Credit where it’s due, I think Luke Walton gets an A for this one. While the Pels obviously are weaker competition, this was easily our best game in terms of responding to runs and playing smart. After how rocky our first 4 games were I was really hoping for a wire-to-wire win and we delivered (Pels garbage time theatrics that never threatened our lead notwithstanding).
In the critical junctures:
2nd quarter tied @48 w 3:25 to go
Highlights:
-Barnes beautiful euro step while taking shots going to the basket for 2
-Next possession after Pels bring it up, Buddy with quick hands on Herbert Jones up top, picking the rookies pocket and running it back for an easy 2
-Davion Mitchell shadowing near the basket underneath, Val with the ball sets a screen for Kira Lewis who rolls towards the basket - Davion see the play, jumps the pass, pushes up court and finds Holmes rolling towards the basket who attacks aggressively and gets the foul by Val
-After Haliburton subs in for Mitchell - 1 minute left - Fox slows down and sets up a triple screen, waits for Hali to recognize and start the play, screens Buddy in the corner who runs baseline and pops up past 2 screens (from Barnes then Holmes), Fox finds Buddy with Ingram on him, gets an extra screen from Holmes for to get free and buries the 3. I’ve complained about running lazy plays to Jack up 3s from Buddy late but this was a good set, team was patient getting into it, and was well executed. Then NOP turn to mail it in, with Devonte Graham taking a weak screen from BI before jacking up a lazy long three that missed badly. Our final play Fox set up high, all 4 guys pulled away from the hoop, Buddy trotted across the middle leaving Graham to follow him with his back turned giving Fox a free lane to the basket where he got challenged by Jonas but took the contact, bounced off him in the air and adjusted for an awesome finish anyways. Under 10 seconds left Pelicans ran a decent play but kings stayed active, with Val finding Nickiel cutting underneath the basket but Tyrese sticking with it and blocking the lay-up attempt. Kings finish the half on an 11-0 run up 59-48. Smart, aggressive play. Good defense getting cashed in on the other end. Half court set plays run well
Pels up 3 w 2:30 in the 3rd
-inbound to Holmes, looking to Fox as he drives down pulling the D with him, Buddy comes up at the same time getting over Holmes to take the 3. Trey Murphy was on Buddy on the wing, turned towards Fox on the drive just enough to lose Buddy, tries to get around Holmes to close but is way too late, momentum carries him under Buddy’s landing zone resulting in a flagrant, Buddy converts all 3 and we keep the ball. Fox drives kicks out under 3 Pels, Davion drives back in and finds his way around the defense for an easy lay-up on late rotations to complete the 5 point possession
Kings end up finished the 3rd up 5, an 8 point swing in final 2:30
Kings up 94-86 with 4:50 in the 4th.
Running the Hali-Holmes P&R twice down the stretch was neat, Hali getting the first push shot himself and feeding Holmes to pick up another foul on the 2nd
-sticking with Fox attacking the interior late helped stretch the lead to 12, 107-95 with 1:20 remaining.
Game was over at this point, Devonte’s 3s and Mo Harkless coming in to defend the inbound and immediately committing the stupidest foul possible notwithstanding. Also Fox making a strong drive and getting mugged but no call leading to Pels with numbers and a 3 on the other side didn’t help. But that wasn’t a “comeback” the way we’ve been allowing since the game really was over the whole way seeing as Pels still weren’t threatening with everything going their way as they circled the bowl
Point being, we’ve had trouble closing quarters, especially the 4th. We’ve let teams come back on us and played lazy, uninspired basketball. Last night felt smart and measured. Lots of well designed plays, including Fox attacks and setting up Buddy 3’a and a few plays balancing those threats off each other. Going to pick and rolls with Holmes. I like the Fox - Buddy - Davion - Barnes - Holmes lineup, with With Tyrese coming in for Davion. Good active defense with both of those lineups, and lots of well designed plays with those guys.
Hoping we can see more of this tomorrow in Dallas. Short flight over with lots of positives to build off of
