The Sacramento Kings and The NBA Playoffs? It’s Possible

By Stephen Rubalcaba | Oct 29, 2015

This is it. After all of the headlines and rumors of the offseason, we have finally arrived at the 2015-2016 NBA Season for the Sacramento Kings.

Everyone and their mother has an opinion on what to make of the Kings this year too; whether or not they will mesh, whether or not Vivek will stick with a head coach, whether or not it is actually his decision to make, and for a city on the move, all the fans really want is something they can be proud of at home.

Enough of the hashtag hype, Sacramento is ready. #SacramentoProud, #SacramentoVsEverybody, #HellaProud, ENOUGH. Potential doesn’t mean a damn thing if success doesn’t come into fruition.

There’s a huge difference between “underrated” and “hasn’t made it”, and all of the speculation surrounding the Kings roster movement, management, coaching style and potential style of play has gotten out of hand.

Lately, the prediction cup has hit the brim and began to overflow with playoff predictions. The number of wins to be exact has recently given fans and analysts a new tangent to travel on throughout the endless commentary the offseason has already provided us.

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Even ESPN’s allegedly scientific fivethirtyeight.com has proposed a number of wins for the Kings that has them competing for a playoff spot, but falling just short. However, they also over predicted the number of wins in total for the whole NBA combined, so take that into consideration as you will.

The Sacramento Kings played a great game against the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that many expect to be in competition for the top overall playoff seed (see; Western Conference dominance). Which means despite the loss, the hype, potential, hope, and enthusiasm has not ceased in its momentum.

Disregard the numbers and the national media coverage (doubt), its time to get real. The biggest question mark going into the season, and the question lingering on every Kings fan’s minds is this.

What the hell is it going to take for us to make the Playoffs?

“Playoffs??? PLAYOFFS!!???? You want to talk about playOFFS?!!? – as Jim Mora would say,

Yes, its about damn time we recognize the talent is there regardless of if the national media wants to recognize us for it. The New Orleans Pelicans took the 8th seed in the Western Conference last year with a final record of 45-37, and an ideal starting lineup of; Anthony Davis, Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon & Quincy Pondexter (basketball-reference.com).

If you don’t think that whichever starting lineup George Karl goes with is better than them, then stop reading. Literally. Scroll no further.

I cannot take you seriously if you don’t believe that Boogie, Rudy, Rondo, Mclemore and Koufos or any combination of studs in rotation is better than that team was. If you still believe that, go home, you’re too drunk to be reading this.

The mad scientist that is Vlade Divac has put faith into building a team around DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, and let’s be honest, George Karl. He is the third part of our big 3 until Rudy Gay decides to get it together, or Ben McLemore decides to grow up and step up.

Oct 28, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 111-104. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

True, the combination of those three could be more toxic than Walter White’s office space, however with the ability to balance out the chemicals of talent each one brings, the product could be more sought after than what Heisenberg has been known to produce.

The Kings need those three, who are admittedly and reportedly, or hell, visually hot tempered guys to not necessarily tame that fire on the court or in the locker rooms, but channel it for good in an almost Hulk-Avengers type of way.

Without their cohesive ability to exist then look for the Kings record to maintain a less than mediocre percentage, and rumors to begin to run wild. Their success will come with their talent, we just need them to flat out get along to produce.

Which is exactly what the media wants, fuel for the east coast bias and the western privelege of those “other California teams”. In addition to the need of Coach Karl, Boogie and Rondo not to kill each other, the Kings must remain competitive in the Pacific Division.

With the Suns on the rise (no pun intended), it is very well likely that three playoff teams will be produced from the Pacific division; The Warriors and the Clippers are expected to be there. They are loaded, and with the opportunity (or curse) of having to play them so frequently, the Kings will have a constant reminder of where they stand not only in the league, but as a team looking towards they playoffs.

The Clippers and Warriors are powerhouses, and the Kings can do much more than just steal a few games here and there from them. They have to be able to compete with them, build that toughness down the stretch, and believe that they belong with the teams that have already been anointed NBA royalty.

Oct 28, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Shirts displayed on chairs reading “proud” before the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The x factor to this whole potential playoff run lies of course, within the depth of our roster, and the ability to create, and beat, a new rival emerging in our roster. The days of passionate battles on court against The Lakers are long gone.

Kobe has been in this league since I was four, I am older than there newest first round pick, and the memories of the controversies that took place at Arco Arena will become just as meaningless as the arena they were once played in at the the end of the season. The newest rival we have to be able to play tough, and beat, on a consistent basis, is the Phoenix Suns.

They were right there with the New Orleans Pelicans last year down the stretch, taking it to the final few days of the regular season. In order to be in the same position, we have to be able to win the season series against them, and in decisive fashion.

We don’t have to win our division, or necessarily take the conference by surprise, but there is no doubt that we have to put up a respectable record against those established, and put a hold on those on the rise. Look for a combination of Cauley-Stein, Belinelli, and Collison to form into an additional big three for us.

A “junior big three” sounds like an obese kids favorite fast food meal, but they are what they are, and they are exactly what we need. Filled in with toughness and spurts of throwback talent from Caron Butler, the surprising grit of Quincy Adams and Eric Moreland, Omri being Omri and Seth Curry doing any sort of Steph Curry impersonation, the playoffs are a reality, and the best gift this team can give to a town that will call the beautiful Golden 1 Center home next year.

I’m extremely drunk on Kings hype right now, thrilled to watch us take on the Clippers despite the loss, and ready for all of the speculation to become a reality. Sit back and enjoy Sacramento, this is the beginning of a new era, and yes Mr. Mora Jr., we’re talking playoffs.

Final Prediction; 46-36, 8th Seed in the Western Conference, ready to give the Spurs hell in April.

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