true ios true ios true android false computer $upper($url_encode($(QUERY_STRING{'bypassCountry'}))) NONE $url_encode($(GEO{'country_code'})) $url_encode($(GEO{'country_code'})) $(bpc) true true false Kings (2-3) vs. San Antonio (1-3) | NBA.com
featured-image

Kings (2-3) vs. San Antonio (1-3)

McLemore, JT and Coach Malone dish on their experience overseas, the new uniforms and the defending NBA Champions before matchup with San Antonio.

Projected Starters

Radio – KHTK Sports 1140 AM

2013-14 Head-to-Head

Last Time Out

Cousins Leads Kings Past Greens

Sacramento improved to 2-0 at home this preseason after racing past Maccabi Haifa on Saturday night, 91-59. DeMarcus Cousins paced the offense with 15 points, while Darren Collison (12), Ramon Sessions (11), Nik Stauskas (10) and Derrick Williams (12) also finished in double-figures.

Sacramento’s defense shined in the second half holding Maccabi Haifa to 23-percent from the floor. Kings reserves entered in the fourth quarter and kept up the dominant performance combining for 39 points after intermission.

Catching Up

For the Kings, one of the added benefits of playing at home just two days after returning from their two-week long stay in China was sleeping in their own beds. With jam-packed flight schedules, tours and games overseas, the players are just now getting back into a home routine.

“It was a good game for us to get adjusted from our China trip,” stated forward Omri Casspi.

“I think the guys are still tired. I know I wake up at three in the morning, and I’m still adjusting, but it was a fun [trip].”

Casspi and Co. may still be recovering from the most recent flight back to the City of Trees, but for Sacramento’s star center, who has admitted recently he feels like he’s 45-years-old not 24, the preseason trip to Shanghai and Beijing was part of a grueling summer.

“I’m just trying to get my body right,” said DeMarcus Cousins after Saturday night’s game. “I have a lot of aches and pains right now, but I’ve been putting in the extra time to get my body right. I’ll be fine – I’ll tough it out.”

After meeting the team in Las Vegas for Mini-Camp in July, a full month-long stint with Team USA overseas and now two games in China in exhibition action, DMC is glad to be home for a few days before hitting the road again to face the Spurs.

Breaking Down the Spurs

Sixteen players saw action on the court this past weekend for the Kings, but fans can expect that to change as the team flies to San Antonio to face the defending NBA champions.

“We have to start narrowing it down and getting our normal group the minutes that they need to play well together,” said Head Coach Michael Malone. “And come up with a rotation that will give us the best chance at success to start this season.”

Sacramento’s coaching staff has employed four different starting lineups through the first five tune-up games resulting in a 2-3 record.

“I’m not concerned about the record at all because we have played a lot of different lineups,” said Malone. “But as we get down to the game in San Antonio and the game in Vegas versus LA, I want to tighten up our rotation, stop making the same mistakes, be a lot more disciplined on defense, talking to each other, covering for each other and executing our gameplan.”

After holding Maccabi Haifa to 59 total points on Saturday, the Kings defense is allowing just 98 points to opponents this preseason, while the offense is averaging 102 points per game.

“Offensively, I want to really stress the attack pace, if nothing is free early [use] great ball movement and pass up good shots to earn great shots,” continued the second-year head coach.

Following orders, the purple and black attacked the Greens at a blazing pace on Saturday night, which generated 19 fast-break points. Yet the team understands their attack plan may change against the Spurs – a team known for playing fundamental defense and selfless offense.

“They play well as a team,” said forward Jason Thompson. “Most of their core players have been around each other [for a while], so they know the ins and outs and if something isn’t going well, then they know how to adjust on the fly.”

The Spurs big-three have played together since 2004, with many players filtering in and out over the years. Thanks to its high level of consistency, San Antonio has reached the playoffs in each of the seventeen seasons that star forward Tim Duncan has been with the team.

“Things really don’t change [with that team],” admitted Thompson. “Sometimes you might have different guys come in, but it’s very few and they’re role players. It’s not a guy coming in there and doing their own thing – they have a gameplan and either you do it, or they get someone else to do it.”

Depending on the rotation, No. 34 may have the difficult task of guarding Duncan on Monday night. The longest-tenured player on the Kings roster is very familiar with his assignment given the fact these two have met 18 times over the past six seasons. JT knows No. 21 is the perfect portrayal of a team that relies on fundamental basketball schemes.

“At some point, you had to learn the fundamentals to make it to the NBA. They’ve got Mr. Fundamental himself [Duncan], who isn’t flashy, but he’s effective. We’ve seen that over the last ten years.”

Kings Bonds Overseas

The team’s recent flight to China was full of surprises.

As forward Eric Moreland found out, it’s best not to sleep on the first plane flight.

For those who didn’t get any shut-eye, the 12-hour trip gave newcomers and veterans alike a chance to bond, share stories and develop chemistry off the court.

“That was a great experience and I think it helped a lot,” stated second-year guard Ben McLemore. “I was just there by myself a month ago, but it’s different going over there by yourself. Just to be around your teammates, interact with each other and have fun was great and it helped a lot.”

Although the team dropped both of its contests to the Brooklyn Nets while in China, Kings players realize the importance of exhibition games and the impact they have on an 82-game regular season.

“Preseason is not all about wins and losses,” stated Thompson. “We could be undefeated, but those stats obviously don’t count. The stuff we learned about each other and how we play together [is much more important]. The team bonding was great – going to the Great Wall and Shanghai, trips like those can only help us get better.”

Players Dish on New Uni’s

The Kings look like a brand new team in 2014.

With new uniforms, a handful of new faces and a shiny new playing surface, Sacramento fans may not automatically recognize their own team as the regular season approaches. Yet, the changes have been welcomed with open arms, especially the new uniforms.

“They’re a little livelier,” said Thompson. “I like the fit of the jerseys and I like the warm-ups. Another thing I really like is the new court. I like how they changed it up and I know the fans appreciate it as well.

“I definitely like the color scheme and the new swag – it fits my personality.”

The road warm-ups consist of an all-black base, white Addidas trim and a purple crown on the pants. The home edition is white with purple cursive ‘Kings’ lettering on the back and the same purple crown on the pants.

“The uniforms are way better – I like the material,” said Ben McLemore. “Especially because I got my number back – 23 is special. Everybody likes the warm-ups too. They changed it up and they’re pretty comfortable.”