Sacramento Kings: Lakers Join In Tragic Revenge Party

Have you ever seen two modified cars lined up at a red light, revving their in-line four cylinders? The drag race between these two beleaguered bolt-bags is inevitable, and it may draw a wry smile from onlookers, but even still, it’s to be pitied.

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Both cars stand with rattling pieces — some of which will surely fall off shortly after this quarter-mile; both cars haven’t had more than $10 of gas in them in some time — and have been coughing leading up to this matchup; each car seems to be regularly undergoing gearbox or steering column work — the owners can’t leave well enough alone, or leave suspect components in place for far too long.

The crosswalk timer adjacent to the drivers counts down.

GREEN.

The April 13 start line for the Sacramento Kings’ drag race against the tattered Los Angeles Lakers was one of the more muted back-and-forth games of the season, both teams’ well-worn benches and recent call-ups trading leads. Eventually, Sacramento pulled away for good in the fourth quarter.

Omri Casspi again showed himself as being an asset to head coach George Karl in this last stretch of the season. Derrick Williams, with some assistance from Andre Miller, was set up to do what he does best: swim in the paint, and surface with some solid offensive contributions. The Sleep Train was nearly wide awake, or so it seemed.

The shifting lead in this game was almost never the result of especially impressive offensive chess moves, but the noticeable lack of defense. Per baskeball-reference.com, the Lakers and Kings are 28th and 29th in points allowed per game, respectively.

Effectively, the first three quarters of this matchup were like watching two grown men sitting on a teeter-totter with their legs crossed; someone ends up down for good eventually.

On the April 15, the two rattling drag-racers putted on down to the Staples Center for one last quarter-mile before the dead end both teams had been nearing all year. At stake was the Lakers’ sealing of 2014-15 as the worst season in franchise history (with a .256 winning percentage).

The worst not only in their Los Angeles residence, but their former life as the more appropriately named Minneapolis Lakers, who established the previous low water line of .264 during the 1957-58 season.

Apr 13, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott reacts to a play during the third quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

This time around, the Lakers were outscored every quarter. With eight poor souls suiting up for this finale, the Lakers were in poor shape to put up much of a fight in this rematch. Jordan Clarkson‘s injury in the fourth quarter of the April 13 game stole even one last look at one of the Lakers’ only hopeful little flowers in their humble garden.

Sacramento, meanwhile, was afforded the chance to see some improved performances from oft-troubled players. Though they too sent eight men in, one had a chance to see Derrick Williams grab six rebounds, and David Stockton dish out seven assists and claim two steals in 19 minutes.

Once again, Williams showed that his talents can best be exposed when they are bolstered by assists from less flashy teammates (Stockton now seems like a fresher prospect for this role as Father Time stalks Andre Miller). D-Will doesn’t want to hunt, he wants to be fed.

You can revisit my speculations on the young Mr. Stockton here.

Admittedly, one had to scrounge to find reasons for hope in this Sacramento Kings season. The conveyer belt of coaches, and uncomfortable front office power struggles have so far lessened the luster of the Vivek Ranadive era, and injuries squandered any remaining hopes for a late comeback this season.

Sacramentans will cling to the notion of a resurgent franchise, and at least a role of the plucky playoff squad not to be dismissed. Until such fantasies are realized, we will have to relish nights like April 13 and 15, 2015 — revenge matchups against zombie teams.

On nights like those, old souls like Mike Bibby and Dyan Cannon will weep for their own divergent reasons, and Vlade Divac will be in the stands, smirking — and one can only hope it’s partially due his plans for the future.

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