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: A Promising Start and Home Court Challenges
The Sacramento Kings are back home after a successful 3-1 road trip, and it’s time to see if they can defend their home court. Historically, the Kings have struggled to maintain momentum after returning from the road, often faltering in their first game back. This time, they face the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers, two teams that present a real opportunity for Sacramento to prove their growth and resilience.
Thrilling Victory in Miami
The recent win against the Miami Heat was a significant milestone for the Kings. Miami has traditionally been a tough place for Sacramento to secure a victory, making this win all the more impressive. The game was a nail-biter, with Demontes Sabonis delivering a game-winning shot that left fans and players alike in awe. This victory not only boosted the team’s morale but also allowed them to return home with a winning record, a crucial factor in maintaining their confidence and momentum.
Home Court Defense and Three-Point Shooting
As the Kings prepare to face the Raptors and Clippers, the focus is on defending their home court. In past seasons, the team has excelled on the road only to stumble upon returning home. This time, the Kings have a chance to change that narrative. The upcoming games are not just about winning; they’re about demonstrating that the team has matured and can handle the pressure of maintaining their performance at home.
A key area of concern remains the team’s three-point shooting. Despite generating numerous open looks, the Kings have struggled to convert these opportunities into points. The offense is functioning well, creating open shots, but the team needs to improve its shooting accuracy to capitalize on these chances. The return of Kevin Herder, who has been shooting at 37% from beyond the arc, is expected to bolster the team’s performance in this area.
The Kings’ ability to maintain focus and intensity, especially in the third quarter, has been a positive sign. Historically, the third quarter has been challenging for Sacramento, but this season, they’ve shown significant improvement, often using this period to regain control of games. This shift is a testament to the team’s growth and the effective adjustments made by the coaching staff.
As the Kings continue their season, the upcoming home games will be a true test of their ability to sustain their road success and translate it into home victories. The team’s resilience and ability to adapt will be crucial in overcoming the challenges they face.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Sacramento Kings’ strategies and performance, tune into the Locked On Kings podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Kings Podcast:
- Analysis of Demontes Sabonis’ game-winning shot against the Miami Heat
- Discussion on the Kings’ defensive strategies and improvements
- Insights into the team’s locker room dynamics and halftime adjustments
- Evaluation of the Kings’ performance in close games and their ability to close out victories
Sports fandom has long been a vehicle of escape, basketball fandom perhaps even more so. If you’re someone who toggles between NBA and WNBA, then you’ll never have a break in games you can escape into. If you’re purely an NBA watcher, then the league has done its willful best to make its product one that runs all year round, even if the games themselves take a break. If you’re even a little online then you can find something NBA-related to get excited/upset/anxious/overworked about any day the year, even in the deepest dregs of August.
Escapism is fine as a temporary measure. There’s no person alive that doesn’t seek it out in some shape or form, sometime. In basketball fandom the dangers of treating the game, and the people who play it, as a pure means of escape run fairly parallel to the dangers of this political moment.
To lose sight of the humanity of athletes, to range on the spectrum of othering to nullification of their personhood; to assume a franchise has only your interests as its sole, driving concern. To put so much stake into the outcome of a game, a season, that anything outside of pure dominance and control is considered failure. To take on defeat as a personality trait and grow miserable, hostile, blame serving both as vitriolic release and an easy balm.
This is perhaps a clumsy attempt to address the U.S. election results last night in a newsletter about NBA basketball, but it seemed a perfect encapsulation of my point of blind escapism to write about OKC’s pestering defence, or Joel Embiid’s three game suspension after shoving a reporter, and make no mention of Donald Trump’s second ascension.
Basketball isn’t apolitical. No sport is, but the NBA hasn’t been for a long time. Shut up and dribble, stop-work protests in the Orlando Bubble led by athletes personally the target of police brutality, taking a knee. Even when it isn’t trying to be, it is, because it’s a game played by people and beyond that, predominantly Black men. In October 1979, when the Knicks paired their roster from 13 players down to 11 — a move required by league regulation — media and fans jumped on the move because the remaining team became the first all Black roster in the league. “White people have to have white heroes,” Cavs owner, Ted Stepien said at the time, “I myself can’t equate to Black heroes, I’ll be truthful. I respect them, but I need white people.”
