If I'm being 100% honest, I expected to be starting today's post with my routine sour cynicism about the Sacramento Kings, lamenting about yet another disappointing season opener. But then a Christmas miracle happened and I was able to enjoy my holiday with an unexpected glow in my heart. The Kings impressed me with the way they performed on both sides of the ball and the fact that they actually won the game gave me unfamiliar feelings of pride and happiness.
It's still unconfirmed if the Kings traveled by plane or if Buddy just led the victory run straight out of the Mile High City all the way back to Sacramento, Forrest Gump style. Either way, the Kings are back in the Golden 1 Center for their first home game of the season.
The Backdrop
The Sacramento Kings entered this game 1-0 and seeded at the 6th spot in the Western Conference.
The Phoenix Suns entered this game 1-0 and seeded at the 5th spot in the Western Conference.
Both the Kings and the Suns are rolling off of opener wins, upsetting the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, respectively. Tonight's game is the first of a double header matchup in the beautiful Golden 1 Center.
Back in the early 2010s, when the threat of the Kings leaving Sacramento perpetually loomed over our heads, I often contemplated on where my fandom would fall. Would I follow the team and become an Anaheim Royals fan or a Seattle Supersonics fan? Or would I approach it with geographical preference and become a Golden State Warriors fan? None of these felt right. Instead I went with my gut and landed on the idea that, in the event of the worst, I would become a Phoenix Suns fan because I loved Steve Nash.
Luckily none of this happened, especially since Steve Nash ended up going to the Lakers in 2013 (*gag*). And ever since Steve Nash left, the Phoenix Suns have kept the Kings company at the bottom of the Western Conference, like two late-bloomers who were constantly bullied and gossiped about for not getting their periods yet and thus bonded over their shared pain. But after a wildly entertaining and inspiring undefeated 8-0 performance that burst the whole damn bubble, the Phoenix Suns have started sporting some cleavage while the Sacramento Kings are still waiting for their boobs to come in. Pairing Devin Booker's raw talent with Chris Paul's seasoned playmaking and leadership, the Phoenix Suns are one of the teams I am most excited to see this season.
Come on, Kings! Let's stuff some socks in our training bras, salvage this bond, and prove to our rock bottom besties that we are worthy of climbing the social ladder with them.
Quick Stats
Because numbers make things make sense.
Outcome: Kings win, 106-103
Sacramento Kings: 106 PTS, 45.3% FG, 21.7% 3PT, 20 AST, 18 TO
Phoenix Suns: 103 PTS, 41.8% FG, 25.0% 3PT, 25 AST, 11 TO
De'Aaron Fox (SAC): 24 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB
Devin Booker (PHX): 26 PTS, 3 AST
Well, well, well, look who's moving on up in cup size! The Sacramento Kings continue to surprise by breaking another curse and winning their first home opener since 2013. Although we still saw some of the same bad habits, the Kings won this game with their defense and gritty determination. They were willing to do the dirty work on the boards and showed more thoughtful intention on offense.
I'm still getting used to this weird feeling of winning, but I have to say, I quite enjoy it. So in the interest of my well-being, the Kings are going to have to keep this up. They will need to do Luke's favorite thing in the world and watch some film to make the necessary adjustments for facing the Suns again tomorrow night.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Because all three are consistent parts of Kings basketball.
The Good:
Defense into Offense: The Kings came hot out of the gate with an 11-0 start, all in part due to their ability to turn tough defense into easy offense. Quick hands and sneaky help side defense led to easy points and fun basketball. When the Kings play this way, I find myself reaching a steady 1:1 cheering to sighing ratio, which is a huge improvement from a previous 1:50 of last year.
Awareness: Much of Barnes' first half offensive success came in mismatched switches the Kings orchestrated where Harrison was able to bully his way to the basket against the smaller Chris Paul. During the minutes when Deandre Ayton was getting rest, the Kings recognized the size advantage Hassan Whiteside gave them inside and fed him the ball for some easy points. The awareness and in-game adjustments on offense are a promising sight, as these are skills the Kings need to acquire and hone to become a serious NBA team.
De'Aaron's Defense: I'll tell ya, this man is worth every single penny of his recently signed 5-year, $163 million max deal. He's well known for being the engine of our offense, but he's also starting to exhibit his leadership on the defensive end. His quick hands and ability to keep anyone in the league in front of him is impressive, entertaining, and extremely clutch in close games.
The Bad:
Free Throws: The Kings shot 23-33 (69.7%) from the free throw line with six of their misses coming from Marvin Bagley III (3-7) and Hassan Whiteside (0-2). You love to see our bigs being aggressive on the offensive boards and getting to the line, but then you want to pull your hair out when they can't cash in on the free points. Especially if they plan to keep all game results within a 5-point margin, the Kings will desperately need to improve on their free throw percentage to continue to win.
The Ugly:
Richaun's Screens: In nearly back-to-back possessions in the first quarter, Richaun Holmes was called for illegal moving screens. These are frustrating. Not only do they count towards turnover, individual foul, and team foul totals, but they have other residual effects on the progression of the game. With two quick fouls, Richaun spent a majority of the first and second quarters on the bench. Without him to match up with Ayton, the Kings adjusted to a zone defense where they suffered on the boards and opened up 3-point looks for the Suns.
Royal Court Jester
Because someone is always actin' a fool.
I'm sure this is one of many Royal Court Jester titles that Coach Luke Walton will collect this season. Tonight's jester cap will be handed to him for his inability to correctly wear a face mask. When he isn't pulling it down to yell, he wears it below his nose. Walton was already called out during a preseason game when CJ McCollum of the Portland Trailblazers noticed he wasn't wearing his mask.
We're all on a learning curve when it comes to adjusting to new safety protocols, but you can do it, Luke. I believe in you, bud.
The King of Kings
Because at least one person does at least one good thing, usually.
Today's King of Kings goes to Harrison and Brittany Barnes. First, I love the way Harrison has been playing in these first two games. Where it felt like he fell short of expectations last season after receiving his 4-year, $85 million contract, he's started to show the strength and leadership we were all hoping for. He logged a double double tonight with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Along with stepping up on the court, Harrison and his wife, Brittany, are doing their part off the court. The Barnes will be funding a year's worth of groceries to Sacramento families who have been struggling from the ongoing pandemic. It warms my heart to know the players I root for on the court are also great people.
Up Next
Sunday, December 27th vs. Phoenix Suns @ 6:00 PM (PT)
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