The Sacramento Kings After 1 Week
Dec 30, 2020, 12:26 PM | Updated: 12:26 pm
(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
For the Sacramento Kings, the NBA season is only 1 week old. What a week it has been?
The Kings have played four games and they currently have a (3-1) record.
The Kings have beaten the Western Conference runner up Denver Nuggets twice and split games with the Phoenix Suns.
The record is how you are truly measured to see where you belong amongst the rest of the NBA. So far the Kings have done a lot of things that support this encouraging start. Statistically the Kings are 12th in the NBA in scoring even though they are 26th in the NBA in made three pointers per game. It still feels like the long ball and pace will be a strength of this team and that hasn’t been a calling card as of yet.
The Kings are 15th in field goal percentage but haven’t shot 50% for a game yet. They are 5th in free throw attempts, 14th in assists, 10th in rebounding and 10th in turnovers all while playing the Phoenix Suns twice who as of now are the number 1 defense in the NBA.
Tuesday’s win over the Nuggets had the Kings producing 33 assists. That was better than all but the final game of the season last year in the bubble when the Kings went for 37 assists.
They are playing 9 to 10 players a night and getting balanced contributions from everyone that checks in. 7 players have scored in double figures in two of the 4 games, and they currently have 8 players averaging 8.5 points or more per game. Barnes, Buddy, Fox and Holmes have all hit the 20 point plateau in a game and you can guarantee that list will grow.
Defensively the Kings have been “disruptive.” That has been their goal and they are achieving that. In Tuesday’s win over Denver the Kings saved their best for last. After losing the lead and giving up a season worst 38 in the third quarter to Denver, they closed the game holding the Nuggets to 6-20 fg’s, forced 7 turnovers and only allowed 15 points.
A healthy Marvin Bagley has been a huge boost to the lineup. Harrison Barnes is playing some of his best basketball while Buddy Hield’s contagious energy has been visible on both ends of the floor. De’Aaron Fox is picking the right time to put his stamp on games and the rookie Tyrese Haliburton just gets it.
He is in the right spot, has the right instincts, and makes plays that makes the team better.
The Kings have used depth, versatility, grit, and a variety of ways to win games to get to (3-1). If they still find the pace and space, to go with the other sustainable things they are developing then we could be seeing the beginning of something special.
I am here for it.
