Keegan “KEEGAN MURRAY” Murray
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KingsFanSince85
All-Star
It’s actually crazy to see how many 3’s Mitch Richmond made considering the era he played and how many times his toe was on or “over the line”.
KingsFanSince85
All-Star
Hopefully this is something we see a lot more of in situations where the team desperately needs a hoop and/or the defensive matchup calls for it.
It needs to become another layer added to the overall offensive arsenal this team can throw at their opponents.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Kenyon confirmed on Sactown Sports today that Keegan did in fact increase his vertical this summer by almost 4 inches.
kingsfan101
Starter
Telemachus
Starter
Chupacabra
Starter
Murray is one of the most elite shooters that the team has ever had, definitely better than Buddy Hield. After all, Murray broke Hield's record for most made 3s in a game
Watching this a bit closer; Keegan's ability to flip his hips at his size is truly special. It's like watching a good cornerback in football play. His change of direction on a dime to match a ball-handler is why he's had so much success in sticking with basically every elite ball-handler we've faced. Add in he's very hard to shoot over with his length/height and you can't push him off his spot anymore because he's gotten stronger since last year.
We're 17th in team DRtg, in a pod of teams in the 114.x range that begins at 13th.
Last year we were mid 20s. So strictly speaking if there is good-mediocre-bad we've graduated from bad to mediocre. I don't think that tells the entire story.
It would not be impossible some of the teams in the top 12 fall out and we sneak into the top 12. Clearly we are improving on that end of the floor. Especially as we integrate new guys into the lineup and Keegan and Fox continue making strides.
Of course if we are trading for anyone I want a traditional 3&D guy (I say traditional because I think this term has morphed from being a defensive specialist who is still a threat to hit the 3 to a shooter who is not Buddy Hield). But I have faith that Brown can coach this team to play top 12 D.
Last year we were mid 20s. So strictly speaking if there is good-mediocre-bad we've graduated from bad to mediocre. I don't think that tells the entire story.
It would not be impossible some of the teams in the top 12 fall out and we sneak into the top 12. Clearly we are improving on that end of the floor. Especially as we integrate new guys into the lineup and Keegan and Fox continue making strides.
Of course if we are trading for anyone I want a traditional 3&D guy (I say traditional because I think this term has morphed from being a defensive specialist who is still a threat to hit the 3 to a shooter who is not Buddy Hield). But I have faith that Brown can coach this team to play top 12 D.
Telemachus
Starter
Don't forget that up until the last 2 games, the Kings have played one of the tougher schedules in the league.
It took us until the end of Fox's injury to bring Keon into the mix and of course Fox and Keegan both missed games where their presence would have been felt. I didn't want to bring up any of that or the schedule specifically but that is why I think we can leap to the top of our little pod of teams in another month or two given good health.
Oh also we have some tough games and a road trip coming up.
Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
Was thinking about this the other day. If I was guessing, which I am, and which I will proceed to do now, I think they deliberately taught the offense first - because it's so complex and is essentially a new skill in itself - plus we had the legs last year to outrun the league.
I believe (the hypothetical guess if I was guessing which I am) that since they knew they could always teach defense, they got the offense rolling, and then, hope to use defensive improvements, (known quantity) to get from good to great.
Was that the plan? Wouldn't be a bad one if it was.
Good question for Sam to ask in a presser!
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I was operating under this assumption, which is also part of a larger assumption that we know is at least partially true both from interviews and evidence, that Coach Brown is very keen on defining roles and expectations combined with giving folks easily digestible areas to improve, as they reach 100% in these areas he adds the next wrinkle. The only area that mucks up his plan is when guys progress through the next gate before everyone else (Keegan seems to have jumped ahead early on in both seasons so far).
There's a lot going on with this team under the hood we still haven't even seen yet. I watched a video from a euro-fanboy of Sasha that was just 10 minutes of early season highlights of his off ball movement and shooting (and not dribbling, I think he dribbles once a month), and damn it got me hyped about how things will be when he gets integrated if he can fully adjust to the speed of the game, but even if he's just getting spot minutes once everyone knows where to expect him on the court.
