Archive for December 2018
The Doncic Addiction
In recent years I’d heard the loudening chants: there’s a basketball prodigy in Europe named Luka Doncic and in 2018 he’s going to descend on the NBA and immediately become a “transformational” player. Okay, I thought, let me check him out. I watched highlight tapes and read scouting reports, and concluded his average speed and…
Read MoreGrooming Marvin Bagley
Few people like to discuss injuries and many are too superstitious to mention the subject. I generally have both reservations but sense it’s an appropriate time to hope, and assume, that the Kings are going to carefully control the recovery of Marvin Bagley and his playing time the rest of the season. Against the Warriors…
Read MoreTwilight Zone Benching of De’Aaron Fox
The final three minutes Golden State played championship defense, igniting its offense, and that’s not unusual. What is beyond unusual and quite bizarre is that Dave Joerger benched the team’s best player, De’Aaron Fox, because he picked up his fifth foul with little over three minutes to play and the Kings leading by ten. So…
Read MoreDoncic Blitz Fuels Bagley Debate
Dallas trailed Houston by eight with three minutes left when Luka Doncic, who had been shooting errantly, nailed a three-pointer from the left corner and another out front and a floater in the lane and then the pièce de résistance, a step-back three to lift his team to victory. I assume most viewers of the…
Read MoreE=Fun2
Okay, I know the Kings after losing three straight have won that many, the last two against teams that had but nine victories between them. It doesn’t matter who they beat. Every Kings win has begun to feel like a celebration fueled by youth, speed, athleticism, and dexterity. These guys come out firing because they…
Read MoreJerry West Assesses the Kings
I advise the Clippers and generally don’t share my insights publicly but suppose it’s all right to tell you I like the Kings, especially De’Aaron Fox, who speeds past more defenders than anyone in the league. He’s also been hitting his jumpers and threes. Right, I know his outside shooting’s cooled off recently. Last five…
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