With yesterday’s news that the NBA will likely finish the season with 22 teams, the next natural question is what will the schedule look like for the Sacramento Kings. Yahoo’s Vincent Goodwill reported on Wednesday that teams will, to an extent, maintain their remaining schedule as closely as possible.
The plan is for teams to continue their schedule as planned, with the next 8 games. If team is scheduled to play Hawks/Bulls/Pistons, it moves onto the next game on schedule, league sources tell Yahoo Sports
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) June 3, 2020
But he also added that this may not be an exact schedule.
As many have noted, the schedule will not be an exact science. The original schedule is the guide but no team will play more than 8 games. The league will use an algorithm to finalize the schedule where there are gaps, imbalances, etc
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) June 3, 2020
The Sacramento Kings, for example, would have been the 8th game for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Kings would have already played their 8 games. For a detailed discussion of what the new format would look like and how the schedule might look, I suggest listening to The Lowe Post discussion between Zach Lowe and Kevin Pelton.
Assuming no adjustments by the league, the Kings would play the following schedule: Pelicans, Nets, Mavericks, Rockets, Magic, Pelicans, Pacers, Spurs. The two games against the Pelicans would be huge, but really every game would count. To make the playoffs the Kings would need to finish in the 8th or 9th seed (the Kings currently sit 3.5 games behind the 8th seed), and then win a play-in series. It will be a tough road.
As for how the Kings have fared against those opponents this season, our own Tim Maxwell was able to rain on the parade:
Kings record versus these opponents:
Pelicans: 0-1
Nets: 0-1
Mavericks: 1-2
Rockets: 1-1
Magic: 0-1
Pelicans: 0-1
Pacers: 0-1
Spurs: 1-1Combined record: 3-9 https://t.co/gO2eOszZok
— SactownBabyGiraffe (@TimMaxwell22) June 3, 2020
Nonetheless, I’m not unhappy with the current setup. I of course have concerns about the safety of this plan in the midst of a global pandemic, but the league seems hellbent on finishing the season despite the health risks. If I set those concerns aside, I think this plan is actually pretty good. The Kings will have a chance to win a playoff berth, but it won’t be handed to them or anyone else. I won’t consider the Kings playoff drought broken simply by making the play-in series, either. I think we’ll get some hard fought games and playoff teams jockey for position and playoff hopefuls play their hearts out for the postseason. There will be no tanking teams.
The NBA Board of Governors passed the proposal today, meaning we should get more details in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we know the Kings will be playing basketball and will have a chance to make the playoffs.
Fine with this. I don’t think we ultimately make the 8 team West playoffs, but meaningful games will be fine by me.
TKH needs to make 2020 play-in tournament playoffs hats if the Kings are the 9th seed
They should be fairly cheap
Paper Bagley.
Thank you.
Are those the new Kings facemasks?
Thank you.
I’m still waiting for the Kings Summer League Championship T-shirt, commemorative magazine, and football telephone.
I really hope Vivek doesn’t throw a victory parade for reaching the NBA Play-ins that is bigger than the victory parade that the Monarchs received for their true WNBA championship.
What happens if there are 3 or more teams all within 4 games of each other? Will there be a blind choice round robin? And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, the two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned?
From what I understand, normal tie-break measures would be used to determine which team is the 9th seed (H2H record, conference record, etc). Even if multiple teams are within 4 games of the 8th seed, only the 9th seed would play the 8 for the playoff spot.
Meanwhile, Florida:
They need to scrub that place down before the COVID-KAI kicks our ass
Hope everybody had a great Memorial Day on the crowded Florida beaches! Just wait until we start seeing the COVID numbers a week or two from now.
That is potentially a disaster.
This is a hard schedule to be sure but I’m excited just to watch our team again.
So what record takes us there? 5-3? 6-2?
Our schedule is actually pretty soft comparatively. We don’t play any of the top 8 teams and we play 5 games against the bottom 8. Not to mention we could theoretically make the play-in without actually making up any ground on the Grizzlies.
