[Game] Kings @ Suns, 3/11/2023 6pm Pacific 9pm Eastern

[sactowndog]

me bullying kb02 off this board through his own bad takes will always be my legacy on this forum

Bullying is a positive legacy?

 

[kingdivac]

Wow Edwards, and the bench......Brown needs to consider extending their minutes or letting them start! Metu really picked it up this game. Lyles another great game. At this point, I think Brown needs to start subbing more freely to keep the energy flowing. This was one of the best defensive games of the year. It was somewhat similar to the Knicks game in tone - Kings let the Suns back into the game after controlling for a quarter and a half, but the Kings didn't let the Suns on the boards. This game was not nearly as frustrating as the Knicks. The bench was playing at an exceptional level, better than the last Portland game even.

 

[The_Jamal]

Bullying is a positive legacy?

Ok fine. "bullying" was supposed to be a joke.

Me charity betting his bad takes and he left the board after welching on both bets. Better?

 

[Kingster]

For real.

We're literally the best ORtg of all-time, we're 14-games over .500, we have 2 all-stars and potentially 2 All-NBA players, we have a stud rookie wing, we have a coach in his first year who seemingly turned the culture of this team in 65 games. But for some reason, I still get this nagging feeling that the wheels are going to fall off for some reason.

Yeah, the hand grenade could end up in your lap at any moment. We should give ourselves a standing ovation for enduring this carnage for nearly two decades. We're all like Sabonis - tough as nails.

 

[sactowndog]

Ok fine. "bullying" was supposed to be a joke.

Me charity betting his bad takes and he left the board after welching on both bets. Better?

Better.

Consider kids could be reading this board…..

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Yeah I think Murray is going to get better and better on defense. He is a smart kid who is learning. Really happy with what we saw from Edwards. Reminded me of Doug

The best thing about this for Kings Fans is that Brown is a great coach for young players, and Murray is very coachable. Absolute confidence that he'll take this benching in the spirit that it was intended, and come back stronger the next game.

 

[Jc121]

That 3 was a knock out blow and the suns knew it as soon as it happened.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I think maybe we have a different bar to clear. We can agree to disagree.

I'm not sure that we disagree on anything here. Morgan is good at what she does and there isn't anyone in sports who always has great takes.

 

[New Era]

Wow Edwards, and the bench......Brown needs to consider extending their minutes or letting them start! Metu really picked it up this game. Lyles another great game. At this point, I think Brown needs to start subbing more freely to keep the energy flowing. This was one of the best defensive games of the year. It was somewhat similar to the Knicks game in tone - Kings let the Suns back into the game after controlling for a quarter and a half, but the Kings didn't let the Suns on the boards. This was game was a not nearly as frustrating as the Knicks. The bench was playing at an exceptional level, better than the last Portland game even.

You think we need to make a change in the starting lineup with a team that is 8-1 since the All Star break?? Also, Brown did exactly what you are suggesting tonight - he went to the bench early and trusted a guy who we picked up a month ago for a bag of potato chips.

 

[kingdivac]

He's such a smart, adaptable guy, i think he will watch and learn.

He get's passive sometimes, but he had a good weakside help block on Booker....great play. Smaller quicker players can fluster him sometimes. The 4th quarter team defensive effort was a thing of beauty.

 

[Caccia]

That 3 was a knock out blow and the suns knew it as soon as it happened.

It takes real chutzpah to attempt a shot like that with such confidence and smoothness. Kessler had only played 49 minutes for the Kings and 79 for the Nets this season. And did you see Malik's reaction? I missed it, but my wife pointed it out on the replay.

 

[Fantazija]

For real.

We're literally the best ORtg of all-time, we're 14-games over .500, we have 2 all-stars and potentially 2 All-NBA players, we have a stud rookie wing, we have a coach in his first year who seemingly turned the culture of this team in 65 games. But for some reason, I still get this nagging feeling that the wheels are going to fall off for some reason.

Since the All Star break that feeling is slowly fading away...

 

[pdxKingsFan]

"Kings are good!"
-SportsCenter announcer

then they went on to talk about the Boston Bruins, who are sorta like historically good.

