After winning the Pacific Division for the first time in 20 years last season, the Sacramento Kings will not repeat their success but will pass the crown to the Los Angeles Clippers, who are set to win the division for the first time in a decade. The Clippers and Kings have combined for just five Pacific Division titles, compared to the 39 won by the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns.
The Kings and Clippers have been in a similar boat, as both franchises have struggled to succeed. Despite their struggles, both teams look the best they have in years, making for electric matchups when they face off.
The Clippers are 2-0 against Sacramento this season, winning by an average of 17 points in those matchups. On Sunday, the two teams are set to meet for the first time in over two months as the Kings look to get their first win in the season series on the road.
Kings HC Mike Brown was asked how the Clippers have been able to click so well recently (via @SeanCunningham | X):
"They've got four future Hall of Famers in their starting five, that helps. When I was in Golden State, we had that and we clicked a lot. It's a big advantage when you have that and guys can still play, and they're not guys that are way past their prime. [Clippers HC] Ty Lue does a heck of a job with that group, but it's just a matter of time before you're going to figure it out, and they have."
Since acquiring James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers, the Clippers have been one of the most impressive teams across the league. At 37-18, the Clippers sit third in the Western Conference while just 1.5 games behind the first-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
Outside of pure talent, Brown also commented on the Clippers' intangibles and what makes them such a tough matchup for Sacramento:
"They're able to switch, they're long, they're athletic, and they're able to switch one through four all the time. They can even go small and switch one through five when they want to. [Ivica] Zubac is just a big, big dude down there, and he's hard to move and hard to get around. They're a veteran team that's won at a high level and poses a lot of problems just because of their switchability, their size, their length, their athleticism, and their intelligence on top of that.
Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard has given Sacramento problems this season, averaging 32.5 points and 6.5 rebounds through two games, shooting 78.1% from the field and 66.7% from deep.
The Kings will have their hands full as they head to Los Angeles on the first leg of a back-to-back before hosting the Miami Heat on Monday, but Sacramento cannot afford to lose both pivotal matchups. The Kings will be facing the Clippers after two days of rest, as they will need any advantage they can get.
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