The Sacramento Kings will have themselves a challenge tonight as they will host the Toronto Raptors in the Golden 1 Center. Which three players will be key for deciding the victor for tonight’s contest?
After enduring their four-game road trip, the Sacramento Kings are finally back in Sacramento where they will be playing in their lovely Golden 1 Center. Although the Kings are back at home, their return will not be very peachy as they will face off against the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors have been no joke this season. Led by Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors find themselves with a record of 10-1 and are once again a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. Speaking of jokes, the Kings have been the opposite of one to begin the year as they hold a record of 6-4 and are currently in a position to qualify for the postseason. Who would have thought?
Both Toronto and Sacramento are off to great starts to their campaigns, so tonight’s contest will be an entertaining one for the Golden 1 fans to witness. Of course, however, what will make tonight’s game great is if the purple and white can leave with a victory. A statement win against a team like Toronto could convince the rest of the NBA that the Kings are legit and are definitely not an easy win this season.
So with that being said, how can the Kings be victorious in this game? In my opinion, there are three players that need to stand out for the purple and white in order for the team to be successful.
Let us dive into those players!
Player #1: De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox is pretty much a player that the Kings will ride on for every game in order for them to be successful. He is the main facilitator for the team and has played a huge role in why their offense has been great. His play will determine whether the Kings can give the Raptors fits on defense tonight.
So far, Fox is having a breakout season as he is averaging over 18 points, seven assists, and four rebounds a night while making over 49% of his shots from the floor. If he is able to push the pace and make plays for himself and his teammates, Sacramento will have little to no problems in scoring tonight.
As for the defensive side of the ball, Fox needs to have a good performance as well. The Raptors rely heavily on Kyle Lowry to make their team flow, so Fox needs to limit him tonight in order for the Raptors to struggle. Fox has shown flashes this season of him wearing his opponents like a blanket on the defensive end. He needs to do that tonight against an All-Star point guard like Lowry who is averaging 18 points and 11 assists a game.
Player #2: Iman Shumpert
There is no doubt that Kawhi Leonard is the Raptors’ best player right now. Currently, he is averaging over 26 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per contest while being an excellent defender. The Kings will have multiple players challenging Leonard tonight, but the guy in purple that should carry most of the responsibility is Iman Shumpert.
The Kings need Shumpert to have a good night on both ends of the floor. Like in most games this season, the Raptors expect Kawhi to be one of their main scorers when they play. So if Shumpert is able to somewhat limit him tonight, it will help the Kings’ defense immensely. On the other hand, if Shumpert is unable to slow down Leonard, it will be a long night for the Sacramento defense. I mean, who else can guard Leonard effectively if Shumpert cannot?
Offensively, Shumpert also needs to be efficient as well. He needs to move well without the ball in his hands and make his shots when he has the opportunity to do so. If accomplished, Iman can cause Kawhi to be tired which will impact how the multiple All-Star performs on the offensive side of the ball.
Shumpert has had performances this year where his ability to produce on both ends of the court has helped his team get wins. He will need to have one of those games tonight for the Kings to be competitive.
Player #3: Willie Cauley-Stein
Willie Cauley-Stein has been a bright spot for the Kings this season, and he will need to remain that way for his team tonight. At the center position, the Raptors have Serge Ibaka who is having a great season so far and can definitely cause the Kings to struggles on both ends. For the year, he is currently averaging over 18 points, seven rebounds, and one block a night while making almost 60% of his shot attempts.
Cauley-Stein has to have a good night against Ibaka if the Kings want to win. On offense, Willie needs to be efficient in scoring in the interior while also setting up his teammates to score when he has the chance. On the defensive side of the ball, he needs to make sure Ibaka is not dominating the paint, whether it is from scoring or rebounding the basketball.
For the Kings to make a statement win tonight, they need the three players that I have listed in this slideshow to have great performances. If these three players can outplay their opponents, the Kings will again add another win to their record, continuing the shock the rest of the league.