’t hit his threes.

Kessler was great in garbage time

KVon did good with his minutes

Colby has a future. Hope he isn’t a throw in for a trade. Dude could be our monk replacer if we start Malik next year

Keon ready for his bit part role whenever Davion gets moved

 

[NewArena]

Murray will be up and down this year, part of being a 2nd year player. He will continue to grow his game

West is tough, I would be estatic if we can make it to the 2nd round, prob not currently constructed though

Monte will be patient and trade smart, on the other hand teams like the Wolves/OKC can be a trade away of seperating themselves from us now and in the future

Just as the Kings have the potential to do the same! We’ll see what happens

 

[KF8]

onto the nexttt, but we better not lose to the pistons after this super poor performance.

 

[kingdivac]

This Kings team is a play-in team - they've actually regressed from last season.......Until they figure out that they need to play satisfactory and consistent defense and rebounding, they're not going much past the playoff surface again. They haven't committed to defense in a meaningful way yet, and not sure of the capacity to either.

Yet again they get dispirited and demoralized when they can't get their offense going and it leads to falling off a cliff on defense.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

For the season, the Kings are +76 points (+2.45 points/game) against everybody that is NOT the Pelicans.

Against the Pelicans, the Kings are -84 points (-21 points/game), and before the third string came in when down 49, they had reached -100 points.

I don't have any numbers on it, but I would expect that this level of ownage is quite unusual.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Normally losses put me in a bad mood but I’m letting this one roll off. The team but just like almost every other team we have things to work out. And we only have more game against the Beignets

 

[NewArena]

Such a wild stat LOL though we didn’t have Fox for those Rocket clunkers

https://twitter.com/statuses/1744163906036146623

 

[KF8]

This Kings team is a play-in team - they've actually regressed from last season.......Until they figure out that they need to play satisfactory and consistent defense and rebounding, they're not going much past the playoff surface again. They haven't committed to defense in a meaningful way yet, and not sure of the capacity to either.

Yet again they get dispirited and demoralized when they can't get their offense going and it leads to falling off a cliff on defense.

I think they will end up being best scenario 6th seed. I dont see the kings passing the Nuggets, Wolves, Thunder, Clippers, and the Pelicans. That's 5 teams right there and if the Suns get their act together and healthy they could also pass up the kings which would push them out of the top 6.

 

[SacTownKid]

This Kings team is a play-in team - they've actually regressed from last season.......Until they figure out that they need to play satisfactory and consistent defense and rebounding, they're not going much past the playoff surface again. They haven't committed to defense in a meaningful way yet, and not sure of the capacity to either.

Yet again they get dispirited and demoralized when they can't get their offense going and it leads to falling off a cliff on defense.

As is the West is the beast everyone thought it would be. You can go from 5th to 10th in pretty short order. The playoffs are the question of course. Is it a guarantee as is that the offense doesn't disappear come playoff time again? That's the concern. Sounds like Monte is interested in being proactive. His issue is unfortunately he might have to settle for something less than desired if his goal is talent. We shall see.

 

[Kingz19]

Well, it was all bad. A thorough ass whooping. Pick a player matchup and the Kings lost it. Pick a team stat and it was glaring.

Now..

Duarte works hard defensively but I’d stop short of calling him a quality defender and he doesn’t create the space to shoot like Huerter does. Which is why we have noted his effort many times this season but never any impact.

I don’t know if Huerter will return to form even though he was ok today.

I know it isn’t happening but if they won’t just start Monk, plug Colby Jones in that spot.

He was a 3 year college player. If a player with his experience isn’t ready for atleast some NBA minutes on a team with a SG and wing void, then chances are he won’t ever be.

Even many good teams will let it ride to see what they have with upperclassmen second rounders. Especially when they are getting very little offensively and defensively from a specific position with what they have like the Kings have with Huerter and Duarte…and Davion.

I still understand why you would keep Monk on the bench. As even with him it’s already one of the worst offensive benches in the game. I don’t know if it could afford to lose Monk.

But Brown should view now as the time to experiment more with the backcourt with what he has until some moves are made. There’s Keon Ellis too.

 

[iowamcnabb]

This Kings team is a play-in team - they've actually regressed from last season.......

I just don’t get this take.

