[Game] Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers, 3/6/2024, 7:30p PT/10:30p ET

[Vinny Basketballerino]

20 freaking rebounds is unbelievable. He's so consistently good that it isn't news that he is consistently good.

He could (should) finish top five in MVP voting... while not having made the all star team.

This article has him tied for 6th:
https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-feb-16-2024-edition

5th here:
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketb...andidates-ft-shai-gilgeous-alexander-week-19#

 

[NewArena]

What a performance!! My goodness i thought we were cooked watching that opening quarter until we clawed back rather quickly. Fox finishing each quarter brilliantly in that first half… we’re so lucky to have this man. Sheeesh, Light the BEAM! No ref ball tonight

 

[NewArena]

Seems like Mike found something with the three guard lineup with Keon playing the three. Basically what he has been looking for with the Duarte minutes.

That Fox-Monk-Keon-Lyles-Len lineup played some great minutes in both halves. We also saw similar version of Mitchell-Monk-Keon-Keegan-Sabonis. That one make me a bit more nervous because of the lack of firepower if Monk isn't on, but they played some great D and bought us some good Fox-less minutes.

The recipe of Keon and Monk, playing with a point guard, stretch 4, and a big, is a lot of fun. I really hope Brown comes back to that in future games.

Awesome post! I was thinking this same thing about the 3 guard lineups and you articulated it perfectly. The Kings lack size in some of those positions anyhow, so why not gain advantages by switching it up? Wonderful coaching from Mike Brown tonight, and the response after timeouts was the complete opposite of the Bulls game.

 

[NewArena]

Davion, Sabonis and Keegan were also awesome on both ends. I’m so impressed tonight and trying my hardest to believe we can do it again tomorrow night lol I’ll just enjoy one great moment at a time for now.

 

[NewArena]

Keegan’s shotblocking is my new favorite thing btw! Amazing timing

 

[NewArena]

For real, Brown completely crapped the bed at the start of this one. But thank goodness he's a guy that won't stop searching. The Kings have had too many coaches in the past that will just keep banging their head against the same rock.

So true. Pretty much all of them did that, even Adelman at times.

 

[NewArena]

yeah, Keon at the wing might be the answer.

Hope we try it again with Devin Vassell coming back out to play tomorrow night

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Great win. I watched RT and did not time shift, though I did have to step away for a bit and that was the biggest swing of the game.

Keon needs more time c'mon. He's so clearly a game changer.

 

[Kingster]

He could (should) finish top five in MVP voting... while not having made the all star team.

This article has time tied for 6th:
https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-feb-16-2024-edition

5th here:
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketb...andidates-ft-shai-gilgeous-alexander-week-19#

That would be awesome. Absurdly awesome, but awesome nonetheless.

 

[NewArena]

This game felt like last season with the starting down by many, looking a bit sluggish and absolutely cooking soon after.

 

[NewArena]

Kings would be a 65 win team if they could trade places with the Clips and play at Crypto full time. They love that damn arena lol

 

[NewArena]

De’Aaron loves destroying the Lakers and that is why he will end up being the GOAT King when he hangs em up.

Took the baton from Mike Bibby and has taken it up a notch. Cooking them in the playoffs one day will seal the deal.

 

[NewArena]

2 successful challenges for Mike Brown in one game is something I’ll truly cherish. Let’s bring this ref crew to Sacramento for the next one if they’re going to actually be fair like this.

 

[NewArena]

Fox seems like the kind of player that if he's going to break that 50-60 barrier it'll probably be in a very important playoff game.

Amen to this. I can totally see it happening one day and hopefully sooner than expected.

 

[megapoxy]

2 successful challenges for Mike Brown in one game is something I’ll truly cherish. Let’s bring this ref crew to Sacramento for the next one if they’re going to actually be fair like this.

They were fair only reviewing those calls. Free throws kept the Lakers alive throughout the game.

 

[NewArena]

They were fair only reviewing those calls. Free throws kept the Lakers alive throughout the game.

This is true. Clearly it’s some sort of league mandate to keep them at the line, which is strange since i think they’re actually at the bottom of the league in terms of drives to the rim. Go figure.

 

[NewArena]

Sabonis bolting down the court after he gets rebounds, is partly why AD has so much trouble with him, especially during Sabonis’ tenure as a King. In the last 5-6 minutes of this game, you can see AD wincing and hunched over trying to catch his breath LOL

 

[KingsFanSince85]

On pace for a 42-12 FT disparity. Can’t wait.

Not too far off

At half I told my wife the only thing keeping the LA LeFraud’s from a beat down of Boston Celtics v. Golden State proportions was the ridiculous free throw discrepancy.

Honestly, knowing how much Domas and Swipa attack in the paint, it’s just laughable how opposing teams consistently get to the line at seemingly such a higher rate.

If you’re seeking proof of star or market bias — it’s hard to rationalize it any other way.

 

[megapoxy]

Domas with the crown!

https://twitter.com/statuses/1765650993356943817

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Realistically I think that Kings would have made the western finals last season, had they got past the Warriors,... which would have set a really high early bar. I don't see LA beating them in a series

 

[The Effort Police]

Didn't get to catch this one live so watched it on recording.