Well, it’s a chance. With only eight games, we’re very much into a “any given game” scenario where luck might matter than usual, which could help or harm.
That said, if we make through the playins, it’ll count in my books.
Yeah I think I would count it if they qualify through the play-ins, though the full satisfaction won’t hit until they make the playoffs under normal conditions
This seems to be the consensus opinion, but I have a hard time understanding why. We haven’t been able to watch a Kings playoff series in over a decade. I don’t know why it should mean less if they play well enough in 8 games, after months of inaction, then sweep the 8th seed to secure a spot in the playoffs. Would luck have played a role in getting in? Of course. But there’s always an element of luck in sports.
I wouldn’t group all luck together. This is unprecedented.
On the other hand, you could say the Kings were pretty unlucky in that they had some momentum (that could be gone now) prior to the shutdown. Plus, they are now going to have a tough time keeping Bagley off the floor.
Yeah there’s just too many unknowns for me to get bent out of shape about how they get into the playoffs if they get into the playoffs. I don’t personally think this path is any easier for the players than playing out the season would’ve been. Even if it is easier, the Kings will still need to take advantage of the opportunity they’ve been given. Good luck is when opportunity meets preparation and whatnot.
Watch Bagley start the first game back.
As much as I’ve ripped on Bags, this may actually be a great test case to see where he’s at before the draft. It’s a decent situation in terms of pressure, not prolonged enough for him to get hurt again (hopefully) and a good opportunity for the team to evaluate whether he rehabbed and/or worked on his game these last three months … better than assuming/hoping he will be whatever he is or better when 2020-21 starts in December.
If he comes back better than ever, than they can continue on franchise cornerstone trajectory … if he comes back even more clueless or gets hurt again, then they can maybe think about Fultzing him somewhere else and going back to the drawing board in the draft.
Finally we get to play some meaningful games in July
Some of us play Cornhole. When I was a kid we called it bean bag toss. Forth of July Fireworks, watermelon, hot dogs, State Fair, Tour De France ..
Unfortunately, I see Fireworks a pretty much no go this year due to covid and Protests. I can easily see city by city banning them
Hope Not. Everything in 2020 is wonky.
Thinking they need to go 6-2 to get in
So what you’re saying is there is no chance
Curious, has there been any news about how this is going to affect the lottery seeding?
If this means I get to see Harry Giles suit up in the Purple & Black one last time, well then I’m happy about that.
People seem pretty pessimistic about the Kings chances, and sure, we are talking about the Sacramento Kings sooo, I get it. But this is an easier path than playing out the regular season would have been because we only have to finish 9th and don’t have to make up that 3.5 game deficit. We’re already tied for 9th! Five wins, with at least one against NO could easily be enough.
I think the format will be exciting enough for a lot of teams and fans, especially those really starved for live sports.
It’s probably because most of us have seen this story before. If we make the playoffs*, Vlade will get validated as a good GM and for breaking the streak by ownership. If we barely make the playoffs, well they will call the season a success despite firing Joerger last year for blowing out expectations. So pretty much lose-lose. Oh and Luka is better than Bagley. Also, Vlade and Walton are still here. ð¤·ð»ï¸
This is definitely an easier path. IMO, the whole “within 4 games” thing is pretty silly, but hey, that silliness means the Kings might make the playoffs! The Kings can’t really complain about any of it. The format gives us a much better chance than we’ve earned and we likely have a pretty soft schedule with two games against one of our main competitors. I still don’t expect the Kings to go through, I’d probably rank the likely ultimate 8th seed (after the play-in which will almost certainty happen) like this:
1. MEM – They have a 3.5 game lead and are likely adding JJJ, Clarke, & Winslow
2. NOP – They’ve been playing like a top 10 NBA team since mid-December.
3. POR – Lillard is rested and they’re getting Nurkic and, maybe, Collins back.
4. SAC – Holmes is healthy and Fox is rolling.
5. PHX – They’re getting Oubre back.
6. SAS – Nothing special.
9th seed here we come!
