The Sacramento Kings will kick off their 2020-21 season against the Denver Nuggets, playing in Denver on December 23rd. The Kings will then play back to back games in Sacramento against the Phoenix Suns on December 26th and 27th. The full schedule can be viewed here.
When announcing the schedule, the Sacramento Kings included the following key facts:
By month, the First Half schedule breaks down as follows: December (3 home, 2 away = 5 total), January (8 home, 8 away = 16 total), February (8 home, 7 away = 15 total), March (1 home, 1 away = 2 total).
By day, the First Half schedule breaks down as follows: Monday 2 home, 3 away = 5 total), Tuesday (2 home, 1 away = 3 total), Wednesday (4 home, 3 away = 7 total), Thursday (1 home, 3 away = 4 total), Friday (4 home, 2 away = 6 total), Saturday (3 home, 3 away = 6 total), Sunday (4 home, 3 away = 7 total).
The Kings longest homestand of the First Half features seven games on one occasion: Wednesday, Jan. 6 thru Sunday, Jan. 17 hosting Chicago (Jan. 6), Toronto (Jan. 8), Portland (Jan. 9), Indiana (Jan. 11), Portland (Jan. 13), LA Clippers (Jan. 15) and New Orleans (Jan. 17).
Sacramento embarks on its longest road trip of the First Half for six games from Sunday, Jan. 24 thru Monday, Feb. 1 with stops in Memphis (Jan. 24-25), Orlando (Jan. 27), Toronto (Jan. 29), Miami (Jan. 30) and New Orleans (Feb. 1).
Of the team’s nine back-to-back sets, three are of the home-home variety, four are away-away and two are home-away.
The Kings have a 23-12 mark in home openers during the Sacramento-era (1985-present), including a 15-7 record since 1998-99.
During the Sacramento-era, the Kings are undefeated against Denver in season openers, having beaten the Nuggets twice (1993-94, 2013-14). This marks the first time the team will open the season at Denver in the Sacramento-era.
I think the biggest key from this schedule is the way the NBA condensed the schedule without introducing detrimental travel requirements. The league worked hard to reduce back to backs in recent years. With the goal of a condensed schedule, the Kings have 9 back-to-backs, but only two of those will involve travel between the games. The other seven will see the Kings play two games in a row at home, or two games in a row on the road but against the same opponent.
The second half of the NBA schedule will not be released until closer to the end of the first half. There is some speculation that there may be a short break at that point where the NBA can make up any games that had to be cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
I’m sure it will balance out in the second half of the schedule but it was sure nice of the NBA to give the only Lakers 5 back-to-backs to start the season.
Call me crazy, but this has 38-0 written all over it.
I mentioned this in the another tread but part of me really wonders if any of the California NBA teams will be able to to play in state with the newly imposed regulations. With three weeks to go, it doesn’t look promising that any of the 5 zones will remain above that 15% ICU threshold. I hope the NBA has some contingency plans in place.
That’s a good question. I would imagine that if a team is willing to play in front of an appropriately-sized crowd, or no crowd, then there wouldn’t be a compelling reason to shut it down.
I suppose it’s possible that the 49ers insisted on having a larger crowd size than San Mateo County was willing to abide. If they want to play in Aritucky, at least they already have the precedent of playing their home games far away from San Francisco.
From what I understand, if a region falls below that 15% threshold, all hotels are limited to only essential workers as guests. Where would visiting NBA teams stay?
ARCO may see more people than G1C over the next few months, and that is an absolutely terrifying prospect.
You nailed that one, boss.
Per an article on the SacBee this morning:
Just today in five Bay Area counties it was announced that they were implementing the stay-at-home orders even before the ICU beds hit 15% or lower. Sort of similar to when we locked down in mid March.
So why did the Niners temporarily move out of state?
Santa Clara County has more restrictive measures in place.
And as usual, someone downvotes this…
My Lanta, now I triggered two people!!
I wonder if the Raptors are still on Tampa at that point. That trip will be interesting, hell the whole season will be.
This is going to be fascinating with so many games against the team in rapid succession. Just looking at the schedule, maybe I’m crazy but I think there’s a REALLY good chance they start 0-7, 1-6 depending on how you feel about the Warriors at the moment. But 2 each against the Nuggets, Suns and Rockets right out of the gate is pretty tough.
Not very optimistic about the Kings winning 30 games. This schedule to open is quite brutal. I guess it’s good for De’Aaron to spend New Years in Houston though. I’m sure he’ll have a good time.
Yeah I just don’t see very many wins on the schedule unless something unexpected happens. And hopefully Fox doesn’t have too good a time.
Swipa’s got a day to sleep it off. He’ll be aight.
I think you’re right. It’s not going to be pretty.
the only thing I can say is that with so many back to backs against the same team I have a feeling a lot of those will be split. For all teams not just the Kings. I think that will be a cool stat to keep track of. Each teams record against the back to back games/teams.
I’m curious if there will be a playoff type affect that takes place. Are the statistical odds of winning back to back against the same team 2 nights in a row lower then winning 2 games against the same team but the games were 1 month apart? I’m curious what the numbers will show for this at the end of the season. Coaching adjustments from one night to the next on top of player familiarity and personal pride coming in to play could have a unpredictable affect on every teams final win loss record.
I see about 12-26. At best. It’s Brutal. Kings could easily start the season 0-6.
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