We’re back to talking about the P word as the Kings finally show signs of competence
The “P” word. It elicits sneers or jeers from Sacramento Kings fans.
“Playoffs.”
At 23-33, it would seem the Kings have no chance of making it to the postseason. They’re staring at their 14th year in a row missing out. And in most other seasons, the Kings wouldn’t have a chance at all. But this year, the bottom of the Western Conference is weaker than usual and the Kings are surging at the exact right time.
In their last 12 games, the Kings are 8-4, playing some of their best basketball of the year. Two of those losses came against the Lakers and Bucks, and the other two were also against current Western playoff teams. The Kings came out of the All-Star break looking focused and ready for a stretch run, toppling the Memphis Grizzlies (the current eighth seed) and the Los Angeles Clippers in impressive fashion.
To help matters, the Kings have a fairly favorable schedule the rest of the way. Sixteen of their 26 remaining games come against opponents that are at or below .500. Six of those games are against New Orleans, San Antonio, Portland and Memphis, the teams directly ahead of them in the standings and their main competition for the No. 8 seed. The Grizzlies, perhaps the NBA’s biggest surprise, have a much tougher schedule, and to make matters worse, will be without starting center Jaren Jackson Jr. for the next couple weeks.
Even still, the path forward is tough. To reach 41 wins and a .500 record on the season (which is the current projection for the eighth seed, based on Memphis’ record), the Kings would need to go 18-8. The Kings haven’t had a stretch like that since the last time they made the playoffs, when Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells led a 25-29 Kings squad to a 44-38 record.
Sacramento’s recent surge was prompted by head coach Luke Walton’s decision to put Buddy Hield on the bench and insert Bogdan Bogdanovic in the starting lineup. The decision has seemingly helped all parties, with Hield playing even better as a sixth man and De’Aaron Fox taking full control of the starting unit. The Kings have also benefited from the additions of Kent Bazemore and the continued growth of Harry Giles. Bazemore has provided solid production on both ends of the court in a bit of a career resurgence after languishing in Portland earlier this season. And Giles has made the most of the opportunity he has been given in the wake of all the injuries the Kings have had. Giles was particularly instrumental in Saturday’s victory against the Clippers in which he notched his first-ever double-double.
After the game, Giles was asked directly about whether the Kings were still focused on making the postseason.
“Hell yeah,” he said. “We ain’t playing for no reason.”
Bold words, but it’s the mentality that Kings fans have hoped for all season. It might be too little, too late, but the Kings haven’t given up just yet.
This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 9:08 AM.