Brown shoulders blame for Kings’ self-inflicted mistakes

SACRAMENTO: After yet another tough game, Kings coach Mike Brown is feeling the heat. The team lost 113-100 to the Lakers, and it was clear that self-inflicted mistakes were a big part of the problem. Brown didn’t even raise his voice after the game. He knows his players are aware of what they need to do.

He’s been saying the same things for weeks, but the Kings just can’t seem to get it together. Whether it’s not blocking out, failing to protect the paint, or making sloppy passes, they keep falling into the same traps. Brown said, “It is what it is,” and he’s right. The players know what’s expected; it’s just a matter of actually doing it.

Brown took the blame, as good coaches do, but he knows the issues run deeper. From the start of training camp, he’s been stressing the importance of details, but it hasn’t stuck. They did improve a bit on defense against the Lakers, but they still got outmuscled. They allowed 15 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points for the Lakers.

Turnovers were another big issue, with the Kings giving the ball away 17 times. Brown was clearly frustrated, saying their performance on both ends of the court was lacking. He had to burn through his timeouts quickly, leaving him with just one for the last stretch of the game.

Brown emphasized that to be successful, the team needs to fight through adversity. It’s not going to be easy, but they have to commit to playing hard, no matter the circumstances. He pointed out that they need to decide who they want to be as a team, and last night’s performance didn’t send a strong message.

While Brown hinted at possible lineup changes, point guard De’Aaron Fox believes it’s more about the team’s mindset. He stressed the importance of executing the game plan and not just thinking about it. If they keep losing, they risk falling behind in the standings, just like last year. They need to find a way to string together some wins to prove they’re a serious contender.