Happy new year?
Are the Kings the team that rolled over for the Sixers, the team that steamrolled the Suns, or somewhere in between? Let's see what the media sayeth:
#24 (-2)
The Kings have allowed a league-low 23 drives per game, but let the Sixers drive 39 times on Wednesday, because they were too spread out and too slow defensively. Despite that loss, they're 11-6 in games that weren't part of a back-to-back. Of course, they're 2-14 in back-to-backs (2-6 on the first night, 0-8 on the second night), with visits to Oklahoma City and Dallas on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Sports Illustrated
#25 (-5)
The Kings have the league’s third-highest scoring offense, averaging 105.3 points. But…after giving up 122, 110 and 119 to the Warriors, Suns (!) and Sixers (!!), they now have its worst defense, giving up 107.7. The marathon continues.
ESPN
#24 (NC)
Quite surreal for the Committee to be flying to Omri Casspi's homeland precisely when Casspi was having the duel of his life with Steph Curry ... resulting in a flurry of texts/messages/alerts that smothered us upon arrival. You should be zero percent surprised that we won't rest now until Casspi is booked as a 3-point contest participant in Toronto.
NBC Sports
#22 (-2)
Willie Cauley-Stein is back, which isn’t necessarily great for the Kings trying to rack up wins — he’s a flawed rookie — but it is good for trying to develop him. That loss to the Sixers was ugly last week and a reminder of how bad this team can be when not focused.
CBS Sports
#19 (+1?)
They're 8-6 vs. the Eastern Conference, and 6-13 vs. teams that are over .500. They play the Thunder, Mavs, Warriors and Clippers in the next two weeks. So what's going to be the next super drama they put themselves through?
Mean Ranking: 22.8