New Trades Vs New Kings

[Padrino]

I'm totally looking at the opposite side of the coin: Given the Kings' proficient offense, the Kings success (or not) is driven by their energy (or not) on the defensive end of the floor. Sure, if they can't hit the broadside of a barn, defensive energy won't matter, but 80+% of the time when they have average to good offense it's about defensive effort. I use Fox as a "tell" in every game. If I see him put out defensive energy in the first quarter, I feel the Kings have a good chance of winning. If I see him in awol defensive mode in the first quarter, I don't feel good about the prospects of the game, especially if the Kings are playing a playoff contending team. The factor that is going to be most important for the rest of the season: How much are they willing to sacrifice to win?

I mean, fundamentally I agree with you. That said, I'm sort of taking an "all things being equal" approach to the final 28 games. If the Kings perform no worse offensively and no better defensively than they have on average to this point, my belief is that they could play at least .500 ball the rest of the way regardless of what the rest of the conference accomplished at the trade deadline. If they manage to turn on the jets, defensively, then I imagine they'd lock up the 2 or 3 seed with ease, but I don't really expect that of this particular configuration of players. With respect to their identity as we understand it this season, I still think a top-6 finish is likely, and a top-4 finish remains quite possible. Of course, a long-term injury to Domas or Fox undoes all of that, so I'm hoping the All-Star break is good to both of them and that their eyes are on the prize in the final stretch.

 

[Kingster]

I mean, fundamentally I agree with you. That said, I'm sort of taking an "all things being equal" approach to the final 28 games. If the Kings perform no worse offensively and no better defensively than they have on average to this point, my belief is that they could play at least .500 ball the rest of the way regardless of what the rest of the conference accomplished at the trade deadline. If they manage to turn on the jets, defensively, then I imagine they'd lock up the 2 or 3 seed with ease, but I don't really expect that of this particular configuration of players. With respect to their identity as we understand it this season, I still think a top-6 finish is likely, and a top-4 finish remains quite possible. Of course, a long-term injury to Domas or Fox undoes all of that, so I'm hoping the All-Star break is good to both of them and that their eyes are on the prize in the final stretch.

I see what you're saying, but because there is such a fine line when it comes to winning or losing in the NBA I believe that with the tough upcoming schedule their average defensive performance up to now isn't going to cut it. To get into the top six, they are going to have to muster a focus and an effort that produces better defense than what we've seen on average from them so far, imo.

 

[Jc121]

Being a kings fan I am always waiting for the sky to fall. with not to many games left I hope the coach conveys that this now is the start of the playoffs.
You don’t take plays off on defense from here on out. The guy’s have a chance to do something special.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Being a kings fan I am always waiting for the sky to fall. with not to many games left I hope the coach conveys that this now is the start of the playoffs.
You don’t take plays off on defense from here on out. The guy’s have a chance to do something special.

"...have a chance to do something special"?????

Ummm....Hate to burst your bubble here, but the guys are kind of already doing something special...

 

[ESP47]

Padrino kind of summed up my feelings. My belief is that if Huerter and Keegan are knocking down their shots/3’s or Monk is going on a heater or Barnes, it doesn’t really matter who we play. And I see McNair came out and addressed as much.
I anticipate some of these guys getting rested up during the all-star break and coming out and lighting it up again. I mean I’ve seen the Kings go head to head with the best teams. They are capable.

If anything, I'll be glad when the ASG passes so Kayte can stop blaming the Kings being tired on why they aren't performing at certain points during a game. As if the other team isn't playing the same amount of games and aren't just as tired lol

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I see what you're saying, but because there is such a fine line when it comes to winning or losing in the NBA I believe that with the tough upcoming schedule their average defensive performance up to now isn't going to cut it. To get into the top six, they are going to have to muster a focus and an effort that produces better defense than what we've seen on average from them so far, imo.

We're in the top 3 right now. I feel what you are saying but it's completely dismissive of this team's body of work thus far.