 

[Fantazija]

Wow Edwards, and the bench......Brown needs to consider extending their minutes or letting them start! Metu really picked it up this game. Lyles another great game. At this point, I think Brown needs to start subbing more freely to keep the energy flowing. This was one of the best defensive games of the year. It was somewhat similar to the Knicks game in tone - Kings let the Suns back into the game after controlling for a quarter and a half, but the Kings didn't let the Suns on the boards. This game was not nearly as frustrating as the Knicks. The bench was playing at an exceptional level, better than the last Portland game even.

I thought Brown managed minutes perfectly.Kegan and Kevin got 16 and 19 and even Domas did not get back in the game until 5 min left in the 4th because Metu was balling.

 

[reptilexcq2]

Night and day between Murray and Edwards when it comes to defense. Also, night and day when it comes to wanting to rebound the ball as well, he has a knack for getting rebound...that's because Edward had tremendous team awareness on the court. And because of his defensive awareness, his team help defense is second to none. He's already the 2nd best defensive player if not the best defensive player on the team. He needs to get more minutes. I anticipate Mike Brown is not going to change the lineup and mess up the team chemistry. But I anticipate that if Murray or Huerter are struggling defensively, Mike is going to insert Edward...no question about it. Especially in the Playoffs, you can't have Huerter guarding KD for example or even Murray. In the Playoffs, it's a chess game and you want to put guys in that can play defense because every possession count.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

For real.

We're literally the best ORtg of all-time, we're 14-games over .500, we have 2 all-stars and potentially 2 All-NBA players, we have a stud rookie wing, we have a coach in his first year who seemingly turned the culture of this team in 65 games. But for some reason, I still get this nagging feeling that the wheels are going to fall off for some reason.

Probably a little of that is PTSD, but my WAG is that it's mostly the last 30 years or so of American sports discourse internalized: your brain won't let you believe they can do it until after you see them do it. Sixteen straight years of failure can't help, though.

 

[kingdivac]

I'd be worried that the biggest mistake that the Kings could make in the offseason could be to try and go all-in on a homerun swing, instead of sticking with whatever McNair's original plan was, and letting this team continue to grow organically. I feel like y'all's priority should be 1) upgrading the backup center position, 1a) finding out how committed Murray is to improving his game over the offseason, and then going from there.

This is correct; concentrate on resigning or extending all players. This team just eclipsed the 2019 team, and will almost certainly eclipse the 2006 team. They have an outside chance to actually eclipse the 2005 team now. Brown is almost certain to get NBA Coach of the Year. This is a dream for a coach when you can get buy-in from deep into the team. Tonight was like a glimpse of what the team could compete with improved defense - it was a realization of synergy with some infused defense. I loved the fact they swung the ball to Edwards after he missed earlier. HIs interview showed he's quickly embraced his role.....team defense can be infectious when it blossoms.

 

[Caccia]

Kessler "Blanket" Edwards.

 

[The_Jamal]

I'd be worried that the biggest mistake that the Kings could make in the offseason could be to try and go all-in on a homerun swing, instead of sticking with whatever McNair's original plan was, and letting this team continue to grow organically. I feel like y'all's priority should be 1) upgrading the backup center position, 1a) finding out how committed Murray is to improving his game over the offseason, and then going from there.

I'm not worried in the slightest. McNair has been extremely consistent in his intentionality with any move he makes with the Kings. It's very much the Morey tree where you're not making moves to just make moves, but only striking at the right times. Honestly, he didn't bring in a whole lot the first 2 seasons outside of retaining Holmes (good move, at the time), minor trades/FA pick-ups for back-end rotation players and making his draft picks. Then just turned on the turbo jets in the past year with the Domas trade, Monk FA signing, Huerter trade, Brown his first coach hiring, etc.

I mean, just look at the dialogue after the deadline about how pissed everyone was that he didn't make any substantial moves and that we'd fall behind in the playoff race. Maybe even fall all the way to the play-in. And the Kings have responded with an 8-1 record post-break.

