The Sacramento Kings’ Inconsistencies Won’t Change Until the Roster Does | Locked On Kings

The Sacramento Kings’ Inconsistencies Won’t Change Until the Roster Does | Locked On Kings

The Sacramento Kings inconsistencies this season have been nothing short of perplexing and naturally we’re all looking around for something or someone to blame well it may simply just be that the Kings will remain inconsistent as long as this king’s roster Remains the Same Chris Beerman from the Sacramento B

Joins me to discuss that plus blame on Kings players blame on Mike Brown leadership and more it’s all right here on the lockon king podcast you are locked on Kings your daily Sacramento Kings podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day and now ladies and gentlemen

It is that time time for another episode of Locked on [Applause] Kings hello and welcome into lockon Kings your podcast hub for Sacramento Kings coverage all all season long today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel make every moment more right now new customers get $150 in bonus Bets

With any winning $ five bet that’s 150 bucks if your bet wins visit fanduel.com Lockton to get started my name is Matt George I have the privilege of being your host here I’m a Sacramento Sports Anchor and reporter for abc1 news if you missed last night or really early this

Morning’s episode of the lock on Kings podcast after the Kings blown double digigit lead loss actually they blew two double digit leads in the same home game to the Chicago Bulls last night you got my full recap of that my full breakdown of that we talked about the inconsistencies we talked about this

Kings team struggling to put away opponents that they absolutely should be beating especially on their home floor we talked about this Kings team struggling with uh maintaining leads and and why they go away from what’s been working and why they aren’t able to hold

On to leads as well as as they should uh we discussed all of that at length but the conversation continues into today’s podcast but I’m not going to just have the conversation by myself like I mentioned in the intro Chris Beerman from the Sacramento B an excellent

Reporter uh for the the Kings he was in Minesota when the Kings had their players only meeting and then responded with that big win against the Timberwolves of course all the momentum from that game feels like it’s come to a screeching halt because since then the Kings had last night’s loss to the

Chicago Bulls well Chris and I are going to have a lengthy discussion about the the state of this roster the reality of this roster look the Kings can’t make major changes the trade deadline is over and done with right so this team is what

It is from here on out so we just kind of have to accept it for what it is and maybe accept the inconsistencies that come along with that but Chris and I will break that down plus we’ll discuss about Mike Brown’s responsibility in it the players responsibility in it and

More so without any further Ado please enjoy my conversation with with the Sacramento bees Chris Beerman unfortunately Chris Beerman I think we’re making this a regular occurrence to have you on after a a confusing Sacramento Kings loss it certainly isn’t the first time this season that this has

Happened but I’m happy that you’re here Chris Beerman from the Sacramento B also one of the hosts of the Candlestick Chronicles podcast for you 49ers fans out there you were in Minnesota you were the one that initially reported that the Kings players only meeting happened you’re there witnessing in person

Sacramento rounding out a really tough stretch of four games with a very impressive Victory their second victory in Minnesota over the Timberwolves then you were in the golden one Center last night for the response that nobody was surprised by which is the Kings losing at home against a Bulls team who

Certainly isn’t down with like the Detroit Pistons and and Charlotte Hornets of the world the Kings have lost to but it’s a game during a playoff race at home where you had two double digit leads but even regardless of that you’re supposed to win that game given the

Circumstances and you don’t so what do you make of this I I mean the these ups and downs these great wins and confusing losses especially blowing double digit leads at home now which is is really becoming a trend what do you make of this king’s team and their consistency in the wrong

Way yeah I I think that um and again thanks for having me uh of course I was I was a little surprised you still wanted to have me on after the Kings blew that lead to the Bulls talk yeah I I think the I think really what’s coming to the Forefront

More and more is that this is just a flawed roster overall right and having a good offense in the NBA certainly raises your floor but what raises your ceiling is having a good defense and the Kings just can’t defend consistently and the way the roster is constructed they’re

Going to have a really hard time defending consistently um and one thing I’d point to is you know outside of Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes the Kings don’t have any wings of size that you feel comfortable uh being out there defending so in essence Off the Bench

