[Game] 61/82: Kings @ Nuggets, 05 MAR 2025, 6:00p PT/9:00p ET
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coolhandluke
Starter
You mean like what the Kings were already doing the last couple of years? Either you avoid contact on defense like Domas and get 5 touch fouls or you play tough like JV and get 5 hard fouls. Either way the Kings will be called for the fouls. Better to make the inevitable foul count and affect the opponents with physical play. We were the #1 defensive team in the NBA during the last 4 wins. Kings were in this game despite playing 5 on 8 due to their defense. I want us to go the opposite way like OKC, whose entire team would be fouled out by halftime if they were reffed like the Kings. Kings need to build a tough reputation and if it means losing a few games, so be it. Better to have a chance to win on our terms rather than being meek and being dependent on the refs.
In case anyone wondering CBS Sports showed the line for this game as Nuggets -5.5.
Surely a coincidence.
Surely a coincidence.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
GWD
Bench
Divergent opinions are welcome. My proposal is to temporarily avoid even the touch fouls, making it more obvious the unfairness in the treatment of the Kings. It would be an attempt to modify referee's behavior, since they won't do it independently themselves.
The Kings entire team fouling out by halftime is a real possibility given the circumstances in the reply. The Kings playing tough would give the bench plenty of playing time...until they, too, departed. It would be ironic to have to forfeit a game (although it would be a strong statement). OKC has standing with the playoffs looming, so will likely continue to receive favorable treatment by the referees.
ShastaKingsFan has mentioned it before. Referees are human and take exception to being questioned/challenged. Coach Christie told the team to let him handle the referees and they should concentrate on playing the purpose of the game. The team seems to have forgotten that directive and vigorously disputed several calls this last game (DeMar and Keon particularly). The result was an expectation.
EDIT: Just saw Christie's post game comments. Generally supports the above.
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coolhandluke
Starter
Love what Christie is doing. Pulling off a drastically different defensive game plan is tough but he got them to do it.
Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
Exactly what I was just thinking rereading my post. DeRozan has clout. He's not some lifelong Kings guy that's always complaining. You have to stand up to the bully (in this case, the League).
KingsFanSince85
All-Star
We've seen the same movie countless times.
I blame myself for continuing to come back for more, time and time again.
KingsFanSince85
All-Star
To counter what you've said here, I gotta ask -- why doesn't the "expectation" work in both directions?
We see the KINGS opponents vigorously dispute calls and question/challenge the referees all the time. You can hardly go a single game w/o seeing someone do it. YET, how many times have you seen the refs punish the opposition to the extent the KINGS seem to get punished for it?
When have the KINGS ever benefited from a slanted or biased half or Q4, specifically in a meaningful game against a good team? I've been watching this team play since 1985 and I can't think of an instance that comes to mind. I've definitely seen the KINGS get a fortunate call or two here and there in the waning moments. But never a game like we saw last night or in the infamous GM6 in 2002. NEVER.
Circling back to the players complaining and disputing calls, that act has become just like the fouls themselves. Tolerated for some, but not for others.
When was the last time Draymond Green didn't have an instance or two of boisterously disputing an officials call, specifically when playing against the KINGS. He receives a technical here and there, but the Warriors aren't punished the rest of the game or more importantly during Q4 when it matters most. The Warriors being 4x champs doesn't matter. At one point they were 0x champs and Draymond still did the same thing and they still didn't get treated like this.
How about #77, now on that gawd awful puple and gold team down South? That dude complains all game long, every game. And has done so since entering the league. Yet his former team reached the Finals last season. They rarely if ever suffered from the treatment the KINGS got last night.
Lastly, it's not like this KINGS team is among the biggest whiners and complainers in the league. One thing I've liked about these guys the past few years is that they don't overly complain like many other teams do. They certainly have nothing on the Vlade/Webber era KINGS, who whined and cried a helluva lot more than this team does.
This team has done nothing to warrant the treatment they received last night.
fansinceday1
Starter
Great post.
Okc plays like that now, tough defense. Hard nosed defense. At times rough as hell, and dare the refs to call all the fouls. They won’t.
that’s the way the Seattle Seahawks use to play defense. They fouled on every play and the refs couldn’t call everything.
what’s the old saying, the squeaky wheel always gets the grease?
As painful as it might be for us fans, It’s time for these kings to start bitching and whining because that’s what gets the results.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
When they give Luka his second star for peanuts
Srzly
G-League
Seeing Denver fans claim they got the poor end of the whistle last night is insane.
“Jokic has a generationally bad whistle.”
“Kings fouled Jokic on every play.”
“FT disparity should have been even more with the way Kings play defense fouling every play.”
Jokic flopped around like he was 5’2 and 90lbs soaking wet. Anytime he ran into Keegan he would flail his arms and stumble like he got hit by a truck and he was the one initiating a lot of the contact in the first place…
After last night, there are few teams I want to lose more than them.
“Jokic has a generationally bad whistle.”
