Live Thread: Cavs vs. Kings (#TheRoyalWe)

With the Cavs taking on the Kings in the penultimate game before the All-Star Break, they might just have discovered a more schizophrenic opponent than they themselves have been lately. After all, Sacto rides into town, a fairly unmajestic loser of seven of their last eight games (after they had gotten close to making themselves a threat for the 8th playoff seed in the West with an impressive five game winning streak), and with rumors that George Karl may finally be on the verge of losing his asylum to his inmates. We may just enjoy this one…

Reports recently surfaced that Karl might be dismissed before the All-Star break, and the Kings (21-30) haven’t really denied it. Still, George could have been using the “royal we” to defend his team’s disappointing play of late…

“We’re in a losing mode,” Karl said. “We’re losing games, but our basketball has not been bad basketball. It’s been not good enough to win basketball, which happens in the NBA every night. Just because you lose doesn’t mean you don’t play good basketball.”

According to ESPN, the numbers don’t really back him up, as the Kings have allowed 111.3 points per 100 possessions during this 1-7 stretch, 6.4 more than it was giving up in its first 43 games. Boogie Cousins also cited the disease of “we” in his comments on the losing…

“Biggest thing, I guess we’ve got to find a better energy and effort as a team,” said Cousins, who indicated the team had a bigger issue than just energy and effort. “We’ve got to find a solution, because right now whatever we’re doing isn’t working.”

The Cavs meanwhile, are way ahead of the Kings, having already dispensed of their Head Coach nine games ago. With a 6-3 mark after a bounce-back win over the Pelicans, they are looking to close out their pre-ASB schedule by taking care of affairs on their home court to remain the ruling class of the East.

“We need to win every time we play, but coming off those two losses we had to show our mental toughness and understand we have to take care of home floor,” said Kyrie Irving.

Of course, to do that, the King himself needs to use less of the “royal we” when criticizing the defensive efforts the Cavs have provided of late, and take more of the onus for lapses on that end of the floor on his highness’ own shoulders. Hopefully, we’ll soon see if Ty Lue’s “culture of accountability” starts having its desired effect.

Even though the wine & gold will miss the services of Matthew Dellavedova for a fourth consecutive game (he likely won’t play again until after the ASB), they will have Kevin Love back in uniform following a game off to recover from a thigh bruise. The Kings may be without Rudy Gay (ankle) and Ben McLemore (wrist).

Probable starting lineup for the Cavs includes: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson. And for the Kings: Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli, James Anderson, Willie Cauley-Stein and DeMarcus Cousins.

Game time is 7 p.m. (EST), and the action can be seen on FSO, or heard on WTAM 1100.

Prediction: The King and his court hold off the jesters of Sac-town 117-109… and Vivek Ranadive says “We are not amused” before offing Coach Karl’s head…

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