Following blowout loss, Kings practice defense Thursday morning

The Sacramento Kings held practice this morning after last night’s embarrassing defeat to the Denver Nuggets at Power Balance Pavilion. And no surprise, the Kings worked on defense today after allowing the Nuggets to score 92 points in the paint – an NBA record. After the jump, a quick rundown of notes and quotes from head coach Keith Smart, Tyreke Evans and Jimmer Fredette.

• Tyreke Evans on last night’s game:  “We know we played bad.  We know we can play better than that.  We just got frustrated.  I mean, we know what type of team we are and that’s not the way (we can) play.  So, we just wanted to put it past us and come here and work hard today.  It started with everybody – from me to everybody on the team.  We weren’t holding ourselves accountable playing on our home court last night.”

• Evans on the defensive lapses that allowed the Nuggets to score so many points inside: “We just gotta help each other.  I know Gallinari’s a strong driver and Al Harrington, they’re good players but we just gotta help each other.  I mean, we’re in the NBA.  We should know how to stop guys from getting into the basket…They made it look way too easy.”

• Smart said the Nuggets beat them for 24 points off the dribble last night.

• They also worked on their transition defense.  Smart talked about teaching and working on principles of fastbreak D: “You don’t have a man in transition.   You pick up an available body and everybody works from there.  Protect the rim first, then protect the first threat, then (protect the) second threat and then you filter out from there.”

• Chuck Hayes practiced today.  Smart said he looked solid and that the key for the veteran Kings big man is now getting back into basketball shape. “That’s the thing he’s gotta do now.  He’s gotta get into basketball condition.  He’s been doing a lot of conditioning with strength and conditioning coaches.  But he has to start getting into the basketball (mode of) change of direction stuff that you don’t have chance to do when you’re (not) playing.”

• Jimmer Fredette on how he’s adapting to life in the NBA and how things compare  now versus training camp: “It’s definitely different from camp to now.  But it’s just a tough schedule, obviously a lot of games, a lot of traveling, especially with the shortened season.  Even more games in a more shortened period of time so, it’s definitely different.  I’m getting into a groove and getting into a routine every day and feeling more comfortable with what’s going on.”