In a recent headline, one national publication referred to our favorite team as the "streaking Kings." Wins over Boston without Pierce and Szczerbiak, New Jersey without Krstic and Jefferson, and Milwaukee without Reed, Williams, and Villanueva – the batter surrounding a drubbing at the hands of Detroit – those don't illicit gangs of hope.

Like the shorthanded teams the Kings have vanquished  of late, New Orleans is suffering. Chris Paul? Out. Peja Stojakovic? Out. David West? Just came back. The fans? Already given up.

Sounds like a game the Kings can win.

To the business!

It's a push. I think the Kings are a kind-of safe pick. I mean, you read the starting lineups, right? Devin Brown, Rasual Butler, Desmond Mason, Tyson Chandler. That fifth guy could be Wilt Chamberlain and it wouldn't matter terribly.

5pm start. A win puts the Kings 5 games under .500 and something like three games out of the playoffs. Hmm. Go Kings.