Week in review: Trying to forget 2021

Kings post another up and down week heading into 2022

Author

James Ham
January 01, 2022

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Kings record: 15-22

Kings record on the week: 2-2

Always too high, always too low. That is our mantra for the week.

When things are going good, the Kings bring you back to the table. As soon as you get comfortable, they hit you with a right hook like one of those strange slap fight videos that show up in your Facebook feed from time to time. 

The Kings started the week with an embarrassing showing of epic proportion against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center. In front of their home crowd, the Kings were steamrolled by a team missing plenty of pieces.

Sacramento's defense made Desmond Bain look like Mitch Richmond. Even John Konchar posted an 11-point, 14-rebound double-double in the 127-102 drubbing.

In classic Kings fashion, they bounced back Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like the Grizzlies, OKC was down half their squad in health and safety protocols.

The Thunder made a run at the Kings late and dragged the game out for an extra half hour while shooting what felt like 50 free throws. Despite the late game foul struggles, Tyrese Haliburton dropped in a 24-point, 10-assist double-double and Buddy Hield chipped in 21 points off the bench in the Kings' 117-111 victory.

Hosting the Dallas Mavericks on the second night of a back-to-back, the Kings survived a rash of early foul calls and a slow start to the third. Despite playing without Luka Doncic, the Mavs stuck with the Kings and took a two point lead with just under five seconds remaining.

Haliburton took an inbounds pass and was immediately fouled, setting up one final play with 3.8 seconds remaining and the Kings trailing. Harrison Barnes hit De'Aaron Fox with the inbounds pass. Fox darted around his man and bolted for the rim.

Mavericks big man Dwight Powell came off the weakside to meet Fox at the rim, leaving Chimezie Metu open in the corner. Fox slung a bullet to Metu, who didn't hesitate and drilled a 3-pointer as time expired.

Like most moments this season in Sacramento, the ultimate high was met with the ultimate low two days later when the Kings hosted the Mavericks for a second time. 

The Kings tied the game at 67-67 in the third and then allowed the Mavs to rattle off a 24-2 run. Sacramento missed twelve straight shots, with the only two points coming on a pair of free throws from Barnes. 

Dallas finished with a 112-96 win, but it didn't feel that close. The team's third quarter collapses are becoming legendary this season and the loss to the Mavericks was almost expected after two straight wins.

Injuries

Not everyone is 100 percent back to normal, but the Kings enter 2022 without a single player on the injury list. Marvin Bagley had x-rays on his right thumb during the game against the Mavericks on Friday, but they were negative and he was able to return to the game after a tape job from the medical staff. Alex Len has yet to make his return to the court after a bout with covid. He's working his way back into shape and in the meantime, Damian Jones may have stolen his rotation spot.

***After posting this story, The Kings Beat confirmed that Richaun Holmes entered the league's health and safety protocols on Saturday afternoon. So far, he is the only Kings player to test positive this week.

Player of the Week: Tyrese Haliburton

The evolution of a young player is always intriguing to watch. Some players stall out and others find new and inventive ways to thrive. This is the second straight player of the week honor for Haliburton, but it's richly deserved. He's becoming an incredible weapon in front of our eyes and giving Kings fans at least some hope for the future. Over his last eight games, the second-year guard has seven double-doubles and is averaging 20.6 points, 10.4 assists, 1.6 steals and he's shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 51.1 percent from 3-point range. These are breakout numbers for a 21-year-old player who is finding a way to dominate amidst chaos in Sacramento.

Previous winner: Tyrese Haliburton

Stats of the Week

  • 16...: After a wild stretch of health and safety protocols and an eye injury, the Kings officially had all 17 players back in the fold. We may have celebrated this feat too early. The Kings have plenty of players who have yet to land in league protocols and they've played one team after another mired in covid outbreaks. Holmes entered protocols on Saturday. Hopefully this isn't the start of round 2 of positive tests in Sacramento.

  • 9-11: This is Alvin Gentry's record since taking over the Kings on Nov. 21. The fact that the veteran coach is just two games under .500 with this group is amazing, especially when you consider games lost to players, coaches and staff.  

  • .5: Despite the rollercoaster ride of a season, the Kings are just a half game out of the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings. They are also just four games behind the Denver Nuggets for the fifth spot and just four and a half games ahead of the Houston Rockets for last place in the West. The Warriors, Suns, Jazz and Grizzlies have separated themselves from the pack. Everyone else is a bit of a hot mess.

  • 2-for-18: Over his last seven games, Fox is a combined 2-for-18 (11.1 percent) from 3-point range. He drilled a triple against the Mavs on Friday and that was his first make in four games. If you want to know why Fox's scoring numbers are down this season, look no further than his 3-point percentage, which now sits at 25.2 percent on the season.

Tweet of the Week

Yes, this is my own tweet. I don't care. It captures the 2021-22 Kings perfectly.

There is nothing better than Gary Gerould calling a game winner:

Quotes of the Week

"Do I think we have a championship team? No, let's be realistic, but if we have the guys play to their ability and the coaches do a good job in preparation, game plans and stuff, then why can't we accomplish what we set out to do?" -Gentry following the loss to the Mavericks on New Year's Eve.

“I want what’s best for everybody. I want everybody to play at their peak level. I think we all know what Tyrese is able to do, so I don't want him to change that just because I’m on the floor.” -Fox on leadership

“The biggest thing for me was when Fox came back in the game against Memphis, we had talked a little bit going into the game, but right before the starting lineups, he turned and he tapped me and was like, ‘keep doing what you’re doing. That was big for me I think confidence wise, but at the same time, to know that my running mate, the guy next to me, is telling me to keep doing the same thing. I think that helped me a lot as well.”     -Haliburton on his backcourt mate

"First time in the history of the world that he's asked to be taken out. He was dead tired." -Gentry on Davion Mitchell coming off of health and safety protocols

"I kinda blacked out, I'm not even going to lie to you." -Metu after hitting the game winner over the Mavs 

Videos of the Week

Fox on pushing Haliburton to succeed:

Metu gets some media time:

No rest for the weary:

A Metu moment:

Leadership comes in many forms:

Christos Tsaltas gives Tyrese Haliburton a new nickname:

PA Announcer Scott Moak is doing just fine in health and safety protocols:

Weekly Reading

Weekly Podcasts

In addition to audio options, we now have the podcasts available on YouTube. Subscribe to the YouTube channel and give us a thumbs up!

What's next?

Kings vs. Miami Heat, Golden 1 Center, Sunday 3PM

Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Crypto.com Arena, Tuesday 7:30PM

Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks, Golden 1 Center, Wednesday 7:30PM

Kings vs. Denver Nuggets, Ball Arena, Friday 6PM

Kings Beat Notes

We are continuing to build out The Kings Beat, with more exciting add-ons coming over the next few weeks, including The Kings Beat Discord channel for premium subscribers. We'll also be upgrading some of the look and feel of the YouTube show as time permits.

We've scheduled the second Kings Beat Off The Record Happy Hour for Thursday Jan. 6 from 5:30-7pm, although the first one ran long after a couple of Old Fashions! The only way to get the Zoom link to the Happy hour is to become a premium subscriber to The Kings Beat!

Lastly, Happy New Year from The Kings Beat crew. It's a crazy time we are living in. Losing John Madden and Betty White to finish out 2021 was just one more kick to the pants. Here's to a fresh start and prosperity in 2022. 

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