Aside from Trey ly who is you know more of a power forward and and sometimes a small ball five you don’t have somebody who can come off the bench and credibly guard you know Demar de r rozan or or Kobe white right like you have a lot of

Small guards um you have Kevin herder who’s forced to play the three a lot and he’s not anybody um that you know the league views as as an elite defensive player at this point um so you have a coach in Mike Brown who really prioritizes defense and physicality and

A roster that doesn’t defend all that well and doesn’t play with a whole lot of physicality and it’s anchored by you know damus sabonis who as great as he is offensively um has plenty of shortcomings when it comes to the defensive end so I think you know the

The the variability that you get from the Kings night tonight is a product of they can have a great offensive game and outscore you um but if they aren’t having a great offensive game then they’re a pretty beatable team because you can score against them and you know

When you look at the way opponents play the Kings they’re always attacking the paint there is no there is no hesitancy from any of the the better guards in the league about attacking the paint and it causes you know help defense to collapse and then you have you have three-point

Shooters open on the perimeter that that guys can spray to and it’s just kind of a domino effect of you know I think on ball defense isn’t very good I think help defense isn’t very good and that’s probably why the Kings have been the worst team in the league in in defending

The three on top of you know and it’s compounded by the fact that you just don’t have a whole lot of length on the roster and you’re undersized at almost every position for the most part so you know when when the West gets dramatically better this year from last

Year as it did and the Kings kind of stagnate um this is this is what you see and you see a team that’s incredibly inconsistent because they don’t have the Baseline of really great defense like what’s you know going back to the game last week in Denver what’s Denver do um

Aside from having a great offense and nicolea yic that really sets them apart they can go on runs where they’re just clamping you defensively and you just cannot score and the Kings could not score in the second and third quarters of that game when they were blown out

And not scored by 35 points uh in 24 minutes right they can they can generate runs with their defense and we’ve never consistently seen the Kings generate runs uh W with with great Stellar defense and you know the most encouraging wins that they’ve had as encouraging as as Friday and Minnesota

Was and as encouraging as the previous Sunday against the LA Clippers was the Clippers didn’t have Paul George in that game and Minnesota lost Anthony Edwards at halftime because he had to go deal with the personal matter and he didn’t finish that game in you know the second

Half in overtime obviously so you know not to take anything away from those wins because a wins a win and you’ll take him but like at at some point you have to look at this king’s roster and say fundamentally it’s pretty flawed particularly given what Mike Brown wants

To be which is a team that can defend and dial up the defense at any point CU ultimately you look at all the contending teams in either conference they all have a certain level they can get to defensively and the Kings just can’t get to that level I agree with the

F flawed roster 100% And want to revisit that so don’t let me forget that but you brought up and and you talked a lot about defense there which is completely understandable we know the defense is is the the the pitfall or the shortcoming of the Sacramento Kings team that was

Plastered on every poster coming into this season we knew what the issue was and the Kings did very little to address it that being said they have made very minimal defensive improvements my concern believe it or not Chris is on the offensive side because dearon brought up defense last night after the

Blown loss Mike Brown to some extent brought up defense after the blown loss Mike Brown also St uh uh talked about uh three-point shooting last night how the Kings shied away from three point shots I look at the second quarter where the Kings score only 20 points I look at the

Fourth quarter where the Kings score only 18 points I look at another poor shooting night from three-point range I look at the Kings turning the ball over 18 times leading to I think 24 points for the Chicago Bulls that’s where I see the blown lead not on the defensive end

I understand hey you’ve built a 22-point lead all you have to now defend it right hold it stop a team from scoring enough to close that Gap but to me going back to kind of the fundamentally flawed roster Sacramento’s strengths continue to be on the off offensive side of the

Ball or at least they’re supposed to be and in these stretches where the Kings vanish offensively or don’t look like themselves offensively or in my opinion take the foot off the gas offensively I don’t want to take away from anything that Chicago did because defensively they clamped up and and credit to them

