The Sacramento Kings were not able to secure a single victory against the Charlotte Hornets in the two-game season series. Here are my notes.
The Rerun is a new written series that I am starting that will be put up the day after every Sacramento Kings game. I will be watching every game twice, for the finer details, and compiling anywhere from 5 to 10 of my thoughts into an article.
The debut of the Rerun starts with Sacramento losing in Charlotte to a Hornets team that has surprised many around the league thanks in large part to most-improved favorite Devonte’ Graham, but tonight signified the return of De’Aaron Fox — off the bench.
Seven Observations
1. First, it was noted that Fox would be on a minute restriction with this being his first game back to action after being sidelined for the past 17 games with a grade three ankle sprain. He played 30 minutes, which doesn’t sound like much of a minute’s restriction to me.
Kings coach Luke Walton tells KHTK point guard De’Aaron Fox was “full go” in practice today but will likely remain on a minutes restriction Friday and Saturday vs. the Pacers and Grizzlies due to the back-to-back.
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) December 18, 2019
Fox was a joy to witness back on the court, and his playmaking is unrivaled across the rest of the Kings roster. Fox would log 8 of the teams 23 total assists on the night, and the ball was at a standstill when he was not the one making plays for others. Fox also added 19 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.
2. The defensive communication is clearly is an issue. You can blame it on the injuries to Marvin Bagley and Fox and call it an adjustment period, but even the players who have remained relatively healthy and are now over a quarter of the way into the season are simply not on the same page far too often on the defensive side of the ball.
In the first clip, Trevor Ariza is forced to help slow the rolling Cody Zeller, therefore Bogdan Bogdanovic becomes momentarily responsible for both Malik Monk and Marvin Williams and should have relocated appropriately. Bogdan is caught ball-watching and gets a mouthful from Ariza after a failure to rotate to the now wide-open Williams who sinks a three. You can see Ariza signaling that they need to talk.
On the second showing, Buddy Hield is trailing Terry Rozier III to the weak side but does not communicate with Harrison Barnes as he slows to read the situation. Due to Buddy not being in the vicinity of Rozier, Barnes switches but Buddy does not get the memo. Two on Rozier means someone is unguarded and Miles Bridges is left with an easy two-handed slam.
Another case of being unsure whether or not they are switching occurs in the final clip when Barnes and Fox are both caught chasing Graham, then causing a slew of recovery rotations that Charlotte does a great job of reading to secure an easy basket.
3. While miscommunicating is somewhat understandable, simply lacking effort is inexcusable. Especially from a team that has not made the playoffs in over a decade.
When Fox turns the ball over, Hield and Nemanja Bjelica are the two players furthest down the court for either team. Rozier takes off in a full sprint, as do many of his teammates, while the Kings run about three-quarter speed nearly conceding an easy layup.
They then allow three offensive rebounds due to being outhustled and casually going through the motions. While this specific play did not add to the Hornets’ point total on the night, it is representative of which team wanted it more.
Hield, a notoriously bad defender that I will have to fight not the mention in every Rerun, completely bites on a weak right jab and fake from Rozier. As soon as he jumps left, Rozier has an easy basket at the rim with credit due to Zeller for sealing off Richaun Holmes. Fox then falls for a more convincing jab from Graham which luckily does not go in.
4. Speaking of Buddy, I can not stand his self-creation on the offensive end. The plays below are just classic Hield — when he gets it into his mind that he is shooting it, there is nothing that anyone can do or say to convince him otherwise.
Buddy is a scorer, not a playmaker, but he lacks the dribble moves or quickness to create separation and is unaware of his open teammates and I could not be gladder to have Fox back in to reclaim those ball-handling duties.
5. Sacramento got a small teaser of the Fox-Bagley pick-and-roll that could one day be a deadly staple.
One of my most wished improvements for Marvin throughout the course of his career will be his decision making in the short roll. While going up for the lefty push-shot was not a disastrous choice, perhaps a swing to Bogdanovic for a three would have been more ideal. Then, Fox just passes Bagley open, as Doug Christie would say. I would love to see this duo go at it at least 5 times a night.
6. Malik Monk scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and was on fire despite being a poor shooting throughout most of his young career.
Monk actually missed three of his first five attempts, but look at the two he was able to see go down. We all are aware of how little it takes for a scorer to heat up, and Sacramento allowed Fox’s old college teammate to gain confidence early which would come back to bite them down the stretch of a close one.
7. Dewayne Dedmon and Harry Giles again did not see the floor. I am one of the last holding out hope that Dedmon can be unlocked and return to form alongside Bagley, but Walton has understandably been reluctant to give him that chance. It will come at some point.
As for Giles, some other team is bound to be interested in his talents and he could be a trade candidate as transaction season is upon us.’
Expect some slight growing pains as Sacramento will finally have a fully healthy roster for the first time since the season opener in Phoenix.
The Rerun will continue to be released the day after games.