[Game] Kings @ Wolves, 11/24/2023 5pm Pacific 8pm Eastern

[See_Hanks]

Not sure why we like losing to teams back to back ( 0-6 in same team games back to back) We would be 9-0 right now if we didn't play those 6 games hehehe... Anyhow, 4-2 on the trip which is AMAZING! We should have been 5-1 but I will take 4-2 since it's road games.

 

[sactowndog]

Great win. Didn’t see much of the game so not too much to comment but let’s go to Vegas Baby.

 

[bubulina]

Random thoughts on the game 11/24/23
Wolves are record wise best team in the Western Conference and the #1 overall defense coming into this game.
Kings came out on fire making almost literally every three in the 1st (10/11)... Honestly I don't watch the Timberwolves much but I can also understand how they are the #1 overall defense, but tonight I think they would have benefited from going smaller to guard but they were missing who I think is their 3rd most important player in Jaden McDaniels. We were also missing Keegan, but it was a tough gritty game with some seriously one sided refereeing, seems like they aren't even trying to hide it anymore. Seriously impressive team effort and team win, showed some mental toughness, showed some emotion and grit as well. Kings just kept getting punched figuratively and literally but they were the better team tonight.

I don't know if the Wolves can get away with Gobert + Kat forever, Gobert in the playoffs in Utah would routinely get attacked on the perimeter in Pick and Roll and it was tough to recover. KAT is a Center and Gobert is a center, sometimes they occupy the same space on the court despite KAT and his great shooting. So yeah they were really missing Mcdaniels tonight, maybe they go smaller and have one of Gobert and Kat sit and play Jaden at 4 and maybe the Kings don't get so many open threes.. maybe Conley gets to handle more in PnR with Kat or Gobert..It's kind of a weird
situation to be in but I also do not watch the Wolves that often, KAT has been on a tear but also Naz Reid was terrible tonight.


Barnes - This was a perfect game for Barnes because we know Barnes is too slow to guard traditional 3's but also too small to guard traditional 4's he's always been kind of a tweener but he used his tools very well today and showed that versatility he can bring. Wolves were guarding Barnes with KAT but he was absolutely torching him in a 4-5 pick and roll to start the game, KAT was going under every screen, Gobert did not want to show and it caused kind of a weird situation where Barnes had to shoot alot of in between shots and that he did. Barnes played real tough tonight and took some shots (hits) and stayed with his role.
Kessler Edwards - We've been asking to see Kessler lately and we got it, played strong and physical, really impacted the game with his defense and size, routinely had many stops on the other Edwards and his length and ability to play individual defense really stopped whatever engine was driving the Wolves tonight. He had a nice offensive game today as well and if he didn't rush a layup he would've had 2 more points. It's all we really need from him to impact the game, length and defense and making your spot up shots. With Sasha playing terribly lately Kessler really came in and balanced the lineup.
Trey Lyles - Man, it is good to have this man right here back. Played really well, guarded KAT, could switch onto their other bigs. He is always a threat to shoot so it causes defenders who are usually bigs have to second guess their decsion on guarding him. Trey is so important because he gives us one dimension that has been missing and that is stretching the floor from 3PT at the big man position. I don't know if you guys remember but he was also one of the big reasons we won one of the games at Minnesota last year as well. He played C that game and drew Gobert out, he could drive by him, draw fouls or shoot the three.. He is really shooting well since he got back. Trey always brings that physicality that we kind of wish Keegan would have and can develop, he really bolsters our rebounding and you'll see him boxing out. Really underrated player, he really fills that versatility and impact that we were missing from the 4 Position and backup PF/C.
Malik Monk - King showed up tonight and was a flamethrower off the bench.. it's interesting, NBA pace is a hard thing to keep up but we have the players to do it and it showed tonight. At one point he had like 11 points in 4 minutes. Wolves go with a 2 Center Lineup and it just seems like to hell to guard the Kings, it almost seems like two styles dueling each other, because if Edwards gets half the free throws he was getting the Wolves are basically in Garbage time the entire game. So basically they could not guard the three at all tonight, most of them were wide open. The wolves pulled a Kangz and sometimes had Kyle Anderson out there trying to guard him and he would just go right by him, kind of like how sometimes we see guards just blow by Barnes but im pretty sure Kyle Anderson is slower lol.. so this isn't a shot at Black Falcon at all.
Dearron Fox - Honestly tonight, I thought we were going to see Fox have one of his subpar games tonight but I was completely wrong. Dude competed all night long and was the only one consistently with Sabonis trying to get in the paint despite Marc Davis being absolutely crap at his job. I thought he was still feeling that ankle.. feeling sluggish until he got the ball on the break and absolutely left Kyle Anderson just standing at the 3pt line by himself and he just absolutely detonated his frustrations on the rim. I watched the game and thought to myself "man Dearron is having it tough out there" then I check the box score and he has 36/7/12. He was really controlling the game and maybe it seems like I am taking it for granted since I see it every night now. Surgical.

Javale Mcgee - Javale Dunking = Javale Gooding , asking anything else from the man is like Russian Roulette.