But the Kings get sloppy with the basketball they stop taking good shots they they go they stop moving the ball and they become a little too isoe heavy or or dribble the air out of the ball it’s where this team is fundamentally supposed to be their best that I feel

They have come up short the most especially at home and you look at a game like last night it’s not that the Chicago Bulls suddenly started torching the Kings on the defensive end because the Bulls only hit 113 shot like 34% from three-point range so it’s not like

The Bulls all of a sudden started shooting lights out and that’s why they got back into the game because the Kings couldn’t defend the perimeter like normal it was that the Kings offensively slowed down and that’s where both of these leads disappeared so what do you I

Mean what do you make of that the balance of the fundamental flaws on defense that is holding this team back versus offensively this team goes through these LOLs and that I think is just as responsible for these losses yeah I I agree with you I I think that’s

A good point and and look this isn’t I mean you and I have had a lot of conversations about D sabonis but um so I don’t necessarily want to rehash those on your podcast here with you but one thing I think is is very parent about the Kings offensively is they’re kind of

One note right like they are incredibly reliant on the dribble handoff game and if they don’t if they aren’t doing a dribble handoff with with deonis or doing um you know pick and roll Malik Monk and deonis bonus they don’t have a whole lot of options they don’t have a

Lot of creators right Malik Monk and dearon fox are the only guys on the team who can consistantly create their own shot and even then you know it’s sort of like a last resort it’s not NE necessarily in the flow and they don’t have a lot of counter punches to when

Teams sag off sabonis and GAP him and play up to the shooters and and say hey domas like go get your own buckets man like this is and and I think you know like we saw with the Warriors in the playoffs last year um and we’ve seen it sporadically throughout this year like

Deonis sabonis as good as he is as an offensive Hub and as a screener and as a passer he’s just not a bucket getter and so the the Kings don’t have a counterpunch to when teams are hedging against the dribble handoff game in the pick and roll game and

Sabonis is a great roller and finisher around the rim but you know getting the ball to him in the post just kind of bogs everything down right like it’s it’s kind of bully ball you know he’s going to finish with his right hand um he struggles against length and so it’s

That there’s not a whole lot of Versatility in the king’s offensive attack Beyond you know run a dribble hand off to sabonis spray to three-point Shooters and if that doesn’t work then allow Malik Monk and and dearn fox to try to win one-on-one battles and you know in some cases maybe that’s enough

Right but I I I think when they are so reliant on sabonis you know like when he’s on the court he touches the ball every possession right like there there are no there are no possessions where sabonis isn’t isn’t touching it unless somebody’s getting a walk up three

That’s that’s open or he’s just setting a screen for somebody and and and they shoot the three based on his screening but he’s always involved and that’s not a bad thing but it’s just there I I think when it’s working it can be incredibly effective But as time goes on

And teams have more time to adjust to it um there isn’t a counter punch and the counter punch should be sabonis you know scoring on his own right like sabonis being being a 40 million dollar a year player you should be a guy that you can

Say all right this isn’t working but go get us a bucket go hit a 15-footer and like that’s just not really his game and so um I don’t know what the solution is there and and I think I’m might go back to just the roster construction as a

Whole and say you know like they they obviously need Keegan Murray to be more of a Creator right and that’s been apparent Mike Brown has not made that a secret at all he’s said you know we need Keegan to be an aggressive offensive player who can create for us to get to

That next level that’s like on the record and out there like the kings are not shy about saying that but beyond Keegan and Beyond Malik Monk and Beyond dearon it’s like I don’t really know what you have in terms of um offensive versus utility and and like there isn’t

There isn’t a whole array of plays that they can run it’s kind of dribble handoff and you know and and maybe maybe some actions off of those things but they’re not like a heavy pick and roll team um they they have Shooters but they don’t have a lot of creators and I think

When you are so riing on damus sabonis to be your offensive Hub um I think it can it can get bogged down a little bit too easy and I think we’ve seen that and and I think ultimately the Kings need to figure out more counter punches offensively and maybe it’s just as