 

[Geoff]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624140406014480389

Monte knows what he's doing.

 

[SacTownKid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624137646686736384

The hope now is that Fox keeps dragging this body across the finish line like usual, haha. Maybe these newly formed super teams will take time and create a little more breathing room so Brown can potentially rest some guys late like most top seeds.

 

[SacTownKid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624140406014480389

Monte knows what he's doing.

And he's got time. This season is the initial test run then in the summer, get ready to burn both ends if need be.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

The market this year was stupid. I'm really interested to see what happens this summer. Some of these big moves involved guys with expiring contracts they aren't all going to stay in place. I don't see how it can keep up with the amount of picks flying about.

 

[funkykingston]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624140406014480389

Monte knows what he's doing.

True.

Also, Jason Anderson doesn't know how to spell "calculus"

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

The market this year was stupid. I'm really interested to see what happens this summer. Some of these big moves involved guys with expiring contracts they aren't all going to stay in place. I don't see how it can keep up with the amount of picks flying about.

Calling this year's market "stupid" might actually be an insult to previous markets that were leaps and bounds better, as well as future markets that will be leaps and bounds better.

But, yeah, I do get your point. It was stupid...

 

[Kingster]

We're in the top 3 right now. I feel what you are saying but it's completely dismissive of this team's body of work thus far.

Not at all. They've done great so far. But it doesn't mean they don't have to do even better going forward to get into the playoffs.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

If anything, I'll be glad when the ASG passes so Kayte can stop blaming the Kings being tired on why they aren't performing at certain points during a game. As if the other team isn't playing the same amount of games and aren't just as tired lol

1. Just because the same thing can be said for both teams doesn't mean that it stops being true for the Kings.
2. Aside from Barnes (and, I guess, Sabonis and Huerter, to a lesser extent), this roster is full of kids who have never played games that matter this late into the season.
3. Not only that, but they've never been in a situation where they were getting their opponent's best almost every night, because they're the ones being hunted now. This entire squad, individually and collectively, has to learn how to match that intensity coming from the other teams on a nightly basis, sorry if you think that 54 games is enough time that they should have figured it out already, but these Kings are actually still ahead of schedule on that front.

A lot of people seem to have a weird complex about "excuse making," to the point that they're so self-conscious about even being perceived as making excuses that they will reject something that's true, out of the malformed belief that even acknowledging that something from outside might be a factor in the results constitutes abdicating personal responsibility.

 

[Sluggah]

Did anyone in the West get better defensively though? How many even stayed even in that category?

 

[Rob-The-Great]

All great points .... except PDX smh he aint got it

 

[Tetsujin]

Did anyone in the West get better defensively though? How many even stayed even in that category?

I would have said the Warriors but then ewe found out the Blazers were hiding GPII’s injury n

 

[Rob-The-Great]

Barnes and Mitchell stats tonight say it all.
They are who we thought they where. I fear this was the best time to sell high

 

[Rob-The-Great]

NBA teams dont build in a consistent up and down chart. These are real people. Sobonis can real life decide not to resign with us, same with barnes. You think nets was planing on losing harden Kyrie and Durant 2 years ago? No way in hell. You have yo go all in when you have the small opportunity so this sell the future crap needs to stop.



That being said. Thank yall for the inite. We stayed put and now we will see where this takes us for the next 30 games. I hope he was right. Go kings!

And where was our chemistry tonight?

 

[mrlaze]

Saying a 20 year old is tired from playing basketball everyday is just dumb.

 

[ESP47]

1. Just because the same thing can be said for both teams doesn't mean that it stops being true for the Kings.
2. Aside from Barnes (and, I guess, Sabonis and Huerter, to a lesser extent), this roster is full of kids who have never played games that matter this late into the season.
3. Not only that, but they've never been in a situation where they were getting their opponent's best almost every night, because they're the ones being hunted now. This entire squad, individually and collectively, has to learn how to match that intensity coming from the other teams on a nightly basis, sorry if you think that 54 games is enough time that they should have figured it out already, but these Kings are actually still ahead of schedule on that front.

