Problem is - they really shouldn't have been aiming for the 8th seed.
With the West the way it is this year, they should have been aiming to get 5th seed, and a possible playoff series win.
They woulda been tied for 6th seed right now if they'd simply shown up and wanted to win at all against Charlotte, the T-Wolves, the Blazers, and the 76ers.
I don't see the Kings catching up 6.5 games on the Mavs, not with the way the Mavs get such home-cookin' on their floor. (And in their locker rooms, from what Doug Christie said)