photo from sacbee.com: Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III (35) blocks a shot against the Dallas Mavericks forward Maximilian Kleber (42) on March 21, 2019 in this Sac Bee file photo.
By London Marq
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings exist in an awkward space within the NBA right now. After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, their young core is hoping to make stride forward and become a better team.
The only problem — the Western Conference is vastly improved — meaning that if the Kings hope to be playoff relevant, they will have to prove they are much better than they were six months ago. Through the first two games of the preseason, the Kings are 0-2.
On the surface, it may seem like a bad omen but there are factors to consider. Those first two games were played a world away in India so it’s hard to judge the effectiveness of the team playing with so many travel miles behind them. They are also under direction from new head coach Luke Walton, so the team may be finding ways to acclimate themselves to the new strategies being implemented. All in all, the two losses are no reason to panic.
On Thursday night, the Kings welcomed the Phoenix Suns into the Golden 1 Center for their first home preseason game. Behind some excellent defense and 18 points from De’Aaron Fox the Kings would walk away with the win, 105-88.
Defense has to be a point of emphasis for Sacramento if they hope to compete for a playoff spot in the west. If tonight was any indication of the Kings’ focus on defense, then it bodes well.
Sacramento held the Suns to just 16 points in the first quarter and 18 in the fourth while outscoring their opponents in threw of the four frames. Last year, the offense was one of the most potent in the league and the Kings were one of the most exciting teams to watch.
If they can match that with consistent effort on defense, they will compete. While one preseason win is nothing to write home about, the Kings should be using this time to gel as a unit and acclimate themselves to their new coach while playing at full speed. The Kings will face a challenge in their final preseason match versus the Utah Jazz. The regular season is just around the bend, and the Kings will have a lot to prove if they want to be considered as a contender.
Halfway through the regular season, the Stanford Cardinal football team has absorbed a lot of punches, but continues to stand tall through adversity.
Despite starting with the toughest six-game stretch in college football and losing 10 key contributors from its two-deep depth chart — five for the season — Stanford (3-3, 2-2 Pac-12) has remained resilient and played its best game of the year last week by upsetting No. 15 Washington.
“This offseason, something that we trained for is reacting to adversity,” said junior outside linebacker Gabe Reid, who secured six tackles and a sack in his first career start. “From weightlifting to conditioning is something that the strength and conditioning staff really drills into our head. Whatever happens, you have to react. It’s not about the past but just moving forward and being able to react to tough situations.”
Each Monday, the team captains — senior free safety Malik Antoine, senior quarterback K.J. Costello, junior tight end Colby Parkinson, fifth-year senior running back Cameron Scarlett and fifth-year senior outside linebacker Casey Toohill — conduct a players-only meeting to review the previous game and prepare for the next opponent.
“I think that’s really helped our team grow together,” said sophomore wide receiver Simi Fehoko, who caught his first touchdown as a Cardinal against Washington. “Everybody on the team has a voice. It’s really helped us grow closer and I feel like it’s helped our chemistry.”
After emerging with a hard-fought victory at Oregon State two weeks ago, Stanford coaches and players agreed the squad needed to increase its toughness and intensity.
“We talked about the entire team playing with an edge,” Fehoko said. “We need to be the aggressor and attack the guy across the ball from us. We kind of took that to heart.”
Stanford set the tempo against Washington and never let up in the 23-13 triumph. After going 5-of-5 for 56 yards and a touchdown on the first drive, Husky quarterback Jacob Eason was just 11-of-31 for 150 yards in the last 49:31. Washington ran 18 times for only 77 yards after its first series and was 1-for-11 on third down conversions.
“Winning last week was very big for our confidence and building momentum,” said Reid. “We pride ourselves in how we play and felt like maybe the first quarter of the season didn’t really reflect our true potential. We’re looking forward to proving what a great defensive team we are.”
QUARTERBACK UPDATE
David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, is uncertain who will start at quarterback in next Thursday’s 6 p.m. home game against UCLA. Costello, who has missed the last two games due to injury, is questionable and day-to-day, while junior Davis Mills, who has led Stanford to consecutive victories against Oregon State and Washington, is questionable.
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Sophomore Jack West, who replaced Mills in the fourth quarter against the Huskies, is expected to take most of the snaps in practice this week and could earn his first career start against the Bruins.
“Jack West can do everything in this offense,” said Shaw. “If he has to play against UCLA, he’ll go out there and play well.”