1) we have a better record than last year
2) we have had more injuries than last year
3) West is way better. Minnesota, New Orleans, OKC,Dallas, LAC and Houston were all either bad or underperforming at this point
4) we have beat OkC twice, once without Fox, split with Minny and 1-0 vs Denver. The only team team in the West that has regressed is Memphis due to injury and Ja. And guess what, we smoked them with all their top players finally returning.

we have to get better and more consistent but so does every team outside Minny, OKC, Sixers and Celts

 

[Larry89]

Len sets great screens

Let's play Javale suddenly instead, he does cool alley oop dunks

 

[Tizzy Flip]

I think they will end up being best scenario 6th seed. I dont see the kings passing the Nuggets, Wolves, Thunder, Clippers, and the Pelicans. That's 5 teams right there and if the Suns get their act together and healthy they could also pass up the kings which would push them out of the top 6.

I think we can get better than a 6th seed, but the reality is Lakers, Warriors, Mavs will be making moves and some lowly teams will just hand them key pieces. It’ll be a tough run to April, especially if we can’t get another scorer. We need to protect Fox’s durability

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I just don’t get this take.

1) we have a better record than last year
2) we have had more injuries than last year
3) West is way better. Minnesota, New Orleans, OKC,Dallas and Houston were all either bad or underperforming at this point
4) we have beat OkC twice, once without Fox, split with Minny and 1-0 vs Denver. The only team team in the West that has regressed is Memphis due to injury and Ja. And guess what, we smoked them with all their top players finally returning.

we have to get better and more consistent but so does every team outside Minny, OKC, Sixers and Celts

The losses have had a big impression. They have been much more one sided than last season

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Such a wild stat LOL though we didn’t have Fox for those Rocket clunkers

If the Pelicans leapfrog the Kings in the standings, Sacramento could hypothetically make it to the Finals without having to face any of those teams in the playoffs.

 

[KF8]

I think we can get better than a 6th seed, but the reality is Lakers, Warriors, Mavs will be making moves and some lowly teams will just hand them key pieces. It’ll be a tough run to April, especially if we can’t get another scorer. We need to protect Fox’s durability

The conspiracy theorist in me tells me that the league would love for the lakers and warriors to be in the playoffs, so I'm never gonna count them out either.

 

[kingsfan_4Life]

This Kings team is a play-in team - they've actually regressed from last season.......Until they figure out that they need to play satisfactory and consistent defense and rebounding, they're not going much past the playoff surface again. They haven't committed to defense in a meaningful way yet, and not sure of the capacity to either.

Yet again they get dispirited and demoralized when they can't get their offense going and it leads to falling off a cliff on defense.

You are 100% correct. I expected the Kings to take a step forward this season. I mean wasn't expecting us to go deep in the playoffs or anything, but was at least expecting even a little jump up in improvement from last season. This is not good........Unless we make some moves, nothing will change.

 

[NewArena]

If the Pelicans leapfrog the Kings in the standings, Sacramento could hypothetically make it to the Finals without having to face any of those teams in the playoffs.

Seriously, what a strange season it's been so far. I actually think this is more realistic than some of this "The Kings are a play-in team" i'm seeing in this thread. I think they have us confused for the senior citizen Lakers or something

 

[SacTownKid]

The conspiracy theorist in me tells me that the league would love for the lakers and warriors to be in the playoffs, so I'm never gonna count them out either.

And the Warriors obviously deserve the respect to assume they'll make a run. Getting Siakam would likely push them up into the middle level muck in the standings.

 

[NewArena]

I think we can get better than a 6th seed, but the reality is Lakers, Warriors, Mavs will be making moves and some lowly teams will just hand them key pieces. It’ll be a tough run to April, especially if we can’t get another scorer. We need to protect Fox’s durability

Based on what, though? I don't see many avenues these teams have that will do something so magical, we won't be able to withstand it. The suns and mavs got KD and Kyrie last season, while the Lakers traded half their team and none of them passed us in the standings. We have a better record now than we did last season. I'm not being snarky btw, i just don't see how all these teams can do what we can't do. The Kings can make a move or two as well.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

The conspiracy theorist in me tells me that the league would love for the lakers and warriors to be in the playoffs, so I'm never gonna count them out either.

and beyond that, they have the talent and experience to make a run on their own merit

 

[Dongoodboy]

We are 21-13 but I simply can't rest assured saying we are fine. Hope Monte will do something to enhance our wing department

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I think we can get better than a 6th seed, but the reality is Lakers, Warriors, Mavs will be making moves and some lowly teams will just hand them key pieces. It’ll be a tough run to April, especially if we can’t get another scorer. We need to protect Fox’s durability

I feel like this is small market inferiority complex playing mind games with you. I only kinda-sorta believe in LA making a run because I believe in LeBron, not because of the gd lakers. Nobody's going to help the Warriors: Steph is still great, but them other dudes sorry. And nobody's going to help the Mavericks.

