Kings at Warriors Preview – By the Numbers

By: Will Z

The Kings have shown improvement early in the 2022-23 season, but have nothing to show for it yet in the win column. Their task doesn’t get any easier today as they travel West on I-80 to face the defending champion, Warriors. Again, it’s early and sample sizes are small, but here’s what stands out from the two teams so far.

The Warriors come into the game averaging 123 Points per game, 3rd most in the NBA. Their high-powered offense is built on passing, threes, and smart twos. Their 32.5 Assists are 2nd in the NBA, they lead the league with 44.5 threes per game, and their 57.1% two-point FG% ranks 2nd in the NBA.

While Golden State racks up assists, they also turn the ball over often. Their 18.5 Turnovers a game ranks 2nd most so far this year. They also haven’t hit their stride form beyond the arc yet this season, as their 34.8 3p% is 23rd in the league. With the Warriors, you just have to hope that tonight isn’t the night they turn it on. Normally, a good strategy is to let Draymond Green try and beat you from deep, but in his career, he’s made 40.5% of his threes against the Kings, 2nd only to his 42.4% 3P% against the Dallas Mavericks. Last year, Draymond made 4 of 6 threes to hurt the Kings from beyond the arc.

Another player to keep an eye on is Jordan Poole, who is off to a slow start. He’s 6 of 20 from the field, and 2 of 11 from three in the Warriors first two games. If the Kings are going to be a playoff team, they have to shed the moniker as a ‘Get Right’ team.

For the Kings, De’Aaron Fox has gotten off to an extremely hot start, averaging 34.5 Points per Game, 2nd only to Jayson Tatum’s 34.7. Fox is shooting an amazing 61.4% from the field, and 57.1% from three on great volume (8/14). Huerter also continues to light it up from deep, making 5 of 8 threes (62.5%) after making 6 of 9 (66.7%) against the Blazers. The two are forming an extremely formidable backcourt duo early in the season.

There is plenty room for improvement from the Kings bench though. Davion Mitchell, Malik Monk, and Richaun Holmes have combined to score only 16 Points in 98 minutes through two games. For the Kings to compete, especially against the best teams in the league, there has to be more bench scoring for a team that has touted their depth through training camp and preseason.