The Sacramento Kings continue to struggle, falling flat against the Los Angeles Lakers in a 113-100 defeat. This loss comes on the heels of a week filled with chatter from head coach Mike Brown calling out the team for not focusing on the little details and challenging star player De’Aaron Fox to lead by example.
The Kings’ performance against the Lakers exposed their inability to back up their words with actions. Despite Brown’s emphasis on setting the tone early and focusing on the little details, Sacramento allowed 37 points in the first quarter and fell behind by double digits early in the game.
Rebounding was a major issue, with the Kings being out-rebounded 53-43. The Lakers dominated the second-chance points battle 18-6, capitalizing on 14 offensive rebounds. This poor performance on the glass came immediately after Brown had challenged the team to improve in this area following their loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Transition offense, typically a strength for the Kings, was non-existent against the Lakers, who are one of the worst transition defense teams in the league. Sacramento failed to take advantage of this weakness, losing the fast break battle 11-10.
De’Aaron Fox’s performance was particularly disappointing. After being challenged by Brown to lead by example, Fox put together what I consider his worst defensive performance of the season. He struggled to contain Austin Reaves, frequently getting beat off the dribble and resorting to reach-in fouls that led to significant foul trouble.
The Kings’ roster is clearly flawed, and while they should be playing better than their current 13-15 record suggests, there’s little evidence to suggest they’ll suddenly turn things around. The team’s inability to consistently put together good games or even complete a full game is concerning.
As the season progresses, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Monte McNair and the front office may need to make some moves to address these issues. Whether it’s pursuing players like Cam Johnson or Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets or considering more significant changes to the core, something needs to be done to shake up this underperforming squad.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Kings’ struggles, tune into the Locked On Kings podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Kings Podcast:
• Mike Brown’s postgame comments on the team’s lack of action
• The Kings’ poor home record and inconsistent energy at Golden 1 Center
• Potential trade scenarios and the challenges of moving core players