Simple as dearn Fox just saying all right I’m just going to do what I did in December and score 30 points a night like that’s that that might be the best solution for them at this point because they’re not getting consistent scoring elsewhere offensively today’s episode of

The lock on Kings podcast is brought to you by better help sometimes we all need the opportunity to get something off of our chest big or small certain things can really start to get to you it’s important to let all of that out especially to someone who’s unbiased on

Your life so today I want to tell you how I feel about better help specifically how I feel about therapy and about mental health if you’ve listened to the lockon Kings podcast before frequently you know how important mental health is to me you know how big

Of an impact that therapy has had on my life I was blessed enough to get connected with my therapist TJ over covid and he’s still been with me to this day I see him at least once a month sometimes more frequently uh than that based off of situations and

Circumstances in my life and it’s truly led to tremendous growth for me the ability to unpack and figure out how to handle stuff from my past that I didn’t even realize was weighing on me right we all carry our own baggage there’s no problem that is too small to talk to

Somebody about it and if you have any of these issues if you’re considering giving therapy a try that’s why I highly encourage you to use better help better help is completely on line it’s a it it works around your schedule connects you to a large database of licensed

Therapists out there so that you can ultimately get the help that you need on your time it removes the the struggles of not knowing where to go the limitations of the therapists that are in your area right better help connects you with the people that you need and

Don’t worry they’re not going to assign you to a therapist and you’re stuck with that person right sometimes like therapy requires a connection if that therap IST that you get connected to initially you’re not really vibing with or just doesn’t work out don’t worry you can switch for no additional cost therapy

Can be important and beneficial for everyone most of us has bigger problems than just our favorite sports team and their perplexing losses like last night against the Chicago Bulls if you’re thinking of giving therapy a try try better help it’s entirely online designed to be flexible and suited to your schedule visit betterhelp.com

Lockon NBA get 10% off of your first month that’s betterhelp HP /on NBA I have two questions for you regarding Mike Brown and it kind of falls under the same umbrella of where to place the blame I am more team Brown than I am team this roster because Mike has been

There done that before right he’s he he knows what it actually takes to win a championship so when he says being the Mike dantony offensive team that Flames out he didn’t say Mike directly but we we can assume uh like being the the team that that scores a lot of points but

Flames out in the second round of the playoffs every single year he said he has no interest in being that he knows defensively Improvement on that side what he’s demanding of this team is what it takes to start building or climbing the ladder towards being a a legitimate

Contender so I trust him in that that being said like we’ve talked about a lot already your roster is your roster and his job while trying to lay the foundation for the guys that he believes are going to be around going forward you you also have to make the most of

The the the talent that is in front of you and I do feel maybe too much over the course of this season that Mike in the emphasis of improving in certain areas has not necessarily put a guy like Kevin herder or some of his guys that are more offensively gifted in the

Positions to to succeed or to make the most impact uh at least short term for the Kings this season now I think Mike has sent a crystal clear message to the front office all season long in his sporadic rotations right he has basically said nobody has separated

Themselves from the pack he’s got four guys his core four that he trusts and everybody else is like some nights they’ll give him something some nights they won’t and their playing time reflects that so he’s he’s telling Monty he’s telling the Kings front office changes have to be made because this

Roster isn’t working like we talked about but how much should we also look at Mike and go I get you have Ambitions I get you have big goals but this season right now your roster is your roster use them better where are you at with kind

Of that line of thinking yeah you know I think it’s a really interesting question because you remember Monty McNair’s press conference um right after the trade deadline and the Kings deciding to stand Pat and Monty was talking a lot about the team needing to improve offensively yep um and which he’s not

Wrong but you hear Mike talk about you know where his team’s at and Mike’s always talking about defense and physicality um so I don’t know that there’s necessarily a disagreement in philosophy there but it seems like a pretty interesting dichotomy in terms of the way you know two of the most

Important people in the organization are talking about what they need to do to get better um so you know with Mike I think he he has you know fundamentally he’s a defensive coach and and you know he has like Malik monk dearn Fox deonis sabonis and Keegan Murray are the guys

