Matt George discusses the shorthanded Sacramento Kings loss to the Pacers in Indiana, focusing on Davion Mitchell’s struggles and wasted opportunity with De’Aaron Fox out. Plus, how the Kyrie Irving trade demands relate to the Kings.
We Gotta Talk About Davion Mitchell…
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCer6XxOVaMbmW2HBLpuLkzQ
WANT MORE DAILY SACRAMENTO KINGS CONTENT?
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOKings?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattGeorgeSAC
#SacramentoKings #NBA #LightTheBeam
44 Comments
Davion was just… Wow.
I diddnt Watch the Game but only the LAST 5 Minutes and was like "WHERE IS FOX?!?!?!" & then After the Loss i Googled Kings vs Pacerz and i Look @ Davionz Statz and i was like dang d00d….. so ya… I stopped this Video @ 15 Seconds to Type this Comment and I'm looking Forward to Hearing what you gotta say because I'd like #toknow , Y0u D!g?
his defense tonight was of course good but he had several dribble penetrations where he straight up wasn’t look at the rim and plus that shots he did have just couldn’t capitalise on for the most part. His shot creation and just confidence on the offensive side is definitely something he needs to improve but still got faith in off night! Great work as always Matt !
I know davion is good defensively but he has to go while he still has some trade value albeit not much value but some
He gotta go, his defense isn’t that elite to keep
He was always a high floor low ceiling pick. He can defend with the elite defender in the nba but if he can’t create it’s not great. I’m thinking we trade him for a role player or a first or a few seconds and move on from Mitchell tbh
Any Kings follower who’s gonna give the players shit for taking a personal leave can fk off… you’re not a fan, you’re just a follower….
Davion’s issue is he’s not a PG. He’s a wayyy undersized 2 guard. He doesn’t see the floor, he over dribbles, he doesn’t seem to understand how to use his overall speed and quickness and put it into a burst. His first step is so slow, he can’t get by anyone. And the worst part, he can’t figure out how to play with Sabonis… I was thinking Davion is quietly on the trading block. If they’re looking at OG and Thybulle, that means Monk can play the backup PG, they’ll have a backup defensive 2 guard, to go along with Lyles who’s a shooter, and who ever steps up between Davis, Metu, that’s a solid 8 man rotation. Davion might just be on the block for a solid player. Maybe Richardson. Some 3 team trade.
I love him but…he cant score. With Fox on the floor its ok . Without no way. After 50 games he's not looking good. All he needs is 10 to 14 . He has zero trade value. Im on the fence . What do you guys think????
Might be time to switch the rotation up. Increase min for TD less for Davion. Monk might have to take over as the "PG" on the 2nd team with TD
Good for you making that memory for that family.
1st if Fox’s wife is ended in labor I wish nothing but the best. 2nd I think we need to find a new back up PG. I love Davion but he’s to inconsistent offensively and isn’t much of a playmaker. Hopefully in this stretch of fox being out something clicks for Davion and he proves me wrong, but I don’t think he’s the backup we need. At least not at this moment.
He is mad because he didn't get picked up as an all star lol! he should play for the money he is making!
I think they played horrible, but still almost won lol that's pretty good.
An uncomfortable conversation but one that needs to be discussed. Unlike many other commenters I'm willing to keep him and see how he works out. His stock can tank, but right now you're not going to get much from him either.
1. Sophomore slump. Not too long ago, this was a real thing. It's only because guys like Luka and (ugh) Haliburton that it doesn't feel that way.
2. Davion's struggling with the playbook, but because he's overthinking it. He's played few and inconsistent minutes, and he's not enough of a vet to come in and play without nerves.
3. His offense can and will get better. His playmaking is something the coaches can help with – drawing up plays that benefit him. Davion is trying to be a slasher because thats Fox's strengths and plays are designed for the main guy. Also Davion's jumpers aren't on point. A different offensive set can be made for Davion and once the team gets used to it, youll see improved results. It's bad, but it's fixable. Baby, bath water. Throw out the right one.
4. Davion needs our confidence and patience. He is passionate about learning and right now he's out of his flow. You know how that is from your time in school. You learn all this stuff and nothing makes sense… then one day it suddenly all does, like your brain switches on and everything cones together. Time, and continued work is how you grow.
I love Davion and want him to succeed. But I love the Kings more. If moving Davion makes us better in the long run, I'm good. But right now, I don't see how giving up on him improves our team.
It’s mental… when you watch him nothing looks bad…. Shot handle speed I just don’t get it from what I saw at Baylor
Matt, your spot on. What to do is the question?
