We did it, Kings fans. Game 82 of what I can honestly say might be the worst season of Sacramento Kings basketball that I can remember. The Kings have had worse records, technically (the 08-09 Kings went 17-65) and if you’ve been here long enough, you know those last Maloof years were brutal. But I don’t know. The longer we sit here under Vivek Ranadive’s ownership, the stronger that feeling of we’re never going to win with these guys in charge grows.
Ranadive has the money the Maloofs didn’t at the end, so it’s different. But the hopelessness feels very similar. Anyway, one last ride for the sickos still watching this mess.
Who: Sacramento Kings (22-59) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (41-40)
Where: Moda Center, Portland, OR
When: 5:30 PT / 8:30 ET
Watch: NBCSCA / League Pass
We discussed this in detail prior to the Warriors game on Friday night, but the Kings had an opportunity to lock in the 4th position in the lottery following a Utah Jazz win over the Grizzlies. Instead, the Kings defeated the Warriors and remain stuck with the Jazz in a 4/5 race with one game remaining. The Jazz will play the Lakers to close out their season.
I can’t hate that hard on the Warriors win. Doug Christie and the Kings did it on the back on their young players. To understand the frustration a lot of Kings fans are feeling, you’ve got to zoom out. The Kings should have been limiting their veteran players months ago. The Warriors win didn’t need to be back-breaking for the tank if they had traded more veterans at the deadline. If they had started Devin Carter months ago. If they didn’t insist on playing DeMar DeRozan 30+ minutes post-deadline.
There are a million different ways the Kings could have played this where a late season win over the Warriors via young players isn’t a negative, but that would require significantly more tact than this organization has shown. A true season from hell, and I’m glad it’s over.
Prediction: Kings 117, Portland 105.
Badge Legend