Sacramento Kings: Game 35 Preview vs Miami Heat
By Tyler Watts
What to Watch for?
Defending Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins has been in beast mode all season, but tonight’s match-up looks especially juicy. Without Hassan Whiteside, the Heat are left with no traditional center and only Willie Reed, Udonis Haslem, and Derrick Williams to slow down Boogie tonight. Needless to say, I do not like the Heat’s chances of making it a reality tonight.
If you want to see the statistical line I predicted for DeMarcus Cousins or any other Kings player then please check out my predicting the box score column found here. It is a fast and informative read if you are so inclined. Thank you.
Extinguishing the Heat
The Heat only had eight healthy bodies last night in Phoenix. Those eight players played between 16 and 38 minutes last night. They traveled to Sacramento after a late night game and now have to suit up and play tonight.
The Kings need to do a good job at wearing out the Heat tonight. They need to up the tempo and look to get the Heat in foul trouble. The Kings are one of the NBA’s best team at drawing fouls and that could be a huge factor in tonight’s game with only eight healthy Miami players.
Be on the lookout for the Kings trying to push the pace and draw fouls on an undermanned and potentially tired Miami Heat squad tonight.
An Encore Mister Collison?
For last night’s game, I predicted that Darren Collison would get all minutes he could handle and this was his chance to step up and show he deserved to be the Kings’ point guard. He rewarded us with a 26 point, 7 assists, 1 steal effort in 36 minutes with supreme shooting efficiency.
The opportunity looks to be there again tonight for Mister Collison. Will he deliver another stellar performance on the second of a back-to-back? I think the minutes and role should allow it to happen as long as Collison has the legs for it. Be on the lookout for Collison tonight inside Golden 1 Center.