Luke Walton, head coach of the Sacramento Kings /VCG Photo
The Sacramento Kings suffered their fifth straight loss on Wednesday as they were defeated by the Charlotte Hornets 118-111 at the Golden 1 Center. Since the Indiana Pacers claimed their first victory over the Brooklyn Nets 118-108 at the Barclays Center, the Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans became the only two winless teams of the whole league.
The Kings spent big money on their franchise this summer. They kept Harrison Barnes with a four-year, 85-million-U.S.-dollar deal; they gave Buddy Hield a four-year, 86-million-guaranteed contract extension; and don't forget, they hired Luke Walton as new head coach and signed a four-year contract with him.
De'Aaron Fox, #5 of the Sacramento Kings, shoots in the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Golden 1 Center, October 30, 2019. /VCG Photo
Having finished the 2018-19 season with 39 wins and 43 losses to rank No. 9 in the Western Conference, Sacramento saw the hope of competing for the playoffs in the new season. The team's second-year point guard De'Aaron Fox showed more than his speed in the game and averaged 17.3 points plus 7.3 assists per game. Hield buried 3.4 3-pointers at a 3-point rate of 42.7 percent. First-year rookie Marvin Bagley III gradually grew used to the NBA and dropped 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds per game.
The above high expectation should help you understand why Kings fans are so disappointed today. "Fire Luke! Fire Luke!" Such yelling was heard multiple times in the game against the Hornets.
Last season, the team could get 114.2 points per game, the fifth highest of all 30 teams and played 103. 1 possessions per game, which was the fifth fastest pace of the league. By contrast, their average score dropped to 95.5 points this season, one of the worst of the league and lost by 17 points per game.
Brandon Ingram, #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans, shoots in the game against the Golden State Warriors at Smoothie King Center, October 28, 2019. /VCG Photo
Moreover, it did not make Sacramento fans feel any better being on the same boat with New Orleans. Though the latter also lost four consecutive games, it does not take a microscope to find hope in their games. For example, New Orleans could score 124 points per game, the fifth most of the league; they could grab 12 offensive rebounds and deliver 30. 8 assists on average, No. 8 and No. 1 respectively of all teams.
New Orleans' young players are giving the team hope as well. Brandon Ingram averaged 27.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and kept a 3-point rate of 50 percent per game; Josh Hart could get 16.5 points plus 6.5 rebounds; Lonzo Ball could put down 13.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists and shoot 3-pointers at 36.7-percent rate.
By the way, when the above three young men were playing under Walton in the Los Angeles Lakers, their performance were as disappointing as that of Fox and Hield today.
Stephen Curry's broken hand breaks Warriors' heart
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors breaks his left hand in the game against the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center, October 30, 2019. /VCG Photo
The Golden State Warriors lost to the Phoenix Suns 121-110 at the Chase Center, which was not big news. However, what truly hurt the team was that their ace, two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry broke his left hand and had to leave the game in the third quarter.
As we talked before, there's still hope for the Warriors this season, but that was based on both Curry and Draymond Green staying healthy. As soon as that ceased to be true, the team would fall into abyss and there would not be any way out in the near future because that's how broken their franchise is.
Injury costs the Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant (L), Klay Thompson (C) and Stephen Curry (R). /VCG Photo
Golden State were unlucky as injuries cost three of their most important players in six games – Kevin Durant suffered an Achilles tendon injury with his right leg in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals; Klay Thompson tore his ACL in his left knee in Game 6; Curry broke his left hand in the team's fourth game of the new season.
Nonetheless, bad luck was not the only cause for their tragedy. Champion teams naturally lose passion for victories and their franchise grow thinner, older, but more expensive before injuries take them down. In fact, that was how the Warriors failed to win their third straight title last season.
Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors /VCG Photo
It remains unclear how long Curry will be away – it usually takes at least six weeks for a broken hand to heal. As for the Warriors, that will be 17 games without their best player. Considering that the Warriors will be careful enough to limit Curry's time on the court and it will take him some time to find his game again, when Curry finally returns, a third of the whole season would have been gone. By the way, the team won't be able to make any improvement on their franchise during this time.
The good news for Golden State is that they will have enough time to build their game around D'Angelo Russell without worrying about the record. Whatever that result is, Curry won't be part of it.
Other games on Wednesday included (home teams in bold):
Chicago Bulls 111-117 Cleveland Cavaliers
New York Knicks 83-95 Orlando Magic
Minnesota Timberwolves 95-117 Philadelphia 76ers
Milwaukee Bucks 105-116 Boston Celtics
Indiana Pacers 118-108 Brooklyn Nets
Detroit Pistons 113-125 Toronto Raptors
Portland Trail Blazers 102-99 Oklahoma City Thunder
Los Angeles Clippers 96-110 Utah Jazz
Houston Rockets 159-158 Washington Wizards