For the first time in a decade, NBA basketball returns to the city of Seattle. The Sacramento Kings will spar with the Golden State Warriors at Key Arena Friday evening in the second night of a back-to-back.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Warriors star, Kevin Durant, who was draft by the SuperSonics back in 2007. Following his rookie season, Durant and the rest of Seattle’s franchise picked up and moved to Oklahoma City, extinguishing mens professional hoops in the Emerald City.
It should be an emotional night for Seattle fans. The atmosphere could get a bit crazy. Golden State is used to playing in hostile arenas, but this should be a good learning experience for a young Kings team.
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Here are three things to watch as Sacramento attempts to move back over the .500 mark for the preseason.
Do it again
De’Aaron Fox looked like a man possessed in the Kings’ loss to the Lakers on Thursday evening. He knocked down 4-of-6 from behind the arc and when the Lakers tried to show on him, he turned on the jets and blew through their defense.
Fox finished the night with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He added five assists and two steals in just 18 minutes of action. He was the best player on the floor, but he has to show that it was more than just a flash.
NBA
The Kings have another four preseason games before the 82 game schedule begins. If he’s going to be a star, he has another 86 games to show up for.
Young bigs show up
Harry and Marv are turning into a thing. The pair of rookie bigs went to work against the Lakers. With every game, you can see the confidence building.
Giles dropped in 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes of action. His jumper is improving, he’s active on both ends of the court and his no-look pass to Willie Cauley-Stein was impressive.
After a rough opener, Bagley settled down in Game 2. He posted his first double-double of his career, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds and a block in 32 minutes. His confidence is building, which is a good thing for the Kings.
Learn the new rules
It’s not uncommon for rookie bigs to get in foul trouble, like what we’ve seen from Giles in the first two games. But the NBA’s new points of emphasis are becoming an issue for Sacramento.
Skal Labissiere lasted just 12 minutes before fouling out against the Lakers. Ben McLemore played 15 before being disqualified. In total, the Kings picked up 44 personal fouls, compared to 25 for the Lakers.
No one comes to an NBA game to listen to a chorus of whistles. Eventually they will quiet down a week or two into the season. That doesn’t mean that the Kings shouldn’t learn from the experience.
The off the ball fouls have to stop. Grabbing your man is not an effective defensive strategy.