That are going to be in the game because of what they bring you offensively sort of no matter what but everyone else on the roster in Mike’s mind I think has to play a certain to a certain level of defense and physicality um to stay on

The court and I think in Kevin herder’s case specifically that means that you know he might given that he’s not the most physical Defender and and you know he hasn’t taken a charge all season and um he seems to be you know the last few games it’s like teams attack him on the

First possession I think it’s happened three games in a row now every time um uh that you know Mike is not going to tolerate some poor defense from anyone outside of those top four guys that I mentioned so for somebody like Kevin herder who’s very much a rhythm player

Offensively you know his him him getting in rhythm is either going to be like you have to make three threes in the first quarter or something yeah or play lock down defense and if you’re not playing lock down defense and you miss a couple shots like I understand why herder would

Be would be frustrated and why Mike and I also understand why Mike would have a short leash but the problem is when your answers um Beyond Kevin herder and you know Chris is a fine player but he’s still 63 6’4 maybe right Malik Monk’s a small guard um Davon Mitchell’s

Obviously a small guard you don’t have a three and D option Off the Bench that you could go to to say all right well Play Strong defense and then hit your threes when you’re open I mean the Kings really really want Mike Brown really wants more defensively out of Kevin

Herder and uh Monty McNair wants the Kings to be better offensively and so you know I think it’s it’s kind of interesting right like if this goes in the wrong direction um and say the Kings don’t win a Playoff round like I’m I’m fully expecting the the roster to look

Pretty dramatically different in in the offseason I think my main takeaway you know I I think two things can be true I think the roster needed substantial needs substantial changes in order to for them to take that next step and and for me in my mind it has to come

Defensively um but I also think the kings are probably wise to stand Pat at the trade deadline just given what the market was it didn’t seem like you know I don’t know thaty O’Neal really changes what the kings are or how good they are at this point right um or anybody like

That it didn’t seem like there was a a gamechanging type player available to them at the deadline so while I do think the roster needs changes I don’t think the trade deadline was the time to necessarily do it but I do think this summer will be right assuming that the

King’s playoff run goes about as we expect where you know they either win or lose early in the playoffs like we I don’t think at this point it would be pretty stunning if the Kings won more than one playoff Ser like if they got to the Western Conference Finals that would

Be pretty we’re talking about we’re talking about a team that’s fighting to stay out of the plan right now right so um when it comes to the dichotomy or the balance that Mike Brown’s trying to find I think that’s part of the battle I think that’s that’s really sort of the battle that’s

Underscoring the Kings inconsistency is like you know what’s the balance between being willing to um to play some guys who aren’t that good defensively with trying to find offensive Rhythm and I think Kevin herder is is the guy who’s at the Crux of that it’s you know Kevin

Herder won the Kings a lot of games last year because he would make five threes and you know out efficiently on eight attempts and then he would also have stretches you know a month long six weeks long where he would shoot 20% from three and it would you know it would

Really hurt that the Kings so now now that Kevin herder has less of an offensive role because Keegan Murray has more of a offensive role um Mike Brown has less tolerance for him not playing well defensively because he’s not um and and in in herder’s case that leads to

Struggling to find a rhythm offensively so it’s just that to me sort of speaks to the inconsistencies of the king season is that they’re trying to juggle this how do we get our offensive guys going while not dropping off on defense and I think outside of the core four

Guys that that you mentioned it’s it’s kind of a battle because they don’t really have guys who are awesome two-way players at that point like I said at the top of the show today’s episode of the Longton Kings podcast is also brought to you by FanDuel get buckets with your first bet

At FanDuel America’s number one Sportsbook because right now when you sign up new customers get $150 in bonus Bets with any winning $ five bet that’s 150 bucks if your bet wins so you don’t have to try and find a bet with the best odds or the best net

Return right just find a bet that you feel is a virtual lock because even if you put $ five dollar down on that it only gives you a one or two doll return right that doesn’t really matter because what matters is the the $150 worth of

Bonus bets that you’ll get on top of that really small return and then you can use that $150 to really use and play what FanDuel has to offer from Quick bets to live same game parlays exclusive prompts and more of course future bets and NBA award bets if you’re interested