3k up votes already? That is unbelievable, I literally don’t believe it.
Thanks a lot. they took my 3k upvotes badge away from me =[
Don’t worry, we will help you get it back. 🙂
There is a glitch in the Matrix .. Kings got this .. Some of us have mad Computer Skillz.
I’m looking at you Blake
Does anyone know if Bagley is going to play? I’ve heard he’s the only King not to show up and work out at the facilities now that they are open.
There is definitely no reason to play Bagley even if he is heathy. He shown nothing and didn’t earn his minutes. And right now, we desperately need to win game, and to play a guy who NEVER merge well with the team is just nonsense, right now he is just not a part of rotation. Just shut him down and wait until next season.
where did you hear that?
I think what Rik is trying to say, is it was just plucked out of the air?
Or sour grapes?
Some people can’t help but wine.
From a friend of a friend who works for the Kings. I don’t take huge stock when I hear stuff from them but they have been right in the past.
I would hope that’s not true. Haven’t openly ripped on Bagley in a few weeks and don’t want to start now.
Over/Under on wins? I’d set it at 4. Nets, Spurs, Magic could very possibly be wins. A split with the Pelicans. Versus Pacers, Rockets and Mavs I’d say it’s highly likely they lose. I doubt they make the playoffs but it should be fun.
Inconsistency is just wait hurting us throughout recent seasons. I think if BJelly, Bogi, Hield and Fox can have their B+ games for those 8 games, we got some good chances.
Given that the 8 worst teams have been aren’t participating this is a pretty easy schedule right? I mean nothing for the Kings is ever easy so I fully expect them to go 1-7 or something like that but all things considered they’ve certainly got a shot to at least get to the 9th spot.
It’s definitely among the easier schedules and they absolutely have a decent shot at the 9th spot/play-in since they theoretically don’t actually have to make up any ground to get there. The Blazers, Spurs and Suns all have significantly tougher schedules. The Pelicans have a comparable schedule, but very much hold their destiny in their own hands with 2 game against the Kings, 2 against the Grizzlies, and 1 against this Spurs. The Pelicans and Grizzlies may very well end up playing against each other 4 times in the space of a week in order to see who gets that 8th spot.
All based on likely schedule projections at least.
I’m very pessimistic on their chances.
Soo .. There is a chance?
Let’s see…
Pelicans: Winnable but very much at risk of not being won
Nets: Winnable – no KD or Kyrie, and Jacques Vaughn is coaching
Mavericks: Probably a loss
Rockets: Probably a loss
Magic: Winnable, but I can see the Magic putting up a fight, putting the clamps down defensively
Pelicans: Again, winnable but dangerous to presume a win
Pacers: Toss-up, with the edge given to the Pacers
Spurs: Should be a win
That’s like 5-6 wins, best case scenario. Luke just needs to chill with his “half-court execution” BS and tell ’em to run run RUN. If that happens, I like our chances. If nothing else, we’ll be entertained. I know the Kings were playing better than usual in their last twenty games, but honestly, I was never too impressed or excited by the style of play.
They could actually run AND, when the break isn’t there, then focus on executing in the half court. The suggestion (not from you. But from tons of other discussions) that they can EITHER push the break OR work on half court execution has always been odd to me. A huge part of team development is learning when to push the break and when to slow it down. Not to mention the importance of the secondary break as a key way to get good shots.
I’m just happy we’re talking actual basketball again. Just gotta hope Fox is on, Buddy and Bogi get hot, and and the bigs at least hold their own in the interior.
I don’t disagree with you. I just think, if they’re still trying to instill the offensive system, and if it’s not totally up to snuff, now’s not the time to prioritize development. Now’s the time to run teams off the court and play to your strengths. I absolutely agree that executing in the half-court is important, but I also think that it can wait if it comes at the expense of important games in the present.
Interesting to see what happens if they re-start and someone comes down with the corona inside the Orlando bubble.
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