The NBA’s regular season games are coming to an end. Thus, we are already getting an idea of what teams will end up as the top seeds in their respective conferences. One team stands out among the best-performing ones so far: the Sacramento Kings, currently in third place in the Western Conference. Will they be able to stay consistent? But more importantly, are they ready to compete in the postseason? Let us find out.

FACTORS:

First and foremost, the improvement this team has undergone over the last year is otherworldly. The front office really made the changes they needed ahead of the start of the 22-23 season, with different trades that boosted team quality overall and granted much-needed help to their group. The best example is Domantas Sabonis, an all-around player who significantly impacted the team’s performance overall. He is currently averaging 18.8 Points, 12.3 Rebounds, and 7.1 Assists per game while being extremely efficient with his decision-making in-game. On top of that, De’Aaron Fox is taking over the offensive side of the game, averaging 24.3 Points, 4.3 Rebounds, and 6.1 Assists per game.

All of these factors have contributed to the team’s success throughout this season. At this point, it is almost safe to say the Kings will clinch a playoff spot as a top-ranked seed. The last time their team advanced to the playoffs was nearly SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO, in 2006. Therefore, the fact they are on the verge of returning to the postseason represents an impressive achievement from the team.

PLAYOFFS?

Perhaps the only preoccupying disadvantage of the Sacramento Kings is losing against same-conference teams. Potential playoff opponents such as the Lakers, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Suns have defeated them. Fortunately, the Kings did not lose by a large margin, which indicated their need to close these types of close games, as they can make a difference in winning a series. While this stat denotes their slight inexperience, it does not mean they are not an extremely capable team that can handle these situations and perform well in the playoffs. However, as things get more challenging in postseason basketball, the Kings can struggle with competing against more experienced teams at that level.

We hope for the best results the Sacramento Kings can have. Regardless of how they perform in the postseason, this year has already been incredibly fruitful for them. Their rebuild plan has definitely worked so far, and we expect them to become one of the great teams in the West soon.

Text Sources: www.nba.com, www.statmuse.com