SAN FRANCISCO – The Kings had a selected purpose in thoughts heading into Friday’s preseason recreation towards the Golden State Warriors – and so they achieved it.
No, it is not a victory.
The outcome was a 109-106 Kings loss at Chase Heart, however there’s extra to the preseason than wins and losses. It is a matter of changes, and Sacramento has adjusted.
Sacramento’s 3-point protection Wednesday would have put the group on the flawed facet of historical past if it wasn’t a preseason recreation. However after a sluggish begin in that division on Friday, the Kings fastened the issue early.
On the opposite facet of the ball, nevertheless, the Kings’ capturing did not look nice. They shot simply 38.7 % from the sector, a modest 28.3 % from 3-point vary and 63.6 % from the charity stripe.
In the meantime, the Warriors shot 48.5 % from the sector and 38.2 % from 3-point vary, additionally capturing an environment friendly 86.5 % from the free throw line.
However the Kings’ beginning 5 appeared good and each participant completed with double-digit scoring. Boogie Ellis led Sacramento’s bench gamers with 11 factors on 4-of-7 capturing from the sector and 3-of-5 from downtown.
Though enhancements have been made all over the place, there are nonetheless areas to work on. The Kings nonetheless have three preseason video games remaining earlier than their first recreation of the 2024-25 season on October 24 at Golden 1 Heart.
Listed here are the takeaways from Friday’s loss:
Aggressive Keegan, a welcome sight
Mike Brown needs Murray, coming into his third season, to be extra aggressive with the ball. The Kings coach additionally needs all of his gamers to be extra aggressive on the opposite finish of the court docket.
On Friday night time, Murray did each.
Within the first two and a half minutes of the sport, Murray scored on all three ranges. Lay-up, 3-pointer, then drive to the basket which ends up in two free throws.
Murray completed with 17 factors on 5-of-11 capturing from the sector and 1-of-5 from 3-point vary, with one rebound and two assists in 26 minutes.
He additionally had 5 of Sacramento’s 13 interceptions. The Warriors, as a group, had two takeaways.
Murray created photographs for himself and others — opening new ranges to his recreation with the 3-point shooter he was as a 22-year-old rookie two seasons in the past.
And it is a welcome sight for the Kings.
Proper their wrongs
The Warriors revealed an early concern in regards to the Kings on Wednesday night time — and it was a precedence heading into Friday’s preseason rematch.
Sacramento’s 3-point protection was a obtrusive downside in its preseason opener at Golden 1 Heart, permitting Golden State to knock down 28 3s within the loss, and that carried over into the Friday’s recreation.
Quickly.
Warriors ahead Kyle Anderson knocked down consecutive 3s to open the sport, and Brown wasted no time in calling his first timeout. Golden State was 8 of 11 from 3-point vary within the first quarter, however then made only one triple (1 of 9) within the second.
The changes Brown highlighted in Thursday’s observe took some time to return collectively for his group on Friday, however higher late than by no means, proper?
The Warriors completed the sport capturing 13 of 34 (38.2%) from past the arc. Take away that first quarter and the Kings 3-point protection took a giant step ahead.
The massive three
Everybody with a pulse in Sacramento is happy in regards to the Kings’ new Huge Three.
Over the course of two preseason video games, they confirmed precisely why.
Fox completed with a team-high 19 factors on 6-of-12 capturing from the sector and made 4 of his six 3-point makes an attempt, including seven rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes.
DeRozan added 16 factors on 6-of-14 capturing, with three rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block in 26 minutes.
DEMAR BEAT THE BUZZER 🤩
– Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) October 12, 2024
Sabonis, who led the NBA final season in triple-doubles, double-doubles and rebounds, regained his dominance Friday, ending with a double-double of 13 factors and 13 rebounds. He was 5 of 9 from the sector and added 4 assists.
Questions had been raised about spacing after the Kings acquired DeRozan this summer season. This hasn’t but been an issue for Sacramento and its distinctive offense.
If something, having one other participant of DeRozan’s caliber solely offers the Kings one other deadly offensive choice and/or presents extra alternatives for others.
The tempo, the Sabonis-DeRozan DHO recreation, the screens – all the pieces appears clean to this point.
Even when the capturing is not on the degree the Kings would really like and are able to, that is the least of Brown’s considerations.
