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Week in review: Kings take another step backwards
1-3 week once again has Kings on the outside looking in
James Ham
January 08, 2022
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Kings record: 16-25
Kings record on the week: 1-3
We have reached the midway point of the season and the Kings are teetering on the brink of disaster. Losers of three straight, Sacramento is once again spiraling, but they still sit just a half game out of the 10th seed in a shockingly weak Western Conference.
The week started on a high note when the Kings battled a completely depleted Miami Heat roster all the way down to the wire. Former Kings Kyle Guy, Nik Stauskas and Chris Silva all saw minutes in a game that shouldn't have been nearly as close as it ended up.
De'Aaron Fox dominated the fourth quarter and knocked down 14-of-15 from the free throw line as the Kings escaped with a 115-113 win at Golden 1 Center. It was a solid win, but they will see Omer Yurtseven in their nightmares.
Tuesday brought on a new challenge. Like the battle against the Heat, the Kings kept it close all the way to the finish against the Los Angeles Lakers. Sacramento had a shot to pull off an upset late, but a clock operator error and an obscure NBA rule forced a jump ball and the Kings never recovered.
The final result was a 122-114 loss and a reminder that LeBron James is still a superstar closer.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Kings came out lethargic against an Atlanta Hawks team missing most of its roster, including Trae Young, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Kevin Huerter led a balanced attack and the Kings made a series of mistakes in crunch time to fall by a final of 108-102.
The Kings finished the week with a disappointing effort on the road in Denver. MVP Nikola Jokic dominated and veteran Jeff Green turned back the clock as the Nuggets ran the Kings off the court for a 121-111 victory.
It was a week of close calls and frustrating performances against shorthanded opponents.
Injuries
Richaun Holmes and Chimezie Metu continue to sit in the NBA's health and safety protocols. Holmes has missed four straight games and has been out of action since last Saturday. Metu has missed three straight after hitting protocols on Tuesday. Terence Davis is currently out of the rotation, but an ankle injury forced him out of three games this week as well. For one reason or another, Davis has sat the last six games and he's missed 11-of-13. Lastly, Moe Harkless rolled an ankle in the Kings' loss to the Nuggets on Friday. There is no word on his availability moving forward.
Player of the Week: De'Aaron Fox
It took a few days for Fox to shake off the covid rust, but he's rolling now. It started in the win over the Heat when he closed out the game with 12 points in the fourth quarter. He carried it over the next three games when he posted 30 points or more. On the week, Fox averaged 28.5 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 50.6 percent from the field. He struggled with his 3-point shot, knocking down just 21.4 percent from deep.
Previous winner: Tyrese Haliburton
Stats of the Week
9: Over the last four games, Fox is averaging nine points per night in the fourth quarter. This is the player that we saw last season. He's getting back to take over mode, which the Kings need if they are going to be successful.
86.1: This isn't the De'Aaron Fox Stat of the Week segment, but over his last four games, the Kings point guard is hitting 86.1 percent from the free throw line on 31-for-36 shooting. He's raised his season average to a career-best 75.7 percent from the stripe.
9.8: Haliburton is averaging just 9.8 field goal attempts per game this week. That's not enough. The second-year guard has a tendency to demur to others. He had two games where he attempted just six and seven shots this week. That can't happen, especially for a player who finished the week shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 61.1 percent from behind the arc.
Tweet of the Week
G-Man to health and safety protocols:
Great to see Kings start new year with a win…..not so great to learn I’ve had a positive Covid test. So Health and Safety Protocols has gained another new recruit. Thankful symptoms are mild.
— Gary Gerould (@ggerould)
6:07 AM • Jan 3, 2022
Scott Moak nearing a return:
Sources (did not) tell @CarmichaelDave@JandersonSacBee@James_HamNBA that Kings PA announcer Scott Moak, who has remained asymptomatic while bored on 10-day isolation, will spend tonight’s game in health and safety protocols. He is expected to return for the Cavs game on Jan 10.
— Scott Moak (@AnnouncerScott)
12:21 AM • Jan 6, 2022
Some heartbreaking news in the Sacramento media scene. Shawkie Moore brought energy and love everywhere he went. His passing is a loss for all.
Farewell to a good man and good soul: @CBSSacramento cameraman Shawki Moore has died from complications of a stroke.
What a loss. Kind, considerate, a riot, Shawk was a rock. Enjoyed working with him & @saratalkssports HS football segments.
A beloved guy who will be missed 😔— Joe Davidson (@SacBee_JoeD)
12:39 AM • Jan 8, 2022
Kings fans...
James Ham calls Tyrese Haliburton “Monte’s First Born.” Great listen.
#KingsBeatWorldWide— The Daily Haliburton (@DailyHaliburton)
4:36 AM • Jan 5, 2022
Quotes of the Week
"It's a horse shit rule in the NBA." -Alvin Gentry on the strange play in the team's loss to the Lakers
"Next time I'll grab the ball and say y'all f***ed up the clock." -Fox on the play versus the Lakers
"I think that he's playing at the level that he left off with last year." -Gentry on Fox
"We need to just stay on a steady pace instead of being on a rollercoaster." -Fox
Videos of the Week
Kings win:
The stop. Kings win.
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA)
1:19 AM • Jan 3, 2022
Buddy Hield on Kyle Guy:
“He’s a really good player.” -Buddy Hield on Kyle Guy:
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA)
2:16 AM • Jan 3, 2022
Haliburton on he and Fox growing together:
“We’re young, we’re a young backcourt, so we’re just learning each other everyday.” -Haliburton on both he and Fox scoring over 20 in the same game for the first time this season:
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA)
6:15 AM • Jan 6, 2022
Fox is playing extremely well:
“I’m just trying to do whatever it takes.” -Fox on his strong play of late
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA)
7:08 AM • Jan 6, 2022
Can Fox and Haliburton co-exist?
Fox on both he and Haliburton going for 20+:
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA)
7:13 AM • Jan 6, 2022
Weekly Reading
Weekly Podcasts
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What's next?
Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers, Moda Center, Sunday 6PM
Kings vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden 1 Center, Monday 7PM
Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Golden 1 Center, Wednesday 7PM
Kings vs. Houston Rockets, Golden 1 Center, Friday 7PM
Kings vs. Houston Rockets, Golden 1 Center, Sunday 3PM
Kings Beat Notes
We are continuing to build out The Kings Beat, with more exciting add-ons coming over the next few weeks. The Kings Beat Discord channel for premium subscribers is set to go live sometime this week. We'll also be upgrading some of the look and feel of the YouTube show as time permits.
The Off the Record with The Kings Beat virtual Happy Hour part deux was a huge success! Over 60 members of our growing community attended and it went into overtime. The Athletic's Sam Amick joined the show for almost two hours and Sean and I continued to field questions until nearly 8:15.
I didn't expect a two hour and 45 minute happy hour, but that is what we are trying to build here. Access to information, stories and personalities that you can't get anywhere else! I hope everyone had a good time and I'm already planning the third edition for early next month with another exciting guest.
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