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’ Heartbreaking Loss: Officiating and Missed Opportunities
The Sacramento Kings faced a tough 109-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, a game marred by inconsistent officiating and missed opportunities. The term “disruptively inconsistent” perfectly describes the officiating, which favored the Hawks and left the Kings frustrated.
Officiating Woes and Player Frustrations
De’Aaron Fox, visibly upset, expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating. He was fouled multiple times without calls, while the Hawks received favorable whistles. Fox’s frustration boiled over into a technical foul, a moment that contributed to the Kings’ narrow loss. The inconsistency in calls was glaring, with Fox being pulled to the ground without a whistle.
Kings head coach Mike Brown shared his perspective on the final play, where Dyson Daniels appeared to step out of bounds. The lack of a review after the buzzer left players and fans bewildered. Brown also highlighted the disparity in foul calls between Fox and Trae Young, noting Young’s ability to sell fouls effectively, a skill Fox has yet to master, and actively is against.
Accountability and Missed Opportunities
While officiating played a significant role, the Kings must also take accountability for their performance. Scoring only 15 points in the fourth quarter, shooting a dismal 18% from the field, and missing open looks were critical factors in the loss. Keon Ellis, despite a career night with 33 points and nine three-pointers, went cold in the fourth quarter, missing crucial shots.
The Kings’ struggles weren’t limited to the fourth quarter. They started the game flat, falling behind 22-6, and despite rallying to an 11-point lead, they quickly squandered it. The team’s inability to maintain momentum and capitalize on opportunities was evident.
Despite the officiating challenges, the Kings must reflect on their performance and address their shortcomings. The loss of composure and missed shots in crucial moments cannot be solely attributed to officiating. The team needs to improve its execution and decision-making to avoid similar outcomes in the future.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Sacramento Kings’ challenges and strategies, tune into the Locked On Kings podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Kings Podcast:
- Keon Ellis’s career night and its impact on the game
- De’Aaron Fox’s scoring prowess and the lack of foul calls
- Mike Brown’s perspective on the final play and officiating
- The Kings’ offensive struggles and missed opportunities
- Analysis of the Kings’ defensive performance and areas for improvement
The Sixers are no longer just bad, they’re cornered
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center|Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Look, I held off as long as I could, told myself it was only an awkward start. I looked to silver linings, to the tendency that things going wrong for this long tend to right themselves. I looked to the surrounding conditions for clues and when none revealed themselves, I decided to stay positive but now, it’s time: time to talk about the Philadelphia 76ers.
Beyond what Sixers fans know intimately and don’t need reiterated (things are bad), the mood around the franchise is starting to feel closer to cornered than merely frustrated. Last night, after a third quarter collapse against the Heat in Miami, the Sixers held a postgame meeting that lasted over an hour. The game already had a bizarre feel to it, Philly led by 19 before being down 20, and Joel Embiid went from being listed as doubtful to starting. No one on the Sixers roster looked especially comfortable, a trend that’s emerged throughout the team’s first full month of regular season play.
Slipping now to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with a record of 2-11 I still feel the need to double check as I write this, one thing has become abundantly clear — the Sixers don’t have room to hedge.
There’s no scapegoat to pin the team’s shoddy performance on, not this early in the season. Even when healthy, and Embiid, George and Maxey are on the floor together, it’s been for naught. Both the teams wins came in arduous overtime, one without George and both without Embiid. The Sixers win against the Hornets was missing Maxey completely.
Here’s a problem I’ve wondered about since Daryl Morey landed George in what was declared an undisputed win for the franchise and the best move of the offseason — what about Philadelphia’s role players? To clear the books for cap space enough to sign George, Daryl Morey liquidated the team’s working roster — 13 of the team’s 15 man squad became free agents. Tobias Harrias and Nicolas Batum may not be spring chickens in NBA terms, but they provided the mechanical support the Sixers are now woefully lacking. This isn’t the Sixers only problem, that much has been made clear, but it’s a big one.
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.
Biz Former NBA stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are looking to buy a minority stake in the NFL’s Buffalo Bills (CityTV)
Must Read Knicks forward OG Anunoby says he’s tired of being known for his defensive prowess. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Honor De’Aaron Fox has been named NBA Player of the Week, a testament to his outstanding performance on the court.
Preview The Hawks and the Kings will face off at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento at 10:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
3peat (ICYMI)
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Kings podcasts.
De’Aaron Fox Makes More History with 49-Point Night after 60-Piece Matt George reacts to the Sacramento Kings victory over the Utah Jazz, where De’Aaron Fox followed up his 60 point night on Friday with a 49-point performance 24 hours later, putting him in some elite company in the NBA history books.
De’Aaron Fox’s 60 Points Sets Kings Franchise Record Matt George reacts to De’Aaron Fox’s Kings franchise record 60 point performance as the Sacramento Kings fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first NBA Cup game.
The Sacramento Kings NBA Cup Championship Run Starts Tomorrow! Matt George is joined by Deuce Mason, Kings television analyst and host of the Deuce & Mo Podcast, to break down last night’s Sacramento Kings win over the Phoenix Suns, and preview Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
