The Kings headed down Interstate 80 to Oakland to take on the best team in the NBA. The results against the one-loss Golden State Warriors were about what one would expect from the underwhelming Kings.
They lost a game (122-103) that wasn’t really close by the end of the third, which is disappointing considering the Kings actually held the lead at halftime largely on the back of Omri Casspi’s huge game. Which brings us to our first of Three Takeaways:
OMRI CASSPI MIGHT BE A CYBORG
Casspi tied a Sacramento-era record for three-pointers in the loss to Golden State. The other King to make nine from downtown in one game is Mike Bibby. Omri looked like a cyborg with fresh batteries. The end of the second quarter was some of the best, most fun basketball I’ve seen in years.
Casspi traded makes from downtown with Steph Curry in a way that was reminiscent of the end of a Rocky movie where two ogres trade punches while still standing. You might be surprised to learn that Casspi actually has a better 3-point percentage than Curry, and tonight the two went toe-to-toe in thoroughly entertaining fashion. Casspi finished with a career-best 36 points on 13-of-18 shooting.
DEMARCUS COUSINS HAS TO HAVE AN HONEST DISCUSSION WITH HIMSELF
DeMarcus Cousins got ejected from the game in the third quarter in the most typical Cousins way possible. He stuffed his hand deep into Steph Curry’s armpit as the guard was driving to the hoop, and then became immediately incensed that he was called for an obvious foul. His teammates (can we call them “handlers” at this point?) went into the standard Uh-Oh-We-Gotta-Deal-With-This-Again protocol of trying to restrain their ill-tempered “leader” as he got in the ref’s face in a real uncomfortable way.
Soon after Cousins left the game, the dynamic of the entire game changed, and Golden State went on a run that effectively put the game away.
Cousins is a tremendous talent. We all know that. But these antics and displays of immaturity hurt the team. Period. Add to that the fact Cousins hasn’t exactly been playing well lately, and these types of child-like tantrums become less acceptable.
Lack of focus, smart basketball and discipline has been killing this team all season. Tonight’s meltdown from Cousins is the latest example of how this team is better at talking about being good versus actually being good.
GEORGE KARL’S ROTATIONS ARE…WEIRD AND FRUSTRATING
In the first half, Quincy Acy had a nice stretch of basketball, mostly on the defensive end. After being involved in a good play, Acy was rewarded by being immediately benched. Meanwhile guys like Belinelli and James Anderson (What?!? Why?!?) were left on the floor after giving the Kings a whole lot of nada.
Acy’s hustle play and Casspi realizing he was Neo from the Matrix gave Golden State some problems. Belinelli (who I’m kind of over at this point) and Anderson (who should never be in a game) finished with eight points on 3-of-12 shooting. Even when the game was out of reach, Acy and McLemore still sat for periods of time, which makes no sense considering both could use some burn to build confidence and help get them into a rhythm.
I get that McLemore is playing horrible, horrible basketball in which he is largely invisible. But is that really so much worse than the horrible, horrible, terrible, bumbling, no-defense style of basketball that Marco Belinelli is giving the team right now?
The Kings now fall to 12-19 on the season, and at this point it’s kind of silly for them to keep talking about the playoffs. They need to “be” about making the playoffs. And unless they change their focus, effort and discipline in a way that makes them a team that can consistently come out ready for whichever opponent they’re facing on any given night, playoff talk is all lip-service and wishful thinking.
Nobody expected the Kings to beat the Warriors at Oracle Arena. But, there is always an expectation that players will demonstrate professionalism in their duties. Tonight, there were players on the Sacramento Kings roster who couldn’t even do that much.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
