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.
Lessons Learned from the Shorthanded Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings have faced a challenging stretch, missing key players like Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Malik Monk. Despite these setbacks, the team has shown resilience and adaptability, offering valuable insights into their dynamics and potential.
De’Aaron Fox: The Unquestionable Star
De’Aaron Fox has emerged as the undeniable leader of the Kings. His performance during the absence of Sabonis, DeRozan, and Monk has been nothing short of stellar. Fox’s ability to attack the basket and maintain an aggressive playstyle, even when not the leading scorer, is crucial. His adaptability ensures that he remains a central figure in the offense, regardless of who else is on the court. The return of DeRozan and Sabonis should, in theory, ease the defensive pressure on Fox, allowing him to continue his aggressive play while benefiting from the additional scoring threats.
Balancing Pace and Player Roles
The Kings’ pace, especially in half-court situations, is vital to their success. Quick ball movement and decisive actions have been key, and incorporating DeRozan into this system requires a delicate balance. While DeRozan’s mid-range scoring is a valuable asset, the team must ensure it doesn’t disrupt their free-flowing style. The challenge lies in integrating DeRozan without becoming overly reliant on his scoring, which could stifle the team’s overall rhythm.
Keegan Murray’s development as a primary scoring option is still a work in progress. While his shooting struggles are evident, it’s important to remember that the Kings have the depth to support him. Simplifying his offensive role might help him regain confidence and contribute more effectively, especially given his defensive and rebounding responsibilities.
The Kings’ depth has been tested, revealing strengths in players like Trey Lyles and Keon Ellis. Their consistent contributions are essential, and it’s crucial for the coaching staff to provide them with stable roles and minutes. This consistency will allow them to make a significant impact, much like the team’s stars.
The Kings have shown they can survive short stretches without Sabonis, but his unique skill set is irreplaceable in the long term. The team’s ability to adapt and rely on isolation plays during his absence highlights their versatility, but also underscores the importance of having Sabonis on the floor.
The Kings’ penchant for close games is both a strength and a challenge. While they have the potential to excel in tight situations, their current record in such games suggests room for improvement. As the season progresses, mastering these moments could be the key to climbing the Western Conference standings.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Sacramento Kings’ strategies and performances, tune into the Locked On Kings podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Kings Podcast:
- Sacramento’s depth and the role of Trey Lyles and Keon Ellis
- The impact of missing stars on the Kings’ offensive strategies
- Analysis of the Kings’ close game performances and potential improvements
The streak had to end sometime. Even the 2015-2016 Warriors only (“only”) got to 24 wins to start their season. Ironically, they’d go on to lose the title to the Cavs that season.
That Cleveland lost to the Celtics, in TD Garden, without Isaac Okoro and with Darius Garland shooting 3-21 — well only the first half of that stings. If Garland made two more of those field goals the Cavs would’ve taken the game, and Okoro, out with an ankle sprain, will be back.
This game was a tester for the Cavs. Beyond a match against the defending champs and a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, it was an opportunity to see how the team responded to pressure, unfavourable conditions and expectation. NBA basketball is about winning, we all know this refrain well, but that the Cavs scoring dried up in crucial stretches while the team also fell into bad habits of turning the ball over in momentum-leeching moments, and they still managed multiple runs to come back within two, speaks pretty well to this group’s ability to respond.
What makes the Celtics so good, and a bit like a dream-crushing machine, is their ability to capitalize on and invert what usually brings their opponents wins. In the Cavs case, it’s their speed. Not just pure speed without aim, but their ability to push the pace within their offensive possessions because not one player tends to move in isolation from anyone else. Their lightning quick passing, their flashing cuts and counter-cuts, it’s all predicated on ball movement capitalizing on intuitive communication. A sixth sense of understanding where their teammates are on the floor at any given moment.
Boston was able to jam that up. Not entirely upend it, but chase with pace of their own enough that Garland at times appeared to be the pursued and not the pursuer. Where Garland rushed an offensive possession, where he went in for a fastbreak ISO drive to wrest the pace of the game back into his team’s hands, he bungled it. He’d botch an easy layup and go careening past the baseline, having to expend more energy to get back down the floor in the transition already underway. And the more he botched it, the faster he went. The Celtics saw this and upped the pressure on him, taking advantage of forced turnovers by draining three after three and all but eliminating a huge component of what’s made the Cavs so formidable — their rebounding.
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
Analysis How the Cavaliers’ offseason plan has turned them into the top team in the league so far this year. (ESPN)
Milestone Russell Westbrook becomes the first player in NBA history to record 200 triple-doubles. (CBS Sports)
Must Read The NBA’s three-point revolution has gotten extreme, begging the question: How many is too many?(The Washington Post)
Must Read De’Aaron Fox criticized the officiating after a controversial ending against the Hawks. His comments highlight growing frustrations with the referees. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis The impact of the Kings missing their trio of isolation scorers is examined in this analysis. The team’s offensive struggles are becoming evident. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Can Dalton Knecht Keep Up This Run?
Nov 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) react after scoring a three point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images|Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dalton Knecht has recently become a focal point in NBA fantasy discussions, thanks to his electrifying performances on the court. In a standout game, Knecht scored 37 points, including nine three-pointers, with an impressive 75% shooting accuracy. This remarkable display has fantasy managers buzzing, as Knecht’s shooting streak positions him as a valuable asset in leagues.
Knecht’s Shooting Streak: A Fantasy Goldmine
Over the past four games, Knecht has been on a tear, shooting 22 of 33 from beyond the arc, equating to a 67% success rate. Such efficiency is rare and highlights his potential as a sharpshooter. For fantasy managers, Knecht is a must-add player, especially given his current role in the Lakers’ starting lineup. However, while his shooting spree is impressive, it’s important to manage expectations, as maintaining such a high percentage is challenging over the long term.
Injury Updates and Their Impact on Fantasy Rosters
Knecht’s rise comes at a time when injuries are shaking up NBA rosters. Norman Powell’s hamstring injury, for instance, has left a gap in the Clippers’ lineup. With Powell likely sidelined for at least a week, players like Kris Dunn and Amir Coffey might see increased roles, offering potential value for fantasy managers seeking replacements.
Click the button below to get updates on Zach Edey’s ankle injury, and how Bradley Beal’s calf continues to cause problems for fantasy managers
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Kings podcasts.
Keon Ellis’ Career 33-Point Night Overshadowed by Bad Officiating & Controversy Matt George reacts to the Sacramento Kings loss to the Atlanta Hawks, where despite Keon Ellis’ career 33-point night, featuring 9 made three-pointers, the Kings were done in by some questionable officiating, a controversial finish, and their own mistakes.
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.
