If Kings lose to Pacers on Wed, I can see the team getting swept on their 8 game road trip contributing to 16 losses in 18 games. The 76ers are the easiest team on the trip, but come towards the end. They are playing better. The 76er fans will amped for Embiid vs Boogie Round II and we barely squeaked by them at home.
If the Kings end their home stand with a thud and go 0-for on the road, they will run their record to 16-33. Then they can spend the rest of Feb before the trade deadline trying to pawn off their veterans to highest (any) bidder and spend the last 30 games of the season developing their rookies. I don't see any wins on this road trip unless Boogie goes for 30-50 points on high scoring and passing efficiency. It is a sad state of affairs when your best player has to have an epic games because his cast is so weak. Looking at Boogie's splits emphasizes how dominant he has to be for the Kings to win.
In Wins (16 games): Boogie 59% TS 29 PPG 50% on 3s 80% FTs 49% FGs
In Losses (23 games): Boogie 54% TS 27 PPG 31% on 3s 77 FTs 43% FGs.
This split is illuminating. Boogie basically has to make half his FGs, half his threes, 4 out of 5 FTs which equates with 59% TS efficiency. His passing is a tick better in wins vs losses with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.34 vs 1.26. In other words, when Boogie is not super sharp with passes and shooting, MVP level, the team is likely to lose. This "MVP or bust" issue is compounded by fact our 2nd best scorer (Rudy) has been dud in crunch time, Joerger is relying on a washed up 36 year old who launches 4 threes per game at 32%, we start career back-ups at SG and PF, and our 2013 and 2015 lottery picks are DNP-CDs in favor of journeyman.
I'd like to end on a positive, but with team in desperate need of an impactful trade (1) teams will sense desperation (2) the "assets" that the Kings can offer up in trade have depressed to little to no value given recent performance. Here's positive the best I can muster. The Kings are far from the only team dissatisfied with their performance. Perhaps the Kings can capitalize on the dissatisfaction (desperation) as the deadline approaches and make deal in best interest short and long term while balancing their roster. But the time for that trade to position us for playoff push needed to happen a week ago and every day that passes is a lost day for our new acquisition(s) to acclimate and contribute.
A trade that goes down in next 2-3 weeks, even if prudent, will be too late to reverse fortunes and potential to where they would not just be playing out the string. To expect otherwise is making a wish on a star. So much for ending on a positive.