[Game] 81/82: Kings vs. Clippers 11 APR 2025, 7pm PT/10pm ET

[SacTownKid]

Yeah, it's been my complaint for a long time. A one on one play with a couple seconds to go, plays right into a good defensive team's hands

They did run a play, I highly doubt they've had serious practice on end of game situations with this crew. Even if they did, you preferably get this down in the first half of the season, not the last few games. They didn't have a first half of the season.

 

[Caccia]

We are now tied with the Mavericks, but hold the tiebreaker. Home court advantage comes down to the last day.

 

[NewArena]

I miss Monk.

Yea, this team isn't good enough to continue subtracting talent from the rotation. All these injuries have been hell - Imagine us losing with LaRavia in there. I really don't think we would have lost but oh well lol probably still gonna be the 9th seed

 

[megapoxy]

Lavine is a terrible passer.
Terrible.

He has no feel for the game. He would throw the ball and players had to chase after it. This led to many turnovers and many close to being turnovers.

Feeling like playing in the 4th doesn't make up for that type of play all game long.

Agree the turnovers he caused are much more than the ones shown in the boxscore. But he is not a point guard and is forced to play like one especially with Monk injured (that isnt actually a point guard either).

 

[Tetsujin]

I think you have been pretty harsh on Keon lately. He did ok in the past few games as well. I get it that expectations are high but still.

Btw in that last timeout Domas looked to be uninterested and I think Jonas pulled him back in the huddle before the teams returned on the court.

Teams are targeting him on point of attack defense at this current point in time and the man is afraid of taking catch and shoot shots. Considering we know how good Keon can actually be, yeah I’m gonna be harsh.

Dude had a 5/1/1/0/1 state line with two TOs in 32 minutes and let his man beat him to the ball off the glass two times in one possession at the close of the game. That’s not a good performance, that’s a Snell.

 

[Krunker]

I bet DC wishes he could undo that technical

 

[iowamcnabb]

Does anyone think Sabonis is not jumping as high lately? Hes never been a vertical leaper but I feel like he would trip trying to jump a phone book the last couple weeks. Is it the injuries or are my eyes deceiving me?

 

[SacTownKid]

I think you have been pretty harsh on Keon lately. He did ok in the past few games as well. I get it that expectations are high but still.

Btw in that last timeout Domas looked to be uninterested and I think Jonas pulled him back in the huddle before the teams returned on the court.

Keon has been solid but on defense he's certainly starting to get headhunted if the team has physical guards. Devin looks like he's that exact dude Monte was talking about. That physical guy that can guard up and down. It would be great if Christie started playing Keon and Devin together. Devin as your lockdown guy and Keon as the off ball pest. That could be a nightmare duo with Carter stopping guys and Keon riding the passing lanes.

 

[SacTownKid]

Does anyone think Sabonis is not jumping as high lately? Hes never been a vertical leaper but I feel like he would trip trying to jump a phone book the last couple weeks. Is it the injuries or are my eyes deceiving me?

For sure, it was noticeable a couple of games ago. He looks like he's getting better. That 2nd game back I think he wasn't even jumping to contest guys.

 

[Tetsujin]

Also Keegan was directly under the basket with Harden on him if Trey only had the wherewithal to see him/pumpfake Zubac out of the way.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I bet DC wishes he could undo that technical

Yeah, you figured at the time that one could really hurt, with about 7 minutes to go in a close game

 

[Tetsujin]

I bet DC wishes he could undo that technical

Meh, it did sorta help the Kings play a little more physical on defense at the end of the game so I don’t think it was a total waste of a point.

 

[Kingz19]

Wow

19-21 AT HOME

 

[Tetsujin]

Wow

19-21 AT HOME

To be fair, the Kings have been above .500 at home with Doug as their coach. Under MB, the Kings were abysmal at home to start the year.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Also Keegan was directly under the basket with Harden on him if Trey only had the wherewithal to see him/pumpfake Zubac out of the way.

