Managing expectations will be at the forefront Saturday when the Houston Rockets play host to the Sacramento Kings.
After finishing with the third-best record in the Western Conference last season, while snapping a playoff drought that covered 16 seasons, the Sacramento Kings have not opened this campaign like a house ablaze.
The Kings led the NBA in offensive rating a year ago at 118.6 but have slipped to eighth thus far in the early stages of this season at 113.3, with a ranking that is quality but not quite otherworldly.
The Kings have dropped a pair of games to the Golden State Warriors — including a 102-101 decision on Wednesday — to mute talk of a budding rivalry. Now comes the opener of a back-to-back set at Houston, with the rematch set for Monday.
While it is too early in the season to determine exactly who the Kings will be, the opening four games have shown areas where work needs to be done.
“For game four, I’m encouraged in the direction that we want to go,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “We always talk about playing fast. We didn’t play as fast as we wanted to (against the Warriors). We talk about playing physical. I thought we were pretty physical without fouling for the most part. And then trying to play the right way. I thought we tried to play the right way on both ends of the floor.
“Our defense wasn’t perfect, but we didn’t stop. We were flying around protecting one another and trying to contest shots. And then trying to keep them off the offensive glass. … Just a little bit better here, a little bit better there, maybe we come out with a win.”
De’Aaron Fox leads the Kings with 31.3 points a game, but he missed Wednesday’s defeat with a right ankle sprain. The team is hopeful he can return Saturday.
The Rockets shot a robust 52.4 percent in their 128-119 home win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday for their first victory of the season. Houston made 21 3-pointers after making at least 20 from distance just once last season.
The Rockets also had 35 assists — their highest total in a regulation game since they posted 36 assists on May 7, 2021, against the Milwaukee Bucks.
It was an exceptional all-around offensive performance that the Rockets will be hard pressed to mimic with regularity this season. The desired result was achieved via their exceptional shooting, but how the Rockets approach the process of manufacturing those shots is critical.
Consistency is the preferred method for new head coach Ime Udoka.
“I think we understood what we didn’t do well in the other games,” Udoka said. “Just getting better each game. Just want to be more consistent and they understood that.
“Yeah, it’s always good to get the first one. We have played well enough at times, but we haven’t been consistent enough and that’s been my message more so than anything. If we continue to play with the proper intensity and focus, we’d be in good shape. We’re not good enough to float in and out, and that’s been my message. If we put this together then we can do it.”
–Field Level Media