Sacramento Kings Weekly Wrap Up
Although the Sacramento Kings have opened up the season 1-2 there are some good and bad takeaways from the first week of the season.
Let’s start with the bad and the first being Ben McLemore. A great article written by our own Rafe Wong highlighted Ben’s struggles in depth, but simply put, Ben needs to be better. Through three games Ben is averaging 5.0 points per game and 31.3 percent from the field.
It has been well documented that Ben often times struggles to get involved, but the Kings absolutely need more from their two guard. Ben must find ways to be more active, whether it’s on the defense end by being a stopper, or by being a consistent knock down shooter.
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He has been neither of those things to start. A key component to the Kings having the season we all hope for is dependent on Ben becoming the player he has the potential to be.
Currently, the Kings are 30th in the NBA in opposing teams’ field goal percentage at 49.8%. Although that number is significantly high it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Two of those games have come against one of the most prolific scoring teams in the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers were second in the NBA last year in points per game and have significantly upgraded their bench from a year ago. All that being said, the Kings defense does need to improve and once early season adjustments are made it will.
However, it doesn’t help that the upcoming games are against quality scoring teams such as the Memphis Grizzles, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs.
Another area that needs to be addressed is the Kings’ free throw shooting. Currently, they are 28thin the league in free throw percentage at 68.5%. Through three games the Kings have been getting to the line on average 24 times. The free throw shooting should improve as the season progresses and the players get into more of a rhythm.
Now onto the positive aspects of the first three games.
Oct 31, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi (18) dives to keep a ball from going out of bounds in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
As Kings fans’ we have grown accustomed to the quality of play from DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay, so not a lot needs to be said about those two other than, “get healthy big man.”
The most exciting part of this very early season is the play of Rajon Rondo and Willie Cauley-Stein. Through three games, Rondo is averaging 15.3 points per game on 52.6 percent from the field while sporting 6.7 assists per game. Those stats are very encouraging, but what’s most impressive is his command of the offense and his attitude carrying over to other guys on the team.
Willie Cauley-Stein made a comment last week in an interview that he was spending time with Rondo watching film. After making that comment, Cauley-Stein and Rondo continually looked to be on the same page vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rondo’s play has been outstanding, but his leadership has continually been on display. That was most evident in the second game against the Clippers. Without their best player, the Kings continually fought back against a very good basketball team and Rondo was at the head.
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Some more positive stats from the first three games include ranking third in the NBA in points per game at 115. In addition, the Kings are fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game at 51.3 and rank second in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game at 15.7. The high number of offensive rebounds is an attribute to Willie Cauley-Stein and his relentless effort on the glass.
The most encouraging early season stat from the Kings is their average of 23.3 assists per game, which is good for seventh in the league. The team has been moving the ball well and setting up teammates in a way Kings’ fans haven’t seen for quite some time.
Although fans would like to see the team above .500 there are some positive aspects to the early part of the season. The Sacramento Kings will look to get back on track versus a good Grizzles team without DeMarcus Cousins.
Next: The Kings Best Ten Draft Picks
Go Kings!