Being the target of someone’s desire for escapism can be enough to turn something from the political to the personal, and vice versa. We’re seeing a new iteration of it now with the rise of sports betting and the blurring of boundaries between athletes and fans, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar saw and put it succinctly in the early 1970s. “Out there, you’re a vector for all the hostility in the stands,” he said.
As a conduit for escape, there are no political prerequisites. Fandom isn’t barred from you based on your voting patterns. There may be an urge now, regardless of how you hoped (even as an observer, as I am) this election ended up, to burrow into basketball as escape, almost as a reflexive action. The distinct humanitarian fracturing at play not only in this election but on a global scale, this onus of “us vs.them”, or blame over solution (blame as solution), the narrowing of scope to only have your own interests at heart, is all a symptom of escapism. Just as it’s crucial as an engaged fan to not lose sight of an athlete’s personhood, the same goes, albeit on a decidedly more critical scale, in the wider world.
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
Must Read Over the years, the NBA has learned to embrace activism and social justice. Read more. (TIME)
Legacy Reflecting on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s impact — here’s how he changed the rules for Black athletes. (National Endowment for the Humanities)
Analysis How did Sterling Brown get the NBA to listen to its players? (The Daily Beast)
Analysis The Sacramento Kings rise in ESPN’s power rankings after their victory over the Miami Heat, showcasing significant progress. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Sacramento Kings’ DeMar DeRozan excels in a crucial NBA statistic, ranking among the top three performers in the league. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Replacements For Jeremy Sochan & Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Ball Arena.|Photo by Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
As we gear up for another action-packed Wednesday with 12 NBA games, it’s crucial to stay updated on player statuses and potential fantasy basketball moves. Injuries are shaking up lineups, and knowing who to add or drop can make all the difference in your fantasy league.
Key Injuries and Player Additions
Aaron Gordon’s calf strain is a significant blow, sidelining him for an estimated four weeks. This opens up opportunities for Peyton Watson, who is expected to see increased minutes, making him a valuable addition to your roster. Julian Strawther might also benefit, but Watson is the priority pick.
Jeremy Sochan’s thumb fracture is another long-term injury, likely keeping him out for six to eight weeks. In his absence, Julian Champagnie emerges as a strong candidate for increased playing time. While Keldon Johnson might be a points league preference, Champagnie is a solid choice across formats.
Nick Richards is dealing with fractured rib cartilage, sidelining him for at least two weeks. With Mark Williams also out, the Hornets will likely start Taj Gibson, but he’s not a recommended fantasy add. Instead, keep an eye on Grant Williams, who could be a viable option in deeper leagues.
Game Previews and Strategic Considerations
The Detroit Pistons face the Charlotte Hornets, with the Hornets slightly favoured. Jalen Duren’s recent performances have been promising, but his minutes might be capped, allowing Isaiah Stewart to continue his role as a backup centre. Stewart’s current role suits him well, and he’s performing admirably in it.
For the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller’s dynamics are worth monitoring. Ball’s interactions with Charles Lee and Miller’s reduced minutes and shooting are areas of concern. Miles Bridges’ performance has been underwhelming, but improvement is expected.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Kings podcasts.
Domantas Sabonis Silences the Doubters with Miami Game Winner! Matt George reacts to the Sacramento Kings win in Miami, where Domantas Sabonis’ putback game winner was the difference against the Heat.
The Sacramento Kings Can Live with De’Aaron Fox’s Last Shot, But Not the Team Turnovers Matt George breaks down the Sacramento Kings’ overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors, including a long look at the final possession and De’Aaron Fox’s last shot.
The Sacramento Kings Pass the Test in Atlanta Matt George breaks down the Sacramento Kings win in Atlanta, where the Hawks nearly pulled off the major comeback, but the Kings learned from early season mistakes and closed it out.
