A few weeks before the start of the regular season, DNA of Sports begins its traditional presentation, franchise by franchise, of the upcoming NBA season. Like every year, this takes the form of a countdown, from the teams expected at the bottom of the ranking to our favorite for the champion title.
Today, place for the Kings who have finally returned to the playoffs, after sixteen years of drought, the longest black streak in history, now broken.
Behind an All-Star season from its major duo, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento rose to the top of the Western Conference to finally land 3rd place (48 wins – 34 losses).
Although eliminated in the first round, after a seventh round lost (at home) against the Warriors, the Kings can congratulate themselves on having found their way forward. With the best coach in the League last year, Mike Brown, and a stabilized, even reinforced squad thanks to Euroleague MVP, Sasha Vezenkov, and JaVale McGee as a deterrent pivot on the bench, Sacramento can still aim for the playoffs. And even think of the title!
This is what Mike Brown announced from the outset at a press conference: “I told them the elephant in the room [le sujet tabou, en gros] was not so rosy this year! The elephant is external expectations. I told them frankly what I thought, we are aiming for the title. It’s that simple. »
Being able to count on a good dozen solid NBA players, including two All-Stars and a young player on the rise in Keegan Murray, the Kings have a squad built to go far. But they will have to confirm…
SUMMER MOVEMENTS
Arrivals: Chris Duarte (Pacers), Sasha Vezenkov, JaVale McGee (Mavs)
Departures: Richaun Holmes (Mavericks), Chimezie Metu (Suns)
PLAYER TO WATCH: KEEGAN MURRAY
Of course, the Kings’ success this season will still depend on the production of their All-Star duo, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. The two organizers of the offensive game of Sacramento, the best attack in the NBA last season, will indeed have to be very efficient again to allow their team to shine.
But if the “clutchitude” of the leader and the role of hub of the pivot must still be there, it is perhaps Keegan Murray who holds the keys to the progression of the group.
Challenged by his coach and his GM, the sophomore worked during the summer to climb the collective hierarchy. A desire displayed in Summer League, where he dominated so much in the two matches he played that his team quickly decided to put him back in the fridge. While waiting for serious things to resume.
“The coach, Mike Brown, challenged Keegan and said, ‘I want you to develop your game this summer, and what we want is for you to play a few games in Summer League, where you can be the first option. I want you to dunk on someone on the counterattack, to be able to create off the dribble and to take shots at the end of a possession. As Keegan is Keegan, he came in, scored over 70 points in two games and said: ‘Very good coach, I get it.’ » said Monte McNair, the GM.
If he shows the desired progression, and he becomes this player capable of taking over the match in sequences, Keegan Murray can really allow the Kings to aim very high…
Average age: 26.8 years
Payroll: $146.3 million (24th)
THE IDEAL SCENARIO
Building on its stability and building on its achievements from last season, Mike Brown’s team is resuming the season at a royal pace. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are still working together on the boards, and their duo continues to fuel the score, and carry the best attack in the league.
It must be said that alongside the star duo, other players are also doing well, like an increasingly enterprising Keegan Murray, who confirms his excellent 3-point predispositions. The young winger and his partner Kevin Huerter undermine defenses with their long shots, which gives Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox the necessary space to operate calmly from mid-range and under the circle.
The Kings bench is also a formidable weapon for Mike Brown, who knows how to play on it with precision, notably making good use of Malik Monk, also very well connected with De’Aaron Fox on the boards. Chris Duarte is back in shape to also contribute good minutes, like Sasha Vezenkov who proves to be a valuable contribution at the end of the knife-edge match. Under the panels, JaVale McGee does the job to provide a blocker that the Kings were sorely lacking.
The Kings therefore arrive in the playoffs with home advantage. And, this time, the firm desire to take the plunge.
THE WORST SCENARIO
The surprise effect has passed, and the Kings are struggling to regain their momentum from last season. Targeted by defenses, who have learned the lessons applied by the Warriors in the playoffs, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox have less impact and are no longer as decisive in hot moments.
The leader, the most clutch player in the league last season, has come down from his cloud, and Sacramento is no longer snatching victories in the fourth quarter like last season…
In these conditions, and with a defense that remains fragile, the campaign is much more complicated than the previous one. Falling back into the soft underbelly, the Kings find themselves stuck in the middle of all the Western teams trying to grab the play-in. But they ultimately failed to reach the playoffs.