In betting on Malik monk to win six Man of the Year I hope you took that bet earlier this season when he was like third or fourth on that odds list because right now he’s number one and I think it’s his award to win just visit fanduel.com locked on and shoot your

Shot FanDuel official Sportsbook partner of the NBA for the record I would be stunned if Kevin her is a member of the Sacramento Kings going into next season it’s not because I don’t like the guy I like him a lot I think on paper he makes so much

Sense for the Kings offense but I think this this season amongst many things this season is has made it very clear that Mike is going in One Direction and Kevin is either going in another or just not able to keep up with the direction

That Mike is going so uh I think that is definitely something that is going to change this offseason the other the other Mike Brown question is last season we saw him call Quick timeouts frequently right a minute two minutes into the game if the the king started

Going on a run timeout immediately let’s address this to stuff this and it got to a point where it was almost an annoyance for Kings fans right it’s like Mike what are you doing let him play now we have far too often this season the Kings

Start to unravel right and we see it coming and I know these players feel it I know the coaches feel it everybody in the golden one Center last night was going Here We Go Again during that fourth quarter collapse where the the the Bulls came back and won it’s

Happened way too many times this season and unfortunately more often than not it’s happening on your home floor which is extra inexcusable but how much is that on Mike to recognize we’re doing it again we’re spiraling out of control let me call a timeout and get this team to

Regroup or do we subscribe to another philosophy that Mike has been very vocal about which is these guys need to figure it out right it needs to come from the players too you reported the players only meeting it’s great that Trey LS calls this meeting and the players get

Together and and recognize what’s going wrong and and preach accountability and apparently Keegan Murray spoke up a lot like that’s awesome to have an in between games but when you’re in the middle of a collapse when you’re spiraling out of control which has been kind of your identity this season far

Too often is that on Mike Brown to call the timeout and get the guys together and go wake up it’s happening again or is that on Fox or sabonis or l or McGee or anybody a player to say guys we’re doing it again wake up stop this now

Because somebody needs to step up in that moment because it’s happening too often yeah you know I think when the king signed Malik monk last offseason or two offseasons ago I don’t think that you or I could have predicted icted that he would be sort of the guy most willing

To light up his teammates yeah in in a you know in a on the bench in a Timeout scenario right but that’s kind of that’s kind of what it is and it speaks to you know dearen Fox is not like a vocal raah ra leader we see him get emotional at

Times during games but he’s not he’s not somebody who’s gonna light up his teammates or you know speak during a timeout or um and I don’t think deonis sabonis really is either I know he talks to his teammates a lot um but I don’t know that he’s necessarily the type of

Of rah rah vocal leader guy either that guys turn to so I don’t know if this is a roster if this is a roster thing and maybe they need a vet who’s willing to light them up um whe when they need it but I also think there’s a dynamic at

Play too where last year Mike Brown’s obviously instilling his culture and it’s the first year of his tenure and you know he’s coaching those guys up and trying to send a consistent message um I know one thing that he battles with because you know you’re in all a lot of

These press conferences and he’s preaching the same things over and over again to to the media like if you’re in if you’re on that bench or in that locker room at a certain point um a coach’s message is going to get stale and so if Mike I could imagine like and

I don’t know this for a fact I haven’t had this conversation with anybody with the Kings about this but now that you bring it up I do think it’s a good point like does does a message get stale if you’re calling timeouts and say hey guys

We got to play with more physicality or hey guys we got to stop we got to stop um ball penetrators from getting into the Lane right like we got to stop um we got to close out on three-point Shooters better and we got to lead with our chess

And do all that like I I wonder about you know sort of balancing the idea of like all right let’s stop their momentum versus um you know let me say this thing to the team that I’ve said hundreds and hundreds of times already right like I I think that’s that’s kind of an

Interesting to deal with and and a delicate balance to to try striking but um no I think you know the the big thing and Mike was so you know you saw I’m sure you saw the video of of his press conference after the game in Minnesota

