[Game] Kings @ Wizards, 2/12/2022, 4pm Pacific 7pm Eastern

[parker]

Kings have lost - badly - a LOT of games this year against teams that weren't very good (in some cases because they were missing tons of rotation guys). We'll keep getting more information as we go, but the evidence of these last two games is very promising.

I think perhaps the most promising thing is their play in the second half and especially the fourth quarters in these two games.

 

[sactowndog]

Kings have lost - badly - a LOT of games this year against teams that weren't very good (in some cases because they were missing tons of rotation guys). We'll keep getting more information as we go, but the evidence of these last two games is very promising.

sure and we were on track for a top 5 finish with which I would have been fine. Beating the Washington’s doesn’t tell you if you are play-off caliber or late lottery caliber. But we can all be hopeful.

 

[Fantazija]

I mean let’s be honest here. Beating the Wizards without Beal and KP should happen as they aren’t a very good team. The upcoming games with Denver will be more telling if we really have something or we are just good enough to reclaim our customary 9-14 late lottery draft spot.

If they can beat Bulls on a road next week it would be a pretty good sign.

 

[Fantazija]

I think perhaps the most promising is their play in the second half and especially the fourth quarters in these two games.

In both games defense became a lot better while offense continued to flow in the second half.Granted competition was so so, but still encouraging to see.Good teams adjust and take over in a second half.

 

[EIM86]

One has to think that giving up primary ball handling duties to Halliburton probably effected Fox’s psyche. Fox definitely seems more engaged and focused since the trade and taking back his primary ball handling duties.

Hopefully we start seeing the 2019--2021 version of Fox again.

he already looks like that since he got the rock back full time imo

 

[EIM86]

I mean let’s be honest here. Beating the Wizards without Beal and KP should happen as they aren’t a very good team. The upcoming games with Denver will be more telling if we really have something or we are just good enough to reclaim our customary 9-14 late lottery draft spot.

agreed but I do like how we have had two COMFORTABLE wins in a row. I can barely
Remember the last time where I didn’t end up going “uh oh here we go again” to close a game

 

[Section 101]

sure and we were on track for a top 5 finish with which I would have been fine. Beating the Washington’s doesn’t tell you if you are play-off caliber or late lottery caliber. But we can all be hopeful.

Take a step back!!!!!! Breathe, allow some positive energy to enter you life.

It's not that they won, it's how they have won the past 2 games.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Huh? it has nothing to do with McNair. It would just be better to have a higher draft pick then a lower one that’s all

Not necessarily. Most the time there isn’t a sure fire, can’t miss prospect at the top of the draft let alone several of them. A top selection is largely a crutch. Something bad organizations believe they need to protect themselves from themselves.

However the truly good org’s and GM’s don’t need them. So far Monte McNair has shown he doesn’t need them.

As I’ve said before, the Warriors weren’t built by top draft picks. Neither was Miami, Milwaukee, Utah and several other perennial contending teams.

Good players are littered throughout most drafts. The key is having a GM that can spot and/or develop them.

The notion that it’s better to have a higher pick is easily proven wrong. The majority of the leagues best players today weren’t top 3-5 lottery picks.

 

[Warhawk]

She has since deleted the tweet, but in a response to someone tweeting "Holmes is just not right at the moment" his mother responded that he lost a very close family member recently.

I think it was a very close cousin that spent a lot of time with the family, IIRC.

Probably deleted because some ***hats were making stupid comments. I don't know for sure and didn't check all the replies, but seems likely based on the general behavior of a lot of the idiots out there.

 

[The_Jamal]

I mean let’s be honest here. Beating the Wizards without Beal and KP should happen as they aren’t a very good team. The upcoming games with Denver will be more telling if we really have something or we are just good enough to reclaim our customary 9-14 late lottery draft spot.

I too, hate fun.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

did anyone else spend their saturday night watching 6 hours+ of sabonis highlights? lol

 

[steelevt]

Three is my favorite number. It's time to win three in a row.

3 championships in a row? That’s pretty optimistic but I like your style.

 

[TaxMan]

This renaissance of the Kings is so reminiscent of the 19999 - 2002 Kings after only two games. IF this keeps up these Players, Coaches and the Front Office have something to be very proud of and they may have found a home

Let’s not forget….that original CWebb/Vlade/Jwill team was barely over .500 and if I remember had a big push at the end of the year to get into the playoffs. This will inevitably take time, so I’m trying to temper my expectations….but man it’s just fun to look forward to games again.

