Kings vs. Rockets Preview: A Problem for Houston

The Sacramento Kings are in Texas today and looking to rebound from an ugly, unacceptable, untenable, un – well unworthy of too much hot air from me seeing as how its the early part of February. It was a bad game on the heels of a bad game – we can leave it at that. The Kings have a chance to rebound tonight against the worst team in the West, the bucket of baby rattlesnakes that is the Houston Rockets. Can Davion Mitchell find his offensive flow against the defensive sieve that is Jalen Green? Who’s turn is up for getting dunked on in the Keegan Murray/Jabari Smith Jr. poster parade? Will Stephen Silas break even one smile tonight?

Let’s talk Kings basketball!

When: Monday, February 6th, 5:00 PM PT
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

For Your Consideration

Moody Mansion: Okay, before we begin today – I was writing this preview, talking about the emotion of the last few days, with Fox being snubbed for an All-Star spot, the last two losses being winnable but ultimately ugly, how I’ve started to see some snipping and whining about the franchise and how doomed we all for rooting for the now 29-23 Kings squad… and in the midst of writing about all this fan angst and my subsequent angst about the fan angst, I decided to pause and find the title for this section. Hit up google to do a little extra research on notable areas of Houston, because, hey lets face it, I’ve done nearly a decades worth of Apollo 13 jokes and nothing else. House of beer cans, no. Houston Grand Opera, eh.  I’m a bit frowny, definitely rocking a furrowed brow when boom, the Google results hits me like a stack of bricks.

“Restored to its turn of the century splendor, Galveston’s 28,000 square-foot, four-story Moody Mansion is an historic home completed in 1895.” (and yes, I realize there’s like a 50 mile gap between the two cities but… it’s Texas, who cares.)

Patting myself on the back for finding a title that’s more than apropos for a fanbase suddenly feeling some nerves, I take a sip of my coffee and click for a few more details. Knowing I’m being smug, the universe starts the next line I see with the full name of this random place I’ve decided on: “Willis-Moody Manor,” starts the next line. I choke on a bit of my coffee, eyes red, lungs clutching for air and choking on the message being sent.

Yes, yes, in retrospect, Will IS moody today. I deserve that humbling. Okay, long story with no real point and a poorly installed window into my head. Let’s begin in earnest, without much of the original discussion being had.

The Kings are in a slump. Even in games where Fox was present, there’s been some less than stellar team performances, even if they wound up with wins. Hell, last night was the first time this season I haven’t watched to the final buzzer. I hit send on the Operation:MCNAIR charity of choice with like 8 minutes left in the game and went on about my life. But here’s the thing. I can’t believe that was the first time this season I didn’t finish the game. This season has been so much more than I personally expected, that though gross and frustrating, last night’s game doesn’t really get to me.

They’re six games above .500, in third place in the West, with one star out because his family is bringing a new life into the world and the other star is PLAYING WITH A BROKEN THUMB. This is all house money right now in my book. Domantas sits for 6-8 weeks with his thumb, would there be this level of snapping after back to back bad losses? I suspect not. Between bad refs, All-Star snubs, a decent number of bad losses in winnable situations, Kings fans are carrying a ton of chips on their shoulders. This good season came faster than many expected – our collective fanbase is still trying to catch up attitude wise on some things.

Okay as for tonight’s game? It’s the Rockets. They’re talented, super young and very dangerous, especially without the King of Clutch in a Sacramento uniform tonight. I would expect this to be a dog fight, even with the Rockets being 29th in scoring and 25th in opponent points per game. Their 29th offensive rating and 28th offensive rating means very little to me right now, seeing as how the Kings couldn’t get within 20 of a Pels team missing a good chunk of their talent. Throw your expectations out the window for these next two games. With Davion struggling in his starting role, Kevin Huerter shooting 20.7% from deep on six attempts over his last five games and Domantas Sabonis now the full focus of the opponent’s defensive schemes… any thing from here until Fox get’s back should be expected to be a slog through the mud, a forty round bout of fisticuffs and Sacramento-themed shit show. Be ready for it.

Prediction

Someone finally checks Kevin Huerter and realizes he’s been switched from K’Von to K’Voff… He goes for 7 threes and 28 points tonight in a dazzling shooting performance. Domas goes for a 15-14-13 triple double with Malik Monk being his primary target. Monk scores 30. Keegan goes for a quiet 18 points – he’s the dunkee tonight with Smith Jr. as the guy on the ground. Sengun still hurts my heart, I look away whenever he has the ball in the high post.

Kings: 114, Rockets: 109