The Kings (finally) light the beam and Jayson Tatum’s swagger returns: Lessons from the NBA

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Even the kings fans had to shake off the rust.

It had been 195 days since Sacramento residents chanted “Light the Beam!” at the Golden 1 Center, coming off a win over Golden State on April 16 in a play-in game that would prove disappointing. Between the season-ending play-in game that followed against New Orleans, the 0-5 preseason loss six months later, and the 0-2 start of this regular season, an unwelcome darkness reigned over the arena for nine games recently voted Best in the League by ESPN.

But as Sacramento got closer to its 111-98 win over Portland on Monday night, the familiar edict – much like the Kings themselves – came back in flawed fashion. Actually, it was two chants layered on top of each other, as if one section of loyalists were interrupting the other in their beloved building.

“Light the….”

“Light the….”

“Ray…”

“Ray…”

Regardless, the Kings finally found the win column, becoming the last NBA team of significance to emerge from the proverbial slump (with all due respect to the Jazz and Pistons). The caliber of the opponent didn’t matter, especially considering how these lottery-bound Trail Blazers had beaten the Pelicans the night before. The Kings were able to avoid a serious increase in pressure by getting the job done, with freshman DeMar DeRozan (23 points; 7 of 14 shooting) earning the right to earn beam honors for the first time.

the first of 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 Deebo Beams 🟣🔦 pic.twitter.com/dJa8lRrgzn

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) October 29, 2024

De’Aaron Fox even did it latest entry in the Kings’ record books, He scored 24 points, becoming only the fifth player in franchise history (circa 1948) to surpass the 10,000-point threshold (along with Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman, Mitch Richmond and Tiny Archibald). After the Kings’ narrow losses to Minnesota and the Lakers and a four-game road trip that began Tuesday night in Utah, it was a much-needed pivot for a team in contention There is a lot at stake this season.

“We had to play desperately,” Fox said. “You don’t want to start a season 0-3, and of course with two of them at home (that was important). So we couldn’t let a younger team overtake us. They’re back to back, but we have one tomorrow and that should never be an excuse. If the ball doesn’t go in, then the ball doesn’t go in. But overload is something you can’t just come in and hand over to someone.”

There is also this positive trend for the Kings: This time they are actually hitting free throws. So far, anyway.

After 23 of 25 goals against Portland, the team from Sacramento, which was last in the league in terms of free throw rate (74.5 percent) last season, is now in first place (85.9). While that’s a small sample size, that’s what happens when you add an elite player like DeRozan, who has always benefited from charity (84.1 percent for his career on an average of 6.6 attempts). He was nine out of 10 against the Trail Blazers. For third-year Kings coach Mike Brown, who often complained about his team narrowly missing the playoffs last season and missing free throws, this is as encouraging a sign as any in the early going here.

The Good Vibes Club(s)

Suns-Lakers

There had to be a loser in Monday night’s Lakers-Suns affair, but both teams should still feel very good about their respective starts.

For the Lakers, who lost their first game in four tries (109-105) under first-year coach JJ Redick, the continued dominance of Anthony Davis (29 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, a Steal and a plus) 14 marks) is the kind of groundbreaking development that could make them title contenders again if it continues. LeBron James was the Lakers’ standout against Phoenix, as he missed 11 of 14 shots and was minus-17 overall.

As the February 8th trade deadline approaches and the internal debate continues over whether this core is good enough to compete, the need to surround their dynamic duo with the strongest supporting cast possible with Davis and James around becomes more important will increase really dynamically throughout. And James had performed exceptionally well in the Lakers’ first three games.

The 3-1 Suns, meanwhile, appear to be a team that should benefit from having their star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal together for a full season (so to speak). As was the case with Minnesota after the Rudy Gobert deal and with Dallas after the Kyrie Irving deal, Year #2 tends to be better for these teams that didn’t originally match “on paper” projections. And those Suns, lest anyone forget, had a very respectable 26-15 record last season when their big three shared the court last season (they finished 49-33 and were swept in the first round by Minnesota).