They're not looking to go to anyone else besides Derozan and Lavine down the stretch...and especially with seconds to go. If anyone else gets a shot, it's an emergency or an accident

 

[SacTownKid]

Also Keegan was directly under the basket with Harden on him if Trey only had the wherewithal to see him/pumpfake Zubac out of the way.

I wonder if that was the idea. Almost like DeMar and Zach were decoys. Ideally you don't enter the ball up top like that with 2 seconds.

 

[megapoxy]

That non challenge that became a techical also cost us the game.

 

[TheMobb]

I wonder if that was the idea. Almost like DeMar and Zach were decoys. Ideally you don't enter the ball up top like that with 2 seconds.

Trey Lyles has never been a guy who can see the floor or set guys up. Not sure why he was the guy to make that decision in that spot.

 

[SacTownKid]

That non challenge that became a techical also cost us the game.

True, but it's hard to say for sure. That's always kind of always been a working your way back to the beginning from the end for justification/Monday morning QB stuff. Zach doesn't go off and this isn't even close anyway, maybe Zach getting a little extra time out gave him an extra wind, who knows.

 

[megapoxy]

True, but it's hard to say for sure. That's always kind of always been a working your way back to the beginning from the end for justification/Monday morning QB stuff. Zach doesn't go off and this isn't even close anyway, maybe Zach getting a little extra time out gave him an extra wind, who knows.

Yeah what i was trying to say is that the way the match ended it was way more crucial than it seemed at that point.
Also the inability to grab a rebound and so many other things.

 

[NewArena]

Kings fans just completely unfazed and immune at this point lmao on to the next

 

[NewArena]

Does anyone think Sabonis is not jumping as high lately? Hes never been a vertical leaper but I feel like he would trip trying to jump a phone book the last couple weeks. Is it the injuries or are my eyes deceiving me?

Yea those two injuries back to back knocked him down a notch but you'll never hear him complain. He probably should just now be coming back from that gnarly ankle injury to be honest.

 

[megapoxy]

Teams are targeting him on point of attack defense at this current point in time and the man is afraid of taking catch and shoot shots. Considering we know how good Keon can actually be, yeah I’m gonna be harsh.

Dude had a 5/1/1/0/1 state line with two TOs in 32 minutes and let his man beat him to the ball off the glass two times in one possession at the close of the game. That’s not a good performance, that’s a Snell.

You wrote it the other night too and he had 20 points with 6 threes.
Anyway I think that without the ball moving well in the offense (since we have no point guard and Domas for whatever reason doesnt run the offense lately) he doesnt get to his spots or when he does the ball doesnt go to him.

 

[Tetsujin]

You wrote it the other night too and he had 20 points with 6 threes.
Anyway I think that without the ball moving well in the offense (since we have no point guard and Domas for whatever reason doesnt run the offense lately) he doesnt get to his spots or when he does the ball doesnt go to him.

The offense from Keon is a bonus hit when defense is his calling card and he’s not getting it done at that end, it doesn’t really matter how many points he scores.

 

[bball_nomad]

Domas definitely jumping not as high. Maybe he is even a bit less 'explosive". That hammy small tweak and ankle sprain - body still feels it.
Domas announced that he will not play for the LTU in upcoming Euro 25'. Sad thing.
Always something. Last year JV couldn't play in qualification tournament in Puerto Rico because he was not under contract. He signed first offer from the Wizards, was not 'shopping' around, but LTU national team can only blame themselves for not coming out of the qualification tournament.
This year somebody said something and JV got upset. We are not sure if he will play in Euro as of now.
If Domas needs to take care of his body during the summer - we are cool with it. But if no JV... JV busted his arse for all NT teams since he was 15 years old. Only last year was exception, though LTU was a huge favorite to come out as a winner in Puerto Rico and JV was with the team all the time.
This year everybody had high hopes. Rookie Matas Buzelis from Chicago lately plays like we expected him to play. Exceptional talent. Plus, we have young PG in Kasparas Jakučionis. I don't know how high he will go in the draft. He was projected from #3 pick to #6 for the most of the year. Though he had a hand injury and his Illinois university didn't finish season well nor performed well in NCAA tournament. Yet, Kasparas is 6'6'' true PG with no weaknesses. Another Lithuanian story of "What could have been".
Anyway, Domas plays, but looks like his body is not 100%.
Though I still want Kings to beat OKC in first round. Chance of that happening - less than 1% for sure

