Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown saluted two star players after a training camp practice this week for some exciting floor action. He spoke with reporters about the play in question. He also dived into how DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis are becoming comfortable with each other and hitting their cues quite nicely.
Kings Head Coach Compliments Players’ Savvy Floor Action
Kings HC Mike Brown Praises the DHO
Brown took some time this week to compliment a certain floor action playing out between two of his star players, and no, De’Aaron Fox is not directly involved. The praise hailing from Brown is directed at Sabonis and Kings newcomer DeRozan. The floor action in question? Well, that would be the DHO—aka, the dribble handoff.
The Kings were already a league-best in the DHO usage, and Sabonis is the ultimate catalyst for the play. Sacramento led the NBA last season with 11.4 DHO-type play possessions per game. The fact that DeRozan is getting into the mix could increase that 11.4 number this season. As Brown said, the DHO has been a point of emphasis in practice this preseason so far. Also, given that Brown singles out DeRozan instead of Fox, it could only mean that their DHO threat should increase. Fox is dangerously elite in his own right. He also was heavily involved in DHO play calls with Sabonis last year.
Coach Brown spoke with the media following Friday morning’s practice regarding the dribble handoff action between Sabonis and DeRozan.
“The DHO game is a different element to where he may not be easily blitzed if he has it going. Once he gets that ball, if you go under and Domas does the DHO low enough, it’s a wrap. If you chase him over and he gets to his sweet spot, it’s a wrap.”
DeRozan’s Impact
The former Chicago Bulls shooting guard ran the DHO, or a similar form of the handoff at times last season. However, it was only 48 times. As for his new squad mates, four of them alone were in the league’s top 15 players to run some variation of the play. Fox ran the play 146 times (12th), Malik Monk ran it 159 times (ninth), Kevin Huerter 173 times (t-second), and Keegan Murray initiated a handoff play 225 times (first).
DeRozan’s initiation of a DHO-type action did not come close to those numbers. Although, that’s likely due to the style of play coming out of Chicago. The Bulls did not have a player like Sabonis to be involved in that style of offense. Sabonis is an excellent playmaker at the center position. He thrives in handoff scenarios, executes the pick and roll, and has a floor awareness at the top of the league, considering his position. DeRozan is already an elite scorer and a good passer. A DeRozan and Sabonis pairing executing DHOs and pick-and-rolls, with Fox also in the mix, is the makings of a deadly offensive game plan for Mike Brown.
Having an Offensive Focus
Besides praising his two stars in their DHO skillsets, Brown also prioritized attacking the offensive glass. Sabonis is an elite rebounder as it is. However, Coach Brown highlighted Murray and Trey Lyles (currently out due to injury) as the two of the team’s best “crash guys.” Brown has expectations to be one of the league’s best offensive-rebounding teams. With a complimentary high-flying offense and DeRozan wearing purple, the Kings expect big things this year in general.
