There is a soft spot coming up on the Sacramento Kings’ schedule, and they must capitalize if they hope to keep any playoff chances alive.
While the Sacramento Kings are not placing the blame for their slow start on scheduling, it certainly has not done them any favors. They have played the 5th most difficult schedule in the league so far this season, having had games against the Jazz, Nuggets, 76ers, Raptors, Lakers, and two against the Celtics.
Given the circumstances, the Kings have fared well up to this point. They are missing their two cornerstone players due to injury for extended periods and they have yet to hit any soft spots in their schedule. Yet they sit at 7-10, just a game out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
In order to keep themselves in postseason conversations well in to January, the Kings must have a successful final month of 2019. While Sacramento will take on some of the West’s elite teams in December (Denver, LAC, Houston x2), their schedule is loaded with winnable games.
The Kings first game of December will be at home against Chicago (6-13) before heading out to play Portland (7-12) and the Texas Trifecta, starting with San Antonio (6-13).
When they return home, Sacramento will enjoy one of the most winnable stretches that they’ll have all season:
Dec. 11 vs. OKC (6-11)
Dec. 13 vs. New York (4-14)
Dec. 15 @ Golden State (4-15)
Dec. 17 @ Charlotte (7-12)
Dec. 20 @ Indiana (11-6)
Dec. 21 @ Memphis (5-12)
Depending on their ability to stay afloat during the early part of the month, this could be the Kings’ opportunity to rise above the .500 mark and possibly in to playoff position. Barring any setbacks, Marvin Bagley should be back to full strength for this stretch and will give the team a boost that it badly needs.
Sacramento will finish out the month with tough games against Western Conference foes, which will serve as a good test for where the Kings stand going in to the new year. With De’Aaron Fox’s return likely coming sometime in mid-January, the team will have to do its part by piling up a few easy wins.
January’s schedule has a handful of games against inferior opponents as well, but nothing like December’s winnables. The Kings have the 11th toughest schedule for the remainder of the season.