The Sacramento Kings are road trippin' again, off on a six-game sojourn leading up to All-Star Weekend. Tonight, the Kings meet the Bulls in Chicago before a Wednesday match against the Knicks. The Kings will have a day off before visiting the Pistons on Friday, another day off before facing the Cavaliers on Sunday, and one last day off before a back-to-back in Miami and Washington.
Given Derrick Rose's injury status, the only sure-bet, can't-win game would seem to be at Miami. The Heat are damned good and healthy. Tonight's game in Chicago is a highly probable loss -- the Bulls have been pretty good without Rose -- but there's a chance. The Knicks are a mystery, especially with Amare Stoudemire definitely back in the fold by Wednesday. (Carmelo Anthony is likely sitting until Friday.) The Cavaliers are decent, and the Pistons and Wizards are totally beatable.
The Kings should get two wins out of this. Three is a real possibility. Four is a stretch, given the way Lin is playing. Five is unthinkable. Six is not possible.
That's my view anyway. Let's hear yours.
1 recs | 61 comments
2
The road is still the road, and the Kings are still the Kings.
section214 - February 14, 2012
That's where I'm at too
The two wins will probably be over the Bulls and the Heat or something too, while they’ll lose by 30 to the Wizards.
Aykis16 - February 14, 2012
This was my first thought too
The Kings could get a win they’re not “supposed” to get and follow it up by not showing up against a team they are “supposed” to beat.
#12Pick...who? - February 14, 2012
Not sure there are any games we are "supposed to" win on this trip.
Compare our road record (3-12) to their home records Cavs(5-7), Pistons(6-9), Wizards(4-12). They are all better at home than we are on the road. That said, I voted 3.
Kfan in Korea - February 14, 2012
Exactly why I voted 2
In reality we should win 3… if we weren’t the Kings.
rpmonkey - February 14, 2012
That is the same logic I used to pick 1
Hopefully it’s two, but I see them picking up at least one game they should win, getting destroyed by the better teams, and then losing the other games they should win because, well, they are the Kings
prowseinthehouse - February 14, 2012
I split the difference
Voted 2, expect 1. I just don’t think they have it enough together to compete consistently in hostile environments, much less friendly ones.
lead_pipe - February 14, 2012
I will be at the DC Game
The Kings are utterly incompetent when I visit the Verizon Center, no matter what.
No better chance to break the streak then next Wednesday night… I do fear the last game of a 6 game trip.
@Chicago, L but close one even without Rose the Bulls play hard all the time
@ New York, L Too torn. I wish Lin plays but the Kings win. Knicks playing well though
@ Detroit, W. If the Wizards can blow the Pistons out, the Kings should too.
@ Cleveland, W Possibly no Irving and definitely no Varejao. But they play hard. It will be close.
@ Miami, L, No way the Knicks come close to winning at MSG.
@ Wizards, L, I go to the game, the Kings never win. Last game of trip concerned about energy.
kingme18 - February 14, 2012
Sorry… Kings win in Miami. Ugh… Linsanity is awesome.
kingme18 - February 14, 2012
No way Kings win in Miami.
kingme18 - February 14, 2012
I'd be happy
with 3 wins and a .500 record on the road. Would be huge to just keep adding a few wins here and there, getting more practice time in with Keith Smart and then make a push post All Star break in our flurry of winnable home games. I won’t even mention the “P” word but all we need to do is hang around and push later to be competetive.
Porter02 - February 14, 2012
Pessimism vs Optimism - Is the Cup Half Empty or Half Full?
0 Wins – very pessimistic
1 Win – somewhat pessimistic
2 Wins – Realistic
3 Wins – Realistic
4 Wins – somewhat optimistic
5 Wins – very optimistic
6 Wins – Metta World Peace thinking
Slam_Dunk - February 14, 2012
Ron'd
LOUiECOG - February 14, 2012
I loved Metta World Peace
kingme18 - February 14, 2012
4
I think we beat the Pistons, Wiz, Cavs, and Knicks. We are better than the Pistons, Wiz, and Cavs, so we should beat them.
I feel that the Knicks may be on a roll with Lin, but STAT is back and Melo may return this week. If they both play, I feel that we could take advantage of the Knicks stars adjusting to the new offense and steal a win. Plus, I want revenge for that New Years Eve game.
I don’t think the HEAT are unbeatable, but our only chance is DMC in beast mode for 40+ min. Not expecting a win here.
Our only hope for the Bulls is no Rose or bringing back that 35 point comeback team. Even then it may be tough.
SharkKings49 - February 14, 2012
+1
caseycheesecake - February 14, 2012
Jeremy Lin is like christmas for Amare
I see an adjustment period for Lin and Carmello, but Lin and Amare should click from day one. Lin is awesome at the pick and roll, Amare is awesome at the pick and roll. Should be nice for STAT after the personal tragedy.
Deleran - February 14, 2012
I voted 4 wins
I’m an optimist…I really should have voted 6 then. So I guess I’m an optimistic realist?