The question now, of course, is whether the Suns can be healthy enough to benefit from Mike Budenholzer’s presence. The first-year Suns coach was known for building an elite defense during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, although that prospect is always easier when you have players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez at his service.

Nevertheless, these suns (sixth best defensive rating (so far) have made a good start in this regard. Offensively, the acquisition of Tyus Jones (on a minimum deal, no less) paid immediate and predictable dividends. He leads the team in assists (six per game) while also averaging 32.2 minutes and 10 points. The Suns defeated the Clippers, Mavericks and Lakers and also lost to the Lakers 123-116 on Friday.

And more …

• Cleveland hasn’t started a season 4-0 since the 2016-17 season, when the LeBron-led Cavs got off to a 6-0 start (en route to a loss to the Warriors in the Finals). Coincidentally, this group, led by Donovan Mitchell, hosts the James’ Lakers on Wednesday. And while they could be accused of a weak schedule in their first three games – with wins against Toronto, Detroit and Washington – Monday night’s victory over the Knicks (110-104) was an early statement of the most impressive kind.

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers are 4-0. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

• Here’s hoping Paolo Banchero’s 50-point performance in Orlando’s win over Indiana on Monday night isn’t the new norm (again). As our John Hollinger more detailed on Monday, The early game is strangely reminiscent of the offensive trend that seemed to buck last season, with free throws galore and scorers let loose at the line (Banchero hit 15 of 22 free throws). Nonetheless, this Magic team (3-1), which led the Cavs to seven first-round games last postseason, has looked dangerous so far (wins over Miami, Brooklyn and the Pacers and a loss to Memphis).

• Late last week I was raving about the Thunder (3-0). this pieceas does our Anthony Slater Here. But OKC deserves a mention here as much as any, as the Thunder convincingly defeated Denver, Chicago and Atlanta while posting absurd defensive ratings (a league-best 90.5 points per 100 possessions allowed, with the Warriors in second place). ). 95.9). Next up is the final showdown between the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on Wednesday night in San Antonio. Yes, please …

A well-deserved word on Jayson Tatum

So… apparently Jayson Tatum’s confidence is back.

When the Boston Celtics star spent his awkward summer with Team USA during the Olympics, averaging just 17.7 minutes in the Americans’ six-game gold medal run under coach Steve Kerr while enduring two DNP-CDs, there was a Overlooked element that played a role was involved in the controversial decision to push Tatum to the back of the rotation. From Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas to group play in Lille to the medal rounds in Paris, Tatum seemed to struggle in practice not just with his shot but, if you will, his swagger.

When it comes to the public (and media) forming an opinion about how certain players are used, it’s the last part – the behind-the-scenes look – that’s usually left out of commentary. And by all accounts, Tatum struggled to find his rhythm during that time. Both in public spaces and in the private sector.

Maybe it was residue from him Shooting problems during the Celtics’ title runor the reality that the Team USA experience always requires major role changes for most players due to the tremendous talent, but sources said he never seemed to look like himself. Tatum was a veteran of the national team and was second on the team (behind Durant) in the gold medal win in Tokyo in 2021, but he has never been on such a team all-time.

But when he returned to Boston, where Tatum’s Celtics raised the organization’s 18th banner in June and he got a huge back tattoo of him kissing the Larry O’Brien Trophy to celebrate, he spent most of the first four games (all wins) with watching like Peak Tatum again.

Following Boston’s wins against the Knicks, Wizards, Pistons and Bucks, Tatum is averaging 28.5 points while shooting 51.3 percent overall and 41.9 percent on 3 attempts (on 10.8 attempts per). And these are the numbers, mind you, after He missed 10 of 16 shots and 7 of 8 three-pointers in a 119-108 home win over Milwaukee on Monday night. Before this game, he had hit 17 of 35 three-pointers.

Tatum also averages 6.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks.

It’s still early, but the Celtics are certainly excited to see this version of Tatum starting.

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(Top photo by De’Aaron Fox: Sergio Estrada / Imagn Images)