Sacramento Kings: Ben has big balls

Isaiah Thomas has been spectacular to start the season. He had 8 assists against the Utah Jazz.

Man, was Saturday night’s game against the Utah Jazz a case of schizophrenia for the Sacramento Kings. They couldn’t seem to figure out if they wanted to take the title as worst team in the West or leave it with the Jazz. But at the end of the fourth, the Kings’ big three of Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, and DeMarcus Cousins (ok ok, so maybe I used big very liberally there, sue me) came through to force overtime; where the Kings dominated and walked away with a 112-102 victory.

The game saw the Kings having to survive a massive stretch in the first half, from the 10:30 mark in the first to the 7 minute mark in the second, without the Boogieman, as they managed to tread water and close the game to a three- point game once he came back in. The third quarter saw a back and forth battle where both teams alternated looking like NBA teams and D League teams, with the Kings taking a 4-point lead heading into the fourth.

Here, it seemed the Kings were beginning to take off and impose their talent advantage on the hapless Jazz, but naturally, the Kings allowed a 16-0 run that saw a 9- point lead evaporate to a 6- point deficit. But thank goodness Boogie and Isaiah were there, as they fought back to close the game before the ice cold Ben McLemore hit the 3 to force overtime. From there, the Kings dominated and walked out of the Greivis Vasquez era a winner (foreshadowing).

Notes

• This could become a daily bitching column about fouls on Boogie if I want it to be, but I’ll do my best to watch myself. With that said, he constantly gets picked on by refs in my opinion for his bad attitude and whining to the point that it sometimes tremendously affects the team. I know he’s done a lot of this to himself, but as professionals, it is the refs job to objectively call games, and they just don’t seem to do this with Boogie. They are predisposed to giving him any close fouls.
• On top of that, other players are constantly trying to get under his skin to make him act out. He has to play three games at once and for someone as volatile as Boogie, that’s tough. If I was him, with his personality, I’d probably have punched some sorry center in the face already.
• With that said, he didn’t need to punch Enes Kanter in the face because then he wouldn’t have been around to let Boogie score on him. 28 points on 15 shots in 27 minutes. Those numbers illustrate just how easy it was for Cous to score when he was in.
• Isaiah had 26 and 8 assists, with 4 steals. Yes, thank you, dat boy is a beast. I really don’t know how he can play any better than he has to start the season. His ability in the lane might be unrivaled when you take into account his size, especially when he breaks out his underhand floater like last night. Basically looks like a 5th grader shot the ball.
• Ben played 38 minutes! Ben played 38 minutes! Great to see the rookie getting more and more time on the court, even when he shot as poorly as he did yesterday. I’ve been saying it all year, he has the talent to be a top 10 shooting guard, maybe top five, but it’s the confidence and killer instinct he needs. Making the clutch 3 to force overtime on Saturday after shooting so poorly has to be a nice boost in confidence to keep shooting the ball no matter what. He also had nine boards, further proof that even if the shot isn’t there, the effort always is.
• Isaiah had a sick two- handed, underhand flip alley-oop to Ben in the second quarter. Just know those 2 playing together brings a lot of joy and athleticism to the court that is fun to see.
• The honeymoon for Derrick Williams might have already worn off. I thought he could shoot coming out of college, but so far it’s been average to non existent since he came over. I sometimes forget he is on the floor altogether because he can’t pass and his rebounding and defense have been average so far. Please don’t let me give up on you so easy Derrick.
• I’d like to write more, but the team was just so boring beside the big 3 (yeah I’m gonna continue using it) that there isn’t much to say. Good job by Coach Mike Malone to rally the team for the victory after seemingly choking it away.