[Game] 35/82 Kings vs. Grizzlies 03 Jan 2025, 7pm PT 10ET
- Thread starter Tetsujin
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Nice win tonight against a tough team even without their star. Grizzlies have one of the best offenses out there, and what’s interesting about it is they don’t do a lot of on-ball screens. No pick and rolls, not a lot of handoffs. Just a lot of off-ball screens, filling gaps, crisp passing, and relying on the iso skill of Morant and JJJ to open up the floor. We’re not the only ones to have trouble against this offense. Apparently, they brought in some Euro coach to drill this in. Sort of a iso-heavy scheme that still produces a ton of assists (2nd most assists in the league)
We shouldn't be giving up 130pts to a Memphis team without Ja, but a win is a win, and it seems like the players are playing with more pride and energy. I really enjoyed the pace and I think we have to get back to playing faster basketball.
We've had a cupcake schedule under Doug's tenure with all 3 wins coming off close games against heavily injured teams. We've got a few cupcake games left on our schedule for the month of January. The real test for Doug will come against the healthy playoff teams.
We've had a cupcake schedule under Doug's tenure with all 3 wins coming off close games against heavily injured teams. We've got a few cupcake games left on our schedule for the month of January. The real test for Doug will come against the healthy playoff teams.
). Huge vibe shift with the team right now, hope it keeps up.
Len has been this board's punching bag lately and I don't get it. Sure he doesn't set the world on fire sometimes in his 10 minutes but he does little things that often go unnoticed, especially defensively. Seems many on this board zero in on every mistake he makes lately which is odd. Example - He's missed a few bunnies around the rim lately, but even with that - he's 19-32 on 2 pointers so far this season which isn't terrible (59.4%). And this includes his 2-7 FG in the recent game, take that out & he's 17-25 from 2'. The Kings don't need an offensive-dominant guy to be the backup center - They mix rotations so Fox/DeRozan are in usually w/ Len, so he's just gotta move the ball offensively & set screens which Len has been good at this year in my opinion - ball never sticks with him & he's quick to get into DHO action too.
What the other poster saying they need a guy like Spurs Collins or Hornets Richards is silly as Collins is vastly inferior to Len defensively & a mediocre screener, while Richards is basically just like Len (Though I'd add inferior to Len defensively/shot-blocking still) but given he's playing 22 mpg & a role on the Hornets, wouldn't come too cheap to then slot in Len's 10 minute role for the same production. If the guy meant Jazz Collins, well he could be a small ball 5' but again he's not a 10 minute per guy so then you're asking him to mainly replace Lyles minutes.
I can see the argument for going small ball Lyles at the 5', but unless your argument is to get a spacer 5' man, Len is at least as good or better than all the traditional back-up 5' options out there.
What the other poster saying they need a guy like Spurs Collins or Hornets Richards is silly as Collins is vastly inferior to Len defensively & a mediocre screener, while Richards is basically just like Len (Though I'd add inferior to Len defensively/shot-blocking still) but given he's playing 22 mpg & a role on the Hornets, wouldn't come too cheap to then slot in Len's 10 minute role for the same production. If the guy meant Jazz Collins, well he could be a small ball 5' but again he's not a 10 minute per guy so then you're asking him to mainly replace Lyles minutes.
I can see the argument for going small ball Lyles at the 5', but unless your argument is to get a spacer 5' man, Len is at least as good or better than all the traditional back-up 5' options out there.
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Sam Amick really nailed it in his latest article with The Athletic. Fire well-respected coach in an unprofessional manner, reviving the rep #SacramentoKings are poorly run; Handle fallout poorly, without a news conference after 8 coaches in 12 yrs; Leave Christie and Kings players to uncomfortably have to speak on it.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6032859/2025/01/02/deaaron-fox-kings-mike-brown-firing/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6032859/2025/01/02/deaaron-fox-kings-mike-brown-firing/
I have not yet been able to watch this game, because I'm in Missouri and apparently NBA TV thinks a team from Tennessee is a local broadcast, but I've been gratified to see Alex Len actually getting used under Doug. He's big, he's mobile, he's a great teammate, and it's good for Sabonis to actually get a breather now and then.
He didn’t make a good point. You realize the Kings haven’t shot the 3 like this all season, right? Not just Keegan. Helps to hit 46 in a quarter when everyone starts hitting their 3s.
