The standings seem very different from previous season as the West has even more star power and teams are finally mostly healthy. For the Kings in particular, things have changed.
They have a similar record and essentially the same squad that helped them qualify for the playoffs for the first time in more than ten years. The Kings are currently a play-in team rather than a squad that is safely in third place and going for the postseason.
The Mavericks, Lakers, and Warriors are the other teams in the territory. Future Hall of Famers, established stars, and players with championship experience are all on those three teams. Playing against that group in a single-elimination tournament is not ideal.
The Kings would prefer to win a few games, escape the Play-In competition entirely, and finish in sixth or fifth place. But it’s far easier said than done.
The Kings’ remaining schedule is the tenth most difficult.
The Western Conference clubs that comprise the Suns, Jazz, Lakers, Spurs, Trail Blazers, and Timberwolves are ranked ahead of the Kings in the NBA’s most recent strength of schedule rankings, which are eleventh.
The teams in the Western Conference that have considerably easier schedules than the Kings are the Mavericks, Warriors, Rockets, and Grizzlies. Given that the Mavericks and Warriors still have some of the more manageable schedules in the West—especially when compared to the Kings—this might be an issue.
Both are pursuing the same objective as Sacramento, and if healthy, Dallas could have an easier road ahead of them. The Kings must make every effort to maintain a safe distance between themselves and Stephen Curry and company because the Warriors have some catching up to do.
Sacramento still has the most home games remaining of any club vying for a playoff or play-in place, but they also have the most back-to-back games remaining—six. Plus, there’s not necessarily a benefit to playing at home.
The Kings must play lockdown defense in the remaining games since their defensive rating is much lower at Golden 1 Center than it is away from home. They have a higher offensive rating at home than away, but it’s risky to play a game where you rely so heavily on outscoring opponents when you don’t have much of a defensive cushion.
In Sacramento, the Kings still have to contend with a number of formidable offensive teams, including the Mavericks, Clippers, Bucks, Suns, and Pelicans. Particularly the games the Kings are expected to win, every game matters. Sacramento is unable to sustain any more defeats to teams like Memphis, San Antonio, Houston, or Portland.
Although the Kings’ victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves last night was a terrific start, we are all aware of how patchy their play has been thus far this season. They had an amazing performance one evening, but the next they totally collapse. The Kings’ schedule does not favor them, therefore in order to guarantee a postseason berth, they must demonstrate that they can rise to the occasion going forward.
The Kings require their stars to be available and healthy.
De’Aaron Fox has already spent nearly the whole season battling an ankle injury and shoulder soreness. The Kings are concerned because he can now add a knee contusion to his litany of ailments.
Without Fox, the attack simply isn’t the same for the squad. The Kings risk losing more games than they can afford if he loses more time unless Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, or Malik Monk perform exceptionally well.
