The Sacramento Kings, winners of forty-eight games this season, are on the road to play their last game of the regular season. They play the best team in the Western Conference – both squads will likely be strategically resting their best, most important contributors. The game is a little past noon, on a weekend, on EASTER Sunday, of all days. Nothing of consequence outside of injury can come from today’s contest and I doubt many of us will be watching with the intention and purpose that most of this season has inspired out of us.
All the same, it is a Kings game and this is a preview in which I’m so blessed to write, and the last one of the regular season at that.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Saturday, April 9th, 12:30 PM PT
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
For Your Consideration
The Butt of the Jok’: It’s sort of a tradition for me – before starting my last preview of the season, I always find the last preview from the previous season or two, try to roll my mind back into the man, the writer, the fan I was at the closing contest of the season prior. It might be Easter, but please don’t mistake me for a spring chicken – moments of time roll together now with such ease, the world’s issues and life’s various troubles mixing memories and whole years together like they were outstretched on the arms of a taffy puller. I need to hear the man I was last year, the comments we made at the end of it all, to truly gage how far we’ve come – as an individual and a collective of individuals and hell, I’m not supposed to use ‘we’ to refer to the franchise itself, but here I go, how far the team has come too.
For posterity sake, read last season’s final preview here. Tell me how far we’ve come, the lot of us.
I left last season ready to quit. A burst of collective support in the form of charitable donations kept me from an abrupt ending in the middle of last season, but even with all the trappings of the off-season, a new head coach, a high draft pick, trades galore – I spent the months leading up to this season ready to make the above preview my final piece to you all.
I wasn’t breaking up with the Sacramento Kings, I was finally ready to put what remained of my love for them down, for good. Donate all but a hat or two to those who could still stand to watch a storm-battered boat crash against the rocks of ineptitude, give the podcast to someone far smarter, far more deserving of Jerry and Tony’s friendship, wander past G1C on game nights and slip into the theater to watch whatever schlock I convinced myself was a better waste of three hours of my evening. Like the dog you wander past that reminds you of your childhood friendship long since turned to ash in the urn on the mantle, I wanted to give the franchise, you all, and myself, the mercy of my absence.
And now, I’m here, a whole season later, in the midst of a very hectic month, with moving boxes stacked around and million other things to do on my plate, and I’m in this chair, at this desk instead, waxing poetic to you all, to all eight of you that are going to read this in the morning before this meaningless game… because, somehow, some way, I love this team.
I don’t need to list all that’s happened. I don’t have the space on this page or time in your life to give you everything that I’ve been wrong about, or how many things I feared that didn’t come to pass this season. Far better montages will be thrown up on YouTube in the months to come that can illustrate just how magical this season has been from a basketball perspective. I’ve loved every moment. I’ve been moved to tears from basketball that our team played, that the fanbase I count myself a part of cheered on. Clutch performances, gaudy stat lines, record breaking performances – for the first time in a decade plus, it was our guys they all feared. It was our team they were forced to talk about.
I don’t want to go on too long here. I give all the flowers my mind can imagine to every member of the Kings franchise this season and to everyone who believed this season before I could. My heart is weary and writing for eight-ish years about a miserable team makes it prone to pessimism. I salute you for keeping the faith, holding it high in the face of such daunting odds. I’m so glad to be wrong this season.
To all of my readers, to all of my commenters: you’re truly the lights of my life. Your poetry, your encouragement, your scorn – it all means so much. Even if life kept me from commenting when I wanted to, just know I read your words and they were very kind, or smart, or, gross. Great job regardless.
To the Kings Herald staff: all my love for a wonderful season filled with inspiration, humor and truly genius discussion at times. Words mean very little to so few, but your words mean so much to one lowly preview writer who absolutely blows chunks at original basketball thought.
Today’s the last day of the season. Usually, I write the preview, let Greg know it’s submitted and waiting for clean-up, and then I put my head in my hands for 10 minutes or so and truly wonder if all of this has been worth it. I take my partner out to dinner, apologize for the late nights and early mornings and the deep sighs of disappoint she has to endure for 82 games a year and pray she forgives me for loving such a flawed thing, just as she does.
Last night, I did all of that writing. I submitted the piece to Greg. Last night, instead of spending money on mea culpas, for the first time in my life, I bought two playoff tickets.
Dinner’s going to have to wait – our Sacramento Kings are headed to the playoffs and I have at least four more games with you.
(I can’t believe I finally get to say this…)
I’ll see you all at Game #83.
Prediction
Goddamn, I’m going to cry next week aren’t I?
Kings: 120, Nuggets: 119
Who knows who will play in this game.
Win or lose, the standings the same.
Neither team much to prove—
Hope to stay in the groove.
Escape with no injuries to claim!
Sacramento is no longer pretending
And “Kings in playoffs” is currently trending
In these wonderful times
Jman again gave us great rhymes
And I think this is not yet the ending!
Playoffs Playoffs Yes!
The Kings are in the Playoffs
Playoffs Playoffs Kings!
♬
Take me home tonight
I don’t want to let you go ’til you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen honey, just like Jman sang,
“BEAM my little baby”
♬
Sort of watching the Kings, mostly watching “the others” that surround them.
Clippers, Warriors, Lakers? Who’s going to sit at #6?
