After the Heartbreak Kings reared their ugly heads for the umpteenth time this season in an overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Kings franchise and the fans are left wondering: How much more of this can we take? For every two steps forward it’s two steps back, and with Philadelphia right on their heels, the priorities are forced to remain on winning games and not developing the young talent that has started to come toget-LOOK OVER THERE! A NEW GAME! LETS GO WATCH! WANNA WATCH? AWW THERE YOU GO LETS GO WATCH THE GAME! The Charlotte Hornets are on a three game losing streak and like the Kings are coming off of a back to back where they lost, however the Hornets had the distinction of dropping their game to a Knicks franchise that is actively trying to shoot itself in the foot. Hey remember the last time the Kings played the Hornets and Troy Daniels broke the back of the Kings season off of a 6 step gathering three pointer in double overtime?

Let’s talk Kings basketball.

When: January 27th, 4:00 pm PST

Where: Spectrum Center, CSN-CA, KTHK Sports 1140 AM

For Your Consideration

Kings Focus

The Kings have got to find a way to play a complete game. For awhile, we collectively screamed for the Kings to get off to better starts. On the days that actually happened there was then 1) an inevitable collapse, 2) a gutsy comeback and 3)the Kings falling just short of victory. Now it seems the Kings are doing some rearranging on how best to break the fanbase’s collective spirit by getting out of the gate hot, then slowly allowing teams to whittle down the lead in the second half before the Kings forget how to shut the door on the game and the opponent sneaks out of there with a victory. Playing 48 minutes of consistent basketball is key number one.

The second is force the Hornets off the three point line. This isn’t so much that the Hornets are a great three point shooting team (35.6%, 18th in the NBA) but that they are pretty miserable from anywhere that doesn’t reward you with an extra point. The Hornets are 4th worst in the league from inside the arc, shooting only 48% on given night, and they’re 19th in the league in points in the paint as well. Darren Collison, Garrett Temple and Arron Afflalo have done an admirable job defending of late and while the numbers might not as stick to them as well as the eye test, a good night from these three on the defensive end would be a major boon for Coach Joerger’s defensive schemes.

The third thing with the Hornets is to be aggressive on the offensive end. Charlotte gives up the fourth fewest points in the paint in the NBA, and amazingly enough, foul their opponents less than any other team in the league. They have Cody Zeller, Frank Kaminsky, Spencer “Boo This Man” Hawes, and the Guiness World Record Holder for Worst Thing Ever, Roy Hibbert. These are their front court options, and DeMarcus should have a banner day with some help from his teammates. The Hornets are 29th in the league in steals and 15th in blocks, and their conservative approach to defense could really allow the Kings the opportunity to get the ball around the horn quick. If the Kings guards can get into the paint and get fouled and give DeMarcus sometime with Hawes or Hibbert on him, he might up scoring more than the 56 point he put up the last time he was in town.

Prediction

Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Math Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight. Matt Barnes doesn’t play tonight.

Kings: 107, Hornets: 104