Why The Sacramento Kings Are Better Than The Los Angeles Lakers
The Sports Daily
In the early stages of the 2018-19 NBA season, we can look at a few teams and honestly say, “I didn’t see that coming.” One of those teams is the Sacramento Kings. Another one that’s been mentioned as a surprise is the Los Angeles Lakers. While I can give the Lakers a slight nod, it’s the Kings who
The Lakers went into the offseason with huge plans. By adding LeBron James, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Lance Stephenson, they entered the year with six championships between those four players. The Kings, on the other hand, have four players (Zach Randolph, Ben McLemore, Kosta Koufos, and Iman Shumpert) with five-plus years of experience and just two (Shumpert, Koufos) are in the regular rotation. Other than that, the Kings are building a blueprint for success on the fly.
So, looking at the teams from top to bottom, it’s fair to say that the Kings gave the upper hand here.
Championships aside, the Lakers are still learning how to incorporate their talents. The Kings, while young have had at least a season or two as a unit to learn the ropes. But a closer look at the question and one may be inclined to ask if the Lakers struggles are a surprise?
No. To think that LeBron would come to the Western Conference and dominate proves how little people know about basketball. Yes, he took an average Cleveland Cavaliers team to the NBA Finals last season, but that was in the East where competition is not as do-or-die as the West. The Boston Celtics posed a threat but with no Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward, it was a cake walk. The Philadelphia 76ers were too young and the Toronto Raptors were known for choking.
What they have endured this season is no means a surprise. It’s different going toe-to-toe against the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat then having to battle the Oklahoma City Thunder or Utah Jazz. What’s going on with the Lakers is what’s supposed to happen. But the Kings, what they have accomplished is downright astonishing.
Here is a team led by a backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield. As young as they are, they’re being dubbed the next best tandem in the NBA. That’s a tall order to fill but when one is averaging 20.5 points (Hield) and the other 17.8 points and 7.5 assists (Fox), it’s easy to see why the future is bright for Sacramento.
But wait, it gets better.
While the Los Angeles Lakers have called on the duties of another veteran Tyson Chandler, the Kings have continued to roll out young bodies in the post like Willie Cauley-Stein (13.7 points, 8.7 rebounds) and Marvin Bagley (12.7 points, 6.1 rebounds). The Kings are no longer the laughing stock of the NBA. They will contend for a playoff spot this season.
Look at the Lakers and their victories. We can count the Warriors as a victim but after that, you can see a win against the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies as the only other sound victories. For the Sacramento Kings, they have victories against the Thunder, Grizzlies, and Jazz. While neither is as sound as beating the Warriors, those victories are by a team many figured to be fighting for one of the top three selections in the 2019 NBA Draft, not a playoff spot.
If building a team, many will choose what the Lakers have over the core of the Kings. However, when the focus is on the now, the Kings are only a few games back of the Lakers’ win total. Can LeBron James lead the Lakers to a title is a hot topic. When the question should be, can he lead them past the surprising Sacramento Kings?
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
