The Suns made Kings fans melt down
Oct 24, 2019, 8:30 AM
Head coach Luke Walton of the Sacramento Kings talks with De'Aaron Fox #5 during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 23, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Suns fans won’t be sorry for Sacramento Kings fans after a 124-95 Phoenix win to open the 2019-20 season.
But they know the feeling real well.
That of shame. That of watching basketball so bad it makes them physically ill. The feeling that things never change.
You could say Sacramento fans felt like Phoenix fans have felt ever since 2010, the Suns’ last playoff run. Or you could just say that Kings fans felt like #Kangz fans.
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Yes, yes, yes. It’s only one game and Suns fans know all too well from a blowout win in the opener last year that it does not project how the rest of the season will go.
For the Kings, however, there’s a level of concern being raised after Sacramento reacted to a relatively successful 2018-19 by firing head coach Dave Joerger, hiring Luke Walton and shelling out a lot of money to a group of free agents that included — gulp — Trevor Ariza.
So indeed, there was some panic on the part of the Kings and their fans.
Exhibit A is general manager and VP of basketball operations Vlade Divac and assistant GM Peja Stojakovic collectively putting their faces in their hands while watching the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
That feeling when you spend $300 million in the off-season on Ariza, Dedmon, Barnes, Holmes, and Hield but lose to the Suns by 29 on opening night. Sorry Vlade/Peja! Let’s go Valley Boyz!!! @Gambo987 @Vincemarotta @Bickley_Marotta @Burnsy987 @espn @ValleyoftheSuns @danbickley pic.twitter.com/f9lkX4fyQu
— Ryan Raji (@ryan_raji) October 24, 2019
Exhibit B was all of Kings Twitter melting down as Sacramento blew a double-digit lead in the second quarter and ended up losing by 29.
Snap judgement on the @SacramentoKings after the first game…#Kangz
We better bring our A game for the home opener. This was a rough first showing for a team that has loftier goals for the season… pic.twitter.com/gFpiNesfqL
— Paolo Jimenez (@PhiddyCentavos) October 24, 2019
Didn't think I needed to bring this out after game 1, but here we are #SacramentoProud #Kangz pic.twitter.com/m3doWYESXV
— Spookghetti 👻🎃🕸️🧟♂️🍝 (@2_Spaghettis) October 24, 2019
Luke Walton went to the Kings & ruined a young fun team hate to see it
— Snoot🏁 (@1Snoot) October 24, 2019
There's that good old #kangz basketball feeling.. pic.twitter.com/4xbhhiA6hB
— Kings Nation (@BAKingsNation) October 24, 2019
Me trying to keep Luke Walton from ruining the Kings pic.twitter.com/m38Tr6GUwc
— The big chillin’ (@Kofie) October 24, 2019
#KANGZ @CarmichaelDave pic.twitter.com/guCC1Ryy4I
— chase (@Chase_Everett_) October 24, 2019
Literally dozens of Lakers fans have responded to this with some iteration of “welcome to the Luke Walton experience”.
This is fine. https://t.co/tyAtDYjH5n
— Greg (@gwiss) October 24, 2019
How I feel after this first game. #Kangz @SacramentoKings @swipathefox pic.twitter.com/MeX4ZeBhsA
— Shaun (@Holkko23) October 24, 2019
Who ruins teams faster then Luke Walton? Bagley is the future but he only gets 18 mins because you have to play Ariza & R Holmes? pic.twitter.com/9JjDH7Y510
— DowJonesDFS (@DowJonesDFS) October 24, 2019
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