Kings’ loss to Mavs presents ‘nice alternative’ for bounce-back recreation initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
SACRAMENTO – Slightly adversity by no means harm anyone.
Not less than that is what Kings coach Mike Brown believes, as he detailed earlier than Sacramento’s pivotal recreation in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
His message was easy: Adversity may very well be good for a workforce, however he doesn’t consider the Kings have confronted a lot of it since he grew to become head coach final season.
Brown might need spoken too quickly, although, and unintentionally obtained what he requested for in Tuesday’s depressing 132-96 blowout loss to the Mavericks at Golden 1 Heart – matching the workforce’s worst of the 2023-24 NBA season. The defeat met the necessities for what Brown considers an antagonistic scenario.
“Yeah, it is a nice time for us to see if we’ve got it inside ourselves exit and play the suitable method,” Brown stated postgame. “You are not going to win each recreation, clearly. I do not care how effectively you play. However you do not need to stroll away from the sport, when you will help it, with a nasty style in your mouth, understanding that there have been a number of issues out on the ground that we may have carried out higher. Simply by preserving the sport easy. Simply by doing what we do, doing what we emphasize.
“And that is what makes it robust is there are a handful of issues that we emphasize rather a lot, however as of late, it has been in regards to the sprays and it has been in regards to the contest. And we did not do a very good job in both space. So, to me — to all of us in that locker room — it is an amazing alternative for us to see if we will bounce again, play the suitable method and see if we will get a win in opposition to these guys within the subsequent three days.”
Not solely will the Kings look to avenge an embarrassing, nationally televised loss once they host the Mavericks on Friday for the second half of a two-game set, however in addition they can be battling for NBA playoff seeding.
Sacramento and Dallas have gone backwards and forwards because the Western Convention’s No. 6 seed, which is the ultimate playoff spot that bypasses the NBA play-in event.
With matching data coming into Tuesday’s contest, the Kings had the slight edge over the Mavericks. However after the loss, the sixth seed stays honest recreation. Sacramento may have clinched the tiebreaker with a win Tuesday night time after profitable the earlier two contests in Dallas earlier this season, however the Mavericks’ win introduced the season collection to 2-1 — and made Friday’s contest that rather more fascinating.
By the tip of the night time Tuesday, the Kings (42-30) and Mavericks (43-29) flip-flopped within the standings, with the latter leapfrogging into the sixth spot.
“It is simply nice to really feel the stress of huge video games or massive moments,” Brown stated earlier than Tuesday’s tip-off. “Particularly after we as a bunch have not felt it a ton, so some guys deal with it completely different. However for us all to proceed to undergo it and expertise it and hopefully have success with it, that is what we’re gunning for or attempting to get to. However to have success with it, it simply helps us develop.
“I’ve stated this already: Plenty of the nice ones say even when you fail generally, you’ll be able to be taught and develop from it. I hope we do not [fail] in any of our instances, however on the finish of the day, that is life. And it doesn’t matter what expertise we undergo, it should profit us long run.”
The Mavericks knew what was at stake Tuesday. So did the Kings. Gamers and coaches from each side talked about it main as much as the matchup.
Sadly for Sacramento, Dallas was higher ready Tuesday night time. Happily for Sacramento, there’s an opportunity at redemption in lower than 72 hours.
“We play this workforce once more, so hopefully, if we’re capable of win that recreation, then we’ve got the tiebreaker [and] we’re again tied up once more,” Kings level guard De’Aaron Fox stated postgame. “However positively within the West proper now, particularly once you’re taking part in a workforce that you just’re proper within the operating with, clearly a win or loss right here in opposition to them and in the event that they get a win or a loss is a complete recreation distinction.
“So we all know that is a particularly necessary recreation, and that simply makes Friday’s recreation all of the extra necessary so we will get the tiebreaker, win the collection 3-1 and we’re again tied up and we’re in entrance of them. So we’ve got to be ready for the following recreation.”
On Friday, the Kings have an opportunity to reply to the adversity Brown preached about pregame.
Brown maintained that dropping to the Golden State Warriors in a best-of-seven playoff collection thriller final season wasn’t adversity. Neither was coming into the 2023-24 season with heightened expectations for the primary time in a very long time. Coping with a number of accidents this season after a wholesome and constant yr final season didn’t meet Brown’s adversity standards, both.
Tuesday’s loss, nevertheless, completely did. And Brown is trying ahead to seeing how his guys reply and rise to the event in only a matter of days.
