The Sacramento Kings are losers of three straight games and have not had a successful March. They are just 5-8 since March 1 and have also lost eight of their last 11 games. The Kings are 35-36 and own the No. 9 seed in the West. However, they are slipping in the standings and are in serious danger of missing the postseason altogether. Following the Kings’ loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday, Zach LaVine spoke about the team’s recent skid and sent a brutally honest message.
LaVine joined the Kings after they acquired him from the Chicago Bulls ahead of last month’s deadline. While his play in Sacramento has been solid, it has not often translated to winning. LaVine recently spoke about the team’s slump, simply saying, “The vibe is not good” (YouTube link).
“The vibe is not good,” LaVine said. “It shouldn’t be. We’re not happy with the way we’ve been performing. Individually and as a group. The games aren’t going to stop. It’s nut-crunching time. You figure out how to get a win. We’re playing good in spurts, obviously, but that doesn’t win you a game.”
Zach LaVine Gets Brutally Honest After Sacramento Kings’ Latest Loss
The Kings’ Outlook For the Rest of the Season
The Kings are still in postseason contention as it stands. However, it may be time to hit the panic button. They are just 0.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks in the standings. If both teams leapfrog them in the standings, then the Kings are out of the postseason entirely. There is a lot to like about the Kings’ roster and what they bring to the table. This is especially true now that Domantas Sabonis recently made his return to the court. However, they do not have a lot of time to figure things out and turn the season around.
At this point, the Kings are not likely to move up in the standings. They are five games behind the No. 8 seed Minnesota Timberwolves. This is not a great spot for them to be in as they are in danger of continuing their fall down the standings with just a few weeks left in the regular season.
To make matters worse for the Kings, they have the eighth-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA. It does bode well for them that Phoenix (who is right behind them in the standings) stands at the very top of the list. Still, the Kings are in a tough spot that does not seem to be getting any easier.
The Last Word
The Kings’ next opportunity to get back in the winning column will be on Tuesday, which will be the sixth game of their seven-game homestand. However, they will take on the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. If the Kings can walk away from that game with a victory, it would provide a big boost for them that they desperately need. If not, then the Kings would be in the midst of a four-game losing streak with the Suns and Mavericks continuing to creep up behind them.
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