LOUiECOG - February 14, 2012
3-3 on a 6-game road trip is an overall win for any team, so that is where I voted.
The Bulls are great at defending the paint, and have played insanely good at home this year. To win, the Kings either need to shoot lights out or heavily win the TO and REB battles similar to the Thunder game. L
The Knicks have been great using their pick and roll offense with Lin at the point, and Kings have been bad at guarding the pick and roll. I think Kings need to force the Knicks into turnovers, or Tyreke needs to dominate to win this. He did have 27-10-7 in MSG his rookie year, just sayin’. L
The Pistons are very beatable, but not a pushover. Kings still need to bring energy to win this game. W
Kings should be able to attack the Cavs defense without Varejao as their anchor. Also need to contain Irving to limit their offense. W
I am scared to watch the Miami game, even though the Kings transition D looks a lot better. LeBron has found efficiency for his offense, and has played very well off the ball this year. The Kings need a lot of help to win this. Miami leaving DMC unguarded for long stretches and respecting Tyreke’s jump shots would certainly help us here. L
And, finally, the Wizards. They have played much better lately, but this game is still winnable. It is the last game of the road trip though, and the Kings need to “not look sluggish” to win it. W
Wonderchild - February 14, 2012
Agree we win 3
It’s about the level we have been playing recently.
I also think we will go 2-1 against the cupcake teams blowing one easy game.
And go 1-2 against the really good teams, having one night where the Good Kings show up and shock a better team.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 14, 2012
Who in their right mind respects Tyrekes’s jump shot? ’Nuff said.
hozr - February 14, 2012
Tyreke apparently does.
Because he keeps shooting it.
Aykis16 - February 14, 2012
Delusions of grandeur is more like it.
hozr - February 14, 2012
Miami's defense will...
…because that is the only way Kings are winning that game.
Wonderchild - February 14, 2012
Watch the defense, they step off him quite a bit, because they don't respect it what-so-ever
and Tyreke has yet to prove anyone otherwise
HeuristicLineup - February 14, 2012
Mr. Optimistic voted 1 based off the way they played last game but I haven't had y coffee yet
Bluejohn - February 14, 2012
I voted 3.
It’s realistic. 4 would be better. Washington and Detroit should be wins. The other will come in Cleveland or NYC. They always do good at the Garden. They can win in Cleveland now that Varejao is out. Irving, Monroe, and Lin have all been strong though. Hoping for competitive games against Chicago and Miami. Anything more than that would be great and viewed as a positive.
thewaterispoison - February 14, 2012
SIX!
If Jeremy Lin can suddenly become God, well then Lin damn it, we can win all six games!
(No just kidding. I think two.)
LightningStrike5 - February 14, 2012
Linsanity vs. Jimmer-mania
Wednesday 7:30 EST in Madison Square Garden. Let’s do battle.
Seriously though, it’s Jimmer’s home state, and I hope he plays well, and is not hesitant like in Utah.
Wonderchild - February 14, 2012
Isaiah and Linsanity is what I want to see.
kingme18 - February 14, 2012
I'm going to be super optimistic and say Kings get 2 of the 3 wins they are suppose to get
and pull off 1 of the games they aren’t suppose to get. Finishing, 3-3 like they are suppose to
HeuristicLineup - February 14, 2012
3 wins
Over the Knicks, Cavs, and Wizards. The Heat game will be ugly; it could be close, but most certainly ugly.
The Crown Royal Gentleman - February 14, 2012
I'm a huge Linsanity fan but.....
the Linsanity ends this wednesday! Kings > Linsanity
Makdeeznut - February 14, 2012
I like your thinking
I think Tyreke will show MSG how driving into the lane really looks. 30-8-9 and 4 steals and only 2 turnovers for him.
LOUiECOG - February 14, 2012
3 we will beat
Washington,New York & Miami
Then lose by 10-15 to the Cavs and Pistons and lose to the bulls since we won’t take the game seriously without Rose.
We seem to play terrible against bad teams and then against good teams we should have no chance of winning Tyreke and Cousins end up looking like MVP candidates!
rekehavoc13jimmer7 - February 14, 2012 via iPhone app
I think we'll get 3 wins.
We lose to the bulls by about 10.(With their defense and veterans, this game will be surprisingly tough like it was against the suns)(Respectable lose)
Lost to knicks by about 5.(We always lose to bad benches and the knicks have a horrible bench, I feel like their bench will just kill us this game, that and Lin’s lucky, stupid plays)(Will be a frustrating game.)
Beat pistons by about 11.(Will be a bit shaky but will pull out in a strong 4th qrt)(Solid win)
Lose to cavs by 4(Decent effort but costly mistakes allow their team effort to capitalize on our silly mistakes)(Heartbreaking loss)
Beat heat by 2.(Just like vs the spurs and the okc, we pull out yet another upset, showing the league why we are the best wildcard if we make the playoffs)(outstanding victory)
Beat wizards by 8.(Head-shaking, ridiculous first half, but we pull out in the 3rd with JT’s strong performance)(Solid win)
CousinsEvansDUO - February 14, 2012
2.
