Kings: Notes From First Preseason Game In India

The preseason is a way to see a new style of coaching and aspects of player’s games from their offseason work. Here is what I noticed during the Sacramento Kings first pre-season game.

With the Sacramento Kings having a new man running the show in Luke Walton as well as added depth to the bench, it was pleasing to finally get a taste of how both could vary from last year. The opening game of the preseason in India against the Indiana Pacers gave us our first look and entertained every viewer in the process.

A Tale Of Two Halves

To start, the offense featured constant motion of the ball and players at all times. Walton wants 35 threes a game, and Sacramento shot 34 of them in regulation at a promising 38% rate. 72 points in the first half was a sight to behold against what was a top-tier defensive team last season. Although, Indiana notably lost some of their best individual players over the offseason — including Cory Joseph to Sacramento.

In the second half, the Kings were simply not as sharp. They slowed down the pace and the ball became more stagnant, scoring just 46 points to Indiana’s 59. They allowed the game to go into overtime on a late T.J. Warren game-tying three that would ultimately lead to a Sacramento loss due to their own mistakes. While overtime is fun to watch, it is unideal for the players to be getting extended run in a game with no real meaning. Expect the starters to play even less tomorrow.

How Did Players Perform Individually?

In these preseason matchups, the wins and losses do not matter — even though the losses still hurt. It is more about witnessing the gameplan changes and player development of a young team like the Kings.

Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic played as we expected them to, shooting lights out and being significant contributors to the offense, with a combined 42 points and 46% shooting from deep for those two scorers. De’Aaron Fox certainly did not get any slower over the summer and came out looking like the star we know him to be, putting up 16 points and 8 assists.

Joseph stated on a media day interview with Grant Napier and Doug Christie that Marvin Bagley was doing a better job of not forcing on offense and making the extra pass, that was on display.

As I expected, Bagley was often covered by the opposing center (Myles Turner) while Dewayne Dedmon, who was spacing at the three, was covered by Indiana’s four (Domantas Sabonis). On the defense side of the frontcourt, Bagley still didn’t look quite strong enough to bang down low with the likes of Sabonis.

It’s good to get him some run and practice here in preseason meetings, but with how close the Western Conference playoff race will be, Sacramento needs to win every game they can. Dedmon or Richaun Holmes can guard the back-to-the-basket bigs down low, while Bagley can take the more perimeter-oriented opposing player.

Speaking of Holmes, I love him. The anticipation, intelligence, and hustle on the defensive end is something that Kings’ fans might not be accustomed to seeing. And he showed some nice touch with either hand on the other end as well.

Harry Giles, who did not travel with the team to India due to knee soreness, will have real competition for backup big minutes.

The defensive hustle made it easy to forget that this was the first preseason game of the 2019-20 season, but the defense is what will lead to the key transition offense that Sacramento became known for last season.

If only Yogi Ferrell was at the Golden 1 Center when he hit this heave to end the first half, to hear the fans yelling his name. And we were close to getting another Buddy Hield game-winner in wild, typical Kings fashion.

We are just getting started in this young season, but there was promise and excitement from both the new signings and returning players. We’re glad that Sacramento Kings basketball back, and they’ll play tomorrow morning at 6:30 A.M., again against the Pacers and in the same arena.