 

[Telemachus]

Let’s not forget….that original CWebb/Vlade/Jwill team was barely over .500 and if I remember had a big push at the end of the year to get into the playoffs. This will inevitably take time, so I’m trying to temper my expectations….but man it’s just fun to look forward to games again.

I believe they finished the season 12-2 to get to 27-23 on the season.

 

[Kingster]

One..., two,... three, ha, ha, ha.....

You're catching on!

 

[Kingster]

I mean let’s be honest here. Beating the Wizards without Beal and KP should happen as they aren’t a very good team. The upcoming games with Denver will be more telling if we really have something or we are just good enough to reclaim our customary 9-14 late lottery draft spot.

Chicago is going to be a good benchmark.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Let’s not forget….that original CWebb/Vlade/Jwill team was barely over .500 and if I remember had a big push at the end of the year to get into the playoffs. This will inevitably take time, so I’m trying to temper my expectations….but man it’s just fun to look forward to games again.

I know most will probably disagree with this, but I actually think Sabonis is a more valuable player than Webber was at this same point in their careers.

 

[gunks]

sure and we were on track for a top 5 finish with which I would have been fine. Beating the Washington’s doesn’t tell you if you are play-off caliber or late lottery caliber. But we can all be hopeful.

McNair's job isn't done either, he still needs to bring in his HC. Re-tooling the roster into this new "Fox/Sabonis + a bunch of pesky defenders" look should hopefully bring in more interest from legit candidates than the pre-deadline "Hali + dumpster fire" team.

Assuming Vivek doesn't cheap out and stick us with Gentry of course.

 

[sactowndog]

Take a step back!!!!!! Breathe, allow some positive energy to enter you life.

It's not that they won, it's how they have won the past 2 games.

Chill. One can be positive without being carried away.

 

[sactowndog]

McNair's job isn't done either, he still needs to bring in his HC. Re-tooling the roster into this new "Fox/Sabonis + a bunch of pesky defenders" look should hopefully bring in more interest from legit candidates than the pre-deadline "Hali + dumpster fire" team.

Assuming Vivek doesn't cheap out and stick us with Gentry of course.

well if they continue to develop this team they clearly have a shot at continuing. You have to be pleased with Metu’s development.

 

[sactowndog]

I know most will probably disagree with this, but I actually think Sabonis is a more valuable player than Webber was at this same point in their careers.

Would be more appropriate to compare Sabonis and Vlade, Barnes and Webber if you are going to compare.

 

[steelevt]

McNair's job isn't done either, he still needs to bring in his HC. Re-tooling the roster into this new "Fox/Sabonis + a bunch of pesky defenders" look should hopefully bring in more interest from legit candidates than the pre-deadline "Hali + dumpster fire" team.

Assuming Vivek doesn't cheap out and stick us with Gentry of course.

What if we go on a miraculous 19-5 run and end the season at .500 and into the playins. Do we ride what we have or make big changes like new coach or new starter? What if we make a big splash but the new starter doesn’t fit, or a new head coach has a totally new system that they have to learn that might not use our guys at their best spot. I know it’s waaaaay to early to be thinking like that after only 2 wins but the potential of this team has me already dreading how we can mess it up like a true kings fan.

 

[Das_Boot]

What if we go on a miraculous 19-5 run and end the season at .500 and into the playins. Do we ride what we have or make big changes like new coach or new starter? What if we make a big splash but the new starter doesn’t fit, or a new head coach has a totally new system that they have to learn that might not use our guys at their best spot. I know it’s waaaaay to early to be thinking like that after only 2 wins but the potential of this team has me already dreading how we can mess it up like a true kings fan.

I think at this point it's fair to say Monte has a vision for this team. I can't see him hiring a coach that isn't going to have his guys playing to their strengths.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

What if we go on a miraculous 19-5 run and end the season at .500 and into the playins. Do we ride what we have or make big changes like new coach or new starter? What if we make a big splash but the new starter doesn’t fit, or a new head coach has a totally new system that they have to learn that might not use our guys at their best spot. I know it’s waaaaay to early to be thinking like that after only 2 wins but the potential of this team has me already dreading how we can mess it up like a true kings fan.

If they were to go on a run and win into the playoffs,....and they actually have a vision for Christie to eventually be the head coach, I guess they might consider doing a 1 or 2 year deal for Gentry with the intention of handing the job over to Doug, once he has more experience.