RECOGNIZED PLAYERS
Junior cornerback Paulson Adebo, junior center Drew Dalman and Fehoko earned conference recognition this week for their performances against Washington. Adebo had five tackles and four pass breakups in what Shaw called his best showing of the season and was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week; Dalman anchored a unit that helped the Cardinal produce 482 total yards and grind out 23 first downs, and was selected Pac-12 Offensive Line Player of the Week; and Fehoko caught three passes for 91 yards, including a 42-yard scoring grab, and recovered a fumble, and was chosen Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.
Fehoko, who served a two-year LDS mission in Seoul, South Korea, appeared in four games last season but retained his year of eligibility due to the new NCAA redshirt rule.
“I was kind of surprised for a second,” Fehoko said after learning about his award. “I’m a 22-year-old freshman. I was super-excited and honored.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
INJURY LIST
Stanford is down to seven healthy offensive linemen after losing guard Henry Hattis to a season-ending injury against Washington. As it stands, juniors Dalman and Foster Sarell will start at center and right tackle, respectively, against the Bruins. They will likely be joined by true freshman Walter Rouse, who has started the last five games at left tackle; true freshman Barrett Miller, who made his first start at left guard against Washington; and true freshman Jake Hornibrook, who stepped in for Hattis and played well in his first college game.
“It changes practice significantly,” said Shaw. “We have to be more intentional about every single rep.”
Shaw and his staff have several contingency plans if someone else goes down.
“We’ve had conservations every week,” Shaw said. “It’s just where we are.”
Shaw is optimistic senior tackle/guard Devery Hamilton will return at some point.
While he didn’t expect his young linemen to play such big roles this season, Shaw has been impressed by their work ethic and steady improvement.
“It’s been fun to watch,” Shaw said. “We thought we were going to watch it happen in practice; we just happen to be watching it during games. Every day is a new learning experience.”
FINE FISK
Junior tight end Tucker Fisk made his second reception of the season against the Huskies, nearly scoring on a 16-yard throw from Mills. Shaw praised Fisk’s toughness and versatility.
“There’s a reason why that sideline was excited when he caught that ball and broke a couple tackles,” Shaw said. “Most of the team has seen his high school highlights and that’s all over his highlights. He’s 270 pounds and an athlete, so when he catches the ball, he’s hard to bring down.”
Fisk played at Davis High (Davis, Calif.), where he snared 92 career passes and collected 155 tackles. His father, Jason, was a standout defensive lineman at Stanford and played 12 seasons in the NFL.
NOTES
Shaw will reduce practices by 30 minutes this week to allow his players to heal and rest … UCLA (1-5, 1-2 Pac-12) also has a bye this week. UCLA’s lone win was a come-from-behind 67-63 upset at Washington State last month … ESPN will televise the Stanford-UCLA game … Junior wide receiver Connor Wedington ranks No. 1 in the conference in kickoff returns (28.1) and No. 7 in all-purpose yards (112.8) … Adebo ranks No. 2 in the Pac-12 in passes defended (10) … Scarlett ranks No. 3 in the league in rushing (94.0) and No. 5 in all-purpose yards (117.0) … Toohill ranks second in the conference in sacks (4) and fourth in tackles for loss (6) … Stanford ranks No. 1 in the Pac-12 in kickoff coverage.
QUOTE
“He’s got a corner’s mentality. If a guy catches the ball, you just forget about it and come back and be aggressive the next play.” — Shaw on the development of freshman Kyu Blu Kelly
Frank Manumaleuga, the one of the finest linebackers to play for the San Jose State football team in the 1970’s, is one of 10 finalists for induction into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
Manumaleuna played for the Spartans during the 1977 and 1978 seasons and was coached by Lynn Stiles. The two-time All-America was an honorable mention choice in 1977 and a third-team Associated Press honoree in 1978.
The three-sport, 245-pound athlete also was a member of the Spartan basketball and track and field teams.
Manumaleuga began his college career at UCLA. According to then head coach and San Jose State legend Dick Vermeil, “… (he) had more instinctive ability than any linebacker I’ve ever evaluated.”
Manumaleuga still holds the San Jose State single-game record for most tackles in a game with 27 against Colorado in 1978.
Manumaleuga was the Kansas City Chiefs’ fourth-round draft choice in 1979, the 85th overall selection in that year’s draft. Manumaleuga played three seasons for the Chiefs, and three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Oakland Invaders and Portland Breakers.
