Fox, Kings' demolition of Lakers show readiness for season

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The Kings are ready to start the 2022-23 NBA season. 

After the 133-86 demolishing of the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center on Friday night, Sacramento ended their preseason campaign undefeated and looks to be in a prime position to take the league by storm.

Although some might say that the Lakers were missing Anthony Davis from the onset and that Russell Westbrook -- coming off the bench for the first time in over 1,000 games -- only played a handful of minutes, it was clear that the Kings were focused on something else: defending. 

Kings coach Mike Brown preached the importance of defense all throughout training camp and preseason and Friday's game was no different. About a minute into the first quarter, Brown called a timeout after the Kings blew a defensive assignment, leading to an easy Lakers bucket. 

From there, Sacramento's defensive intensity in the first half increased ten-fold, with forward KZ Okapala swatting away Patrick Beverley's layup attempt in the first quarter. 

"I mean, I just want to contribute in any way I can, in any fashion," Okapala said. "So it's not about winning the job or just down 30. I just do what I'm capable of."

What's more, the Kings' newfound defensive energy was punctuated by guard Davion Mitchell shutting down Kendrick Nunn's final attempt to end the second quarter.

"I think we were all connected tonight," Mitchell said postgame. "I think we played extremely hard, dove for loose balls, just helped each other.

"I think if we keep doing that, we would be a different team."

Thanks to their stellar defensive effort, the Kings' lead ballooned to 22 at one point in the second quarter, ultimately settling for a 65-44 lead at the break. 

It was more of the same for the Kings in the third quarter, using their defense to force the Lakers to take tough shots all night and swiping away innumerable balls. De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk started to get into the flow of things offensively, linking up for a massive ally-oop dunk.

This is the first time the two have played together on the same team since their lone collegiate season in Kentucky back in 2017. Both entered the 2017 NBA Draft with Fox being drafted No. 5 overall by the Kings and Monk at No. 11 by the Charlotte Hornets. 

Brown eventually pulled his starters halfway through the third quarter with the Kings comfortably in the lead, allowing the Kings coach to see what he has on the bench. 

To the bench's credit, they played very well as Mitchell, Matthew Dellavedova, Trey Lyles and others maintained the effort level and defensive intensity the starters had throughout the course of the game as well as hitting shots they needed to hit.

Even though the Kings handily defeated the Lakers, Brown says the most important thing for him is whether the team showed fight throughout the game. 

"I don’t care who’s on the floor. I just want us to compete. I want us to cheer for each other on both sides of the ball, and go back, and watch the tape," Brown told reporters postgame. "So, for me, that’s the biggest thing that I’m going to take away from this game."

RELATED: Why Simmons is 'way too high' on Kings, predicts play-in spot

Overall, the Kings' 47-point win Friday night was indicative of what this new squad is capable of, on both ends of the floor, and explains why Fox was "extremely confident" in Sacramento's chances of making the playoffs this season

With preseason formally over and the regular season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday looming, Kings fans are hopeful that all the work the team put in in the offseason will finally pay off with a postseason berth.

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