NewArena
All-Star
Agreed with every word! Absolutely not.
KingsFanSince85
All-Star
I just heard some bozos from the Athletic say that Jalen Williams should have been drafted #3 ahead of Keegan Murray.
The question was whether Keegan should have gone #3 behind Chet Holmgren.
I like Jalen Williams, and a case that he should have been drafted well before #12 is more than valid — but is he a better all-around player and talent than Murray? I’m not seeing it.
I just heard some bozos from the Athletic say that Jalen Williams should have been drafted #3 ahead of Keegan Murray.
The question was whether Keegan should have gone #3 behind Chet Holmgren.
I like Jalen Williams, and a case that he should have been drafted well before #12 is more than valid — but is he a better all-around player and talent than Murray? I’m not seeing it.
I'm biased toward Keegan, but I don't think it's a crazy statement to make. Right now Williams and Murray look like the 3rd & 4th players from that draft. Their stats are very close (Keegan is better from outside, Williams gets into the paint and scores more easily and offers more as a playmaker) but they aren't worlds apart. But Keegan expanding his offensive game while also turning into a defensive stud is why I'd definitely take him.
Monk - Mike, Mike,... Keegan says he can post-up
Mike - What??? Keegan post-up?
Mike - Keegan Keegan wait, you said you can post-up?
Keegan - Yeahh...
Mike - Relly? I don't think I've ever seen it!
Keegan - Go watch youtube!
hilarious!
So this IS a funny story, but it made me wonder - is Mike Brown really just not very involved with the draft process? If he'd watched pretty much ANY of Keegan's college tape he'd have seen him posting guys up pretty regularly.
Sounds more like an inside joke mate , surely he had watched him million times before drafting …
For Christ sake he even come to Europe to watch Sasha , I can imagine how many times he watched Keagen and the other local guys
Maybe. He was deadpanning pretty hard if that's the case. But considering they ran 0 plays for Keegan to post up last season despite it being his bread and butter (along with transition baskets) at Iowa, I can believe it. It made me think of last season when Brown said he needed to work on his ballhandling so that he could grab a rebound and go. Keegan told him he didn't. And his college tape again showed that.
Hmm.
Mike Brown was still carrying out his duties as an assistant coach on the Warriors playoff run until June 16th. Keegan was drafted June 23rd. Brown probably had very little involvement in that draft.
Solid point. And unlike the scouting/wooing of Sasha, at that point Brown had an entirely new team to learn, not just potential rookies.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Plus, let’s not forget Mike doesn’t have the YouTube.
I think Mike was deadpanning hard (nothing Keegan did in college matters to Mike, unless Keegan does it in the NBA).
Last year, Keegan seemed to shy away from post ups last year, even when he got the switch onto a guard. I remember this happening a few times with Curry. Keegan being stronger and more comfortable calling his own number has been an excellent turn of events. I think he can be a matchup nightmare when teams switch everything.
Also - JDub is really good and being able to create plays in the NBA with size is highly valuable. And Keegan’s shooting efficiency is still down from his gnarly shooting start. So I take no offense at the suggestion that JDub should be #3. But I’m firmly Team Keegan and think his numbers will look a ton better by the All Star break.
Last year, Keegan seemed to shy away from post ups last year, even when he got the switch onto a guard. I remember this happening a few times with Curry. Keegan being stronger and more comfortable calling his own number has been an excellent turn of events. I think he can be a matchup nightmare when teams switch everything.
Also - JDub is really good and being able to create plays in the NBA with size is highly valuable. And Keegan’s shooting efficiency is still down from his gnarly shooting start. So I take no offense at the suggestion that JDub should be #3. But I’m firmly Team Keegan and think his numbers will look a ton better by the All Star break.
macadocious
Starter
I'm just going to leave this here...