“Special thanks to our outstanding Selection Committee, who has once again put forward an outstanding group of Finalists for the Class of 2020,” said Jack Thompson, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chairman. More than 100 players were nominated for Hall of Fame consideration. “This is quite a challenge because there are so many great Polynesian football players, coaches and contributors.”
“On behalf of our Board of Directors, we congratulate the Class of 2020 Finalists,” said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder and Inductee. “Each of the finalists has made a significant impact on our community and the game of football.”
Four inductees will be announced on October 23, 2019. They will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend and during the Polynesian Bowl on January 17 & 18, 2020.
CLASS OF 2020 FINALISTS
1. Tony Banks (QB) Michigan State; Pro: NFL (STL, BAL, DAL, WAS, HOU) 11 years, Samoan ancestry
2. David Dixon (G) Arizona State; Pro: (MIN) 13 years, Maori ancestry
3. Malcom Floyd (WR) Wyoming; Pro (SAN) 10 years, Samoan ancestry
4. Chris Kemoeatu (G) Utah; Pro (PIT) 7 years, Tongan ancestry
5. Frank Manumaleuga (LB) San Jose State; Pro (KC) 3 years, Samoan ancestry
6. Haloti Ngata (DT) Oregon; Pro (BAL, DET, PHI) 13 years, Tongan ancestry
7. Alapati “Al” Noga (DL) Hawai’i; Pro: NFL (MIN, WAS, IND) 7 years, Samoan ancestry
8. Falaniko “Niko” Noga (LB) Hawai’i; Pro: NFL (AZ, DET) 8 years, Samoan ancestry
9. Dominic Raiola (C) Nebraska; Pro: NFL (DET) 14 years, Hawaiian ancestry
10. Charlie Wedemeyer; Former Head Football Coach, Los Gatos High School (CA), Hawaiian ancestry
ABOUT THE POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors Polynesia’s greatest players, coaches and contributors. Its permanent home is located at the Polynesian Cultural Center (O`ahu) and was established in 2013.
On the Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:
#1 Tony, without a doubt, the top headline story is China’s withdrawal from doing business with the NBA because of Houston GM Daryl Morey’s tweet to stand with Hong Kong.
#2 NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that free speech is vital and the NBA is not apologizing for Morey’s tweet. Meanwhile, China has suspended all NBA TV coverage, all NBA sponsorship, and all NBA brands in China.
#3 Talk about the Oakland Raiders’ win in London. They might have been the home team, but it’s on the road and they won their second straight game.
#4 The San Francisco 49ers remain perfect at 4-0. They face the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) in LA. This could very well be San Francisco’s biggest challenge so far.
#5 The Sacramento Kings, who returned from two preseason games in Mumbai, are back in Sacramento this Thursday to host the Phoenix Suns. No doubt head coach Luke Walton and the Kings are glad to be back and anxious to get started at Golden 1 Center.
#1 Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey apologized for tweeting that “We should stand with Hong Kong.” A statement that had China suspend all NBA games on state-ran TV, all NBA brands and any activities associated with the NBA because of Morey’s tweet. A source said that Morey’s job is on the line, but the Rockets’ front office has denied that Morey’s job is in flux, but stated that they don’t deny it’s a messy situation.
#2 The San Jose Earthquakes finished up the 2019 season on the outside looking in when they had the postseason by the tail and then went on to lose six straight games, including being eliminated last Sunday in Portland with a 3-1 loss. A disappointing end to say the least for Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda.
#3 The Sacramento Kings lost their first two preseason games in India to the Indiana Pacers. The Kings used most of their rookies, draft picks, and C-League prospects. The Kings return back to Sacramento on Thursday night at Golden 1 Center to host the Phoenix Suns. What will head coach Luke Walton be looking for in that one?
#4 Try hard as they may, the San Jose Sharks — who were down just by one goal 2-1 — had a shot at tying the game in the third period with the Nashville Predators, but the Preds scored three times to take a three-goal win 5-2 to beat the Sharks. Is it goaltending or is it the defense up in front giving little or no protection for goalie Martin Jones?
#5 Finally, everyone is talking about the San Francisco 49ers, a team that saw their starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throw for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-3 laugher at Levi’s Stadium on Monday Night Football.
photo from sfgate.com: Fans wait outside a hotel to catch a glimpse of players from the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers in Shanghai on Wednesday.
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez
CCTV (China Central Television) is China’s state television. They announced they are suspending all preseason games of the NBA in China. At the same time, they said they will immediately investigate all exchanges and co-operation involving the NBA. I’m not certain if the regular season games will also be suspended at this time.
