Matt George here, the host of the daily Locked On Kings podcast, with your daily Locked On Kings newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Kings and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Sacramento Kings: Early Season Insights and Surprises
The Sacramento Kings have kicked off their season with a mix of promising performances and areas that need attention. As we dive into the numbers and narratives from the first four games, it’s crucial to discern what’s likely to persist and what might fade as the season progresses.
DeMar DeRozan’s Scoring Consistency
DeMar DeRozan has seamlessly integrated into the Kings’ lineup, continuing his streak of scoring 20 or more points per game. His ability to draw fouls and convert free throws has been a significant asset, contributing to the team’s overall efficiency. DeRozan’s presence hasn’t hindered other players like Keegan Murray or Kevin Huerter from getting their opportunities, which speaks volumes about the team’s offensive cohesion. The Kings’ free throw shooting has notably improved, with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis showing marked progress. While it’s unlikely the team will maintain a league-leading free throw percentage, the improvement is a positive sign.
Domantas Sabonis: Offensive Evolution
Domantas Sabonis has emerged as the Kings’ leading scorer, averaging 24 points per game. His confidence in taking shots, especially from beyond the arc, has been a revelation. Sabonis is not just scoring efficiently; he’s doing so with a newfound assertiveness that was less apparent last season. This shift could be attributed to coaching strategies or personal development, but it’s clear that Sabonis is embracing a more aggressive offensive role. His ability to score from various spots on the court makes him a versatile threat, and his willingness to take on this role could silence critics questioning his scoring capabilities.
The Kings’ offensive strategy has also been bolstered by their ability to force turnovers and capitalize on them. This approach not only disrupts opponents but also fuels their high-paced offense, making them a formidable team to contend with.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Sacramento Kings’ early season performance, tune into the Locked On Kings podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Kings Podcast:
- Analysis of De’Aaron Fox’s role and scoring dynamics
- Kevin Huerter’s defensive contributions and potential
- The impact of Keegan Murray’s offensive rebounding
- Sacramento Kings’ defensive strategies and improvements
Last week in this space, I briefly mentioned the huge number of whistles we’d seen this season compared to the previous campaign, something that’s since been corroborated by others. But there’s another leaguewide trend worth watching. The NBA is seeing a surge in offensive rebounding — one that I think will stick.
The average offensive rebounding rate sits at 28.9%, the highest for a 10-day sample in the last decade by a mile. After a nadir in offensive rebounding in the late 2010s and early 2020s, the last few seasons have seen rates ticking slowly but surely back up, like a turtle climbing a hill. But nothing in recent history has compared to what we’ve seen in these first 10 days:
Graph by Mike Shearer
So what’s going on? Offensive rebounding used to be considered a double-edged sword. In general, crashing the glass meant giving up more in transition, and for years, the increasingly trendy focus on limiting fast break opportunities (thanks for killing fun, Coach Popovich!) cut off the O-boarding oxygen supply.
But teams are increasingly figuring out how to balance the two in pursuit of winning. Several of last year’s best regular-season teams emphasized window-wiping: New York, Denver, Phoenix, and Boston were all top-11 offensive-rebounding teams. (So were Portland and Utah, to be fair, but teams that struggle to score in more traditional ways often emphasize the offensive glass, too.)
Why are teams hungry to recover their own misses, and how are they doing so? (And don’t forget to click through for the Mildly Interesting Stat of the Week!)
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Analysis It’s the new Big Three. Damontas, De’Aaron and DeMar are making history for the Kings so far this season. (Yahoo! Sports)
Ranking No. 19. That’s where ESPN has the Kings after the first 10 days of the season. Experts also highlighted the addition of DeRozan, as he brings much-needed veteran leadership to Sacramento.
Analysis Chris Herring of ESPN+ looks at the Cavaliers, KAT, Morant, and more in an early-season status report.
Must Read Sinful. Diabolical. Those are just a couple of the words The Ringer’s Danny Chau uses to describe LaMelo Ball’s playing style.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Victor Wembanyama’s Early Struggles In Fantasy Basketball
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) works to steal the ball from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) after he fell to the floor during the second half at Paycom Center.
|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The NBA season is in full swing, and with it comes a slew of injuries and unexpected player performances that can significantly impact your fantasy basketball strategy. Here’s a look at the latest updates and insights to help you navigate these changes.
Key Injury Updates
Scottie Barnes is out with an orbital fracture, sidelining him for at least three weeks. This opens up opportunities for other Toronto Raptors players to step up, potentially offering valuable fantasy pickups.
The New Orleans Pelicans are dealing with injuries to CJ McCollum and Herb Jones. McCollum’s adductor issue and Jones’ shoulder problem could keep them out for multiple games, affecting the Pelicans’ lineup and fantasy prospects.
Player Struggles: Victor Wembanyama and Zion Williamson
Victor Wembanyama’s early-season performance has been underwhelming, especially for those who drafted him high. In a recent game, he took only five shots, raising concerns about his role and usage. While it’s too early to panic, fantasy managers should monitor his situation closely, as his potential remains high.
Zion Williamson is also off to a rocky start, with shooting percentages well below expectations. Despite playing 33 minutes in a recent game, his field goal percentage has been alarmingly low. This could be attributed to lingering effects from an illness, but it’s a situation that requires close attention from fantasy managers.
Click the button below to learn why there’s concern over Jrue Holiday, as well as a possible new streaming option out in Indianapolis.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Kings podcasts.
The Key to Unlocking the Best Version of the Sacramento Kings Matt George breaks down the Sacramento Kings win in Utah, and how their approach to the last two games is the key to unlocking the very best that this team can be.
DeMar DeRozan Lights the First Beam of the Sacramento Kings Season Matt George reacts to the Sacramento Kings win over the Portland Trail Blazers, which featured a very unwatchable first half followed by a great third quarter and overall solid defense.
LeBron James & Terrible Defense Kills the Sacramento Kings Matt George reacts to the Sacramento Kings loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, where LeBron James went crazy in the 4th quarter while the Kings defense completely fell apart.
