Game Thread G5: 12/31 Kings (3-1) @ Rockets (0-2) 4pm

Post #1 » by **City of Trees** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:34 pm

The Houston Rockets received good news today: John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Gordon, and rookie Mason Jones have rejoined the team after completing a seven day quarantine and will practice with the team today.

The Rockets haven't played since Monday so the team should be fully rested.

Kings are coming off their biggest win of the season beating Denver without needing overtime this time around. The 3 ball was falling as they hit 16/33 which is 48.5%. Kings need to continue getting up more 3's.

James Harden always gives us fits. I'll be interested to see if Whiteside has an impact around the rim.

I still feel like the Bjelica experience has run it's course in Sac. I'd love an upgrade.

Will Haliburton continue his ROY campaign?

Is it time for the John Wall + DeMarcus Cousins coming out party?

Hey, maybe Harden gets traded before tip off?

LightTheBeam · Post #2 » by **LightTheBeam** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:54 pm

City of Trees wrote:I still feel like the Bjelica experience has run it's course in Sac. I'd love an upgrade.

What kind of upgrade can we expect tbh? We don't really have much else to offer.

My idea was finding a 3 team trade with Chicago. We get OPJ, Chicago gets Parker/Joseph, 3rd team gets Bjelica with asset going to Chicago.

This allows us to use Barnes more at the 4. Promote Guy to a full time roster spot.

Main rotation of

Fox - Buddy - Barnes - Bagley - Holmes
Guy - Haliburton - OPJ - Whiteside

Its a bit risky to rely on Guy for consistent minutes. But if it goes awful we could use GRIII instead and have Hali take the backup pg minutes.

Post #3 » by **codydaze** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:07 pm

I don't like the idea of trading CoJo. His contract isn't that bad and I believe it only has a partial guarantee for next season so it's essentially an expiring. He's played well this year so far too and has apparently taken Haliburton under his wing and been his vet.

Bjelica has been pretty bad this year though, I'd definitely look into moving him if we can find an upgrade on the wing somewhere. It sucks that Jeffries is injured right now because I thought he'd be a solid rotation piece this year and we are definitely struggling on the wing right now, Barnes is hot and cold and GR3 isn't playing the way I thought he might be able to.

Post #4 » by **codydaze** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:08 pm

For the poll I went with Buddy though, he had a pretty quiet night in last night's win so I expect him to come out and get buckets.

Post #5 » by **City of Trees** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:01 pm

Bjelica brings shooting but he's just awful on defense. Doesn't rotate and can't defend. I'd look to cash in and grab a pick or another big who can defend.

Whiteside is a decent rim protector but too heavy footed to guard on the perimeter and last night Denver exposed the Kings lineup. Forcing Whiteside to the 3 pt line not only opened up the lane but Hassan has zero chance of guarding his man off the dribble. Belly isn't a great counter part. I want a big who can step out to guard the perimeter or protect the paint. Being Belly is most likely gone after this season id move him. Whiteside adds a dimension I like.

Post #6 » by **City of Trees** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:02 pm

I voted Fox continuing with the theme he loves competing against other NBA stars

ducler · Post #7 » by **ducler** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:31 pm

Read on Twitter

MarxyLebronist · Post #8 » by **MarxyLebronist** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 12:47 am

Joseph is inferior.

Post #9 » by **City of Trees** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:04 am

I'm stuck working. Listening to G-man

Post #10 » by **codydaze** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:05 am

This game has been pretty sloppy both ways. Waiting for that inevitable Harden barrage though.

BoogieTime · Post #11 » by **BoogieTime** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:15 am

Good game so far... whiteside looks unplayable. Rockets are a good team, as long as we are in there at the mid 4th all good

Post #12 » by **KF10** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:34 am

I still see Bagley a black hole on offense.

He just waved off Buddy and blew a 1v1 which lead to a TO and Buddy had to use a foul to prevent the rockets from scoring.

MarxyLebronist · Post #13 » by **MarxyLebronist** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:40 am

Ball ain’t movin much.

Post #14 » by **codydaze** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:44 am

Bagley having a rough night is an understatement.

BoogieTime · Post #15 » by **BoogieTime** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:48 am

Right back in it. Good heart this year

stormi · Post #16 » by **stormi** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:49 am

SoooooOOOOOOOOooooo jealous of Haliburton

SmellingColors · Post #17 » by **SmellingColors** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:50 am

BoogieTime wrote:Right back in it. Good heart this year

How? I walked away for a second, they were down 8, and then it's a 1 point game. What happened?

Post #18 » by **codydaze** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 1:54 am

SmellingColors wrote:
BoogieTime wrote:Right back in it. Good heart this year

How? I walked away for a second, they were down 8, and then it's a 1 point game. What happened?

Bagley went to the bench.

SmellingColors · Post #19 » by **SmellingColors** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 2:05 am

codydaze wrote:
SmellingColors wrote:
BoogieTime wrote:Right back in it. Good heart this year

How? I walked away for a second, they were down 8, and then it's a 1 point game. What happened?

Bagley went to the bench.

SmellingColors · Post #20 » by **SmellingColors** » Fri Jan 1, 2021 2:06 am

A lot of these fouls Fox is earning happened last year with no call. Good to see him getting the benefit of the doubt this year so far.

Who leads the Kings in scoring?