The Sacramento Kings made several moves before the trade deadline. They added Zach LaVine, Jonas Valančiūnas, Jake LaRavia, and Markelle Fultz. However, these additions may not be enough to salvage their season. With 26 games remaining, the Kings sit at 28-28, just behind the Golden State Warriors in the play-in race. Their recent 132-108 loss to the Warriors hurt their postseason chances. If the season ended today, the Warriors would have home-court advantage in a potential 9th vs. 10th play-in game. The Kings now face an uphill battle.
Kings Midway Notes: A Little Too Late Kings
LaVine’s Shooting Struggles in Sacramento
LaVine has not played at his peak level since joining the Kings. He is averaging 20.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. While these numbers are solid, they fall below his 24.0-point average with the Chicago Bulls. His three-point shooting has been a major issue. In Sacramento, LaVine is hitting just 26.4% from deep compared to 44.6% on 7.3 attempts per game in Chicago. His shot should eventually normalize to the high 30s, but the Kings need that adjustment to happen quickly. Sacramento ranks in the bottom five in three-point percentage and bottom ten in three-point attempts.
Sabonis: The Kings’ X-Factor
Domantas Sabonis has quietly become a vital three-point weapon. He is shooting 45.5% from beyond the arc on 2.4 attempts per game. This efficiency is largely due to defenders sagging off him, daring him to shoot. If teams start respecting his shot, Sabonis will need to maintain his accuracy. His ability to draw defenders out of the paint could create much-needed driving lanes for DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and LaVine.
Sabonis has also taken on a playmaking role, helping LaVine get involved. About a third of LaVine’s shot attempts (5.3 out of 16.3 per game) come off a pass from Sabonis. The Kings need LaVine to regain his early-season form. When at his best, he is the most dangerous scorer on the court.
Kings Defensive Notes: Issues Persist
The Kings’ biggest problem is defense. They currently rank 22nd in defensive rating and have only gotten worse since trading De’Aaron Fox. Since the trade, they have fallen to 25th in the league. LaVine has never been known for his defense, and Valančiūnas does not provide much rim protection. If Sacramento wants to be a serious playoff team, they must improve on that end of the floor.
Kings Notes: Not Enough Time to Build Chemistry
Sacramento now faces a race against time. Integrating new players is difficult, especially with only 26 games left. A core of LaVine, DeRozan, Monk, and Sabonis might win regular-season games, but they do not look like a playoff threat. The Kings need their new pieces to mesh quickly. They have some leeway with the regular season as the teams behind them are both dealing with various issues. The Suns in 11th have been terrible (25th) defensively this year. The Spurs are set to be without Victor Wembanyama for at least the rest of the season. Therefore, the kings will probably make the play-in tournament but it’s hard to see them beating the Warriors at Chase center. But if the game is in Sacramento, the Kings could get an emotional win. The kings need to improve the defense or else they will crash and burn in the play-in.
Their latest loss to the Warriors makes the challenge even steeper. They gave up 132 points at home, showing just how vulnerable they are defensively. Sacramento must find a way to improve fast. If they don’t, their trade-deadline moves will be too little, too late.
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