The Playoff Race: How it might play out and will the Kings be involved???

With the team starting to grab some unanticipated momentum with home wins over Denver, New Orleans and Chicago, are the playoffs a a legit possibility with teams like Denver, LA Clippers, Minnesota, New Orleans and Golden State in the hunt for the playoffs and in front of us? Lets take a look at what I feel may happen down the stretch. They aren't great teams. LA, Denver, New Orleans, Golden State and Minnesota aren't great teams. In fact they all have some pretty serious flaws. (LA: they're the Clippers for a reason, Denver is defenseless, the Hornets are weak on offense, the Warriors are defenseless and terrible on the road, the Wolves are mightily inconsistent.) However, I do see the Clippers, Hornets and the Nuggets improving. The Nuggets are definitely a playoff team. I feel the Nuggets will somehow make a 2nd half run with Iverson and Melo. The Clippers are equipped to do well out West. They have the big man in Kaman and Brand, they have decent guard play with Cassell, Mobley, Maggette and youth in Livingston and Ross. The Hornets have perhaps an up and coming team. Chris Paul will get healthier, David West will improve. They have a nice big man in Chandler who is West coast-esque big man. I think injuries were the reason why the Hornets are where they are. When you look at the Kings play, they tend to end up finding a way to lose close games. They are 0-4 in overtime, which were all at home. They blow close games to terrible teams like Memphis, injured New Orleans, depleted Heat at home etc. They have quarters where they totally implode offensively and defensively (especially 3rd and 4th quarters) This has to somehow paint a picture. You got to like the way the team manages to play concerted defense and offense at times. The reason the Kings play so many close games are that, they will usually find some way to stay close. They played good D against the Bulls when they're offense is bad. I don't think the Kings offense an d their defense are connected because of the their lack of an identity. I am still adamant about rebuilding, but hey the deadline is coming up in matter of days and in two weeks, we'll see the direction management takes. If they decide to keep the vets, ill be more than happy to hope the Kings make the playoffs. I feel the Kings for the Kings to make a run is to make a play for Gasol. The Kings need Pau Gasol. I really, really believe when Gasol said there was secret West coast team making a run at him, he was mentioning Sacramento.

Here's the bottom line, if the Kings can't get Gasol, look for them to rebuild. Management has to look at this with a perspective here. This team is playing well right now. Sometimes playing well makes things look better than they are. If this team was to have this kind of a win streak on the road, then that would be something to be looking at. Let's face it, the three home wins, were games the Kings were obviously favored to win and were suppose to win. This team will have its ups and downs. I never believed this team was bad enough to sink into the realms of the Memphises, the Charlottes, the Phillys and the Bostons, nor were they going to be as good as the Houstons, Lakers, or other middle pack playoff teams. The team will put together streaks when they're schedule is favorable, and will pull out nice road wins here or there. But how they will sustain will be answer/key. Stay tuned.