NBA Notes: Kings, Zach LaVine, Mavericks, Daniel Gafford, Pacers
Sacramento Kings Struggle Early
The Sacramento Kings' early season narrative suffered another setback after their 126-113 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. As Sam Quinn of CBS Sports noted, the old joke about the Kings "turning into the Bulls" no longer fits. Chicago is younger, faster, and more modern, with a young rotation beyond just Nikola Vucevic. Meanwhile, Sacramento remains stuck relying on mid-range shots, ranking 22nd in attempts at the rim and fifth worst overall in offense. Their style appears more like an All-Star nostalgia team than a progressive NBA offense.
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports: "Chicago is younger, faster and modern. Sacramento is stuck in mid-range land. It looks more like an All-Star nostalgia team than a cutting edge NBA offense."
Additionally, Sam Amick of The Athletic mentioned on The Carmichael Dave Show that he cannot "name one team" currently showing strong interest in Zach LaVine. While the return of Keegan Murray should provide a boost, the Kings require far more than just a single player's return to improve. The team seems to have lost its identity after attempting to cling to past successes with older players.
Daniel Gafford's Injury Update
Daniel Gafford plans to make his season debut on Saturday in Mexico City against Detroit, according to reports from Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News and Christian Clark of The Athletic. Gafford has been sidelined since spraining his ankle on the first day of training camp. D’Angelo Russell's status is currently questionable, while Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Dante Exum remain out.
Daniel Gafford: "I plan to make my season debut Saturday in Mexico City vs. Detroit."
Summary
The Kings face significant early challenges as they struggle to adapt their style, with injury setbacks compounding their difficulties, highlighting a team in search of a clear identity.
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