NBA Regular Season: Sacramento Kings (3-8) at Utah Jazz (6-6) -- Game Preview

NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 13:

Sacramento Kings (3-8) @ Utah Jazz (6-6)

#SACatUTA Game Stream -- Sactown Royalty (SB Nation Blog) -- Kings vs Jazz coverage

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The Basics:

Kings / Jazz -- a rivalry for the ages! Well, okay; maybe not. The Kings don't look great right now with their 3-8 record, but that doesn't mean we're immune to losing to teams with bad records. The Kings do something only a few other teams do: they match up well with us *while* also having clear advantages in some cases. The Kings for the most part stood pat this off-season. They drafted Thomas Robinson (1st round, pick #5), signed Aaron Brooks as a free agent, re-signed Jason Thompson, and traded for James Johnson (had that career game against us as a member of the Toronto Raptors last season).

They're still that Tyreke Evans / DeMarcus Cousins / Marcus Thornton / John Salmons / Francisco Garcia / Isaiah Thomas led crew where everyone (except Tyreke) can hit threes, and somehow find ways to never miss against us. Earlier today I went on about how we have trouble with guards -- and this team is like "all" guards. We had trouble before and they now also have Aaron Brooks. And, of course, there's always that Jimmer Fredette dude. They match up well because Cousins is a legit big who is physical, Chuck Hayes goes to work in the paint, and they like to muck it up. They also have that killer advantage because of Tyreke -- dude LIVES at the line against the Jazz. In his 9 games against the Jazz in his career he averages 22.9 ppg (51.1 fg%, 1.48 PPS, 8.3 FTA/game, and 80.0 ft%). His splits for points and fg% are career highs. He doesn't attack any team better than he attacks the Jazz. He also adds 4 rpg and 6 apg -- but Evans isn't flawless. He only shoots 22.2 3pt% vs. Utah. But hey, that's why they have all those OTHER dudes on the roster. No matter who we've had, not even a locked in Deron Williams, was fast enough, strong enough, or quick enough to keep Tyreke from ripping us apart.

If he's feeling it, it is going to be a challenge for players like Randy Foye to defend him.

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History:

All-time the Jazz are 91-75 against the Kings. Additionally, the Jazz take care of things at home, boasting a 59-24 record (a 71.1 winning percentage). Last season the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings played four times, and split the season series. They also split their home court, with each team collecting a road win in addition to a home win.

• Game 1: Jan 28th, 2012 -- Kings 93 @ Jazz 96
• Game 2: Feb 28th, 2012 -- Jazz 96 @ Kings 103
• Game 3: Mar 22nd, 2012 -- Jazz 103 @ Kings 102
• Game 4: Mar 30th, 2012 -- Kings 104 @ Jazz 103

As you can see -- each of those games went down to the wire. Two games were one point wins, and the largest victory was a whopping 7 point margin. Right now the Kings' record isn't so hot, but that doesn't mean an automatic win. Last season they didn't look so hot either, and we had all we could handle with them.

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The Game:

The Jazz "first half of Hell month" is over, and had three days off. WE usually lay an egg after an extended rest, but we're at home -- so I don't know how it's going to turn out. Sacramento just dropped the Los Angeles Lakers and must be feeling pretty great about that. Or they could feel like their work is done, and come into this game a little "meh-ish". Again, I don't know; I can't forecast the future anymore than I can fold a fitted sheet. (Seriously, that's some straight up rocket science to me)

It's also the return of Das Jimmer. He's . . . he's not having a great season. He's only averaging 9.1 mpg, but hey, we have Alec Burks on this team, and he's not doing any better, he's at 7.8 mpg. Well, I expect a full house tonight, at the very least.

The actual game (not the game within the game) is going to be about the paint. Can we score in it efficiently enough to counter balance their relentless attack and depredations into it -- they'll post up Cousins, and Evans will drive right into it. Heck, Brooks is so speedy that they'll get a bunch of transition attempts too. We can now hit threes, and they always could. So that's a wash. It's going to be in the paint that matters (and getting to the foul line -- which comes when you go into the paint).

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Word from the Badguys:

You try and get a hold of bloggers for the other team during holiday hours! People aren't even online 24 / 7 anymore!

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X-Factors:

Jimmer. Why the hell not? Maybe tonight is the game that turns his NBA career around? Maybe? Maybe I'm a Chinese Jet Pilot.

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As an aside:

Earl Watson SHOULD PLAY TONIGHT! Also, DeMarcus Cousins / Derrick Favors is always fun because Cousins is all loco (still!) about Favors being picked ahead of him.

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Fearless Prediction:

The Jazz win. Why? Because we're at The 'Solution.