Additionally, we have won games without everyone in the starting lineup. We won many games without Keon. We were winning games earlier this year while Lyles was hurt. So because you win games with a guy out with injury means nothing or that you’re better off without them.
Might have more to do with the simplified offense and better defense creating more offensive possessions since the coaching change…
It is clear Keegan has been trying to play through an injury. He has been changing shoes mid-game at points. His dad mentioned on social media he has been playing hurt this season.
I don’t get all the crap he gets this season. Yeah his shooting has been disappointing. And he hasn’t been able to drive or go to the mid range game since his ankle injury, but he works his ass off on defense and has been a menace on the boards. You see guys like Keon play good defense or Carter praised for a 0 point performance because of his rebounding and defense (which they should be praised for) but when Keegan does the same thing this season he is called useless and “a net negative” by some.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that he is now taking time to rest with the coaching change. Wondering if he didn’t feel like he could take time to get healthy before.
Additionally, we have won games without everyone in the starting lineup. We won many games without Keon. We were winning games earlier this year while Lyles was hurt. So because you win games with a guy out with injury means nothing or that you’re better off without them.
Might have more to do with the simplified offense and better defense creating more offensive possessions since the coaching change…
It is clear Keegan has been trying to play through an injury. He has been changing shoes mid-game at points. His dad mentioned on social media he has been playing hurt this season.
I don’t get all the crap he gets this season. Yeah his shooting has been disappointing. And he hasn’t been able to drive or go to the mid range game since his ankle injury, but he works his ass off on defense and has been a menace on the boards. You see guys like Keon play good defense or Carter praised for a 0 point performance because of his rebounding and defense (which they should be praised for) but when Keegan does the same thing this season he is called useless and “a net negative” by some.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that he is now taking time to rest with the coaching change. Wondering if he didn’t feel like he could take time to get healthy before.
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I thought this was a pretty impressive game from De'Aaron Fox. It had all the makings of a classic slump game where Fox feels the physicality of the defenders, settles for clanking jumpers, and just sort of fades into the background. Yes, he did end up clanking a bunch of outside shots, but he also found that extra gear we've all been talking about. He kept attacking. And kept attacking. And the whistles were a come-and-go proposition, but I loved that he sought the paint with a will, and it helped the Kings stay aggressive in the fourth while Memphis was playing pesky and defiant.
This is true, but it does seem like Keegan is extremely important to this team’s success. He shot out of his mind his rookie season, and we happened to make the playoffs that year.
As he’s regressed offensively, so has the rest of the team. That’s definitely not all on him, but if he can get back to being a 3 point sniper and keep his defense and rebounding steady, I would guess that this team starts doing way better overall.
I’m happy with his development in certain areas, but I also think it’s fair to be underwhelmed by his offensive play this season. He has not taken the leap we had all hoped. Maybe that’s due to injury, but either way, I think his play has the potential to sway this team quite a bit and I really hope he finds his stroke.
As he’s regressed offensively, so has the rest of the team. That’s definitely not all on him, but if he can get back to being a 3 point sniper and keep his defense and rebounding steady, I would guess that this team starts doing way better overall.
I’m happy with his development in certain areas, but I also think it’s fair to be underwhelmed by his offensive play this season. He has not taken the leap we had all hoped. Maybe that’s due to injury, but either way, I think his play has the potential to sway this team quite a bit and I really hope he finds his stroke.
I completely agree with this. I'm very disappointed in his shooting. It has made worse by abandoning the mid-range game he had going previously. Maybe something to do with the injury. My point was that it is absurd to infer that we are winning because Keegan is out or that he is a detriment/doesn't help this team.
Once his shot comes back, there is no doubt it will significantly help, but he usually makes the right play, doesn't turnover the ball, gets us extra possessions on the boards, isn't a toxic teammate, and is one of our 2 best defenders while usually guarding the top threat almost 40 mins per game while injured--he isn't a "net negative" as some would like to say. Let's let him get healthy and play in this offense under DC and see how it goes.
I, for one, am super excited to have Keon get more minutes and have him (and now maybe even Carter) take some of that defensive burden off of Keegan. Keon should have been playing significant minutes from Day 1 and I still think he should be starting. Looking forward to seeing what they can all do out there together defensively.
Once his shot comes back, there is no doubt it will significantly help, but he usually makes the right play, doesn't turnover the ball, gets us extra possessions on the boards, isn't a toxic teammate, and is one of our 2 best defenders while usually guarding the top threat almost 40 mins per game while injured--he isn't a "net negative" as some would like to say. Let's let him get healthy and play in this offense under DC and see how it goes.
