The indefensibly bad Sacramento Kings defense has been a hot topic of conversation this season, keeping in mind it hasn't been good for a while. In their most recent loss to the Spurs, it was Keldon Johnson who showed that the Kings have absolutely no defense against bully ball.
Okay, the Kings have a lot of problems with their team. No disrespect meant to the great players who are currently on the roster, but this is a franchise that has been desperately in need of a rebuild for a long time. And it might finally be happening after all these years.
A key part of that rebuild has to be the defense. As it stands right now, the Kings have one of the worst defenses in the league. Their offense isn't much better, of course, but that will come with time and building the new Kings. Offense wins games, defense wins championships.
That was definitely highlighted in the Kings' most recent loss to the Spurs. There were actually points in the game when the Kings seemed like they might actually make it a close one. But they struggled to create consistent defensive stops, which handicapped their offense as usual.
Keldon Johnson takes it to the Kings
Drafted by the Spurs in 2019, Johnson has played with San Antonio and their G League affiliate ever since. He has become a reliable forward-guard for the team, known for his power, consistency, and explosive gameplay. Keldon isn't someone to be messing around with.
Johnson basically had his way with the Kings when they came to visit, collecting 14 points, 12 rebounds, and one assist. He absolutely owned Sacramento in the paint, pushing them around as he saw fit. They had no answer for him under the rim, highlighting a major flaw.
The Kings are rough on defense on the best of days. There are moments when they almost seem to have it together, but those are fast and fleeting. When someone like Keldon Johnson shows up who isn't afraid to push people around, their weaknesses on defense become completely undeniable.
Power matters on defense as much as it does on offense. The Kings need players who can get in front of guys like Keldon and shut them down. Right now, that's basically no one. As the team works through their rebuild, that has to be top of mind for them, or they will keep getting bullied.