 

[serbiangoat]

Great results Nuggets/Clippers win means Memphis is going to be 8th most likely there is hope

 

[Tetsujin]

Domas definitely jumping not as high. Maybe he is even a bit less 'explosive". That hammy small tweak and ankle sprain - body still feels it.
Domas announced that he will not play for the LTU in upcoming Euro 25'. Sad thing.
Always something. Last year JV couldn't play in qualification tournament in Puerto Rico because he was not under contract. He signed first offer from the Wizards, was not 'shopping' around, but LTU national team can only blame themselves for not coming out of the qualification tournament.
This year somebody said something and JV got upset. We are not sure if he will play in Euro as of now.
If Domas needs to take care of his body during the summer - we are cool with it. But if no JV... JV busted his arse for all NT teams since he was 15 years old. Only last year was exception, though LTU was a huge favorite to come out as a winner in Puerto Rico and JV was with the team all the time.
This year everybody had high hopes. Rookie Matas Buzelis from Chicago lately plays like we expected him to play. Exceptional talent. Plus, we have young PG in Kasparas Jakučionis. I don't know how high he will go in the draft. He was projected from #3 pick to #6 for the most of the year. Though he had a hand injury and his Illinois university didn't finish season well nor performed well in NCAA tournament. Yet, Kasparas is 6'6'' true PG with no weaknesses. Another Lithuanian story of "What could have been".
Anyway, Domas plays, but looks like his body is not 100%.
Though I still want Kings to beat OKC in first round. Chance of that happening - less than 1% for sure

yeah. The shooting is definitely still a question but Lithuania’s national team is definitely in a better place than it was a couple of years ago when it was just Domas and Jonas and a bunch of random guys.

 

[Rob-The-Great]

I had some of the best seats I've had at a game yesterday with the Clips. Felt like Courtside.

Looking at this game, I see why derozen takes so many shots. It's not like he's saying give mr the ball, they keep passing it to him. I dont know jf he's suppost to swing it early or not, but they have zero problems with him shooting all the shots it seems.

Sabonis calls for the ball the most on the team. Basically every possession, but it's not to shoot the ball, it's to pass and still, he doesn't get the ball half the time. He passed up some gimmies to pass out to the 3. As mad as I was when he did it. Half turned into made 3s.

Our interior defense my god. They just walked right into the paint. We had to pray they missed the floaters otherwise it was cash. The 3pt defense was much better than expected. The Lack of stopping the drives is whar causes those 3s, not the effort or people losing there man.

Lastly. The lower you go down the worse the fans are smh. Had a guy throw up right in front of us, thr girls are complete chatter boxes and don't even watch the game. And the fans around us didn't stand up the whole game! I had to pump up a whole section to pleed with them to stand. 1 min left down 3 after heroic play and your sitting down! Why did you come to the game my god

 

[Caccia]

I was going to post this during the game, but Sabonis lately does not go out to meet players driving into the paint. He actually backs up at times. That gives them an easy floater. I do not know if it is because he is hampered by injuries or if because he is afraid of foul trouble, but he has to be more assertive and guard the paint. The way the defense is designed, there is no one else to do the job.

 

[ESP47]

Why is it the Kings always seem to foul other teams elbows with their faces but it's never the other way around?

Game was pretty much lost when the Clippers got 2 points off of Harden elbowing Carter's face.