[Grades] Kings @ Magic (#9) 10/30/18

[Tetsujin]

Ugly game. Bad execution in crunch time. Occasionally awful lapses in judgment. KINGS WIN!

Nothing helps chart a team's growth more than bad wins and the fact the Kings could beat another young squad despite being on the second night of a back-to-back, with their best player obviously less than 100%, and the team shooting itself in the foot every ten seconds possibly says more about it's growth and room for improvement than any "good" win could.

Anytime you can win the second night of a back-to-back is a good night. The Kings are 5-3 and the NBA world is starting to take notice. They're kind of a thing now. GO KINGS!

---
Justin Jackson () --


Nemanja Bjelica () --


Willie Cauley-Stein () --


Buddy Hield () --


De'Aaron Fox () --


**

 

[Sluggah]

So I’ve admittedly been luke warm on Buddy since he’s arrived, but I gotta say I’ve been warming up to him over these past few games. The winning helps, but he’s also felt a little more well rounded as a player. Keep it up Buddy.

 

[Padrino]

Anytime you can win the second night of a back-to-back is a good night. The Kings are 5-3 and the NBA world is starting to take notice. They're kind of a thing now. GO KINGS!

On the road, no less! The Kings probably lose a sloppy game like this if it’s against a top tier team. But I think they’ll win a lotta games against bad and mediocre teams if they can continue to play with discipline and poise.

 

[The_Jamal]

-This Buddy Hield isn't surprising to me in the least. Me and a few others (shouts to @ESP47) were saying this since the middle of last season; dude is flat out a legit scorer and all he needed was the extra minutes and usage to show it. Love how he's been crashing the glass and taken even another step on the defensive end from where he was.

-So probably the most stunning this season is Nemanja freaking Bjelica is a West All-Star through 8 games. The shooting will regress at some point, unless he's randomly going to absolutely decimate the most efficient scoring year ever, but the fact that he can contribute in basically every other facet at a high level is surprising and flat out mind-boggling that Thibs didn't see any of this in the 3 years he had him. Massive props to Vlade and Joerger for unlocking this guy and finding an absolute gem.

 

[Spike]

On the road, no less! The Kings probably lose a sloppy game like this if it’s against a top tier team. But I think they’ll win a lotta games against bad and mediocre teams if they can continue to play with discipline and poise.

You need to win the sloppy games vs. similar talent before you can take the next step.

 

[Tetsujin]

-This Buddy Hield isn't surprising to me in the least. Me and a few others (shouts to @ESP47) were saying this since the middle of last season; dude is flat out a legit scorer and all he needed was the extra minutes and usage to show it. Love how he's been crashing the glass and taken even another step on the defensive end from where he was.

-So probably the most stunning this season is Nemanja freaking Bjelica is a West All-Star through 8 games. The shooting will regress at some point, unless he's randomly going to absolutely decimate the most efficient scoring year ever, but the fact that he can contribute in basically every other facet at a high level is surprising and flat out mind-boggling that Thibs didn't see any of this in the 3 years he had him. Massive props to Vlade and Joerger for unlocking this guy and finding an absolute gem.

The thing is that this offensive system is good enough and Bjeli is a smart enough player that that's not entirely out of the question. Tonight, he changed his approach after noticing his outside shot wasn't working like it should and wound up with an 8-13 shooting night.

 

[VF21]

On the road, no less! The Kings probably lose a sloppy game like this if it’s against a top tier team. But I think they’ll win a lotta games against bad and mediocre teams if they can continue to play with discipline and poise.

And trust. It's already apparent they've taken gargantuan strides in that direction. They're looking for the open man, they're passing away shots to a guy with a better shot, etc. I honestly didn't have any hopes of seeing that until much later in the season.

 

[jcassio]

I think we’re peaking too soon.

 

[Kangztillidie]

Buddy is a poor mans Mitch Richmond.

 

[Tetsujin]

Buddy is a poor mans Mitch Richmond.

I don't think Buddy will ever become half the ball handler the Rock was though.

 

[burekijogurt]

The thing is that this offensive system is good enough and Bjeli is a smart enough player that that's not entirely out of the question. Tonight, he changed his approach after noticing his outside shot wasn't working like it should and wound up with an 8-13 shooting night.

ok, now you are grading on a curve . 3-5 from 3 is pretty good.

 

[Larry89]

Buddy Hield came up big again, clutch shots, never gave up on any play even in a back to back. Played some excellent defense down the stretch in the 4th and shot that pure shot of his right through the net. He is becoming a fine two way player.

 

[SLAB]

I don't think Buddy will ever become half the ball handler the Rock was though.

As long as the ball doesn’t keep immediately turning into a square whenever Buddy dribbles it’s acceptable progress.

 

[Tetsujin]

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The fact that the members of the greatest show on court are all still good friends working together and going out for wine and stogies after games after almost twenty years is enough to bring a sentimental tear to the eye.

 

[itzcoatl]

In this year of our lord, 2018, The Kings are good. Vlade knew.

 

[sactowndog]

Ugly game. Bad execution in crunch time. Occasionally awful lapses in judgment. KINGS WIN!

Nothing helps chart a team's growth more than bad wins and the fact the Kings could beat another young squad despite being on the second night of a back-to-back, with their best player obviously less than 100%, and the team shooting itself in the foot every ten seconds possibly says more about it's growth and room for improvement than any "good" win could.

