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: Navigating Early Season Challenges
The Sacramento Kings have faced a whirlwind start to their season, playing 11 games in the first 18 days of November. Despite the hectic schedule and limited practice time, the team has managed to start with an 8-7 record. This is particularly impressive given the injuries to key players like DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Domantas Sabonis. The Kings have shown resilience, with five of their losses being by a combined 14 points, indicating that their record could easily be more favorable.
Integrating New Talent and Overcoming Injuries
The integration of DeMar DeRozan into the Kings’ lineup has been a significant focus. DeRozan’s mid-range scoring ability adds a new dimension to the team’s offense, but balancing this with the Kings’ fast-paced style has been a challenge. The team has shown glimpses of success, particularly in games where ball movement and decision-making have been sharp. The Suns game, for instance, demonstrated that the Kings can maintain their pace while incorporating DeRozan’s strengths.
Injuries have forced other players to step up, and the bench has been crucial in maintaining the team’s competitiveness. Kevin Huerter’s improved play has been a highlight, as he has taken on more responsibility in the absence of key starters. The bench’s performance has been a testament to the depth of the roster and the players’ ability to adapt to increased roles.
De’Aaron Fox’s Stellar Performance
De’Aaron Fox has been nothing short of spectacular, scoring 109 points over two games, a feat only matched by legends like Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain. Fox’s ability to dominate the paint and make quick decisions has been pivotal. Despite dealing with a hand injury affecting his shooting, Fox has adjusted his game to focus on driving to the basket, showcasing his versatility and determination.
Fox’s performance is not just about scoring; it’s about his mentality. He has embraced the challenge of leading the team in the absence of other stars, proving his capability to be a top player in the league. His ability to get to his spots and score, even when defenses are focused on him, highlights his growth and potential.
The return of DeRozan, Monk, and Sabonis is expected to further enhance Fox’s game, as their presence will force defenses to make tough decisions, potentially opening up more opportunities for Fox to excel.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Sacramento Kings’ early season journey, tune into the Locked On Kings podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Kings Podcast:
- The impact of limited practice time on team performance
- Analysis of the Kings’ defensive strategies
- Kevin Huerter’s evolving role and contributions
- The significance of bench players stepping up during injuries
- Insights into the coaching strategies of Mike Brown
A refrain I’ve increasingly heard from casuals, like the talking heads on the NBA’s biggest broadcast partners, is that the league is too homogenous these days, that every team just goes out there and chucks up threes. Every game is the same.
Leaving aside the shortsightedness of famous, influential media analysts dumping on their own product, it’s a common enough complaint that I felt an urge to investigate. My eyeballs tell me the league’s never been more diverse and fun, thanks largely to the absurd wealth of stars today with skill sets as bespoke as their draft night suits. Jokic’s Nuggets look nothing like Tatum’s Celtics look nothing like Brunson’s Knicks, and to suggest otherwise is willful ignorance.
As I wrote about for Basketball Poetry yesterday, the current top five offenses are Boston, Cleveland, New York, the Lakers, and Dallas. Those five teams rank first, 14th, 17th, 24th, and 21st, respectively, in share of shots that are triples. You certainly don’t need to launch a million threes relative to your peers to score the basketball successfully.
Of course, that’s a rather superficial analysis. Regardless of rank, what if the absolute numbers are all getting closer together? That would represent a growing sameness.
I looked at shot data from this season, a decade ago, and 20 years ago to see how much the share of three-pointers had changed.
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
Stat Owen Phillips of The F5 looks at how often centers defend guards, how often perimeter players are involuntarily guarded by centers (aka the Tony Allen effect), and much more in his analytical newsletter.
Analysis Jared Dubin of Last Night, In Basketball discusses something related: what kind of players are guarding point guards these days?
Must Read Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic talks about the NBA’s increasing difficulty for defensive-minded, older players, but the real story is that Draymond Green claims to have started lifting just four years ago.
Analysis De’Aaron Fox shares his views on the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan GOAT debate, providing insight into his personal opinion on this long-standing discussion. (Sports Illustrated)
Ranked Who are the top three stars of the Kings, and how do they stack up? Here’s what ESPN thinks. (ESPN)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
The Randomness Of Fantasy Basketball On A Wednesday In The NBA
Nov 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Top Five Fantasy Takeaways from Wednesday’s Games
1. Paul George’s Knee Injury Concerns
Paul George’s knee hyperextension during the 76ers vs. Grizzlies game is a significant concern for fantasy managers. While initial reports suggest no structural damage, his availability in the coming games is uncertain. This situation could open up opportunities for other players on the 76ers to step up, making it crucial to monitor updates closely.
2. Unpredictable Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Game
The Pelicans vs. Cavaliers matchup was a bizarre affair, with unexpected lineups and performances. Elfrid Payton started for the Pelicans, and Jaylon Tyson shone for the Cavs, but these anomalies are unlikely to have long-term fantasy implications. Managers should view this game as an outlier and avoid making hasty roster changes based on these performances.
3. Pacers’ Struggles and Tyrese Haliburton’s Slump
The Pacers are facing challenges, particularly with Tyrese Haliburton’s shooting woes. His road performance has been notably poor, possibly due to lingering back issues. Despite this, Haliburton’s track record suggests a turnaround is likely, making him a prime buy-low candidate for managers willing to take a risk on his recovery.
Click the button below to see how Norman Powell’s injury could open up opportunities for the Clippers, and a top 50 player returns to action.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Kings podcasts.
What We’ve Learned About the Sacramento Kings with Multiple Stars Out Here are some of the lessons that we’ve learned about the Sacramento Kings while they’ve been without a combination of DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis & Malik Monk.
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.