Davion - This is a tough one for me, Davion did make his shots tonight, but then again so was everyone else lol.. It's just went I see Davion play as a "PG" his passes are always erratic, he had a turnover zip out of bounds, another Straight line pass that was supposed to be picked by Naz reid mistimed it. I'm not trying to be critical of Davion but he played better tonight but only because he was hitting some of the shots he was taking. Made a open three but then immedietly came down again and shot another off the dribble.. and if that shot misses then.. yeah hes having a bad game. He was able to give Fox some rest time tonight, and that is probably one of the most important things this season as he recovers from his ankle injury.
Duarte - Chris Duarte

Huerter - Kev was playing well but with Monk and Kessler playing well at the same time he had a bit less minutes tonight. Loved his defense and deflections he got. Reliable this game.

Sabonis - Was getting beat up all night and only shot his first free throw in the end of the 4th from a blindside elbow to the back of the head.. Really need Mike to speak up about this stuff because Refs aren't even trying to hide it at this point. Played strong tonight against a big team with big interior players.. had FIVE offensive rebounds! I liked that he was taking more shots that he should be taking if they are going to sag off him, missed some bunnies that he usually makes, but he competed tonight and even made a three. He's starting to stretch the floor against these traditional centers.

Keep them coming Larry. Thanks for the effort. You might take the throne of bricklayer.

 

[kingsboi]

beat one of the best teams record wise on the road and lose back to back to the Pelicans, I guess this is the Kings recipe for success this season

 

[NewArena]

LIGHT THE BEAM, baby!! Again, we did not "run it back" this year if people would pay attention lol anywho - Injuries to Fox, Huerter and Keegan are the reason we aren't top 2 in the conference right now. I truly believe that. We have a special squad right now and i just hope Keegan's back injury isn't something that lingers. Give that man as much rest as possible!

 

[NewArena]

Malik and De’Aaron starting to do that thing where they feed off each other and take turns doing increasingly wild things with the basketball

It's my favorite thing lol you can literally feel the momentum on our side when their synergy moves like that, as well as the panic and awe from the opposing squad. Imagine if we had the luxury of taking on teams like the Detroit Pistons 4 times a year LOL

 

[NewArena]

Kings with 2 FT with 2 of the best paint dominators in the NBA is absolutely disgusting

Fox would literally walk out of most arenas with 50 points (easily) if he got the calls he deserves. I'm not sure what the excuse is, but, it's certainly not his speed. He so very clearly gets knocked around like a wrestler out there, Sabonis included SMH

 

[BosnianDiehard2.0]

Something interesting to note, we’ve played just 5 home games compared to 10 road games. Our 9-6 record may be deceiving in more ways than one (besides the obvious injury problems).

 

[NewArena]

In the 2nd half the Wolves are almost trying to emulate the Kings passing, but that just isn't them.

Feels so good to beat them down on their home floor. We owed em one (and a couple more) before this regular season ends.

 

[NewArena]

Biggest positive from tonight IMO is Fox not settling for 3s. Felt like he was starting to forget his bread and butter is in the paint and midrange.

Very true. Honestly, i think he's just trying to solidify the other aspects of his game before mixing it all up with that bread and butter of his. Tonight was a beautiful example, despite the refs screwing him over all night.

 

[NewArena]

Kessler is another smart player that makes very nice cuts to the basket on offense. I love that we have so much movement on that side of the ball, to the point where a player on our squad would really stick out like a sore thumb if they were to get caught just standing around.

Btw, here's the Minnesota broadcast highlights if anyone is curious:

 

[NewArena]

No to bash our former players or anything, but, man am i glad Fox is the face of our franchise. The way he maintains his composure no matter what's going on is incredibly rare. I feel like Big Cuz would have been tossed from this game within the first 10 minutes

 

[bubulina]

No to bash our former players or anything, but, man am i glad Fox is the face of our franchise. The way he maintains his composure no matter what's going on is incredibly rare. I feel like Big Cuz would have been tossed from this game within the first 10 minutes

No to bash our former players or anything, but, man am i glad Fox is the face of our franchise. The way he maintains his composure no matter what's going on is incredibly rare. I feel like Big Cuz would have been tossed from this game within the first 10 minutes

And if cousins had the same composure, he would have been one of the greatest players ever.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1728270935382536198

 

[Caccia]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1728270935382536198

Hats off (or on) to Edwards! You have to be ready when your number is called, because on this team, it will be.

 

[sono]

Random thoughts on the game 11/24/23
snip..
Trey Lyles - Man, it is good to have this man right here back. Played really well, guarded KAT, could switch onto their other bigs. He is always a threat to shoot so it causes defenders who are usually bigs have to second guess their decsion on guarding him. Trey is so important because he gives us one dimension that has been missing and that is stretching the floor from 3PT at the big man position. I don't know if you guys remember but he was also one of the big reasons we won one of the games at Minnesota last year as well. He played C that game and drew Gobert out, he could drive by him, draw fouls or shoot the three.. He is really shooting well since he got back. Trey always brings that physicality that we kind of wish Keegan would have and can develop, he really bolsters our rebounding and you'll see him boxing out. Really underrated player, he really fills that versatility and impact that we were missing from the 4 Position and backup PF/C.
snip..

