A Royal Pain
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Kings: Division Matchup – Not overlooking the Phoenix Suns

By Brenden Nunes

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 23: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns faces off against Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings on March 23, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 23: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns faces off against Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings on March 23, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings Bench (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Culture Change & Final Thoughts

Sacramento set their culture last season, and Phoenix is looking to accomplish that this year.

Sammy:  The Suns’ pace of play has been questioned this summer, and everyone is wondering how Monty is going to change their offense. Monty mentions this when he says, “There’s nothing proven that says rushing the ball down the floor leads to wins,” he said. “Pace is playing quickly with the ball and under control. Either shoot it, drive it or move it. But holding the ball, if you watch the playoffs, anytime a guy holds the ball you allow the defense to get into a load position and it’s easier to guard.”

Monty is trying to build a playoff culture here in the valley. The Suns, while all the new toys they have and the excitement around this team is great, have not had a winning record in 5 years. The Suns do not have a lot of things going in their favor, however. The Western Conference is better than it has ever been, winning games is going to be very very hard in this league. The lack of superstardom, the Suns have a budding superstar in Devin Booker but he is not there yet. A winning culture. It takes experience to get to the top, the Suns team does not know how to win right now, it will take some time for the Suns to flip that culture.

Brenden: Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the upcoming season in Phoenix with me Sammy. The developmental process can be fun to be apart of, as long as there is an eventual end to it, and Phoenix hopes to have a season comparable to Sacramento’s last while the Kings’ look to take that step into the playoffs.

10 Questions For The Kings 2019-2020 Season. dark. Next

Maybe there will be one game where Phoenix is able to outshoot this Sacramento roster depending on the bounce of the ball and who is making their shots, but I wouldn’t call it likely. Sacramento needs to go 4-0 in the season series against Phoenix for the sake of basketball in June and they have the path to do so.

The Kings will get their first chance at doing so on opening night at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. The game airs on Wednesday, Oct. 23rd at 7 pm.

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