For the second straight game, the Sacramento Kings were utterly embarrassed on their home floor by a team right on their level in the standings. After the Memphis Grizzlies came in and led by over 30 points on them, it was the Charlotte Hornets’ turn to demolish the Kings' defense as they scored 131 points, the most Sacramento has allowed this season.
Head coach Dave Joerger and point guard George Hill called the team out after the Grizzlies loss, and it was veteran wing Garrett Temple’s turn to go off as he blasted their awful defensive performance after the Hornets loss.
“We don’t guard a soul, haven’t defended a soul. If you don’t guard in the NBA, you’re going to lose every game, I don’t care who you play. We haven’t defended whatsoever, at all, point blank.” -Garrett Temple
Despite bringing in veterans in Hill and Zach Randolph and retaining Temple, the Kings’ incredible youth and inexperience are coming back to bite them in a big way and not just on defense. They are currently dead last in the league terms of both offensive and defensive efficiency.
It was always going to be a challenge to get a team with so many young players to play consistently good defense. There are just too many players out there that don't have much of a clue what's happening on that end of the court.
Granted, that's not an excuse to get consistently blown out by teams around them in the standings. They still need to improve in that respect. But barring some unbelievable improvement, defense will likely continue to be a major problem all year long for the inexperienced Kings.
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