GT #71: Kings @ Bullets 8 PM (NBCSW/106.7 FM)

[FAH1223]

YOUR Washington Bullets are 32-38!

11th in the East, they're coming off a tanktastic loss to the Cavs. Players like Kuzma and Avdija were amazingly sucky and the turnovers fueled a Cavs double digit margin of victory.

On Saturday, the race to 6th best lottery odds continues on a back to back with the feel good Sacramento Kings. De'Aaron Fox has been Mr. Clutch in the 4th quarter this season. Domantas Sabonis has been a steady hand for Mike Brown's offense which is loaded with shooters and off ball cutters.

SAC has lit the beam forty-two times this season which is the best in 17 years. A postseason appearance, for the first time since 2006, is all but assured. SAC has the #1 offensive rating in the NBA but gives up some points with a defensive that is #26 in rating.

The last time these squads met in SAC, the Bullets blew them out. Safe to say that WON'T be happening.


-------------------------VS-------------------------



Projected Lineups :











Bench:

[nate33]

This might actually be entertaining to watch. Sacramento has an incredible offense, and it's sure to look even better against the Wizards' woeful defense.

[FAH1223]

This might actually be entertaining to watch. Sacramento has an incredible offense, and it's sure to look even better against the Wizards' woeful defense.

I’ve stayed up late watching a ton of Kings games. They are entertaining and always play games coming down to the wire.

I’m traveling so I’ll be tuning into the Kings feed on LP. I enjoy Mark Jones and Kayte Christensen’s homerism.

[mhd]

This might actually be entertaining to watch. Sacramento has an incredible offense, and it's sure to look even better against the Wizards' woeful defense.

I’ve stayed up late watching a ton of Kings games. They are entertaining and always play games coming down to the wire.

I’m traveling so I’ll be tuning into the Kings feed on LP. I enjoy Mark Jones and Kayte Christensen’s homerism.

Better than then the propagandist Chris Miller (AKA Baghdad Bob)

[trast66]

The Huff, Davis, Nunn, Cooks, and Goodwin lineup really needs more run together. Tommy providing all this talent and Wes squandering it.

[FAH1223]

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[TGW]

Embarassing.

[9 and 20]

Seriously, add this one to the list of notable embarrassments of the past few years. Opposing team fans drowning out DC fans is pretty much expected when the Celtics or the Heat come to town. Or any of another 10 or 15 teams with less inept franchise histories than the Wiz (a low bar, I know).

But the janky Kings???? A new low.

[FAH1223]

Embarassing.

Seriously, add this one to the list of notable embarrassments of the past few years. Opposing team fans drowning out DC fans is pretty much expected when the Celtics or the Heat come to town. Or any of another 10 or 15 teams with less inept franchise histories than the Wiz (a low bar, I know).

But the janky Kings???? A new low.

Read on Twitter

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Read on Twitter

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[nate33]

This is what happens after 40 years of marketing around the opposition's star players rather than making an honest effort to build a championship here. Why on Earth would anybody be a rabid Wizards fan? The organization has shown no interest in building a championship caliber team, so why should the fans be interested?

The solution isn't complicated. You start by acquiring real talent, preferably at least 1 compelling superstar. Then you start winning. You then attract bandwagon fans, and if those bandwagon fans continue to witness winning, they become long-term fans who will remain loyal through rebuilding phases.

But I'm wasting my breath. Ted doesn't care. He is just cashing checks.

[payitforward]

Stranger yet, nate, is the fact that there is really no contradiction, not even any conflict, between "cashing checks" -- i.e. managing to build revenue & profits -- & "making an honest effort to build a championship."

Hence I cannot understand why the team is so haphazard & evidently reluctant to make any effort at all.

It's all the stranger, IMO, given that the changing of the guard in 2019 presented a tailor-made opportunity to do just that. Just trade Brad, & start again. The only thing I can imagine is that Ted & Tommy thought that's what they were doing when they went "all in" on Rui & picked him at #9?