 

[Tizzy Flip]

Based on what, though? I don't see many avenues these teams have that will do something so magical, we won't be able to withstand it. The suns and mavs got KD and Kyrie last season, while the Lakers traded half their team and none of them passed us in the standings. We have a better record now than we did last season. I'm not being snarky btw, i just don't see how all these teams can do what we can't do. The Kings can make a move or two as well.

Based on better traceable pieces and based on recent history to act with urgency around trade deadline. What other proof do you need? Do you also forget Warriors and Lakers went deeper than we did last year in the playoffs?

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

We are 21-13 but I simply can't rest assured saying we are fine. Hope Monte will do something to enhance our wing department

The goal was and is to win a playoff series and make a deeper run. In that regard, things don't look "fine". Improvements need to be made, particularly on the defensive side, which becomes more important in the playoffs. They give up a 125+ points way too often

 

[iowamcnabb]

Big improvements after a trade at the deadline are pretty rare as far as I can tell. Lakers improved last year but to me that was mostly about clearing out drama. The Westbrook situation was weird for everyone and they also got healthy. I wouldn’t mind making a trade to give us a boost but I want Monte to be sure and make the right move because we only have one or two to make over the next couple years (other than a mid level signing). He is pretty mythological and the right mix of aggressive and patient so I’ll give him the benefit of doubt

 

[SacTownKid]

Based on what, though? I don't see many avenues these teams have that will do something so magical, we won't be able to withstand it. The suns and mavs got KD and Kyrie last season, while the Lakers traded half their team and none of them passed us in the standings. We have a better record now than we did last season. I'm not being snarky btw, i just don't see how all these teams can do what we can't do. The Kings can make a move or two as well.

The main question Monte is likely asking himself is whether or not the Kings are a contender as is. Monte by even looking at potential moves knows this isn't a finished product, and even with the Kings playing better than some of or if not all those teams mentioned in the regular season he sees the need to improve his talent pool. The interesting thing to watch is if Monte can't land all star level talent he then starts looking at defenders, need guys, or maybe even other assets to deal later in the form of draft capital. The downside of getting such a late start on going for it and building a team around Fox is time has largely extinguished his options to just simply add without subtraction. Monte went for money this last offseason and it didn't pan out. Now he needs to be flexible but aggressive on adding that talent.

 

[SacTownKid]

Big improvements after a trade at the deadline are pretty rare as far as I can tell. Lakers improved last year but to me that was mostly about clearing out drama. The Westbrook situation was weird for everyone and they also got healthy. I wouldn’t mind making a trade to give us a boost but I want Monte to be sure and make the right move because we only have one or two to make over the next couple years (other than a mid level signing). He is pretty mythological and the right mix of aggressive and patient so I’ll give him the benefit of doubt

Well last year the two teams that made the big moves made it to the 2nd round and WCF. That's about as big of an improvement as you could ever expect especially when both squads were toiling at the time.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

And the Warriors obviously deserve the respect to assume they'll make a run. Getting Siakam would likely push them up into the middle level muck in the standings.

I'd be surprised if Siakam ended up in Golden State. Toronto wants young players with upside and draft picks in exchange for Siakam, and the Warriors don't have either (unless you're somebody who still believes in Moody/Kuminga).

 

[ick300]

Sasha took advantage of his minutes even though he couldn’t hit his threes.

Kessler was great in garbage time

KVon did good with his minutes

Colby has a future. Hope he isn’t a throw in for a trade. Dude could be our monk replacer if we start Malik next year

Keon ready for his bit part role whenever Davion gets moved

Could have done better ... There were two looks he MUST had scored and and another couple of which he MUST have taken ...
Want to see the Sasha from Oly who doesnt hesitet to shoot the ball even after a bad start of the game for his shooting ...