The Sacramento Kings’ performances in the month of January have been better than average but still have that roller coaster feeling.
The most significant win the Kings have had this month came against the Utah Jazz. Even though it did not come easy, it gave Sacramento the tiebreaker because they only play Utah three times this season.
A 5-3 record in 2016, a tiebreaker over the Jazz, and only one game out of the playoff picture sounds pretty legit. So why is there an exhaustion from the fans? It’s the way the Kings have struggled to close out games.
Some significant examples are the games against the Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, and recently, the Jazz. In each of these matchups, the Kings found themselves with a lead that looked to be “in the bag,” but the team found themselves in a dogfight to earn victories that should’ve been over early on.
Secondly, it’s also the capability to come out with a consistent effort on a nightly basis. That’s another reason many have reservations of declaring this team a playoff contender.
The nine-year playoff drought is well documented for this Kings franchise, but this was the year for change. Remember this team was the “Suicide Squad.” If change is on the horizon for the Sacramento Kings, the team needs to begin taking advantage of mismatches and opponents misfortunes.
When the injuries of Daunte Exum, Alec Burks, and (at the time) Rudy Gobert to the Jazz were released, the Kings were looked at as the favorite to move into the playoff picture.
For the Phoenix Suns, they lost their franchise player Eric Bledsoe for the season with knee-ending surgery. On top of that, the Western Conference has not lived up to expectations, especially after their great season just last year.
The New Orleans Pelicans continue to have bad luck, seeing injuries to their guards Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, and their star player Anthony Davis.
The Kings are looked at as the superior team amongst these three major teams fighting for that final playoff spot, yet the team still sits one game behind the Jazz.
Wins against the Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers but a slip to the Pelicans have kept the Kings from standing alone in that final playoff spot and that might seem extremely frustrating for fans and the team.
To add more fuel to the fire in the loss to New Orleans, the Kings were coming off four days of rest, and their opponent were entering the game on the second night of a back-to-back. The effort that night was inexcusable for the Kings, which is why they lost.
“I honestly can’t tell you,” Cousins said when asked about the slow start to the Pelicans game. “Effort, that’s all it is, effort.”
The inconsistency in that particular aspect of the Kings game has been almost repetitive when it comes to covering this team. While there have been strides of improvement, the inconsistent effort on both ends of the floor has been a tremendous detriment to the Kings season.
“It’s been our problem all year. We’re all talk right now,” Cousins said.
Now at the halfway point of the season, the Kings’ (17-23) record, and the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching, it has now been reported that the Kings may be looking to shop the team’s second leading scorer, Rudy Gay.
The play of Gay this season has been a bit of a letdown. It seems as if the game-style in which Gay plays in does not fit with the team’s new system ran by head coach George Karl.
The report states that the Kings are listening to offers and that they had already offered the nine-year veteran to the Pelicans for Sacramento-grown Ryan Anderson, which was denied.
Looking at the history of the former Huskie, you do notice the improvement teams made after moving on from his services.
In Gay’s last full season with the Memphis Grizzlies, the team finished with a (41-25) record. After 43 games into the 2012-2013 season, Memphis departed from Gay and finished the season with a (56-26) record.
With the Toronto Raptors, Gay played a total of 51 games (34-48 record in the 2012-2013 season) before the team ultimately traded him to the Sacramento Kings after only 18 games into the 2013-2014 season. After Gay left the team, the Raptors went on to finish (48-34) and finish first in the Atlantic division.
Can the Kings benefit from moving on from Gay like these other teams?
That is still yet to be known, but going over the reported offer, it seems that the Kings may be looking to acquire a “true” stretch four. Terrance Jones (Houston Rockets) and Markieff Morris (Pheonix Suns) are the two more notable names that catch the most attention.
Both teams (Suns and Rockets) have players they could add alongside the stretch-four players mentioned above that the Kings maybe looking to get. Nothing is imminent but something to keep an eye on.
Going into the month of February, the way the Kings record begins to add up will more or less define Gay’s future with the Sacramento Kings.
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