The Kings need to overcome a season-long problem if they’re going to the playoffs
Of the Sacramento Kings’ many issues, one stands out. It’s more rudimentary and micro than ownership, organizational instability and a roster that doesn’t seem to be meshing.
They lack 3-point shooting.
It’s one of the most fundamental parts of the modern game, particularly during a 3-point-era bullet point this week when Warriors guard Stephen Curry became the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader with 2,977 and counting. He did it at age 33, needing just 789 games to break Ray Allen’s record, which required 1,300.
The Kings came into Wednesday’s win over the Washington Wizards ranked 24th of 30 teams in 3-point shooting percentage (32.9%) and 23rd in threes made per 100 possessions (11.5).
A bunch of Curry’s they are not.
How important is 3-point shooting? It goes without saying.
“Obviously when we’re shooting the ball well from 3, we’re a better team. As it is with anybody,” guard Tyrese Haliburton said Wednesday, channeling the obvious.
Coming into Wednesday’s games, eight of the top-10 teams in made threes per 100 possessions are either in playoffs position or the play-in tournament. Only the Knicks and Blazers, who are sixth and eighth, sit outside the playoff picture in their respective conferences.
It’s notable for a Kings team that often plays small, emphasizes pace and regularly does things to mimic the 3-happy Warriors.
Sacramento started three guards Wednesday, with rookie Davion Mitchell (a 31% shooter from deep) making his first career start. The team’s best player, point guard De’Aaron Fox, is shooting a miserable 26.5% from 3 this season. Haliburton is a bright spot at 41.6%, but he’s only shooting 4.3 attempts from beyond the arc per game (Curry averages over 13 attempts per night).
Making threes can help a team overcome other deficiencies, like being a poor defensive team (the Kings are third-worst in defensive efficiency). Viable deep shooting can unclog the offense and give a slasher like Fox more room to work with. It can can give any team a puncher’s chance against the elite teams the Kings have to compete with if they’re going to break their 15-year playoff drought.
The Kings were being outscored by just 3.5 points per game on average, meaning improved 3-point shooting could go a long way in the wins and loss columns, helping them reach their stated goal of at least getting into the play-in tournament.
They didn’t need 3-point shooting to beat the Wizards on Wednesday. It was Washington who was miserable from deep, making just 5 of 24 (20.8%), while the Kings blitzed the road team in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Wizards 35-16 in the 119-105 victory.
Sacramento’s closing lineup Wednesday was ultra small under acting coach Doug Christie, who was subbing for interim coach Alvin Gentry, who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Fox, Mitchell, Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes were the decisive five in crunch time. Yet it was a rare case where only three players on the court (Haliburton, Hield and Barnes) were capable shooters from distance. That threesome was 5 of 17 from 3 on the night, with Hield, the team’s lone volume shooter, accounting for four makes. Terence Davis was out due to the league’s health and safety protocols, though his shooting has been well below his 29.5% shooting is well below his 37.7% mark coming into the season.
The Kings Wednesday night were 8 of 26.
“Damn, we didn’t shoot well!” Haliburton said with a laugh. “Thirty percent from 3, but in the fourth quarter we made some timely shots. So that got it done (laughs). ... Damn.”
One of those shots came from Barnes, who hit a 3 with just over seven minutes remaining to make it 98-94 after the Kings entered the fourth quarter down 5 points. It was the start of a 16-point frame for Barnes as Sacramento stormed from behind to end a three-game losing streak.
It was Barnes’ first and only made 3 of the game on four attempts. He missed six of his last seven over the last two games. He finished Wednesday 19 points after a slow start.
“I’ve had so many looks over the past couple games that feel great,” Barnes said, “and they’re just nowhere near going in. So to finally have one that finally did (go in), it was a nice relief.”
Before beating Washington, the Kings in their wins are have shot a respectable 39% from beyond the arc. In losses it dips to a league worst 28.4%.
To Haliburton’s obvious point, they’re better when they’re making 3s.
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 6:03 AM.
