Despite their best efforts, the Sacramento Kings are once again headed to the Play-In Tournament. Yes, they have a good chance of earning their way into the postseason via the Play-In, but it definitely won't be easy.
Not only will they need great skill, but they will also need some good luck too. That means they will be closely watching the first set of Play-In games on Tuesday while planning ahead. They have to pay attention to Tuesday's Play-In games because the loser could face them. They want the easiest path to the playoffs, which means they are rooting for one team over the other.
The Kings want to get ready for the Grizzlies
For those just tuning in, the Kings are the ninth seed in the Western Conference. That means they will have to win their game against the Dallas Mavericks and then have to take down the loser of the game between the seventh-seed Golden State Warriors and eighth-seed Memphis Grizzlies.
Out of those two, the Grizzlies are likely the easier opponent and, therefore, the Kings want to see Steph Curry and his Warriors clean up on Tuesday night.
Looking at their 2024-25 record casts a murky picture. The Kings have played against the Grizzlies three times and have gone 2-1, while they have battled the Warriors four times and gone 2-2. So, they have beaten both of these teams twice this season, but the Warriors are still the more formidable opponent for a few reasons.
Firstly, the Warriors are postseason masters. Curry and Draymond Green have four championships, and the team holds plenty of experience in the playoffs. Plus, Steve Kerr is a mastermind when it comes to stepping up after the regular season and outsmarting and outlasting teams.
Simply put, you just cannot count out the Warriors if they reach the playoffs. They seem to have an unworldly power to get the job done in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies won't be easy, but their season suggests they will provide an easier path for the Kings.
We all know the troubles the team has been through, from the lackluster and inconsistent record to the repeated absences of Ja Morant because of injuries to the shocking firing of their head coach, Taylor Jenkins. The Grizzlies have a lot of potential, but they have clearly had a season that has beaten and bruised them.
This season, the Warriors and Grizzlies have met four times, with the Warriors taking home three victories. Therefore, they are favorites for Tuesday's game, but nothing is promised.
The Kings would like to see the Warriors take down the Grizzlies in a big way, leaving them disheartened and exhausted for their showdown
Golden State put on quite a show the other night against the Los Angeles Clippers. They didn't end up winning, but they fought hard against a red-hot Clippers team. This was yet another display of their talent and a warning sign to anyone in the postseason.
The Kings would like to avoid a performance that looks like the one the Warriors just put on against the Clippers.
The Kings have good odds of fighting through the Play-In, but they know they will have it hard if they win. Their best-case scenario is winning both games and then going toe-to-toe with the best team in the West. But they can't think that far ahead yet. They have to handle one thing at a time, which means they can only be focused on the Play-In Tournament and their best course forward.