NBA Power Rankings week 14: OKC Thunder among the ‘road warriors’

Sacramento Kings:

Offense: (106.9)  21st
Defense: (109.9) 18th
Net: (minus-3.0) tied 23rd

Results Week 14: (1-2): Won vs. Bulls: 98-81, Lost vs. Heat: 113-118 (OT), Pistons: 106-127
Games Week 15: (4 games) Mon at Wolves | Weds vs. Thunder | Thurs at Clippers | Sat vs Lakers
 

Entering the season there were such high expectations for this Kings squad. It was thought Luke Walton would bring his defensive acumen from his days working with the Warriors and combine it with the fast pace offense.

Neither of those things has transpired as the Kings rank in the bottom third on both sides of the court this season. Moreover, the Kings will put up strong efforts like the game in Miami where they pushed an elite Heat squad to overtime and then follow it up with a lackluster effort in Detroit.

There is no consistency and the biggest question facing this Kings’ squad is WHO ARE THEY? I’m hard-pressed to say precisely what the identity of this club is. And, the more the club struggles the more the decision to release head coach Dave Joerger in favor of Walton becomes a factor.

Most concerning is the pace where Sacramento ranks 27th this season after ranking third under Joerger. There is at least an attempt to right this part of the equation as they’ve increased the focus through the last 10 games running the ninth-fastest pace.

New this week another tweak made by Luke Walton as he moved Buddy Hield to the bench. It’s not necessarily a demotion. Rather, it’s meant to put another ball-handler on the court with Bogdan Bogdanovic starting. Although – the pessimists might say it’s a way to showcase Bogdan to possibly move him since he’ll be due a payday this summer.

In his first game coming off the bench, Hield posted 21 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block with the Kings defeat of the Bulls.