Sacramento Kings · 8 notes
Maxime Raynaud isn't available for the Sacramento Kings, and Domantas Sabonis tied that to how the frontcourt is being covered. Asked about Precious Achiuwa playing center and the team leaning on Ben Simmons, he said: "we don't have Max, you know."
The Kings rested Ben Simmons to manage his soreness and workload. Doug Christie: "There's a bigger picture here, and that picture is for him to be available for 82 games in the regular season." No commitment on his next step: "We'll see what's happening in the morning."
De'Andre Hunter has played one game as a King and is still working off rust, Doug Christie said, but "DeAndre has been great." Christie likes him with Precious Achiuwa at center, Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray: "it's beautiful because you have the ability to switch."
Darius Acuff Jr., asked if he was limping after the final play: "No, I just got hit a little bit. I'm good though." The Kings rookie wished he'd played more, and with Ben Simmons handling the ball he's happy to play off it: "I don't mind doing that at all."
Sacramento's Ben Simmons played under 9 minutes in his first game in a year, which he said was planned as part of a buildup. He feels great. Asked about ramping him up over the next two preseason games, coach Doug Christie didn't commit: a group decision made with Simmons.
A young Kings player went down holding his knee, and Zach LaVine wouldn't guess how bad: "The way he grabbed his knee, obviously I don't want to put anything out there." Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray made preseason debuts; LaVine said Simmons looked healthy all camp.
Nique Clifford is "not a point guard," Kings coach Doug Christie said — he's a secondary ball handler who can make plays in pick and roll, but his priority is to defend, rebound and communicate. Asked if Ben Simmons, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray play next, Christie didn't commit.
Nique Clifford ran more point guard in the Kings' preseason-opening loss to the Lakers, with Ben Simmons and Malik Monk out. He said he'd played point one day in camp, called too many plays and needs to attack off the dribble more: "it's a learning process."