A lot of people seem to have a weird complex about "excuse making," to the point that they're so self-conscious about even being perceived as making excuses that they will reject something that's true, out of the malformed belief that even acknowledging that something from outside might be a factor in the results constitutes abdicating personal responsibility.

Ok so the Kings are tired and other teams aren't.

Barnes, Huerter and Fox are missing shots because the roster is full of kids. What kids? We have an older rookie and an older sophomore. Everyone else that plays meaningful minutes is a vet and our rookie is the best 3pt shooter on the team.

I'm sorry but the idea that they're tired because other teams are taking them more serious is laughable.

It's literally just excuse making. Want to know why the Kings don't play well sometimes? Because no team plays well all the time and no team shoots lights out every game. The idea that this Kings team gets tired while other teams don't is asinine.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Ok so the Kings are tired and other teams aren't.

Barnes, Huerter and Fox are missing shots because the roster is full of kids. What kids? We have an older rookie and an older sophomore. Everyone else that plays meaningful minutes is a vet and our rookie is the best 3pt shooter on the team.

I'm sorry but the idea that they're tired because other teams are taking them more serious is laughable.

It's literally just excuse making. Want to know why the Kings don't play well sometimes? Because no team plays well all the time and no team shoots lights out every game. The idea that this Kings team gets tired while other teams don't is asinine.

How did you read what I wrote and conclude that what I said was that the Kings get tired and other teams don't? Are you using some sort of app that takes words out of my posts? It's obvious that both teams are tired, the difference is that perennial playoff teams have figured out how to continue to play well through fatigue and the Kings, who are not a perennial playoff team, are still figuring that out. It's not an excuse, it's the truth.

And what do you mean, "what kids?" There's one player in the Top 8 of the Kings rotation that's older than 27 years old. One. They're all kids. My son is older than two-thirds of the roster. Not only that, but these "veterans" are vets with largely either none or no significant playoff experience, and no experience playing as a unit, prior to this season. They haven't played enough games together to have developed the continuity and trust that more experienced teams have.

So you don't think that other teams are playing the Kings harder, now that they're a team that they have to beat, as opposed to a team that they're supposed to beat? Okay, good talk.

 

[Rob-The-Great]

Listen sir, I garantee team are not playing us any harder than they always have. We dont have that type of respect yet. You can say that maybe about the defensing champs, other than that these are pros we are playing. Unless a team is tanking they are playing to win every game just like we are.

This learning to win concept is bull. Also hes right we are not extreamly young. Thats why we got Murray to win now not in the future. Coachs, GM all preach win NOW mentality. Not wait till they grow. That was half this group reasoning for keeping Barnes around to win right now.

We should have made moves to push that narrative to the next position. You are either busy growning or busy losing in this league. We just watched teams do both and did nothing. No excuse for that. But i hope im wrong

 

[Rob-The-Great]

Having to beat vs suppost to beat has been or go to excuse for some time now. When teams really feel like we are a threat i think it will be easier for us to win not harder.







Like going to fight Tyson expecting to be kocked out will give tyson a advantage to start the fight. And as time goes on the weaker figher gets confidence as it goes longer. Meaning we shouldnt be starting out trash then fighting our way up. When we are really good, just the opposite will happen. This is a 1st quarter league

 

[Spike]

True.

Also, Jason Anderson doesn't know how to spell "calculus"

It was my understanding that there would be no math.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Saying a 20 year old is tired from playing basketball everyday is just dumb.

It’s not just basketball though is it? The game is the only thing we see as fans, but what happens when the lights aren’t on? Practices, gym time, traveling from one city to another sleeping in hotels, getting on/off the bus, media time, recovery time, and game planning are just the ones that immediately come to mind. This isn’t pickup. It’s a job. Yeah, they get paid a ton to “play basketball,” but don’t think for a second that it’s easy or not enough to make someone tired. I’ve done a fair bit of traveling in my life and let me tell you, just getting there is exhausting. I can’t imagine having to play 82 games on top of it all.