 

[kingdivac]

I thought Brown managed minutes perfectly.Kegan and Kevin got 16 and 19 and even Domas did not get back in the game until 5 min left in the 4th because Metu was balling.

I think Brown is figuring it out, but he can extend the leash, and get more players more rest throughout the game- and the essence of "next player up". Ideally in basketball you'd want an even spread of points across as many players as possible. At 120 pts that would be 11 players with 11 pts. On offense it gets everyone involved and contributing together;, on defense if there's similar consistent effort, its a championship team. In practice that doesn't quite happen, but the team is getting closer. I'm liking the defense that I'm seeing....steals are key and seem to be on the upswing. You can see the effort.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Night and day between Murray and Edwards when it comes to defense. Also, night and day when it comes to wanting to rebound the ball as well, he has a knack for getting rebound...that's because Edward had tremendous team awareness on the court. And because of his defensive awareness, his team help defense is second to none. He's already the 2nd best defensive player if not the best defensive player on the team. He needs to get more minutes. I anticipate Mike Brown is not going to change the lineup and mess up the team chemistry. But I anticipate that if Murray or Huerter are struggling defensively, Mike is going to insert Edward...no question about it. Especially in the Playoffs, you can't have Huerter guarding KD for example or even Murray. In the Playoffs, it's a chess game and you want to put guys in that can play defense because every possession count.

Kessler had a great game and was a trade target of mine in the previous offseason but we might need to pump the brakes on declaring him night and day better on defense and boards than Keegan. We have an incredibly small sample size and we have seen this before with guys like KZ, Jeffries and TD.

Right now he is a second year player on a 1 million dollar deal that the Nets paid the Kings to take off their hands. I’m hopeful, but I put very little stock in 2 good showings and will reevaluate after I see it for more than a handful of games.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Kessler had a great game and was a trade target of mine in the previous offseason but we might need to pump the breaks on declaring him night and day better on defense and boards than Keegan. We have an incredibly small sample size and we have seen this before with guys like KZ, Jeffries and TD.

Right now he is a second year player on a 1 million dollar deal that the Nets paid the Kings to take off their hands. I’m hopeful, but I put very little stock in 2 good showings and will reevaluate after I see it for more than a handful of games.

Feel free to pump your brakes my friend but I've already uninstalled my brake pedal.

Even the Nets (fans) said he was always good on defense - just had too much pressure on him too early to perform on offense and shoot. We give him a nice little bench role of 20-25 minutes and ask him to do what he does best and this dude is going to crush it. Screenshot this!!

This is coming from a guy who thinks Keegan is our future #3 of a Big Three - I see Edwards as being our 7th man behind Monk, and crunch time stopper. The more I see of this young team the more I think we might actually already have almost all the peices we need for a serious championship run - CRAZY as that sounds.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

I'll talk to my boss about enabling our proprietary Directional Beam Technology (DBT). I believe that was in the service package.

Boss gave the go ahead.

 

[PorchSurfin]

This is going to be a good test for Keegan, the Suns are attacking him on both sides right now.

Who would think Mike Brown had Kessler Edwarda to counteract?

 

[miltonap]

Kessler had a great game and was a trade target of mine in the previous offseason but we might need to pump the breaks on declaring him night and day better on defense and boards than Keegan. We have an incredibly small sample size and we have seen this before with guys like KZ, Jeffries and TD.

Right now he is a second year player on a 1 million dollar deal that the Nets paid the Kings to take off their hands. I’m hopeful, but I put very little stock in 2 good showings and will reevaluate after I see it for more than a handful of games.

For me it's not so much the defense which KZ also brought IMO but that he can hit a set shot.

And per the percentages it doesn't look like that's a fluke or anything, he's been like at least a 35% 3pt shooter right?

On a team where everyone is supposed to have a role, I don't see why he couldn't thrive as a specialized wing defender where he can guard those tough wings while also being able to hit the open shot on offense.

No more no less and I think that's perfect for this team at this stage. That alone makes this a home run pickup, he won't all of a sudden forget how to defend or shoot the ball at least decently.

I saw it in the first @Phoenix game. I could tell the dude could defend and might be a low key underrated pickup that Monte made.

