Today I’m writing a quarter season review of our beloved Sacramento Kings. I will be diving more in-depth into things than my last few blog posts. I’ve decided to do smaller ones more frequently, while saving big ones for milestones or something drastic happening.
Before I dive in, I want to first address the game vs. the Warriors… WHAT A GAME! Such a heartbreaking loss to that wounded Warriors team. It was really a matter of physics going in the way of Klay on that last shot attempt, and then going twice against the Kings with the shot stuck in the backboard (causing a jump ball) and the jump ball being swatted away by KD, thus eliminating any comeback hopes the Kings may have had.
All in all, it’s a game that a franchise as young as this one is should be very proud of. Hield lead all Kings with 24 points. Bagley had arguably the most impressive outing of his young career with 20 points and 17 rebound off of the bench! Fox was a point and an assist away from a double-double. The two-headed monster of Durant and Thompson was all the Warriors needed. They scored 44 and 31 respectively and the Kings really had no answer on defense for either player. But, nevertheless, a 1 point loss to the defending champs is something to be proud of.
QUARTER SEASON REVIEW:
STATS:
Buddy Hield is currently leading all Kings scorers averaging 18.8 pts/gm. The top 5 leading scorers are currently:
1.) Hield – 18.8 pts/gm
2.) Fox – 17.5 pts/gm
3.) Cauley-Stein – 14.5 pts/gm
4.) Bogdanovic – 13.9 pts/gm
5.) Bagley – 12.7 pts/gm
(This also looks like a good version of a starting lineup, but that’s a story for a different part of this blog)
Wille Cauley-Stein leads the team in average for rebounds with 8.1.
The top 5 rebounders on the team are:
1.) Cauley-Stein – 8.1
2.) Bagley – 6.7
3.) Hield – 5.6
4.) Bjelica – 5.6
5.) Koufos – 5.4
Overall, this is the area of the game the team needs the most work on (and free throws), because the majority of solid centers usually body-up Willie and he ends up getting shut down on the boards, (see games vs. Miami & Utah)
The team leader in 3 point% (on players with multiple attempts is Nemanja Bjelica with .507.
The top 5 3 point percentage leaders are:
1.) Bjelica – .507
2.) Hield – .451
3.) Shumpert – .402
4.) Williams – .400
5.) Fox – .381
Shump has been coming on strong lately and I sometimes feel while watching them that any 3-point attempt he puts up is going to go in. He’s that hot from the arc.
The team leader in assists is De’Aaron Fox with 7.5 a/gm. This is a huge point of contention with me because of the fact that without Fox on the floor, there’s too much iso ball going on because nobody else really facilitates out there. See below stats for proof.
Assist leaders are:
1.) Fox – 7.5 a/gm
2.) Mason – 3.2 a/gm
3.) Bogdanovic 2.8 a/gm
4.) Hield – 2.7 a/gm
5.) Cauley-Stein – 2.2 a/gm
So you can see, next to Fox, there’s not a lot of dishing going on out there. Let’s pray he can stay healthy because he is truly a game-changer for the Kings.
LINE-UPS:
Joerger seems to have adopted an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality with the current rotation. More often than not we see a lineup of – Fox, Hield, Shumpert, Bjelica, Cauley-Stein. This lineup has it’s moments of glory, with Fox and Hield really leading the way with the hope that one of the other guys will get hot as well. Otherwise they have to rely on the bench. Versus the Warriors, the bench DOMINATED. But at a certain point, I think it’s important to make a change that may be better for the team in the long run.
In my opinion, I think having a lineup of Fox, Hield, Bogi, Bagley, and Willie is going to yield the highest results, with a tough defender and sniper coming off the bench first in Iman Shumpert, as well as Bjelica, Giles, Williams, and Mason. I’d run this 10 man rotation. I think it will be the highest success as well as the most uptempo. Then, rotate in Skal and Jackson occasionally to keep fresh legs out there.
TRADES???
Back after about 2 weeks of the season, I called in to the Grant Napear show and mentioned something to them about how I wasn’t sold on Willie and that I think he’s only playing this way since he’s in a contract year and the Kings should trade him. He and Doug were not fans of that idea at all… Fast forward to today, and everyone on 1140AM was talking about probably trading Willy by the deadline… So, am I still crazy?
I’ve been saying it from the beginning of the season, and I’ll say it again- Time for a trade. Ideally if the Kings could package a deal with Willie and Justin Jackson, in exchange for a stronger backup PG and a true 3 (like Demarre Carol, or Trevor Ariza) that’d be ideal. I think it’s time because I highly doubt the Kings will want to pay Willie what he’s asking to stick around next year. Willy and Justin to Minnesota for Teague and Wiggins??? Maybe I’m dreaming haha.
Final Thoughts:
Having a Kings team above .500 is a luxury that we Kings fans haven’t had in a long time. Take some time and enjoy the little things. Don’t sweat the losses (there’ll be plenty), and don’t get your hopes up about the playoffs (at least for this season). Enjoy the fact that this team is better than it’s been in a long, long time. Know that they are set for the long term goal of becoming a winning franchise, and know the playoffs will definitely come sooner than later. Personally, I’m looking forward to the ride!
Question of the day:
Who would you like to see involved in a trade for Willy?
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