 

[macadocious]

Listen sir, I garantee team are not playing us any harder than they always have. We dont have that type of respect yet.

You’ve taken lots of Ls lately. There were even more in this post, but this one just flat out wrong. Teams are tweeting,
Posting, commenting, etc. on the Kings. Teams don’t want the beam lit on their asses.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Listen sir, I garantee team are not playing us any harder than they always have. We dont have that type of respect yet.

You’ve taken lots of Ls lately. There were even more in this post, but this one just flat out wrong. Teams are tweeting,
Posting, commenting, etc. on the Kings. Teams don’t want the beam lit on their asses.

We have the third best record in the Western Conference right now, and we've been hovering up there towards the top for quite a while now. I think we have already earned that type of respect, and we did so at some point in 2022. I'm sorry, dude, but claiming that "we don't have that type of respect yet" is one of the most ludicrous, and unbelievably false, claims that one could ever make about the Kings right now.

As @macadocious pointed out, other teams are scared of us. They don't want to play us. They hate the beam. THAT in itself, my "friend", is what you call RESPECT...

 

[Geoff]

Listen sir, I garantee team are not playing us any harder than they always have. We dont have that type of respect yet. You can say that maybe about the defensing champs, other than that these are pros we are playing. Unless a team is tanking they are playing to win every game just like we are.

This learning to win concept is bull. Also hes right we are not extreamly young. Thats why we got Murray to win now not in the future. Coachs, GM all preach win NOW mentality. Not wait till they grow. That was half this group reasoning for keeping Barnes around to win right now.

We should have made moves to push that narrative to the next position. You are either busy growning or busy losing in this league. We just watched teams do both and did nothing. No excuse for that. But i hope im wrong

You are wrong.

 

[ESP47]

How did you read what I wrote and conclude that what I said was that the Kings get tired and other teams don't? Are you using some sort of app that takes words out of my posts? It's obvious that both teams are tired, the difference is that perennial playoff teams have figured out how to continue to play well through fatigue and the Kings, who are not a perennial playoff team, are still figuring that out. It's not an excuse, it's the truth.

And what do you mean, "what kids?" There's one player in the Top 8 of the Kings rotation that's older than 27 years old. One. They're all kids. My son is older than two-thirds of the roster. Not only that, but these "veterans" are vets with largely either none or no significant playoff experience, and no experience playing as a unit, prior to this season. They haven't played enough games together to have developed the continuity and trust that more experienced teams have.

So you don't think that other teams are playing the Kings harder, now that they're a team that they have to beat, as opposed to a team that they're supposed to beat? Okay, good talk.

Kayte was saying the Kings were tired during the Pacers, Pelicans and two Houston games. All young teams. The Kings roster isn't full of kids. The 2017-2018 roster was full of kids. Our roster may not have a ton of playoff experience but they sure aren't kids. The age of your son is irrelevant to this conversation. Playing as a unit has nothing to do with being tired either. In fact, you should be less tired the younger you are.

The argument that other teams know how to play tired while our team doesn't is just as weak as the argument that our team is tired and the other team isn't. It doesn't matter which argument is made, neither holds up at all.

I'm sure the other teams are playing the Kings harder because they can no longer coast for 3 quarters and then put the clamps on in the 4th like they used to. That doesn't mean that the Kings are now more tired because of that. The same logic needs to be applied to the other team as well because now they have to exert themselves more to stay ahead. A playoff series or two doesn't magically just give them superhuman cardio.

What happened last night? Did the Kings just randomly not get tired? The fact of the matter is that they either aren't hitting their shots or they just simply get beat by better players. They aren't getting beat because they're more tired than the other teams.