Keegan “Harry Giles Baptizer” Murray

[sactowndog]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1734443137349947497

it’s these kinds of games that have me thinking Keegan is or soon will be the second most important King to Fox.

1) played shut down defense on Bridges.
2) scored at all 3 levels often creating his own shot.

such a player is super valuable and can’t be gotten outside of the top 7 drafting or in free agency unless you are a top destination.

 

[The_Jamal]

it’s these kinds of games that have me thinking Keegan is or soon will be the second most important King to Fox.

1) played shut down defense on Bridges.
2) scored at all 3 levels often creating his own shot.

such a player is super valuable and can’t be gotten outside of the top 7 drafting or in free agency unless you are a top destination.

Him and Monk are the elevators for this team. Fox/Domas are locked in All-NBA/All-star studs. If Monk and Keegan continue their trajectory and development, that's how we get to being a championship level team, rather than just a good playoff team.

Kings just haven't had a defender do what Keegan has been doing in a long time. Probably since Artest, but even he was sort of on the down-slope of his career. And while the glory year Kings had Doug, they were moreso a quality team defense rather than an individual shut-down defender.

 

[midtowner]

Man, Harry got a piece of that ball, too. Keegan still put it in.

It’s nice to have a team that likes playing together.

And I agree, individual improvement from Monk and Keegan is the most likely path forward for a team looking to jump from good to great. And we need to surround these guys with super, 2-way role players (hopefully Colby Jones turns into one).

 

[The_Jamal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1734670642338005488

He baaaack

 

[sactowndog]

Him and Monk are the elevators for this team. Fox/Domas are locked in All-NBA/All-star studs. If Monk and Keegan continue their trajectory and development, that's how we get to being a championship level team, rather than just a good playoff team.

Kings just haven't had a defender do what Keegan has been doing in a long time. Probably since Artest, but even he was sort of on the down-slope of his career. And while the glory year Kings had Doug, they were moreso a quality team defense rather than an individual shut-down defender.

Ideally Keegan isn’t spending so much energy on defense and you have a 3 who can guard slightly quicker players which can be Keegan’s weakness. But having to above average defensive wings would be a game changer for the Kings.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1734660980813258908

 

[joemama]

Keegan "gimme the damn ball and get out of my way" Murray

 

[iowamcnabb]

Some good stats and shot charts in this

https://kingsherald.com/articles/re...-of-keegan-murrays-game-in-his-second-season/

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735368083915608081

Keegan’s defensive development is almost unprecedentedly sudden.

 

[twslam07]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735368083915608081

Keegan’s defensive development is almost unprecedentedly sudden.

Sort of like his 3PT shot at the beginning of last year. None of us knew he would be shooting like Klay Thomson coming out of college.

 

[The_Jamal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735368083915608081

Keegan’s defensive development is almost unprecedentedly sudden.

Was just about to post this. Best part is you easily see this when he's on the floor too. When stats and eye-test line up, usually means that growth is very very real.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Another solid game by Keegan. 15 points with no made threes is really encouraging. If that shot comes back consistently you are probably looking at 16-17 points a game from him when the season ends. I know 4 of them were intentional fouls but he iced the game. I have to assume 8 free throws is a career high or close to it

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

Another solid game by Keegan. 15 points with no made threes is really encouraging. If that shot comes back consistently you are probably looking at 16-17 points a game from him when the season ends. I know 4 of them were intentional fouls but he iced the game. I have to assume 8 free throws is a career high or close to it

OKC was a rough one for Keegan. The free throws made it look decent, but the refs did not want him guarding SGA.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735540807258751174

 

[coolhandluke]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735540807258751174

It's about time. That was his bread and butter in college. He's able to get the separation at the NBA level now. Time to cash in.

 

[iowamcnabb]

OKC was a rough one for Keegan. The free throws made it look decent, but the refs did not want him guarding SGA.

Yeh the early fouls hurt his ability to dig in on defense but he shot 50 percent from the field and hit the free throws that iced the game. Unspectacular but solid I’d say.

 

[kingsboi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735540807258751174

add that mini hook to the toolbox, Z Bo style

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735540807258751174

Yeah, if teams are gonna play small like OKC does, Keegan ought to be able to take advantage

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

Yeh the early fouls hurt his ability to dig in on defense but he shot 50 percent from the field and hit the free throws that iced the game. Unspectacular but solid I’d say.

Only 8 shots though, fewest in any full game this season. I'd give him a C. Needs improvement

 

[iowamcnabb]

When he comes off the DHO and doesn’t get the ball he cuts and relocates to the corner. As a wrinkle I wonder if he could cut & curl off and post up instead.