Monte needs to get rid of Metu so Bro2n can't keep playing him at the 5! He is not good at the 5 spot. He is getting bullied constantly in the low post and making stupid fouls
He has potential to score, we seen that last season. I think right now he’s trying to focus more on his defensive game and that takes away from his game on O. Sophmore slumps are real, let the guy play through his struggles
I can't even count how many times Davion Mitchell passed up on a shot or layup. It's like he's afraid to shoot. He dribbles the hell out of the ball. He drives to the basket just to circle out and pass. He's just not that good
This video moved me, Matt. Although I've endured some tweets from you recently regarding your feelings about the Chiefs (ha ha), as a very proud Kansas Citian who's an enormous Kings fan, I'm also a dad of a daughter. Two or three years ago, my daughter (maybe 7 years old at the time) and I won some contest while watching a Kings game on League Pass. We came to find out soon thereafter that you had to live in California to claim the prize. When the Kings reached out to us to asked why we hadn't claimed the prize, I told them that. Fast forward a week or so, we received a Kings care package in the mail for my daughter. I guess the staff, or at least one staff member, thought she deserved something, too, regardless of our geographical disqualification. That may seem like a small thing, but that gesture is one I will never forget. Sharing those games with my kiddo means a lot to me. The fact that you did something like this doesn't surprise me. You're a great dude. I'm sure an amazing father. Big ups to you, the Kings organization, and just all kind humans out there that send these little ripples of positivity into the universe.
Why are you complaining about people saying negative things fox out and no one is even doing that.
Davion’s offense just needs more time on the floor. He was probably better the last half of last year but he’s had trouble finding a rhythm this year. If given time, he can probably have a similar game to DeAaron and would make an ideal backup. He just needs to get his shot up
We went down this road with Mateen Cleaves. They both won NCAA Title, both shorter stalky PGs.
I CALLED THIS IN THE LIVE STREAM! Matt even read my comment referring to this as "Pacer's revenge game".
I respect the Fox take.
Davion is about to be traded.
If Kings trade Davion how many defensive specialists left on the roster?? I can tell you ZERO! Dude is a baller and he is pretty good defending the perimeter, all playoff winning teams have a guy like this, no matter if they score or not, if you want playoffs you should keep him.
As a Sixers fan, thybulle is significantly better and more valuable. It would be an absolute steal for the kings to trade Mitchell for thybulle. Every other coach in the league would be playing thybulle major minute but doc rivers hates playing younger players.
Well said on Fox, spot on. I also think Keegan needs a few nights off, he's hit the wall, give him 2 or 3 games off plus the all-star break, let's make a playoff run after the break.
These are like sermons but about basketball lol really good
Harsh but I agree man. Davion isn’t doing much, although I really like him it’s probably best for the team to move on. Harrison Barnes has the team on his back right now man I don’t know what we would do without him
Ahh no collab with Tony East? That’s my favorite love that guy he’s a good reporter. Tough loss but one you can be proud of, all heart no give.
Davion shoots 2x the amount of 3’s as thybulle & 1% better overall … your stat was cherry picked and it would not be an offensive upgrade at all…
We need that point guard the sun's waved Duane Washington jr
Well said friend!
Thank you Matt for this concept Big homie the Kings on a verg to win 50 games playoffs of we go Move on from Davion to Get Matisse I'm fine with it
There's a lot to take away from Davion… But if he just attacked the rim a couple times I would of been ok with his performance but Coach Brown needs to let Mitchell know to attack the hoop
Davion Mitchell: I've noticed this a long time ago with him and Sabonis that they don't connect well together. How many times have you noticed Sabonis telling Mitchell where to go? Or, what Mitchell should have done? Yet, Mitchell don't get it. Mitchell's game is more of beating his man one-on-one, not the Kings' style of cutting and ball movement. Cutting and ball movement is sort of a cerebral type of game, reading the other team's defensive tendencies then, move/cut accordingly and with a great passing teammate or teammates who can also read you and get you the ball accordingly for wide open shots. The GSWArriors are good at this because most of their players are very good at cutting and ball movement. The Kings' style of offense is more like that of the Denver Nuggets which is predicated on a passing big. I envisioned Mitchell to be like Jamal Murray. The coaches just have to work diligently and patiently with Mitchell and Sabonis. The Kings need all the help they can get at the defensive end, hoping they don't lose Mitchell.
Family comes first
I wonder, in 5-on-5 practice, does Mitchell ever play on Sabonis' team? Maybe Mitchell is usually on the other team so he doesn't practice with Sabonis much?
Thank you Matt for the incredibly meaningful experience you helped make for the father and daughter, and sharing your own powerful insight and thoughts on family and community. Much love for all you do brother
Family first. It's just a game.
He just needs to get back in his groove he'll show up over next stretch of games. Should consider trey Burke to support him while fox is out.
Davion Mitchell is a victim of poor coaching at the moment. Though Mike Brown and the staff have done a great job overall, they have massively failed Davion. Davion is the type of guy who clearly is a team first player, is selfless, and is a nice guy. All those factors lead to a guy who is timid on offense because he is thinking too much about how to fit with Sabonis rather than playing his own game. Davion should come in off the bench with complete control of the offense and he should be encouraged to attack the basket downhill as frequently as possible. Because Davion is most effective when he feels/knows it’s HIS time to be the man. In a second unit with no Fox or Sabonis, that would be HIS time to do HIS thing. I get staggering Sabonis and Fox minutes, but to unlock Davion you’re gunna have change something. Best way is to get behind the man and show him he is allowed and capable of being the man.