Don’t count the Kings out: 5 keys for Sacramento to beat the odds in the bubble

The Sacramento Kings will always be underdogs. As a small-market team with historically bad luck, there is just no escaping that.

But being the underdog isn’t always a bad thing. You can surprise your opponents, catch them off guard, or string together rare moments of good fortune. And if you do, the whole world will stand still to appreciate how you beat the odds.

When underdogs succeed, they are never forgotten. And as difficult as the path may be, hope remains for a Sacramento team that always seems to have the deck stacked against them.

There are five crucial areas where the tide could turn in Orlando, and the Kings could capitalize on their chance to make the playoffs.

1. DE’AARON FOX TAKES OVER

Fox is the young leader of this Kings team. He is their star, or the closest thing they have to it. Sacramento needs Fox to be that shining light more than ever. While there are other quality players on the team, it would be generous to call any of them much more than role players.

It might be asking too much of Fox to put the team on his back and lead them to the playoffs at just 22 years old. But life isn’t fair, especially for Kings fans. The fact is the Kings will go as far as Fox can take them, and not an inch further.

Thankfully, Fox is continuing to display growth on the court. His second season was unrecognizable from his first, earning him finalist consideration for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. And while his third season started off on shaky ground, Fox has posted his best numbers yet in 2020, averaging 22.8 points and 6.8 assists per game.

2. KINGS PLAY WITH PACE

The surprising success of the Kings in 2018-19 was tied to Sacramento’s pace of play more than anything else. Yes, Fox took a huge leap forward as a prospect, but it was the tireless speed of his squad that unlocked his growth. Buddy Hield also used his athletic advantage to breakout in similar fashion.

The Kings finished third in pace that season and frequently played slower teams off the floor. Not only was it an exciting brand of basketball that fit the strengths of the roster, but it resulted in much-needed wins.

But coach Luke Walton slowed everything down when he took over the top job last offseason. The team has ranked 23rd in pace ever since and the win column has suffered. There is room for optimism on this front, as the Kings picked their pace up above league average since the All-Star Break and have gone 7-3 in that stretch.

With the bubble games fast approaching, it’s time to speed things up even more. After four months off, players will be rusty. You can expect sloppier turnovers, more communication errors and a few extra shots to rim out in Orlando. A great way for the Kings to counter that would be emphasizing their athletic gifts by constantly pushing the pace for an easy bucket at the rim.

3. SCORERS GET HOT

Hield holds all three of the highest-scoring performances of any Kings player this season. He logged 42 points against the Timberwolves in January, and dropped 41 and 35 points in two separate November matchups against the Boston Celtics.

Microwave scorers like Hield will be crucial in Orlando. Every team in the bubble will be hoping it’s their man who catches fire. Hield, who captures the essence of the human torch for this team, should be offered lots of shots right away. It would be smart to give him another shot at the starting job for just this reason.

Fox, Harrison Barnes, Nemanja Bjelica and Bogdan Bogdanovic are the other Kings players to have topped 30 points in one night for Sacramento this season. More big nights would be welcome at Disney World. The Kings can’t be afraid to lean on these players more than ever.

4. VETERANS COME THROUGH

Only four players on Sacramento’s roster have significant playoff experience, and they’re all somewhat new to the team.

Corey Brewer, signed by the Kings late last month, played a big role in a Houston Rockets team that went to the Western Conference Finals in 2014-15. Kent Bazemore, acquired by the Kings via trade in February, went the same distance in the same year with the Atlanta Hawks.

Cory Joseph, signed by the Kings over the last offseason, has a team-high 82 postseason appearances under his belt. Joseph earned a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2013-14. Barnes, who is closing out his first full season with the team, got his ring with the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors. He was one game away from earning a second in 2015-16.

These veterans have to step up in a major way if the Kings are going to win big games. Despite strong depth among younger players, all four could see significant time in the rotation. They will also need to set the tone off the court, and show players like Fox and Bagley what winning under pressure is all about.

5. POPPED BUBBLE AT CENTER?

The Kings have been graced with the emergence of not one but two surprising big men this season. Richaun Holmes and Alex Len have been journeymen backups for the majority of their careers, but are unrecognizable when wearing purple. Holmes has played like an All-Star at times, while Len is looking like a capable starter.

However, the center position still holds the most question marks of any area on the roster. Holmes hasn’t been able to log a start since sustaining a shoulder injury in early January and now will sit out for 10 days after violating rules inside the bubble. Len was one of three Kings players to test positive for coronavirus in late June.

If there are any limitations to either player, Harry Giles and Marvin Bagley will need to step up in a major way. The Kings need at least two consistent options to anchor their lineups on a nightly basis.

SO WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

No matter how you slice it, the final eight games of the season are an uphill battle for Sacramento. However, what’s important is that they’re in the battle at all. Once you enter the arena with a puncher’s chance, you get to create your own destiny.

The Kings can do just that in the Orlando bubble. It will take a combination of hard work, luck and sheer determination, but it can be done.. Sacramento can play David to the NBA’s Goliaths on any given night. Don’t count the Kings out yet.

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 5:00 AM.