A Royal Pain
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Game Preview: Can The Sacramento Kings Make It Four In A Row Against The Spurs?

By Gabe Callahan

Nov 9, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Sacramento Kings (24-31) return home on a back-to-back to face off against the second best team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs (47-9).

The Spurs could be without Kawhi Leonard tonight. But honestly, that is cold comfort for the Kings, who will still have to go up against Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Whereas Sacramento’s offense manages to put up a lot of points and it’s their defense that is usually dismal. The Spurs set defense has managed to shut the Kings down.

Back on November 9th, the Spurs kept the Kings to only 88 points. But with Kawhi out and Sacramento on a three-game winning streak, the Kings might have a chance to surprise the consistent Spurs. They’ve only lost nine games this season, so they are due right?

Well, since the All-Star break the Spurs have been giving up more points per game than they did earlier in the year (almost 110 points). So the Kings, who have been known to rise (or sink) to the level of their opponents, have a chance to win tonight in front of the Sleep Train Arena crowd.

The first Key Of The Game for the Kings might be a surprise to some of you. It’s Rudy Gay. I know, I know. “But what about his momentum killing Iso plays?!” You say. “What about the contested shots?! The questionable defense!” You yell. “What if he comes out cold?”

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I’m a big believer that if Rudy Gay plays up to his potential the Kings always have a chance to win. In the last three games, Gay is averaging 20.7 points, going 7-of-14 from beyond the arc. Last night in Denver he had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Apparently the All-Star break was a nice sabbatical for Rudy.

Most importantly the reigning Defensive Player Of The Year, Leonard, won’t be guarding him. Kyle Anderson will probably be assigned to do that. And Anderson is no Leonard.

Rudy Gay needs to have a good game for the Kings to have a chance. Which leads us to the next key to the game.

DeMarcus Cousins Needs To Dominate. It might seem like a strange key to the game because the All-Star has been dominating for most of the season. He’s dominated in the past two games. Why would he stop now? It’s  because Cousins struggles against the Spurs. In Sacramento’s loss to San Antonio in November, he made just 5 of his 20 shots from the field. The Kings need Cousins to keep his All-Star performance going if they want a chance at defeating the machine that is the Spurs.

The third and final Key To The Game, is, as always, Defense. They have kinda, sorta been playing some D in the past two games. Maybe not for a full 48 minutes, but it’s been better. They just need to keep it up. LaMarcus is going to make his shots. Tony Parker will get his layups. Please, please just don’t let Patty Mills score a career high. The Kings can win if Patty Mills doesn’t score 26.

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Sacramento is still looking for that playoff birth. But the chance of that happening is getting slimmer and slimmer. And some say there is no such thing as a moral victory in the pros.

But if the Kings are competitive tonight, then I will be content. If they make smart offensive plays, and hustle on defense, then as a Kings fan you can’t really ask for more.

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