The Sacramento Kings Punched Back In A Huge Way By Blowing The Warriors Out To Force A Game 7!!
Jed Jacobsohn. Getty Images.
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Thank you, thank you great Basketball Gods! The one thing these playoffs were missing is now real. A Game 7. Do or die, for all the marbles etc. Actually you know what? Take it away Kevin!
God do I love that clip and that man. Legendary, the both of them.
The hope heading into tonight's games was that we would at least be treated to one Game 7. At this point I didn't care what matchup it was, I just want some high stakes basketball involving some of the biggest stars in the league. I think most probably thought it would be the MEM/LAL matchup given how dominant the Warriors are at home, especially in a closeout game. Instead, the Kings went into that building and dominated. They led from midway through the second quarter to by as much as 1 in the 4th quarter. The Kings held the Warriors to under 100 points for just the fourth time ALL SEASON. On the road, with your season on the line. That's big time stuff.
The brutal part is the Kings were a Harrison Barne's away from winning two games in that arena and ending this series, but who cares about that right now. They survived and get to return home to a city and a fanbase that can absolutely will you to victory.
Considering how packed Golden 1 Center was just to watch this game
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something tells me you're going to be able to feel the energy of that building from outer space come Game 7. Add in the fact that the Warriors are so bad on the road, and you have to love their chances. Is a team that was 11-30 during the year going to be able to win two road games in the same series?
In the history of the NBA, teams playing at home are 110-35 in Game 7s. It's not impossible for the road team to win, but man being at home can make such a difference. As we saw with the Celtics just last playoffs, both are possible. If your stars show up and you play as close to perfect as you can, a road Game 7 win is possible. But when you get it at home? The energy and the crowd can make the impossible happen. You blink and some weird shit has gone down that takes over the game and ends someone's season.
Example A)
To get to this point, the Kings had to do something very few people thought they could do. To win in such dominant fashion while only getting 13 combined points from Sabonis and Harrison Barnes is big time. Just like they have all series long, De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk got whatever they wanted
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They looked the Splash Brothers right in the eye and said we'll see you in Sacramento. Anytime you're going up against Game 6 Klay and you have a run where Steph Curry goes nuclear, being able to respond the way the Kings did is big time stuff, especially from Monk. What a turn his career has had in every good way possible. It wasn't just his shooting, which was rather ridiculous, but he was everywhere. He was a +21 to go along with Fox's +20, and what's crazy is the Kings only shot 40% and turned it over 19 times! You shouldn't be winning games on the Warriors' floor with shit like that, but after struggling basically all series from deep, the Kings responded with a 17-35 night. They out-splashed the Splash Brothers (7-21).
On the Warriors' side, I'm not sure what they do about Jordan Poole. He was getting attacked all night defensively, threw up a 2-11 and in a Game 7 if you have a weakness like that on the floor it can prove to be pretty costly. The Warriors also shouldn't turn the ball over 19 times again, and if they don't plan on playing much defense then they really shouldn't even get on the plane.
As much as people may want to see Steph vs LeBron in Round 2, I can't imagine not rooting for the Kings and their fans. I know Game 7s aren't exactly a great topic for this franchise given what happened in 2002, but block that out. Believe in the Beam. Your team is really good at home, it's proven it has what it takes to take down the defending champs, and this is what you played all year for. That if you found yourself in a Game 7 in the playoffs, it's on your home floor.
I don't want to be greedy here, I mean I did just ask for at least one Game 7 and we got it. But….now that I have one I need two. The only thing better than one Game 7 is two Game 7s, especially when your favorite team isn't involved and you can just enjoy the drama. It's basically the worst thing of all time to experience if your team is in one, and my only advice as someone who has lived that life far more times than I would have liked is to pray. Every second of your day, pray.
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There's no better feeling than winning a Game 7, and losing one can legitimately ruin your life. Good luck!