[Game] 41/82: Kings vs. Knicks 14 JAN 2026, 7pm PT/10pm ET

[ShastaKingsFan]

I guess, but our current plan of action has us on pace for 22 wins. That's really bad lol. And really, this 3 game win streak is fueled by atrocious shooting from the opposing teams, all under 23%.

And there seems to be a real culture setting in with the rookies especially. They're engaging with the fans, having fun, seem to have a great bond already. Cardwell hypes up the crowd after big defensive play. That kind of stuff still matters imo, because this isn't 2k and these guys are human. Yes, we need a top pick, but there also needs to be some sort of established culture here when that kid gets in. Can't have a toxic environment and hope that dude develops somehow out of it

Basically, I'm not worried at all. Team has proven to be really bad, trade deadline is coming. Now, if after the deadline 1. We didn't really trade any vets and 2. We're still not fully playing the young guys, that's a problem.

and if for whatever reason that pace picks up, then what?

You've already stated multiple times how big of a problem it has been that they haven't committed to the younger players. Have you changed your mind at this point, that it won't matter much until after the deadline?

 

[Padrino]

It's tough to root for a team when its own fans want it to lose.

I'd offer instead that it's tough to root for a team that stakes its season on 36-37 year old vets who are not in the team's long-term plans and have no particular history with the franchise. It's not as if we're watching long-time Sacramento Kings legends head off into the sunset here. DeMar has only been with the team since last season, and that wasn't a campaign many would say they remember fondly. As for Russell Westbrook, he's about as random a one-year interloper as you'll find on an NBA roster that's set for a rebuild.

And that's before we even get to 32 year old Dennis Schroder, who's contract unfortunately lashes him to the team for another two seasons. Then there's Zach LaVine, a player over whom Vivek was salivating before he decided to hire a GM who has derided that very same player and would very likely rather dump him. Why are any of these guys Sacramento Kings? For what purpose? While the side effect of playing all of these mismatched veterans heavy minutes has been a sort of unconventional tank, I don't think anybody could credibly say that it was in the cards for the Kings to be 11-30 at this point in the season.

Personally, I won't be able enjoy rooting for this team until the roster and rotation is comprised primarily of players who figure into the teams long-term plans. It's rather hard for me to care as a Kings fan about the tail end of DeRozan's and Westbrook's careers, especially when they're pulling 40 minutes each in meaningless wins like the one last night.

 

[The_Jamal]

and if for whatever reason that pace picks up, then what?

You've already stated multiple times how big of a problem it has been that they haven't committed to the younger players. Have you changed your mind at this point, that it won't matter much until after the deadline?

No I haven't changed my mind. I've said we've gotten away with a bad plan because our team sucks. The vets obviously do not work well together. If they did, we'd be better than 11-30. We're wasting developmental time, but at least we're not stuck in purgatory right now and are headed for one of the worst records in the league.

We're 2 games back of the worst record in basketball. We're 2.5 up on the 6th worst record, Utah. There's going to be random variance that happens throughout a season, but through 41 games, we've pretty well proven this team is bad and going to be bad as long as Domas stays out.

Now if they bring Domas+Keegan back in 10-15 games and we're still grinding the vets into the ground post-deadline? Yeah, that's been a problem all season. The intention does matter, but if we don't get burned by the result... eh? Oh well I guess, at least the result worked?

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

No I haven't changed my mind. I've said we've gotten away with a bad plan because our team sucks. The vets obviously do not work well together. If they did, we'd be better than 11-30. We're wasting developmental time, but at least we're not stuck in purgatory right now and are headed for one of the worst records in the league.

We're 2 games back of the worst record in basketball. We're 2.5 up on the 6th worst record, Utah. There's going to be random variance that happens throughout a season, but through 41 games, we've pretty well proven this team is bad and going to be bad as long as Domas stays out.

Now if they bring Domas+Keegan back in 10-15 games and we're still grinding the vets into the ground post-deadline? Yeah, that's been a problem all season. The intention does matter, but if we don't get burned by the result... eh? Oh well I guess, at least the result worked?

The concern would be that the bad plan swings around to being just mediocre enough with results to cause a problem. Time will tell