This happened just days after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came to the defense of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who tweeted in support of the Hong Kong anti-government protests.
DEMONSTRATIONS: Why are people in Hong Kong protesting? They are also called the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill, and residents in Hong Kong were concerned that bill could subject them to extradition to the mainland by the Chinese communist central government. The Chinese government has described the protest as the “‘worst’ crisis in Hong Kong” since the handover in 1999 when the United Kingdom handed the colony of Hong Kong and returned control of that territory to China.
CHINA’S GOVERNMENT: China is ruled by a communist central government, they are among the biggest human rights violators in the world. Amnesty International has documented widespread human rights violations in China. Demonstrations and free speech is not allowed in China. Obviously, the Chinese government is very concerned with the demonstrations in Hong Kong as demonstrators have been killed, injured and arrested.
HUGE MARKET: As of 2018 the total population of the United States was 327 million people
According to official statistics, about 800 million Chinese watch NBA programming on TV and digital media in China.
Over 300 million people in China play basketball. Online engagement with the NBA is six times more popular in China than the three largest European soccer leagues
BIG BUSINESS: This is big business for the NBA, as no other country is more obsessed with the NBA and basketball than China, the most populous country in the world with 1.4 billion people.
DIFFERENCES: While here in the US, we have the rights to free speech, demonstrations against our government and many other freedoms that we have enjoyed for over two centuries — freedom that sometimes we take for granted — that is not allowed communist China.
One example: The environment is very much an issue worldwide. While China is the world’s biggest polluter, you will never see a pro-environment demonstration in that country. They are not allowed.
I do agree with what Mr. Daryl Morey said on his original tweet when he supported the demonstrations by the people in Hong Kong against the Chinese government as well as the recent statement by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Anybody who likes and enjoys freedom definitely agrees with both gentlemen.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and was a Spanish play by play announcer for the Golden State Warriors, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
sfgate.com photo: The Sharks tied their worst start to a season in franchise history, equaling their opening rut in the 1993-94 season, the club is now 0-4.
On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:
#1 Another tough loss for the Sharks as they remain winless at 0-4. The losses are mounting and the offseason departures of Joe Pavelski, Joonas Donskoi, Justin Braun, and Gustav Nyquist — all of whom are severely missed.
#2 The Sharks and Nashville Predators on Tuesday night played a mostly tight game with the Preds ahead 2-1 going into the third period. It was the third period when the Predators broke it open with three goals in the third period to end any chance for a San Jose comeback.
#3 Let’s talk about the dressing room — the morale of the team they opened up the season on the road in Vegas and lost, lost to Vegas in San Jose last Friday night and then lost two games on this current three-game road trip. Talking with the players at the morning skate and after games, the morale has to be pretty low right now.
#4 The second period of the game in Nashville, the Sharks were able to kill off two out of three penalties and outshoot the Predators 18-7, but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
#5 The Sharks head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks. The Hawks have suffered of late winning only two of their last seven games. This might be the Sharks’ best chance to get in the win column for their first win of the year.
#1 Which Oakland Raider (3-2) team is this? The Raider team who lost to Kansas City and Minnesota or the Raider team who beat Indianapolis and Chicago?
#2 The San Francisco 49ers (4-0) left little doubt about their game on Monday Night Football against the Cleveland Browns (2-3) in a lopsided win at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
#3 The Golden State Warriors struggled in their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Are they showing signs or cracks of a different older team — not as fast, not as accurate — or is this a real study of them finding who they are without Kevin Durant?
#4 The Stanford Cardinal (3-3) got an important 23-13 win against Washington (4-2) on Saturday, thanks to the help of Cameron Scarlett, who carried 33 times for 151 yards and one touchdown.
#5 A tough loss last Saturday in Oregon (4-1) for the Cal Bears (4-2) and quarterback David Modster. The Bears only got one touchdown against the Oregon Ducks.
#1 Charlie, just two games in India for the Sacramento Kings. They played the Indiana Pacers and lost to them twice.
#2 Lots of minutes for a lot of the players on hand for game two last Saturday. Was this designed so that those players get to experience what it’s like to play a game like this in India or were these situations where the second game called for more players to come in?
#3 For Kings head coach Luke Walton, what were some of the things he was looking for in these two games that he would apply for the regular season?
#4 Talk about some of the new Kings: Kyle Guy, Caleb Swanigan, and Wayne Gabriel.
#5 The Kings host the Phoenix Suns for their next preseason game at Golden One Center in Sacramento. It’s the Kings’ first game back in Sacramento.
