The Kings could not have dreamed of a better start on Saturday evening for Game 1 of this first round of the playoffs. Winners of the defending champion after a mad duel and in front of fans who were up to it after 17 years of waiting, Mike Brown’s troops experienced an evening filled with emotions, particularly Harrison Barnesauthor of 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.
Arrived from Dallas during the 2018/19 season, the former Warriors winger waited a long time for this moment, which finally unfolded as he had imagined…
“I had a vision of what it would be like to play the playoffs here”, he said after the game. “There were a lot of very long days. And there, to be able to enter the room and see this environment, see the fans, it was exciting, and a little moving. Just to be able to be part of it. I’m really happy for the fans.”
A first act already in history
Harrison Barnes also said he was very touched by the presence of the former legends of the club, those who knew the Kings at the top, like Bobby Jackson, Vlade Divac and Jason Williams, sitting at the edge of the field.
“It was important because I talked to these guys a lot. It helped me understand the culture of Sacramento, what the fans meant, and finishing close to our goal year after year and then finally having that moment was awesome.” he thus developed.
It is as if the accumulation of work and frustrations born of the last four years evaporated in the space of an evening crowned by a victory which will remain in the history of the franchise.
The euphoria will still be palpable during Game 2 and it will still be necessary to produce an exceptional match to compete with the Warriors. If they may not have as much talent and especially experience, the Kings will bet on envy and all the little things that can tip the scales in their favor.
“For us, it’s about continuing to learn what it’s like to play a playoff series, knowing that the Warriors will react and make adjustments. That’s how a series goes. It was a good first for us. We just have to move on”he added. “We know who the main characters are in this series. It’s about knowing who will take care of the details: rebounds, lost balls, possessions at 50-50. We will have the will to win these fights.
| Harrison Barnes | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 81 | 25 | 43.9 | 35.9 | 75.8 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 9.2 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 78 | 28 | 39.9 | 34.7 | 71.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 9.5 |
| 2014-15 | GOS | 82 | 28 | 48.2 | 40.5 | 72.0 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 10.1 |
| 2015-16 | GOS | 66 | 31 | 46.6 | 38.3 | 76.1 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 11.7 |
| 2016-17 | DAL | 79 | 36 | 46.8 | 35.1 | 86.1 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 19.2 |
| 2017-18 | DAL | 77 | 34 | 44.5 | 35.7 | 82.7 | 1.0 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 18.9 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 77 | 33 | 42.0 | 39.5 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 16.4 |
| 2018-19 * | DAL | 49 | 32 | 40.4 | 38.9 | 83.3 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 17.7 |
| 2018-19 * | BAG | 28 | 34 | 45.5 | 40.8 | 80.0 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 14.3 |
| 2019-20 | BAG | 72 | 35 | 46.0 | 38.1 | 80.1 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| 2020-21 | BAG | 58 | 36 | 49.7 | 39.1 | 83.0 | 1.1 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 16.1 |
| 2021-22 | BAG | 77 | 34 | 46.9 | 39.4 | 82.6 | 1.1 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 16.4 |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 82 | 33 | 47.3 | 37.4 | 84.7 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 15.0 |
| Total | 829 | 32 | 45.5 | 37.8 | 81.1 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