He was so thrilled that the players took ownership and accountability and had that team meeting and sort of you know aired everything out and said you know this is you know we got to we got to get going like we can’t we can’t have these lapses like we’ve had all season um Mike

Was thrilled with that and I think that’s one thing he said even going back to last year after the playoff series against the Warriors was like we need our best guys to be our best guys both from a consistency standpoint and from a culture setting standpoint and I don’t

Know that they’ve necessarily gotten that like I don’t and and I don’t know if it’s it’s ever going to be with IND dear and Fox’s personality to hold his own team meeting and say like look guys like this is the standard he’s kind of a guy who right or wrong goes about his

Business doesn’t have a lot to say you know he he talks about being easy to coach and and you know not that that’s a bad thing by any means but he’s not somebody who’s going to challenge who’s going to challenge Mike on a whole lot whereas you know Malik monk is sort of

The guy that the vocal quote unquote vocal leader on the team and javil McGee too like javil McGee is a has you know he was brought in to be that sort of Veteran voice you guys you know you know he’s he’s the guy that during the pregame huddle before they before they

Come out of the locker room in the tunnel um who’s hyping the team up and that’s sort of you know his that what his role has been as sort of the veteran voice um but I think they might need it more from their Stars they might need

Those guys to put their foot down and be the type that say like hey man they’re on a run like it’s on us to stop their run it’s not us it’s not on us to just kind of sulk and have bad body language and and allow the opponent to come into

Our own building and and take advantage us like they need to they need to be more forceful um I think from a personality perspective I think that’s a fair a fair criticism of of your star players when your team is as sporadic as this because there are a lot of guys who

Just say like yeah this isn’t happening on our home floor this is just it’s not happening and there’s there’s a certain willpower to that um and I don’t know that the Kings have shown that this year and I think that’s part of what Mike Brown’s talking about when he talks

About accountability with his roster Chris we’ll wrap up with this in the in the grand scheme of things where do you think this Kings team ends up they’re in seventh right now they’re half a game back of six they they moved up to six on a night that they didn’t

Play on the night that they do play the spur and the Suns didn’t play the Suns moved up to six so it’s just the way it is right now they’re only a game and a half back of fifth which is the Pelicans but they’re only half a game ahead of

Eighth they’re only what a game ahead of now the Lakers or a game and a half ahead of the Lakers in ninth and they play the Lakers twice here and the in the next couple of weeks so this king’s team could I think the top 10 in the

West is set we know who’s going to be in the play in at the very least or we know who’s going to be representing the Western Conference but we don’t know where they’re going to end up just based off of everything the Kings have told us this season which means concern about

The Wizards game and the Spurs game and those very winnable games coming up or excitement about the two Mavs games or the Phoenix game or the Pelicans game everything that we’ve learned about this team this season where do you think this team ends up are they a playing team or are they a

Barely straight into the playoff series team six or fifth seed oh given that like I said earlier their their wins recently have come against the Clippers missing Paul George and Minnesota missing Anthony Edwards in the second half of the game on Friday as good as good as and important as that win was

For them um you know if their opponents are healthy I just have have a hard time seeing right now based on what we’ve seen recently since the All-Star break the Kings being better than Phoenix Dallas potentially the Lakers potentially the Warriors um of that group um the suns are five and five in

Their last 10 the kings are five and five of their last 10 Dallas is six and four in their last 10 the Lakers and Warriors are both seven and three in their last 10 um so if we’re going to go by that we would just say over the

Remaining what 22 games or whatever there there are left that you know the Kings might just end up being a playin team and frankly like that one surprised me at all um given given you know the inconsistencies given the defensive issues given that you know the the

Offense seems to be easier to defend than last year um so yeah I think right now in in their current form they look like a playing team to me but I don’t think it would be surprising at all to see Malik Monk and dearn fox combin for

60 70 points in La uh on Wednesday and the Kings have this stirring win against the Lakers that seems like it it turns everything around and then the Kings you know could come home and lose a disappointing game right like they they are confounding from the standpoint of