I think they’ll beat Detroit and Washington.
DiegoKing - February 14, 2012
2
It depends which Kings team will show up. If the good team shows 3 may be possible. If the bad team shows we could lose all of them. Therefore, good and bad equates to 2.
Bill2 - February 14, 2012
If the Good Kings show up for all 6 games, 5 wins are possible
But the Good Kings have a hard time showing up for 2 straight home games, so that’s probably a lot to ask on the road.
Hopefully we see them for 3.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 14, 2012
Let's see - Bulls without Rose, Jeremy Lin (Half Man/Half Am-Asian - taken from Grantland) the Kings almost win both.
Then a day off to ponder and think and dwell about the chances they had but didn’t take advantage off.
Win in the Motor City, then off to Cleveland to play the Varajeo-less, Irving-less Cavs to win two in a row. A lose in South Beach, and then off to John Wall and Wiz for one of the “most disappointing loss of the year” candidates.
2-4. Not bad, of course it should be better, and it may be better, but to count on it being better means you haven’t been a Kings fan for long. We are appreciating that the home record is improving and the next step is beating the teams the Kings should beat (Pistons, Wiz, Cavs – even with Knicks). I have no confidence that this team has acheived that level of play this season.
betweentheeyes - February 14, 2012
Grimly prescient:
lead_pipe - February 14, 2012
I could actually see us getting up for the Wiz and Evans wanting to one up Wall
This game scares me. Very easy looking game. Probably coming after a win in Detroit. A PG like Sessions who can carve up our not exactly smart team defense. Seems like a classic Kings come out flat and then have to mount a comeback on the road game.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 14, 2012
We're gonna get Casspi'd in Cleveland
section214 - February 14, 2012
Haha. Wow. He is the perfect candidate for random mediocre player that goes off on us.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 14, 2012
It's official, Rose is out of tonight's game
That makes a potential .500 road trip possible here. I won’t even count the Kings out of NY because the Kings have had surprising success there in the last several years. I’d say
Chi – winnable
NY – a little less winnable
Det – very winnable
Cle – very winnable
Mia – f*ckin forget it
Wash – very winnable
The only thing is the Kings have not done well on the 2nd of back to back nights. This is where depth comes in. Paging Keith Smart…..
Tom A~! - February 14, 2012
Miami has the best home court advantage by far
Allbenji - February 14, 2012 via mobile
Could the 24 people that voted 6-0 please email me?
I have some investment opportunities that I would like to discuss with each of you.
section214 - February 14, 2012
Don't you believe it!
That’s just a ruse. He really wants to try and talk you into sharing your pharmaceuticals with him.
hozr - February 14, 2012
.
Olde Greg - February 14, 2012
After the Thunder game I would have said 3-3
After the suns game? 1-5, 2-5 if we’re lucky
Allbenji - February 14, 2012 via mobile
After the Thunder game you would have said 7-0.
Yes, 7 wins in 6 games.
caseycheesecake - February 14, 2012
Lol
Probably.
Allbenji - February 14, 2012 via mobile
1-5
CHI – If Rose was playing I could easily see this as a 20+ point loss. But since he is out I’m thinking it’ll be 30+ points.
NY – LINSANITY!! Enough said. L
DET – A team we’re supposed to beat? We’ll find a way to snatch the loss from the jaws of victory. L
CLE – Another team missing it’s best player? L
MIA – LOL! L
WAS – If we can’t beat a team that starts JaVale McGee fire/trade/amnesty everyone!!! W
Sorry if you find this overly pessimistic but these team has sooo much Jekyll and Hyde in them and they’re terrible on the road.
StevenG - February 14, 2012
What is going to be really upsetting next year
is watching Javale McGee get a $10 million dollar per year contract solely because of his height and ability to block shots.
Aykis16 - February 14, 2012
and his ability to get back on D
Wonderchild - February 14, 2012
This is where you insert the GIF of him running back on D even though his team still has the ball.
Aykis16 - February 14, 2012
This one?
And another humdinger:
Olde Greg - February 14, 2012
You can't teach height,
but you can sure as hell overpay for it.
section214 - February 14, 2012
Bookmarking this quote for when the Kings announce JT & Hickson's new extensions this summer
SPTSJUNKIE - February 14, 2012
how many t
WE NEED A DEFENSIVE MINDED CENTER - February 14, 2012 via mobile
how many years ago was it when tge Kings had a 5-0 trip
They absolutly tore N.J. up back when they were going to the finals. Probably 2002. 3 would be something to get really pumped about. We need Tyreke to get his game going again . But 2 is most likely what they’ll get .
WE NEED A DEFENSIVE MINDED CENTER - February 14, 2012 via mobile
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