Good read.. depending on matchups he could start instead of Barnes, such as against Pelicans. Lyles and Monk are the only players that don't crack under pressure. It's just too much to bear for Fox and Sabonis against gritty defense when everyone around folds except the above two.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1728268658802295193

They may as well just call this doublehorns half court set the rim protecting big killer.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Oh good. Looks like we have to beat the Warriors to advance in something. I’m sure it will go swimmingly. Smh

Plus fan favorite Draymond is coming back to boot. Emotions will be high. This isn’t your typical game to begin with but with his return and what’s at stake, it’s the closest we will see to a playoff game all year, until the playoffs that is. I expect refs to completely side with the Warriors so we are going to have to win the hard way.

 

[White_Chocolate]

Oh good. Looks like we have to beat the Warriors to advance in something. I’m sure it will go swimmingly. Smh

Have to beat em at some point. Might as well start this Tuesday ! Also bonus to whoever gets Draymond ejected or punches him in the face ( might be time for angry Lyles or another tough bench dude )

 

[ick300]

It’s first time ever but if you are Kings fan at this moment you have to love this tournament
For place in elimination rounds you face the big rival , and then at 1/4 finals you can revenge for two by two heavy losses !
Nice !

 

[Kingster]

Despite the win against a team that hasn't lost on their home court, I thought this performance by the Kings was fairly mediocre, especially when compared to a game like Dallas. The game started with near perfection in the offense, moving ball and man. Barnes was having a field day against KAT. And then it devolved from there. Partly this seemed due to the refs calling an unbearable amount of fouls on the Kings. Partly it was due to the Kings getting tired of playing team ball. Fox was a mega-volume inefficient scorer in this one and should have involved and trusted his teammates more in the 2nd half. KAT & Co. helped the Kings considerably with all of their stupid turnovers. I'm still not sold on the twin-towers lineup.

I am so happy Lyles is back. He is a very consistent tough performer on this team, someone you can count on. It will be nice to see him and Murray in the same lineup at times, with Lyles guarding a not-so-fast physical forward or center and Murray guarding the best offensive player on the floor.

 

[hrdboild]

Yeah, they are tough matchup for just about anybody healthy. If I remember right, they were the top team in the west last season and had handily beat down a healthy Phoenix team twice before Zion went down. I think much of it was done without Brandon Ingram as well.

Zion is just a dominant offensive player. I don’t know if there is a matchup for him in the NBA. Maybe prime Ron Ron had the mix of strength and athleticism to bother Zion, but nobody today.

I can't resist a chance to put in another good word for my man Onyeka Okongwu here who won the head-to-head matchup against Zion in HS. I still can't believe he signed a 4 year extension with Atlanta just so he could play 22 min off the bench and average 6 fga attempts per game next to the league's #1 chucker. He is criminally wasted on that team.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I've tried my best to move all the In-Season Tournament related posts from after the game into the Tournament Play thread. Judgment call on a few. But let's try to keep the discussion on the IST over there...'til Tuesday.

https://community.kingsfans.com/threads/tournament-play.94035/




Hush, hush! Keep it down now, voices carry

 

[NewArena]

And if cousins had the same composure, he would have been one of the greatest players ever.

Agreed. He needed a Malone, Mike Brown or Rick Adelman type, but, his issues were beyond coaching i believe.

 

[See_Hanks]

disregard.. moved to tourney thread.

 

[NewArena]

Big win! Now, let's concentrate on beating the Warriors. They always seem to have our number at the end, all because of bs experience. We need to overcome that stigma and don't play out of character.

Yea, we just need to remember that we’ve beaten them thoroughly before. The losses have all come closer and back to back as of late, but this whole thing about them having our number is overblown IMO. We beat em 3 times when it mattered most in the post season, and even right on their home floor in blowout fashion with a less talented team than we are now.

 

[sono]

Yea, we just need to remember that we’ve beaten them thoroughly before. The losses have all come closer and back to back as of late, but this whole thing about them having our number is overblown IMO. We beat em 3 times when it mattered most in the post season, and even right on their home floor in blowout fashion with a less talented team than we are now.

I can't wait how we would fare against them now when everyone is more focused or trying their best on defense.

 

[coolhandluke]

 

[MizzouKing]

Keep them coming Larry. Thanks for the effort. You might take the throne of bricklayer.

That’s High Praise…and I totally agree. Great synopsis, Larry.

 

[MizzouKing]

Yea, we just need to remember that we’ve beaten them thoroughly before. The losses have all come closer and back to back as of late, but this whole thing about them having our number is overblown IMO. We beat em 3 times when it mattered most in the post season, and even right on their home floor in blowout fashion with a less talented team than we are now.

And keep in mind that the losses occurred while our guys were struggling to adjust to the level of conditioning being demanded of them. The increasingly closer losses should worry the Dubs, because we’re not struggling with our conditioning anymore.