Game Preview: Defense Is Key For Sacramento Kings In Cleveland
By Rafe Wong
The last eight games for the Sacramento Kings have been terrible. During this current span, the Kings have won just one game and are now in a state where major changes are being considered.
The Kings need to find momentum going into the All-Star break and a win tonight will help lead them in that direction. It will not be easy however as the Kings are playing tonight at Quicken Loans Arena against the reigning Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Despite the team firing their head coach in the middle of the season, the Cavaliers are in a great state.
Right now with a record of 36-14, the Cavs are sitting at the top of their conference, plus the team is lead by one of the best players in his era in LeBron James.
If Sacramento is going to come out of this game with the upset, they must have a productive performance on the defensive end.
Like mentioned before the Kings have only won once in their last eight games, and it mainly is due to the putrid defense that they have displayed on the court.
During this struggling time the lowest amount of points that the purple and white have allowed in a game has been 104 points, and overall the Kings are allowing opponents to score an average of 117.9 points a game during this span as well.
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If the Kings continue to allow their competition to outmuscle them in the paint, get offensive rebounds, and leave players open for high-percentage shots, the Kings have no chance of winning tonight’s game.
With that being said, when looking at this game I cannot foresee the Kings coming out victorious.
Even though the Kings usually play better against high-caliber opponents, comparing when they play against inferior ones, the Cavaliers are a good team and have two top playmakers in James and Kyrie Irving that can carve up the Kings defense if it struggles, which is most likely to happen.
Basically if the Kings can play good defense this evening then they will have a good chance in making this contest competitive. However, if they continue their defensive ways the Cavs should have no problem beating the Kings in convincing fashion.