A Royal Pain
Fansided

Opinion: Loss to Lakers stings Sacramento Kings and their fans more than usual

By John Kelly

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on March 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images,)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on March 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images,) /
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When it comes to the Sacramento Kings-Los Angeles Lakers rivalry, it all comes down to two things: bragging rights and pride. Sunday’s loss hurts a bit more than usual, however.

Every season starts the same for all Sacramento Kings fans. Of course we want to win it all and bring home a championship to a one-pro sport town, but we fall short the fans will settle on two basic goals — beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the season series or have a better regular season record than them.

Anything that gives Sacramento Kings fans the ability to brag over Lakers fans is good enough. If we beat them at home then we say Lakers can’t disrespect us in our house, and if we win at Staples Center, then we walked all over L.A. in their house.

Kings fans will take any angle they can to defend the small(er) town, perennial underdogs against the Lakers down south.

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Los Angeles Lakers had two wins already, the Sacramento Kings needed this win to keep the season series is equal, and give Sacramento an even better chance at finishing the year with more wins than LA.

Lakers fans have zero talking points other than ‘next year’. The odds that Sacramento will end up with a better record is enough to keep Lakers fans from starting any smack talk, though.

With the win, Lakers fans have grounds to argue they’re better than the Kings because they beat Sacramento three times. We may not like it, but they’re right. The Lakers showed up with the hustle and a running game. The Kings showed up sluggish and played with no energy.

Sacramento was on the second game of a back-to-back last night, but it’s no excuse for playing like it was a practice game. A small amount of focus would go a long ways. I thought the Lakers would be the team that got tired of running, but beat us at our own game and coming from the Lakers it hurts more than usual — especially since it cost us a year of peace and quiet from Lakers fans.

A rivalry keeps a sport fan interested and gives us gives more to cheer or yell about. That is fine except for obnoxious crazy fans who believe their team is the greatest of all time. I’ve even heard fans say Phil Jackson had no talent and won rings on sheer wisdom — I wish I was joking.

Expect a little smack talk from Lakers fans after last nights loss. We can always throw out that even LeBron, as good as he is, couldn’t save them this year; that they were eliminated from the playoffs first and will likely finish with a worse record than the Kings for the sixth time in seven years.

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As for next year, Sacramento has a bright future, and that’s without knowing who they will add to play alongside of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley and company. That alone should keep Lakers fans quiet ‘til next season.

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