Next Three Games are Significant for the Sacramento Kings

After an embarrassing loss to the Brooklyn Nets, a game in which the Sacramento Kings made the Nets look like a playoff team, the Kings are in dire need of winning their next three games before the All-Star break or else the team might begin to fall apart.

The Kings will face Boston, Cleveland, and Philadelphia before beginning the All-Star break, where they will look to go back to the drawing board and see how they can regain that great team play they had in early January.

Game 1: Sunday, Feb. 7, Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics

This matchup is going to be a hard-fought game that will depend on who shows up, early January Cousins or late January Cousins. If early January Cousins shows up then the Kings will have a chance to prove that they are a team that plays through a superstar that can take over in the post.

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If late January Cousins shows up then the Kings will have a hard time getting anything going in the paint, as the Celtics match up well with the Kings down low. Rajon Rondo will have an interesting matchup against Isaiah Thomas, who is coming off being named an All-Star.

Ben McLemore will have a test against Avery Bradley who is a solid perimeter shooter, a statistic that plays in the favor of the Celtics since the Kings have struggled all season with perimeter defense.

That is going to be what this game comes down to, how well will the Kings perimeter defense be against the Celtics, a team that has shot well as of late.

Game 2: Monday, Feb. 8, Sacramento Kings at Cleveland Cavaliers

There is not too much to say about this game. The Cleveland Cavaliers are a very hit or miss team. If the regular Cleveland Cavaliers team shows up then the Kings could be resting their starters in the fourth because of how many points down they are.

But if the Cleveland Cavaliers show up and are having a poor time on defense and a tough time shooting, then the Kings might be able to hang tough and maybe pull the upset if everyone on the floor plays a good game both offensively and defensively.

Game 3: Wednesday, Feb. 10, Sacramento Kings at Philadelphia 76ers

This game is a very nice way to close out the first half of the season. The Kings will be looking to avenge their embarrassing loss, at home, to the 76ers back in December. DeMarcus Cousins only had 21 points that game and Marco Belinelli had a great shooting night dropping 28 on 14 of 23 shooting.

Willie Cauley-Stein was out that game dealing with a finger injury. This time around, the Kings will have Cauley-Stein providing nice defense down near the basket and Cousins will get a chance to show the 76ers that the last game was a fluke.

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Final Thoughts

All-in-all the Sacramento Kings have a chance to finish the first part of the season out strong. The Kings will be facing tough tests in Boston and in Cleveland, but the Kings will end up in Philadelphia where they will look to go into the All-Star break with a win.

The Kings will need to win at least two out of these next three games to keep their hopes of getting into the playoffs a possible idea. If they can win all three games it will boost the team’s confidence going into a very well deserved week-long break.

The Kings will play 29 games after the All-Star break and they will need to win a majority of those games in order to have a chance at a playoff spot.

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