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Sacramento Kings: Jazz, Timberwolves Recap

By John von Volkli

April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl (center) instructs in a huddle against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl (center) instructs in a huddle against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The light at the end of a long tunnel is in sight for a thoroughly weathered Sacramento Kings. This week began with an all-around uninspiring matchup against the visiting Utah Jazz, wherein both teams brought ample servings of turnovers to the Easter dinner table.

Though this point in the season is a great time for players to prove the stamina, determination, and professionalism they can bring into the following season, if not the upcoming playoffs. The latter will not be an issue for head coach George Karl’s Kings, who are currently languishing at the 13th-place spot in a Western Conference that is bloated with talent.

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With the final stretch of the season bearing down on them, the Sacramento Kings are clearly ready to move on from their tumultuous 2014-15 experience. As Karl’s second month on the bench comes to a close, one can see only an obscured view of the pieces he has to work with in the coming months and years.

With team assist leader and versatile forward Rudy Gay out for a stretch with a concussion, and with Darren Collison‘s long-term absence from the court, the Kings have been getting a chance to experiment on the court.

These experiments are, however, brought upon under duress. These experiments in Karl-flavored offense gave the Utah Jazz an Easter basket full of opportunities to showcase their sometimes less obvious assets on Sunday. Rookie Rodney Hood emerged from the oft-sloppy offensive effort by both teams with an impressive 13-point fourth quarter run, bringing his team-leading point total to 25 f0r the night.

These signals of what’s to come could only be encouraging for rebuilding teams like the Jazz, but the consistent dominance of DeMarcus Cousins on both ends of the court has been the one sure thing Karl has been able to see up close and personal in the since his joining the Kings in February.

The door swung open for this startling Jazz upswing following a technical foul called on forward Derrick Williams. Williams’ lack of tenacity on the boards has frustrated not only his coach, but fans who have yet to see him fully form as a defensive player. During his time with the press following Monday’s practice, Karl recounted the needs which he and the front office will have to fulfill in the coming months.

Karl has had to hammer home his focus on not only up-tempo but on-rhythm play with previous teams (be they the Carmelo Antho-Nuggets or… the late Seattle SuperSonics).

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    • Karl’s sage words, though characteristically to-the-point and even brusque, may be influencing his new pupils. Without the ability to lean on Boogie’s triple-double potential, the Kings overcame their Minnesota opponents (who are none too spry themselves at this point in their season) with a team-leading 33 points from a returning and resurgent Rudy Gay, and a healthy 31 from forward Omri Casspi.

    The performance against the wounded ‘Wolves may not have been a clear turnaround moment for Sacramento, but it’s not the faintest glimmer of hope seen in a struggling team in recent years.

    The week’s games, though meaningless in terms of salvaging a demoralizing, ugly season, can offer a clearer picture – to fans, the organization, and hopefully the would-be returning players for the 2015-2016 Sacramento Kings – of what is, and what can be.

    Though the as-yet untested Sim Bhullar has his place in history, the way to the post-season for Karl’s Kings may just be to hunker down on a model of fast forwards, defensively capable guards, and one of the best all-around big men in the league.

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