Either way – It’ll be a Battle of California – either NorCal vs SoCal (Battle of I-5) or a Battle of I-80.
Well written, heartfelt words Will.
And wear a hat or sunscreen (or both) if you are in the Sun today.
Not gonna lie, I kinda wanted the Lakers in the first round. But I’m just glad we all get games 83-86 at the very least.
Thanks WillofThaPeople for all the amazing work you do here and for Operation:MCNAIR. Enjoy Game 1 playoffs!
Will, thanks for all of your hard work, insight, unique perspective, sense of humor (you sense it, don’t you?), time, energy, blood, sweat, tears, and hair.
Speaking for myself, you make every one of us happy!
Not sure what I would’ve done if you had left the podcast. I’d probably scream like Ladybird’s mom in that scene where…..well, you’ll see. Soon enough. 🙂
I’m on standby whenever that Lady Bird watch party happens!
Winning really does cure all, even storm weathered boats being battered against the rocks (pretty dark imagery, Will. Let us know when your novel is coming out, yeah?)
Its been an oasis of a season, most certainly. I have a ton of appreciation and respect for each and every writer, editor, writer/editor, publisher, web developer, etc. al involved in making this site what it is for us idiots who need the extra outlet. Thank you.
Guys. We’re going to the fkn PLAYOFFS!!!!
What a ride it’s been, and I couldn’t think of a better, more long suffering, masochistic bunch of maniacs to take that ride with than this dedicated writing staff.
Now, who else up here in the rain of the Pacific Northwest and who can’t afford the trip/tickets back to our beaming promised land wants to arrange a watch party for Game 1?
Wow, I’m actually not posting a “It’s finally over!” GIF on the last game of the season.
It’s still really crazy to see that not only are we actually going into the postseason, we’re going in as a top 3 seed with home court advantage for the first round (and not limping in as a play-in spot). Let’s go Kings!
First, I do appreciate all the writers and commentators on this site. You have given me hope, a place to vent, insightful commentary and a respite from my family of obnoxious duds fans.
I hate the Fakers and hate the duds even more, primarily due to their antics and entitlement. While talented, they are simply insufferable.
I am jumping ahead a bit here and assuming that the duds are the playoff opponent. In a way this is a miracle: the Kings play the defending champs in the first round. I did not conceive of this- and to be the 3rd seed vs. the 6th- This scenario was inconceivable at the onset of the season. The team, their management coaches and players all believed and made this possible. For that, I thank them from deep in my being.
I did not want to face the duds- mostly because of my scars from the Fakers in the past. If the Kings lose, at least lose to someone I don’t yet viscerally hate.
However, the inverse is filled with possibility- the Kings could dethrone the champs and stop the “dynasty. That’s an opportunity.
The regular season (1-3) is essentially meaningless. Let them think it has meaning.
This could be a tough matchup- Kings have depth, a coach who knows their system, and youth. And yes, talent. Windy Windhorst says the Kings are a mark- everyone wants to face them. Well, sometimes you get more than you wish for Day-day.
I believe a great deal rests with Keegan- the duds will put their worst defender on him and sit on him at the 3-point line. And Day-day will seriously try to hurt someone. DS and Fox will be his targets.
The road record vs. home is over blown in the playoff scenario. It will have an effect but will be over-emphasized. The Kings have been resilient, and this series will test that.
I have declared radio silence from my family- no contact for two weeks. This is a drastic move, but I don’t want a mocking, entitled, prancing voice in my face constantly. The fakers were bad- this is worse.
The dual Kings/duds fans on display this week will find that they have to make a choice. I saw many a fan- mostly kids- with dual gear. The intensity will require a tough choice. For those of you who recall the fakers games, this makes sense. No double fans allowed.
I have hate watched quite a few duds games this year. Kings have to be aware of the second half comebacks. Get a lead, feel good, then bang- it’s over.
I just this is a weird form of karma- what I did not want, I got and now I have to deal with it.
My soul was ripped from my very body in the faker series. I have scars that I don’t want to re-open.
I appreciate the soundless audience here.
Light the fucking beam.
We are the ones blessed. Truly great stuff as usual. Thank you Will.
Enjoyable write up, Will. It’s nice to spend more time being on this site and ESPN standings page than on Tankathon and watching mixtape after mixtape. My biggest fear is losing to either the lakers or dubs but how much sweeter would it be to knock them both out? If our offense stays hot and our defense is even adequate, the Kings can beat anyone in the West. I at least want to win the first round. Anything after that is pure bonus, but if we can beat the defending champs with basically the same roster they had to win it all last year then who’s to say we can’t go far. I love how everyone wants to play the Kings thinking that they are the easy mark. Let’s make them regret it. I’ve been in West Sac since 2007 so looking forward to going to my first playoff game of any kind in my 60 years. Will, have fun at the game.
If trying to get tickets yesterday is any indication, G1C is going to be ominous to opposing teams. Bring on that cowbell and light the beam!
I went to the game last week against San Antonio and I’ve been kind of ticked off at the Kings all week. I suppose I’ll watch some of this game against the Nuggets, but no one predicted 48 wins anyway. Getting embarrassed in the first round of the playoffs would be a set back from what where this team is now. Getting embarrassed in the second round? You could chalk that up to growing pains.
Another great season of previews Will. Hope you enjoy the playoffs as much as everyone else around here!
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