Anytime you can win the second night of a back-to-back is a good night. The Kings are 5-3 and the NBA world is starting to take notice. They're kind of a thing now. GO KINGS!

---
Justin Jackson () --


Nemanja Bjelica () --


Willie Cauley-Stein () --


Buddy Hield () --


De'Aaron Fox () --


**

We have won two times. Hard to believe.

 

[HndsmCelt]

On the road, no less! The Kings probably lose a sloppy game like this if it’s against a top tier team. But I think they’ll win a lotta games against bad and mediocre teams if they can continue to play with discipline and poise.

Sloppy shure, but this also was not just a road game but a back to back on the road, even for the best of teams you win those any which way you can.

 

[biltalent]

Not sure why I always feel like the Kings lost by 20 when I read the game threads, so Ill finally break my silence

- what a gritty win. This team has a heart and fight to them that is tough to beat. They are playing so fast it breaks the other teams. Orlando was completely gassed in the third. The game was only close because they regrouped to start the 4th and Ross hit some tough shots.

- Buddy Hield is flat-out playing like an all star right now. He is at 18.9 points , 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 assits per game for the season. .600 TS. His midrange game and 3 pointer is deadly right now.

- Fox is the enginge that makes it work. Plays hurt and doesnt score in the first half but ends with 14 points and 5 assists

- Troy Williams might be a keeper. He is out of control sometimes but he is super athletic, high motor and his shot looks good. Once Bogi returns he is probably all you need from an backup SF.

- Koufos is back and he is very good for Marvins development.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Buddy is a poor mans Mitch Richmond.

Not behind the 3pt line, he's not. He actually manages to keep his toes behind the line most the time.

And while I don't think he'll keep up the rebounding average, if Buddy somehow does, he'll have surpassed the best rebounding season Wicked Mitch ever produced from the 2 guard position.

 

[Nokidding]

-This Buddy Hield isn't surprising to me in the least. Me and a few others (shouts to @ESP47) were saying this since the middle of last season; dude is flat out a legit scorer and all he needed was the extra minutes and usage to show it. Love how he's been crashing the glass and taken even another step on the defensive end from where he was.

-So probably the most stunning this season is Nemanja freaking Bjelica is a West All-Star through 8 games. The shooting will regress at some point, unless he's randomly going to absolutely decimate the most efficient scoring year ever, but the fact that he can contribute in basically every other facet at a high level is surprising and flat out mind-boggling that Thibs didn't see any of this in the 3 years he had him. Massive props to Vlade and Joerger for unlocking this guy and finding an absolute gem.

Only guy in the entire Wolves organisation that saw the potential of Bjelica was the color commentary guy Peterson

 

[Tetsujin]

Not behind the 3pt line, he's not. He actually manages to keep his toes behind the line most the time.

And while I don't think he'll keep up the rebounding average, if Buddy somehow does, he'll have surpassed the best rebounding season Wicked Mitch ever produced from the 2 guard position.

To be fair, it is a much faster paced game now than when Mitch was in his prime and I don't think it would be out of the question to see him posting Harden-esque scoring nights were he playing now.

 

[bubulina]

Finally 'The Starters" talked about Kings and they did in a very positive way (and still without mentioning Hield or Bjelica!!!).

 

[The Hammer]

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The fact that the members of the greatest show on court are all still good friends working together and going out for wine and stogies after games after almost twenty years is enough to bring a sentimental tear to the eye.

It's damn beautiful is what it is.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Finally 'The Starters" talked about Kings and they did in a very positive way

So are opposing coaches:

The Kings also made an impression on Orlando coach Steve Clifford.

A day after Miami coach Erik Spoelstra admitted Sacramento’s “speed, the pace and the quickness just wore us down in the second half,” Clifford noted that the Kings are pushing the pace incredibly quickly even after their opponents make baskets.

“There are always a lot of teams that run the ball hard on misses, but after made baskets, literally, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team play this fast,” Clifford said.

Fox said the Kings are doing that by design, staying true to their identity.

Read more here: https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article220858105.html#storylink=cpy

 

[KingsFanSince85]

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The fact that the members of the greatest show on court are all still good friends working together and going out for wine and stogies after games after almost twenty years is enough to bring a sentimental tear to the eye.

Where the hell are Hedo and Double-Nickel??? They were at the game tonight.

 

[bubulina]

HEDO is a big shot now in Turkey. President of the Basketball federation and an adviser to the President Erdogan. As we do not talk politics here I will keep my thoughts about him being the adviser to the current Turkish president to myself. Funny enough before saying anyhting he started by underlining his advisory role. Thank god Enes Kanter was not in the Arena.

 

[lwc]

Am I dreaming? Somebody pinch me ... [*gets pinched*] ... ouchie! Its real!

 

[Ozymandias]

Hield gets an A or A+ in this one.

 

[kb02]

Pace? 7.9 on a 10 point scale. Team that controls the pace, wins the game.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Buddy is very valuable to this team because he's probably the one guy who can single handedly erase the other team's lead, or open up a big lead for us, within a few short minutes. He gets hot and bangs in a few threes, and it can be a complete momentum shifter. He's not the perfect player but he is very valuable within this current team.