I, for one, am super excited to have Keon get more minutes and have him (and now maybe even Carter) take some of that defensive burden off of Keegan. Keon should have been playing significant minutes from Day 1 and I still think he should be starting. Looking forward to seeing what they can all do out there together defensively.
Doug Christie in post game:
"mistakes are going to be made, don't look over here, keep playing, play through them, it happens. This game is actually about who makes the least amount of mistakes, so they're gonna get made, it's not a big deal. If they're super big, then we'll take a timeout and talk about it. The point is you continue to play with aggressiveness"
This is the difference
"mistakes are going to be made, don't look over here, keep playing, play through them, it happens. This game is actually about who makes the least amount of mistakes, so they're gonna get made, it's not a big deal. If they're super big, then we'll take a timeout and talk about it. The point is you continue to play with aggressiveness"
This is the difference
You're completely leaving out the fact that Keegan is a starter on this team playing 35mpg whereas Keon is a bench player getting rotational minutes, and Carter just played his first NBA game ever coming off shoulder surgery.
The expectations laid out for Keegan are clearly different. He's the former #4 overall pick. Keon was an undrafted rookie who started off on a 2-year contract. You can't seriously be expecting fans to hold both players to the same level of expectation/play.
Keegan's offense has been bad. You said it yourself, "his shooting has been disappointing. And he hasn’t been able to drive or go to the mid range game..." You're basically saying that he's been useless as a scorer lol. 41.3% FG and 28.6% from 3pt doesn't need defending from you or anyone else... he's been flat out bad this year on offense.
Haven't heard of this injury claim before, but guys play banged up all the time. If his struggles have been purely on his injuries, then we should see him bounce back big time when he comes back right?
Just saw your most recent post, this team is clearly better with Keegan and his defense. Nonsense for anyone to suggest that we are better off without Keegan just because of this mini win streak.
The expectations laid out for Keegan are clearly different. He's the former #4 overall pick. Keon was an undrafted rookie who started off on a 2-year contract. You can't seriously be expecting fans to hold both players to the same level of expectation/play.
Keegan's offense has been bad. You said it yourself, "his shooting has been disappointing. And he hasn’t been able to drive or go to the mid range game..." You're basically saying that he's been useless as a scorer lol. 41.3% FG and 28.6% from 3pt doesn't need defending from you or anyone else... he's been flat out bad this year on offense.
Haven't heard of this injury claim before, but guys play banged up all the time. If his struggles have been purely on his injuries, then we should see him bounce back big time when he comes back right?
Just saw your most recent post, this team is clearly better with Keegan and his defense. Nonsense for anyone to suggest that we are better off without Keegan just because of this mini win streak.
A lot of factors have contributed to Keegan’s poor start to the season:
1) his inability to hit his threes. If he was shooting 37 percent from 3 we wouldn’t be talking about this
2)the amount of energy he has to use to be the defender he is
3) Usage. One of the big concerns of bringing a high usage guy like Deebo in is it would slow Keegan’s progress. Then we doubled down on it by starting Monk.
4) health
Bigger minutes for other defenders like Carter and Keon should help as will getting healthy.
Ultimately he just needs to relax and get over the mental hurdle. Now that he is a plus defender and good rebounder he just needs to refine his shot in the offseason and come in hot next year. Until then just keep getting them up.
1) his inability to hit his threes. If he was shooting 37 percent from 3 we wouldn’t be talking about this
2)the amount of energy he has to use to be the defender he is
3) Usage. One of the big concerns of bringing a high usage guy like Deebo in is it would slow Keegan’s progress. Then we doubled down on it by starting Monk.
4) health
Bigger minutes for other defenders like Carter and Keon should help as will getting healthy.
Ultimately he just needs to relax and get over the mental hurdle. Now that he is a plus defender and good rebounder he just needs to refine his shot in the offseason and come in hot next year. Until then just keep getting them up.
5) He added strength over the off-season, "bulking up," which may have negatively affected his outside shot. The same thing happened to Grayson Allen this season, who is shooting 8.5% lower from deep than he did for Phoenix last year. Murray is shooting 7.2% lower than last year.
6) Murray is playing out of position at power forward. He and DeRozan should switch places, so to speak.
6) Murray is playing out of position at power forward. He and DeRozan should switch places, so to speak.
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