The odds are way against it though.

 

[The_Jamal]

What if we go on a miraculous 19-5 run and end the season at .500 and into the playins. Do we ride what we have or make big changes like new coach or new starter? What if we make a big splash but the new starter doesn’t fit, or a new head coach has a totally new system that they have to learn that might not use our guys at their best spot. I know it’s waaaaay to early to be thinking like that after only 2 wins but the potential of this team has me already dreading how we can mess it up like a true kings fan.

I think McNair has been pretty clear he'll do what he thinks is best for the team and not run with the "optics" play. If Gentry and the Kings finish out incredibly strong and maybe even make the real playoffs, he'd probably be the leading candidate, but I'd still expect he'll run a coaching search this summer.

Gentry is 67 so I don't think it's a horrible plan if he coaches a few more years and then we turn the keys to Bobby or Doug if this team really starts to gel and play behind him.

 

[EIM86]

Not necessarily. Most the time there isn’t a sure fire, can’t miss prospect at the top of the draft let alone several of them. A top selection is largely a crutch. Something bad organizations believe they need to protect themselves from themselves.

However the truly good org’s and GM’s don’t need them. So far Monte McNair has shown he doesn’t need them.

As I’ve said before, the Warriors weren’t built by top draft picks. Neither was Miami, Milwaukee, Utah and several other perennial contending teams.

Good players are littered throughout most drafts. The key is having a GM that can spot and/or develop them.

The notion that it’s better to have a higher pick is easily proven wrong. The majority of the leagues best players today weren’t top 3-5 lottery picks.

All I’m saying is, if I had to choose I would rather have a better pick then not lol

 

[Woot!]

What if we go on a miraculous 19-5 run and end the season at .500 and into the playins. Do we ride what we have or make big changes like new coach or new starter? What if we make a big splash but the new starter doesn’t fit, or a new head coach has a totally new system that they have to learn that might not use our guys at their best spot. I know it’s waaaaay to early to be thinking like that after only 2 wins but the potential of this team has me already dreading how we can mess it up like a true kings fan.

If the Kings were to finish 19-5 - good lord! - my hope is that such a finish would be a HUGE weight on the scale in favor of Gentry staying the course (assuming he wants to), but not the only factor. Above all, what's his vision for the additional steps along the way to a championship-caliber team? (Although if they DID finish 19-5 w/the 8th-toughest schedule, int wouldn't be wrong of them to think they're well on their way - just as Phoenix's incredibly strong finish two years ago anticipated their Finals run last year.)

 

[206Fan]

I'll bring up a controversial name: Mike Brown anyone?

 

[Tetsujin]

If the Kings were to finish 19-5 - good lord! - my hope is that such a finish would be a HUGE weight on the scale in favor of Gentry staying the course (assuming he wants to), but not the only factor. Above all, what's his vision for the additional steps along the way to a championship-caliber team? (Although if they DID finish 19-5 w/the 8th-toughest schedule, int wouldn't be wrong of them to think they're well on their way - just as Phoenix's incredibly strong finish two years ago anticipated their Finals run last year.)

Seriously, if the Kings somehow ended the season 19-5, there is no way in hell I'm disrupting the momentum of that run by firing my coach, that's how things got this bad in the first place lol.

 

[Padrino]

I think McNair has been pretty clear he'll do what he thinks is best for the team and not run with the "optics" play. If Gentry and the Kings finish out incredibly strong and maybe even make the real playoffs, he'd probably be the leading candidate, but I'd still expect he'll run a coaching search this summer.

Gentry is 67 so I don't think it's a horrible plan if he coaches a few more years and then we turn the keys to Bobby or Doug if this team really starts to gel and play behind him.

Indeed. The Kings don't necessarily have to try and create "the future" in a single trade deadline and offseason. They could run with Gentry for a couple of years and build out their offense and create a tight chemistry between Sabonis, Fox, DiVincenzo, and whatever other long-term pieces the team holds onto from this bunch or acquires in deals-to-come. Then, if they feel they need a change on the bench to climb to a higher seed or get them deeper into the playoffs, they can move on from Gentry.

That said, there are head coaching candidates on the market that intrigue me. I wanted the Kings to fire Luke Walton in the offseason and scoop up Kenny Atkinson. He's currently an assistant on the Warriors' bench, and I hope the Kings do their diligence and get him in for an interview.