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’ New Offensive Strategy: A Mid-Range Revolution
The Sacramento Kings have kicked off the season with a fresh offensive approach, sparking discussions about its effectiveness compared to previous years. The team’s strategy has shifted towards a mid-range focus, largely influenced by the addition of DeMar DeRozan. This change has seen De’Aaron Fox taking a backseat in scoring, a surprising development given his usual role as a leading scorer.
Mid-Range Focus and DeRozan’s Impact
The Kings are currently leading the league in percentage of points from mid-range shots, a testament to DeRozan’s influence. His ability to score efficiently from this area has been a key factor in the team’s early success. However, this shift raises questions about the long-term viability of relying heavily on mid-range shots, especially in a league that increasingly values three-pointers.
DeRozan’s presence has not only altered the team’s shot selection but also impacted the roles of other players. De’Aaron Fox, traditionally the team’s offensive leader, has seen a reduction in his scoring output. Despite this, Fox remains integral to the team’s success, contributing through assists and crucial plays. His ability to adapt and find his place within this new system will be crucial as the season progresses.
The Role of De’Aaron Fox and Team Dynamics
Fox’s current role as the third scorer among the Kings’ big three, behind DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, is a significant shift. While his shot attempts remain high, his scoring has not matched previous seasons. This adjustment period is crucial for Fox as he balances facilitating the offense and finding his scoring rhythm.
Sabonis, on the other hand, has embraced a more aggressive scoring role, leading the team in points. His ability to score both inside and from beyond the arc has been a pleasant surprise, adding another dimension to the Kings’ offense. This newfound scoring prowess from Sabonis, combined with DeRozan’s mid-range game, provides a balanced attack that can challenge defenses in multiple ways.
The Kings’ offensive strategy is still evolving, and the integration of DeRozan is a work in progress. As the season unfolds, the team will need to find a balance between their mid-range focus and the necessity of three-point shooting, especially against teams that excel from beyond the arc.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Sacramento Kings’ evolving offensive strategy, 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 adjustments
- Domantas Sabonis’s impact and scoring evolution
- The influence of DeMar DeRozan on team dynamics
- Sacramento Kings’ defensive challenges and solutions
As someone who just celebrated a birthday — a milestone birthday — I’ll admit that aging has been on my mind. Its privileges, its gifts, its expectations and assumptions (especially for women), aging can feel overwhelming, particularly wrought, even if you’ve made relative peace through the years with it.
Much of my writing is concerned with the nuances around basketball and its athletes, particularly the elements that underscore them as people. Strange to call “humanity” a nuance, but that can be the flattening of pro sports. Athletes aging is something larger fandom is pretty bad at processing, to the point where, in the NBA, anyone over 28 is considered long in the tooth and anyone over 35, ancient. The churn of the Draft, with its college phenoms and untapped prospects, makes it so we have a continually replenishing assembly line of young athletes ready to oust the old, often in a way that we don’t actually witness. Very few NBA athletes announce their retirements or make their exits from the league public, they just sort of… vanish, and with them goes our public consciousness of them.
In his postgame presser on Wednesday night, after the Warriors had beat the Pelicans for the second time on a two day back-to-back, Draymond Green touched on aging. Well, not explicitly, but his lengthy answer when asked about his impactful defensive efforts throughout Golden State’s first five contests was telling. Namely, because he brought up two of the youngest centers in the league, Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Stat Forget the Big Three. Call them the Big Five. NBA Advanced Stats say the Kings starting lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Huerter is the best in the league. (Sports Illustrated)
Odds The Big Five head to Atlanta to face the Hawks, where they’re a 6.5-point favorite against Trae Young and the squad. (FanDuel Sportsbook)
Must Watch Every NBA player knows about The Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Pablo Torre needed to know more, so he sent two reporters out to stay at what’s dubbed OKC’s “most haunted hotel.”
Feel Good They’re all kids at heart. Check out how players from around the league celebrated Halloween. (ESPN)
Must Read Pure talent, or being good in the room? Inc. looks at how certain personality types are affecting roster decisions in the league.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Paolo Banchero Injured - The Fantasy Basketball Fallout
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) defends Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the second half at United Center.|Photo by David Banks-Imagn Images
As we dive into the latest NBA action, the fantasy landscape is ever-changing, with injuries and unexpected performances shaping our strategies. The recent news of Paolo Banchero’s injury is a significant blow for both the Orlando Magic and fantasy managers. Banchero is set to miss four to six weeks due to a torn abdominal muscle, which means a reevaluation around mid-December. This absence leaves a gaping hole in the Magic’s lineup, and the question remains: who will step up?
Orlando Magic’s Lineup Dilemma
The obvious choice might be Jonathan Isaac, but his limited minutes due to health concerns make this uncertain. Isaac’s potential is undeniable, yet his ability to sustain a starting role is questionable. Mo Wagner has been suggested as a possible fill-in, but his experience at power forward is limited. The Magic might opt for a more unconventional approach, possibly pushing Franz Wagner to the four and utilizing a three-guard lineup with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black. Black, although not a high scorer, could contribute across various categories, making him a viable fantasy consideration.
The situation is fluid, and while Wendell Carter Jr. should be a priority add if available, the rest of the lineup remains a puzzle. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on the Magic’s rotations in the coming games to identify any emerging trends.
Click the button below to see who should be on your waiver radar, plus the fantasy impact of Desmond Bane’s injury for Memphis.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Kings podcasts.
What’s Real or Fake About the Sacramento Kings’ Start to the Season Matt George is joined by Sports Illustrated writer & stat master Will Z to break down the numbers for the Sacramento Kings through the first 4 games and what really reflects who this team is.
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.