“Kings fouled Jokic on every play.”
“FT disparity should have been even more with the way Kings play defense fouling every play.”
Jokic flopped around like he was 5’2 and 90lbs soaking wet. Anytime he ran into Keegan he would flail his arms and stumble like he got hit by a truck and he was the one initiating a lot of the contact in the first place…
After last night, there are few teams I want to lose more than them.
Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
The rise of betting markets has only increased the pressure of the perverse incentives already in a capital-rich league.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
Can't control the refs but can control a poor offense. I think even I could devise a better offense than throw it to DDR and stand and watch. Just because it's the 2nd half doesn't mean the offense should come to a grinding halt. Absolutely brutal to watch and if this team is going to grow and get better it needs to stop relying upon the DDR crutch. He took 32 shots and made 35 points. Forget that. If they have to lose for a while in order to ingrain team ball into their offense in the 2nd half and the 4th quarter against good teams, so be it.
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
Added one addition for what they really are. They're creating their own demise with this BS
KingsFanSince85
All-Star
I'd cite the San Antonio Spurs during their "dynasty" era so-to-speak. They always got praised for their defense when in reality all they were doing was what you described. Because Pop knew that they weren't going to foul Duncan, Robinson, Ginobili, Bowen, Parker, etc out of every game. It just wouldn't happen.
Hell, the Pistons were famous for the tactic during their "Bad Boys" heyday. They might lose a player or two or three here and there, but over a long period of time the tactic paid its dividends.
sactowndog
All-Star
yeah ball movement absolutely stopped and we can see why Fultz was available on the scrap heap. I was surprised we didn’t turn to Devin Carter to stop Westbrooks dribble penetration.
anyway my posting has become less and less because it seems obvious to me we are going to manage to miss the play-offs and lose our pick. It just further solidifies my opinion of Monte which is well known so why belabor the point.
as a percentage Monte has managed to end the season out of the top 6 and out of the play-offs every year but 1. He could conduct a seminar on how to stay stuck in the play-in range permanently.
Sucks that his fantastic game plan was completely wiped out by the blatantly biased refereeing last night. Putting Keegan and LaRavia on Jokic had them all out of sorts.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
It does seem that this team will be in limbo for a long time. Making DDR the center piece of the offense reflects short term thinking that is at the expense of growing the team for the long term. For example, I don't see DDR taking north of 30 shots helps Keegan's game in any way.
gunks
Hall of Famer
As opposed to our previous GMs who could conduct a seminar on how to put together a bottom 3 team and then crap the bed on a high lotto pick year after year.
LoungeLizard
Starter
LMAO. You’ve had another “Monte is the worst” post all dialed up just waiting to hit send. Unfortunately for you, the Kings, thanks in large part to Monte’s trade deadline moves have been playing decent ball, nearly going 4-0 on a road trip only to lose largely due to some of the poorest officiating against us this year.
I guess I just don’t get your whole “if only Monte wasn’t the GM we’d be contenders” schtick. Has he been perfect? No. But, damn if these last 3 years of Kings basketball haven’t been a HELLUVA lot better than the 16 years prior.
sactowndog
All-Star
yeah and while neither is great I personally prefer the latter because I can at least delude myself this years pick will be a difference maker and get a little excited.
sactowndog
All-Star
actually no. I wasn’t excited about the wins locking us into the 9/10 slot but figured let people enjoy the win.
and maybe you think sitting as a playin team as teams like Houston, Memphis, San Antonio all get great picks and zoom past us is a HELLUVA lot better but I don’t. I would at least rather have excitement or hope and now I have neither.
I have tickets to the game tomorrow and not really that excited to go.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
we have a pretty good chance at 3 straight seasons with a winning record in an absolute bloodbath of a conference, a cupboard full of first rounders to trade, 3 valuable seconds (this years Chicago pick and the next two years of Charlotte) and 3 developmental players who could be apart of our rotation. This is the best position the Kings have been in since the early 2000s. The team is fun to watch and all of them are good people.
It really feels like it's 'Deebo and the Sacramento Kings'.
LoungeLizard
Starter
To each their own…I have tickets on the 17th vs the Grizzlies and am excited to see the squad compete.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Yep, and picks are only as good as the draftable players in it and a teams ability to determine upside and then DEVELOP that talent. The Kings have not only picked poorly (usually siding on skilled middling non athletic college players) in most years since Vivek took over, they've squandered literal careers. Gee, wonder why it took so long for the Kings to even get a few real lottery picks to work out for them and still tend to struggle? I currently think the Kings have turned that around with the G league system. Keon, Carter, Crawford, and Jones. If those guys pan out long term that's a heck of a decent return without even having to use draft picks on most of them. This is the thing teams like the Warriors and Spurs have done that the Kings were never smart enough to pull off, create and produce your own answers and not overpaying via trade or in FA to get them while hoping and assuming they'll work. Re-signing your own guys when you know they work is the way.
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