You read that right. The 2014-15 Sacramento Kings will be this year’s version of the 2013-14 Phoenix Suns.
What makes them so similar?
Both teams had two stars people could rally behind and easily recognize. For the Suns it was their pair of guards in Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic, and for the Kings it is DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay.
While the guards only averaged 38 points per game together, the bigger duo is currently averaging a shade less than 49 points per game. Both teams even started their respective seasons 5-3, notching their first wins against the Trailblazers.
This is just getting weird, but both teams also beat Denver during those small stretches. That is not the only thing that makes these teams reflections of each other.
The Suns were seventh when it came to scoring while the Kings are currently eighth in the league. The Suns’ defensive rating was 15th in the league while the Kings’ rating is 16th right now. Both teams allowed about 102 points per game as well.
One measuring stick to use later in the season for the Kings will be wins against playoff teams where the Suns had a record of 20-25 against playoff teams and missed the playoffs by a single game. That team came into the season with zero expectations because they had a first time coach in Jeff Hornacek and were expected to rebuild. Well, the guard play took off as well when Bledsoe healed up from some injuries, but it seemed it was just too little too late every so slightly.
The Kings come in with their second-year head coach Mike Malone and he has got the team playing much better than in recent years.
In fact, you might even say they are enjoyable to watch, just like that Phoenix team who had the eighth-best pace in the league.
The Kings are sitting at tenth themselves and have already beaten the likes of the Trailblazers, Clippers, and even the Suns this season. They look to be on a good start and Boogie is even showing some maturity by restraining his own coach!
(h/t DimeMag.com)
There is hope yet for the sad Sac Town Kings to make the Playoffs for the first time in a decade! But when the Kings go on to win 48 games and narrowly miss the playoffs, do not be surprised.
