The Kings Herald staff got together to reflect on the matchup with the Warriors now that it’s all evened up at 2-2. Plus, how will De’Aaron Fox’s injury factor in?
Q: The Kings lost both games in San Francisco, but are there any positives they can take from those losses?
Akis: There wasn’t much positive to take from Game 3, but Game 4 was right there for the taking with Harrison Barnes just missing a clean look at the end. On the road, you want to be able to give yourself a chance to win the game and the Kings had that chance. Perhaps the biggest positive from that game was that Keegan Murray finally showed up. I like that he had two aggressive pull up mid-range jumpers to start the game which seemed to get him into a rhythm before he started going back to being a three point sniper. Murray’s shooting has been a big part of this team’s offense all season and it was nice to see it return. De’Aaron Fox also continues to be incredible and nearly carried this team to a win by himself down the stretch. Davion Mitchell has also been incredible in this series, both in his defense on Stephen Curry and in finding his offense when it’s needed.
Rob H.: The performance of De’Aaron Fox has been a huge benefit for this team moving forward. And the play of Davion Mitchell and game 5 Keegan Murray have been a gift. What other top shelf rookie is getting this level of playoff experience? And Mitchell has become a bona fide big game asset, one that gives Monte McNair even more flexibility as he continues to mold this roster.
Also, the core of this roster is no longer Harrison Barnes trying to explain to everyone else what playoff basketball in a hostile environment is like, as they have all now lived it.
Not trying to put lipstick on a pig here, but I don’t know that two losses could have gone better for the Kings as it pertains to this team’s growth and maturation.
Tim: The biggest positive is that the Kings can win in Golden State. Yes, they lost both matches, but either game was winnable, even the blowout in Game 3. If the starting shooters (thank you for last game, Keegan) finally start to hit shots (Huerter and Barnes are 8/41 from deep in four games and have combined to average 22 points per game in the series), Sacramento can beat the Warriors at home. They’re not invincible.
Greg: Several positives, as the others have already mentioned. Fox showing out to a national audience, Keegan Murray finding his feet in the playoffs, and Davion…
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