Just wanted to point out, during the 2nd quarter when the Kings were on their offensive tear, did it feel like the refs were purposefully trying to mitigate the L.A. meltdown and momentum switch with those million touch fouls during that stretch?

 

[Sac.Kings]

We were always at our best with Keon out there, we went away from it with showcasing Davion and I noticed a huge drop off. He does so many of those little things and the team feeds off his energy. We need him out there. Surprised we won. The only question that remains is are we ever going to learn how to put it all together?

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1765618772654887036

 

[coolhandluke]

Didn't get to catch this one live so watched it on recording.

Just wanted to point out, during the 2nd quarter when the Kings were on their offensive tear, did it feel like the refs were purposefully trying to mitigate the L.A. meltdown and momentum switch with those million touch fouls during that stretch?

Don't ask questions to which you already know the answer.

When a team hits 15 shots in a row, they gotta do something.

 

[The_Jamal]

20 freaking rebounds is unbelievable. He's so consistently good that it isn't news that he is consistently good.

Crazy we aren't even phased by 20 reb, 12 assist games anymore. Almost expected at this point

 

[bball_nomad]

only 8 and 5 mins for barnes and huerter. Brown needs to bench them more if they dont have it going.

I was obvious ALL bleeping season.

 

[The_Jamal]

Really happy to see Brown no longer afraid to hurt feelings. Huerter and HB not getting it done? Guess what fellas, you aren't playing.

The only 3 who should have absolute secure minutes are domas Fox and Keegan. Maybe Monk too, because of the energy he brings every game, but even he gets too wild at times.

Keon and Davion were both very impressive off the bench. Them being good just gets so much more defense on the floor. It's sorely needed

 

[megapoxy]

Really happy to see Brown no longer afraid to hurt feelings. Huerter and HB not getting it done? Guess what fellas, you aren't playing.

The only 3 who should have absolute secure minutes are domas Fox and Keegan. Maybe Monk too, because of the energy he brings every game, but even he gets too wild at times.

Keon and Davion were both very impressive off the bench. Them being good just gets so much more defense on the floor. It's sorely needed

Barnes wasn't so bad, was active in offense and wasn't such a liability in defense. He just happened to be on the floor in the rough start the Kings had, there were many switches in defense that the Lakers found some easy baskets (mostly 3s) in the first quarter but at least he helped a bit. Huerter wasn't doing much in both sides and came close to miss that lay up in the fast break all by himself. Also Kevin has Monk/Davion/Keon to replace him while Barnes at the moment has only Lyles as a substitute normally. Duarte, Edwards seem to have fallen out of the rotation, Sasha injured but ok we had this trick with 3 guards and Keegan at "4" at some point.

I didn't expect Huerter or HB to start the 2nd half (after spending so much time in the 1st in the bench with the team having a perfect run) but they stayed only for a while and never returned again. Will any of them be replaced in the lineup against the Spurs? I doubt that, but could give them extra motive not to take their place in rotation for granted.

 

[The_Jamal]

Barnes wasn't so bad, was active in offense and wasn't such a liability in defense. He just happened to be on the floor in the rough start the Kings had, there were many switches in defense that the Lakers found some easy baskets (mostly 3s) in the first quarter but at least he helped a bit. Huerter wasn't doing much in both sides and came close to miss that lay up in the fast break all by himself. Also Kevin has Monk/Davion/Keon to replace him while Barnes at the moment has only Lyles as a substitute normally. Duarte, Edwards seem to have fallen out of the rotation, Sasha injured but ok we had this trick with 3 guards and Keegan at "4" at some point.

I didn't expect Huerter or HB to start the 2nd half (after spending so much time in the 1st in the bench with the team having a perfect run) but they stayed only for a while and never returned again. Will any of them be replaced in the lineup against the Spurs? I doubt that, but could give them extra motive not to take their place in rotation for granted.

They'll keep starting, but I think Brown sent a message last night that he's going to ride the hot hands for the 5-10 rotation slots. Basically, just because they start doesn't guarantee them minutes.

Which, honestly, is great. The Kings have been far too inconsistent this year to just blindly keep giving minutes out without earning it on the floor

 

[GWD]

Just a note on the refs. This forum has often commented on the disparity of calls against the Kings for the last two seasons. The Kings are going to have to accept the fact and play through it (as with the Laker game and other wins). The refs are not going to change calls without a myriad of successful challenges and, even then, they are the officer, judge, and jury so too often the Kings are unjustifiably SOL. Players complaining during the game in hopes of getting the next call doesn't seem to work very well either.

Players should ignore the refs and concentrate on what they can control...their own performance. Let the coaches be the squeaky wheel.

Successful challenges can significantly influence the refs perception of their own performance while unsuccessful challenges only serve to validate their performance. Challenging and losing "iffy" calls hurts the team in the long run for that reason.

The questionable reffing puts the onus on the team and the fans to react in a way that defies the actual and/or perceived disparity while upgrading performance and lessen excuses. Yes, it is an unfair burden but it must be addressed on court by improved concentration on the task at hand.