Game 31: Sacramento Kings (12-18) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-19) - 10:00 PM ET

[City of Trees]

Watching in person I was able to get a better feel. Buddy's defensive rotations were awful. Richaun Holmes yelled at Buddy more than once about his late rotations.

Holmes was doing a lot of work on defense tonight which left him in some bad spots where Deing found an easy bucket.

The team isnt playing good defense, a few players are, but in the end its not enough.

I hate jumping on the coach bashing wagons but I didnt see structure or game planning tonight.

[BoogieTime]

Also, Buddy made some comments after the game where I wouldn't be surprised if he was suspended because of it lol

Two teams were playing bland basketball tonight, the difference is one team was playing youth, the other veterans. Makes no sense to treadmill with vets. But then again, at this rate, your can tank with this set of vets, it seems.

I really hope Richaun doesn’t walk in two years, that would add insult to lose a player who is winning you extra games in a rebuild and not keep him for the long haul

[oligo]

Looking like it's a season of giving for the Kings...

Why the hell was Bogi shooting off-balanced 3s late in the game when the game was almost tied? You could just dribble the ball down the line, lay it in, draw fouls, go to the charity stripe... I mean, just a bull****! He ain't Harden, he ain't Luka to make these clutch iso plays on high rate.

Listen to that stat line: BOGI + HB + CJ + Buddy were shooting 19/70 from the floor giving them 27% FG% and 25% for 3PT.

Ariza was scoreless in 34 mins.

Probably the worst performance this season. And KAT was not even on the team!

Holly smoke.

Both, Vlade and Peja destroyed this team and they need to go. Vivek, it's your turn

[Lost in LA]

Not sure we have the correct coach either. Thee seems little in game management. With KAT out, all we do is chuck up off balance 3 pointers?

[KF10]

Don’t understand why we are still playing at a snails pace. Walton isn’t a good coach. A good coach would play to the strengths of the players not forcing a system. In Walton’s case, a lack of.

It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

[LightTheBeam]

Don’t understand why we are still playing at a snails pace. Walton isn’t a good coach. A good coach would play to the strengths of the players not forcing a system. In Walton’s case, a lack of.

It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

The only thing I can think here is Walton taking the Joerger Approach. Remember Joergers 2nd year, we had traded Cousins. We played the slowest pace, Randolph, Koufos, Skal, WCS posting up all game. Low minutes for Buddy and Fox.

I remember the exit interview "Next year the training wheels come off, its time for the kids to step up" he stayed true to his word.

The only issue with this is that Walton was supposed to be the fast paced Warriors coach who comes in and perfects that. Instead it feels like we fell back to 2 years ago.

[KF10]

The only thing I can think here is Walton taking the Joerger Approach. Remember Joergers 2nd year, we had traded Cousins. We played the slowest pace, Randolph, Koufos, Skal, WCS posting up all game. Low minutes for Buddy and Fox.

I remember the exit interview "Next year the training wheels come off, its time for the kids to step up" he stayed true to his word.

The only issue with this is that Walton was supposed to be the fast paced Warriors coach who comes in and perfects that. Instead it feels like we fell back to 2 years ago.

If that is the case, why repeat the Joerger approach again? Fox's first season was played at a slow pace, then fast in his second season, and then slow again with Walton at the helm. For what exactly? Because Walton will "break it down for him"? That's nonsense.

Walton's Kings are worse in TS%, FTr (free throw rate, i.e. the rate on getting to the line), pace, TOV%, SRS, 3PT%, PPG, etc.

What the Lakers & Warriors fans have said about Walton is true. The guy isn't a good coach.

I'm NOT entirely blaming Walton for everything. There is always a portion of blame goes to the players. These guys are grown men and professionals.

The FO does play a (huge) role in this too. Vlade assembled this team and coaching staff and it is not the right mix. He gets blamed in this too.

All in all, everyone in this organization from the top to the bottom are at fault here.

[nolimit0820]

Without Fox playing how could he put in a system for the players to play fast. Also difficult to play fast when taking the ball out of the net!

I just don’t think this team has had a chance to show anything with the crazy amount of injuries to marquee players.

But, I will say - that was a terrible game yesterday. Just flat out horrific.

[City of Trees]

The only thing I can think here is Walton taking the Joerger Approach. Remember Joergers 2nd year, we had traded Cousins. We played the slowest pace, Randolph, Koufos, Skal, WCS posting up all game. Low minutes for Buddy and Fox.

I remember the exit interview "Next year the training wheels come off, its time for the kids to step up" he stayed true to his word.

The only issue with this is that Walton was supposed to be the fast paced Warriors coach who comes in and perfects that. Instead it feels like we fell back to 2 years ago.

If that is the case, why repeat the Joerger approach again? Fox's first season was played at a slow pace, then fast in his second season, and then slow again with Walton at the helm. For what exactly? Because Walton will "break it down for him"? That's nonsense.

