No one predicted this. It would’ve been almost considered blasphemy to even whisper the idea that the struggling Sacramento Kings would win a game against the defending champions in the LA Lakers. You would have every right to think so as well, seeing as the Kings were 0-4 in the regular season series with an average losing margin of 7.7 points. The Lakers had their number all year long and It wasn’t even clear until the final week of the season wether the Kings would even be in the Playoffs. That being said, GM Klemmelo had always felt he matched up well with the lakers but just couldn’t convert that to the win column. His inexperience and apparent questionable trades caused a lot of talk regarding their legitimacy to hang over the organisation heading into the post season. Fans were unsure exactly how high our hopes could be especially without the face of the franchise in Mike Conley leading the way like he had all season.
In Conley’s absence young gun Jordan Clarkson has been a killer. In the first two games of the first round he is averaging 31 PPG (shooting 56% from the field, 57% from 3 and 90% from the line going to the charity stripe 10 times a game), 7 APG, 3 RPG and 1.5 SPG. Numbers that eclipse anything Conley was able to produce at any point during the year. This kid is ready for the big stage, he has stepped up when he’s number was called and has carried this team in the final weeks heading into the playoffs. In a great overall year for the up and coming guard, he has been recognised as a serious candidate for sixth man of the year. Although it’s hard to get past the offensive numbers that Lou Williams is putting up off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks; perhaps people might vote based on Clarkson’s ability to impact the game in all areas.
Majority of the league tipped a sweep, the Lakers head office had been very confident and vocal with their intentions of making another deep run to possibly repeat. Maybe the Kings were overlooked. Maybe the Lakers shouldn’t be thinking about anything else but the team thats in front of them. This seemed to motivate the players into going out and leaving it all on the floor, like we had nothing to lose. The Kings headed into round one with hardly any pressure on them, the injuries along with the fact they were facing the Lakers; no one gave them a chance. They headed into enemy territory and got the job done, not just in game one but also backing it up in game two. Lakers have had absolutely no answer for the Kings back court. A myriad of opponents have been trailed on Klay Thompson including Andre Iguodala and former King Courtney Lee who would know his game very well. They have both been solid for the Lakers in their own right but were unable to contain Klay who is averaging 30.5 PPG, (shooting 50% from the field and a ludicrous 70% from the 3pt line) 4 rebounds and 3 assists over the last 2 games. Do the Lakers try Gerald Green, Manu Ginobili or even Nick Young to try and stem the bleeding at the SG position? Do they just run with what they’ve tried to do before and hope to steal a game on the Kings home court? A lot of questions GM Greenmig has to ask himself heading into game three of this “unlikely" first round trial by fire.