Stoked that he played as well as he did today, he completely disrupted Booker and I'm sure the Sun's game plan

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I'm not worried in the slightest. McNair has been extremely consistent in his intentionality with any move he makes with the Kings. It's very much the Morey tree where you're not making moves to just make moves, but only striking at the right times. Honestly, he didn't bring in a whole lot the first 2 seasons outside of retaining Holmes (good move, at the time), minor trades/FA pick-ups for back-end rotation players and making his draft picks. Then just turned on the turbo jets in the past year with the Domas trade, Monk FA signing, Huerter trade, Brown his first coach hiring, etc.

I mean, just look at the dialogue after the deadline about how pissed everyone was that he didn't make any substantial moves and that we'd fall behind in the playoff race. Maybe even fall all the way to the play-in. And the Kings have responded with an 8-1 record post-break.

I brought it up because I find myself subconsciously comparing these Kings to the 2020-21 Hawks: they had success way earlier than their timeline projected that they should have had organically, then had a letdown season, and reacted to that by making panic moves (like not being patient with Cam Reddish, or trading Kevin Huerter for a handful of magic beans).

I worry about the possibility of that happening again in Sacramento. Because Ranadivé is absolutely the kind of owner I can see getting too excited about a miracle run to the conference finals this year, and overreacting if the Kings had a letdown and followed it up with a first-round exit next year.

 

[kingdivac]

Kessler had a great game and was a trade target of mine in the previous offseason but we might need to pump the breaks on declaring him night and day better on defense and boards than Keegan. We have an incredibly small sample size and we have seen this before with guys like KZ, Jeffries and TD.

Right now he is a second year player on a 1 million dollar deal that the Nets paid the Kings to take off their hands. I’m hopeful, but I put very little stock in 2 good showings and will reevaluate after I see it for more than a handful of games.

Right, Kessler was putting out an incredible amount of energy (kudos tonight)....he looks a bit more athletic than Murray, but Murray has a much more developed looking skill set and savvy on offense. That said, this is a "good problem" to have. You need an energy guy out there - and if Edward can work that hard night-in-and-night-out he'll have earned his higher minutes.

 

[iowamcnabb]

For me it's not so much the defense which KZ also brought IMO but that he can hit a set shot.

And per the percentages it doesn't look like that's a fluke or anything, he's been like at least a 35% 3pt shooter right?

On a team where everyone is supposed to have a role, I don't see why he couldn't thrive as a specialized wing defender where he can guard those tough wins while also be able to hit the open shoot on offense.

No more no less and I think that's perfect for this team at this stage. That alone makes this a home run pickup, he won't all of a sudden forget how to defend or shoot the ball at least decently.

I saw it in the first @Phoenix game. I could tell the dude could defend and might be a low key underrated pickup that Monte made.

Stoked that he played as well as he did today, he completely disrupted Booker and I'm sure the Sun's game plan

agreed, but almost all of us said the same things about Jeffries and he did it for a longer stretch. I’m enjoying it, just not ready to check that role off the list just yet.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Right, Kessler was putting out an incredible amount of energy (kudos tonight)....he looks a bit more athletic than Murray, but Murray has a much more developed looking skill set and savvy on offense. That said, this is a "good problem" to have. You need an energy guy out there - and if Edward can work that hard night-in-and-night-out he'll have earned his higher minutes.

Like I suggested earlier in the thread, I'd like to see iron sharpen iron with those two.

 

[The_Jamal]

Gonna give a shout-out to Davion as well here. I don't think we're 8-1 post-all star break without his play, especially the games he filled in for Foxy:

19.7 MPG
7.4 PPG
2.8 APG
0.7 TOV
45.8% from 3 on 2.7 3PA
73.9% TS (damn)
+41 overall (+/-)
Plus the usual elite guard defense.

The spot behind Fox has been a major hole all season and Davion is seemingly finding a real groove for the first time all year. Could not have come at a better time too heading into crunch time of the regular season and the playoffs. We're absolutely going to need him firing on all cylinders in a 7-game playoff series.