Walton's Kings are worse in TS%, FTr (free throw rate, i.e. the rate on getting to the line), pace, TOV%, SRS, 3PT%, PPG, etc.

What the Lakers & Warriors fans have said about Walton is true. The guy isn't a good coach.

I'm NOT entirely blaming Walton for everything. There is always a portion of blame goes to the players. These guys are grown men and professionals.

The FO does play a (huge) role in this too. Vlade assembled this team and coaching staff and it is not the right mix. He gets blamed in this too.

All in all, everyone in this organization from the top to the bottom are at fault here.

I'm not defending Walton here but the Warriors defense was well above average before the offense took off. Listening to Grant and Doug today it sounds like Walton is taking the Warriors 'Defense first' approach. Personally, I prefer defense first so I won't complain IF (and that's a big if right now) that's the plan. Defense and IQ > running 24/7

[KF10]

I'm not defending Walton here but the Warriors defense was well above average before the offense took off. Listening to Grant and Doug today it sounds like Walton is taking the Warriors 'Defense first' approach. Personally, I prefer defense first so I won't complain IF (and that's a big if right now) that's the plan. Defense and IQ > running 24/7

Still doesn’t excuse Walton for letting the Kings’ pace get low as 30/30 in the L. This is not conducive towards the players strength. Coming into the season, I wouldn’t bat an eye if he brought the pace down towards the league average. But he has not done that.

With the Warriors, he did not play at this snails pace btw.

Unfortunately, what the Warriors and Lakers fans have said about Walton for years is closer to the truth than whatever company line Grant is spewing earlier today on his radio show.

[sacking123]

I'm not defending Walton here but the Warriors defense was well above average before the offense took off. Listening to Grant and Doug today it sounds like Walton is taking the Warriors 'Defense first' approach. Personally, I prefer defense first so I won't complain IF (and that's a big if right now) that's the plan. Defense and IQ > running 24/7

Still doesn’t excuse Walton for letting the Kings’ pace get low as 30/30 in the L. This is not conducive towards the players strength. Coming into the season, I wouldn’t bat an eye if he brought the pace down towards the league average. But he has not done that.

With the Warriors, he did not play at this snails pace btw.

Unfortunately, what the Warriors and Lakers fans have said about Walton for years is closer to the truth than whatever company line Grant is spewing earlier today on his radio show.

This is the concerning part of Walton. I don't think anyone would be complaining if the pace dropped slightly and he mentioned it's because they are working on D.
That is not the case though.
The Kings will bounce back though and no need to hit the panic button just yet.
If Bagley and Fox didn't get injured there is every chance this season would be going differently ie Dedmon still in the starting line-up etc and that would also mean guys like Ariza and CoJo that can't play uptempo would be playing 12-14mpg instead of 23-27mpg.

There are three obvious issues at the moment, Dedmon, Buddy and injuries.
Dedmon didn't get a change at the start and didn't do himself any favours with his play. Holmes outplayed him and took his spot. Doesn't matter about the trade request, but I would still be trying to insert him into the line-up as the inconsistent minutes don't do him any favours.
Buddy needs to take a couple of days off. His shooting woes are bad, when a shooter is trying to place the ball in the rim it's a really bad sign.
The injuries need to be taken seriously, make sure the guys are right and if they're not, sit them, that's why we have depth.
All in all, got to ride out this poor patch, because a good one is right around the corner and everyone will be singing the praises of the people we're all angry at.

[City of Trees]

I'm not defending Walton here but the Warriors defense was well above average before the offense took off. Listening to Grant and Doug today it sounds like Walton is taking the Warriors 'Defense first' approach. Personally, I prefer defense first so I won't complain IF (and that's a big if right now) that's the plan. Defense and IQ > running 24/7

Still doesn’t excuse Walton for letting the Kings’ pace get low as 30/30 in the L. This is not conducive towards the players strength. Coming into the season, I wouldn’t bat an eye if he brought the pace down towards the league average. But he has not done that.

With the Warriors, he did not play at this snails pace btw.

Unfortunately, what the Warriors and Lakers fans have said about Walton for years is closer to the truth than whatever company line Grant is spewing earlier today on his radio show.

He inherited a golden egg in GS that engine was shaking your neighbors windows when he took over. My point was allegedly Walton wants to follow the Golden State blueprint (which probably gets Vivek hot and bothered).

I've seen what has been said about Walton as a coach and honestly some of it i can tell is true. Hope it doesn't all come true.

On a side note I view Doug as an extension of Vlade. DC isnt going to throw him under the bus BUT he will try to share Vlade's vision with the fans (ie Defense first, running isn't sustainable). Grant is a tool who will do whats necessary to keep his El Dorado Hills house.