NBA Power Rankings Week 17: A new number one and a lot of injuries

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84. . 22-34. Previous: 24th. Sacramento Kings. 25. team

Last Week: Lost to New Orleans Pelicans 117-110, Lost to Washington Wizards 123-111, Lost to Phoenix Suns 122-114

This Week: 4/18 at Dallas Mavericks, 4/20 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 4/21 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Despair is an old friend that the Sacramento Kings are all too familiar with. They are in the midst of their second nine-game losing streak of the season. The ill-fated play of competing for the postseason instead of moving on from veterans at the deadline has not been rewarded so far this season. Once again, the Kings will be holding their breath on lottery night, hoping to add a young cornerstone to go alongside De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton.

Speaking of Fox, he has been on a tear over the last week. In the three games, he averaged 34.3 points, 6.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. Fox clearly wants to win and is doing everything in his power to do so (outside of shooting 3-point shots, where he hit at a 30.0 percent clip this week). Watching the Kings waste another season like this from Fox is frustrating for those on the outside, let alone how it sits with fans and members of the team.

The next few weeks will be critical for the Kings. They are a little too far ahead of the pack in terms of chasing the bottom of the standings, but perhaps all of this losing could do some good. Moving on from Luke Walton is a must. If he is let go and Fox starts to light a fire under the front office, perhaps they will eventually turn around during his tenure.