Perhaps they convinced themselves that they already had their "compelling superstar" -- i.e. Brad? & that they were getting a potential star in Rui?

If so, we have the classic recipe for failure: bad strategy ineptly executed!

[Kanyewest]

I feel Kings fans have been doing it all year in every stadium including the Lakers. It's not that embarrassing and it's a good loss for the tank. Also the record without Porzingis is unsustainable especially when the Kings get hot from 3.

[DCZards]

I feel Kings fans have been doing it all year in every stadium including the Lakers. It's not that embarrassing and it's a good loss for the tank. Also the record without Porzingis is unsustainable especially when the Kings get hot from 3.

Yeah… what was embarrassing was giving up all those 3s. The Zards opened the door for the bandwagon Sac fans at Cap One last night to have their fun at our expense.

BTW, that “light the beam” stuff they do at the arena in Sac is pretty cool.

[bsilver]

Amazing euro step move by De'Aaron Fox. Great athleticism and creativity.

[AFM]

Stranger yet, nate, is the fact that there is really no contradiction, not even any conflict, between "cashing checks" -- i.e. managing to build revenue & profits -- & "making an honest effort to build a championship."

Hence I cannot understand why the team is so haphazard & evidently reluctant to make any effort at all.

It's all the stranger, IMO, given that the changing of the guard in 2019 presented a tailor-made opportunity to do just that. Just trade Brad, & start again. The only thing I can imagine is that Ted & Tommy thought that's what they were doing when they went "all in" on Rui & picked him at #9?

Perhaps they convinced themselves that they already had their "compelling superstar" -- i.e. Brad? & that they were getting a potential star in Rui?

If so, we have the classic recipe for failure: bad strategy ineptly executed!

No contradiction? Financially yeah. But getting better takes effort. Does this franchise put effort towards anything? Ever?

[TGW]

I feel Kings fans have been doing it all year in every stadium including the Lakers. It's not that embarrassing and it's a good loss for the tank. Also the record without Porzingis is unsustainable especially when the Kings get hot from 3.

Yes...it is that embarassing. Allowing fans of the opponent to absolutely take over your home stadium is already embarassing, but to allow fans of a team that has struggled as much as the Wizards over the past few years is the lowest of the low.

I know you half-full guys avoid "being negative" at all costs, but at some point don't you just get sick of this terrible losing culture? How will we ever get better results if the fans don't unanimously demand better from the organization?

[payitforward]

That's 100% correct -- until fans demand better, there will be no real change. We can get lucky with some high picks (as we did in '10, '12 & '13), but there will be no real progress.

& that "demand" needs to come in a real way -- staying away from the arena, buying no merch, & leaving the televised broadcasts dark.

Essentially, to accomplish these goals would require a movement, leadership, vocal effort, a slogan... that kind of thing. Seems altogether unlikely, alas.

[dobrojim]

gotta give some props to Uncle Drew for staying on point about how packing the paint
and leaving 3 pt shotters open on D is a horrible defensive philosophy. CM is embarrassingly bad.

[Kanyewest]

I feel Kings fans have been doing it all year in every stadium including the Lakers. It's not that embarrassing and it's a good loss for the tank. Also the record without Porzingis is unsustainable especially when the Kings get hot from 3.

Yes...it is that embarassing. Allowing fans of the opponent to absolutely take over your home stadium is already embarassing, but to allow fans of a team that has struggled as much as the Wizards over the past few years is the lowest of the low.

I know you half-full guys avoid "being negative" at all costs, but at some point don't you just get sick of this terrible losing culture? How will we ever get better results if the fans don't unanimously demand better from the organization?

It is literally happening all over the nba. The kings are a better team without KP. And the Wizards already beat Sacramento anyways on the road.

Here is the Lakers game. It's been happening all over the league. There are reasons to be negative about the team, the light the beam chant isn't one of them,and if it is the Wizards are not alone.

Watch on YouTube

[Kanyewest]

The chant happened the game before at Brooklyn
https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article268795342.html

It would not surprise me if it happened in Chicago and in the previous road win against the Suns.