They can beat anybody on any given night but they can lose to anybody on any given night and I think ultimately where that’s going to shake out is a team that’s you know right around 500 probably just above 500 and you look at you know the winning percentage it’s

Going to take to get to the the six seed it looks like it’s it’s going to be far closer to you know a 600 winning percentage than 500 um and I don’t know you know I think that the suns are certainly hard to trust um the Mavericks

Given they have Luca given they have Kyrie and and made some additions at the trade deadline um seem to be on an upward trajectory the Lakers are and warriors are obviously playing better um it’s just you know the the trajectory iies of all these teams right now would

Indicate that the kings are moving the wrong direction um and that’s certainly not what you want but I mean on the bright side they can beat anybody and they can go on a run and and you know they can get as hot offensively as anybody in the league but that’s just

Hard to bank on right now so for right now in this moment the Kings to me look like a playin team um but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they got hot and went on a run and got to the six seed well I hope you’re wrong because I think

The plan should be absolutely terrifying for Sacramento especially given the circumstances of and I need to shut up because I keep I I guess I’m speaking this into existence but a one game against a Warriors or a Los Angeles Lakers sounds absolutely abysmal for Sacramento not that they’re not better

Than those teams and can’t beat those teams but you want to try and beat a game seven scenario against LeBron or against Steph again I don’t think Sacramento should uh should line up for that would you rather have a playing game on the road or at home a question

For you me in Sacramento because I know the crowd of the atmosphere the Sacramento Kings might want the road because they play better basketball on the road than at home and it’s so perplexing and this is the second straight Year Chris they’ve done it this is the second straight year that they

Have been better on the road than at home particularly defensively I don’t know what it is about this team and being the villain are having to create their own energy versus feeding off the energy of Kings fans but I know the kings are racking up season ticket

Prices and the team is not following suit with their responsibilities at home yeah I I think one of my my hottest takes going forward is that if they are in the plane they might not not prefer but I think I would like their chances on the road than than at home I

Think there’s a better chance that they play better because at like as loud and as great of an atmosphere as golden one is opponents seem to love playing there just as much as the Kings do it’s not one of those it’s not one of those homecourt advantages where teams like fear going to

G1c um and it’s like oh yeah it’s Lively we love playing here it’s not oh it’s Lively it’s kind of like deafening and things can get out of control quickly it’s like no teams teams are not intimidated about coming to Sacramento so I think that’s that’s another thing

That needs to change for the Kings is just I don’t know how and I don’t know if it’s tangible at all but just the idea of like defending home court and being a team that’s really difficult to beat on their home floor versus on the road that’s something that I think is is

Hard to explain and hard to Define aside from just the results but I think that’s something that’s problematic with this team for sure well Chris we’ll see how the Kings respond on Wednesday like you said it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they get a big win in Los Angeles and

Then everybody is looking at that Thursday Spurs game at home and is absolutely terrified that’s just what the Kings have done to this fan base not just over the last 16 plus years but really this season if anything well you’ve done an excellent job covering the team this year I know that’s going

To continue hopefully into the playoffs this will not be the last time that we have you on the locktown Kings podcast before we get to that point or or amongst that point so I really appreciate you coming on thanks for being a guest as always excellent work reporting down there in Minnesota glad

You survived the cold uh even though it was a blizzard here in the in California while you were in Minnesota which makes no sense but hey whatever weather doesn’t care I app it like well I appreciate you for having me in Minnesota it was like 50 degrees people

Were walking around downtown like it was summertime it was hilarious stupid I don’t weather weather doesn’t care but hey the king’s got the victory that’s all that matters and at this point maybe Kings fans would rather the Kings play every single game in Target Center and

Not come home at this point based off how this team is playing but Chris I appreciate you my man thanks for doing this thanks for having me as always appreciate you bud

Matt George is joined by Sac Bee sports reporter Chris Biderman to discuss the Sacramento Kings’ inconsistencies and how it all comes back to the state of the roster.

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.

LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.

eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.

PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!

GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuelGet buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Sacramento Kings’ Inconsistencies Won’t Change Until the Roster Does
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