By JAMES KUNG

The Sacramento Kings rule. They own the best record in the NBA at 60-19 (75.9%), four games ahead of second place. They own the league’s best home record, an absurd 36-4 (90.0%), and they will now make full use of their home-court dominance, having secured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They have answered their critics’ biggest knock on them (their shaky play on the road) with a thunderous KABOOM, going a perfect 6-0 in a recent six-game road swing (becoming the tenth team in NBA history to do so). They are peaking at the perfect time, rattling off 11 consecutive wins and counting with the playoffs two weeks away. They have done all this amidst key injuries, with a combined 39 games missed between their two all-stars (Webber 27, Stojakovic 12), but now they are all completely healthy and playing their best ball yet.

You’d think with everything that I just mentioned, that Sacramento would be the favorites to win it all, hands-down. You could probably say that in nine out of ten instances, a team with the best overall record, the best home record, and an 11+-game win streak at the end of the regular season would be the favorites to win the championship.

But admit it. Unless you’re a diehard Kings fan, or you’re somehow intimately tied to the city of Sacramento (or you’ve developed an innocent, yet incessant and infatuating crush on European heartthrob Hedo Turkoglu), chances are you don’t believe that Sacramento will win it all. In fact, you probably don’t even believe that the Kings will win their conference. Despite everything Adelman’s crew has done this year, you still believe that championship still belongs to the Kings’ bitter rivals down South, the L.A. Lakers. You believe all of the NBC commentators who claim that the Lakers lose because get bored during the regular season (…what, you mean Shaq has ADD? Shaq can’t even spell ADD…). You believe that Shaq will turn it on in the playoffs. And you believe that with Shaq “turned on” (…yecch…), that nobody can stop that amazing superhuman dynamic duo of Cocky Bastard Boy (known in L.A. as Kobe, I think…) and Big Dumb Ogre (hmmm, who might that be??). And most ridiculous of all, you probably actually believe Shaq when he says that he’ll make free throws “when they count.”

Well, to that, I say… fine. To be fair, you probably have reason to believe that. After all, the Lakers are the two-time defending champions, and they did go 15-1 in the playoffs last year, including four-game sweeps of the Kings and of last season’s first-place team, the San Antonio Spurs. And history would lead you to believe that the Lakers will win it again, no matter what happens in the regular season.

I can’t prove that the Kings will win the championship. I guess you’ll just have to see it to believe it. But I can tell you why the Kings should defeat any team that has the misfortune of entering Arco Arena in the playoffs, L.A. included. Here are the main reasons for the Kings’ impending success in the postseason.

1) Ball movement extraordinaire Teamwork has been the mantra for the Kings this season, as the team’s unselfishness and balanced play have been the keys. With a ludicrous seven players averaging 10 or more points per game (C-Webb, Peja, M-Bibb, Christie, Vlade, Bobby Jax, Hedo), the Kings have been very hard to defend, as almost all of their players in the rotation are scoring threats. On top of that, all of the Kings are excellent passers, making them virtually unstoppable on the offensive end. Their two frontmen, Webber and Divac, are two of the best passing big men in the league. And as of late, the Kings’ ball movement has been has so quick, yet so smooth and natural, it’s almost poetic.

2) The X-factor: Doug Christie. His stifling defense and energetic play was the main reason the Kings improved so much last year, and with an improved offensive game, he has taken this year’s Kings to new heights. Late in the season, for whatever reason, he unleashed an array of explosive moves to the basket and an amazing reverse dunk, adding the role of “slasher” to his already impressive resume. He was always an energetic player, but he is currently playing with an intensity and an urgency Kings fans never knew he had. Christie’s defense and improved offensive game will be key in the Kings’ path to the top. Sure, Kobe’s good, but you can be sure this born-again Christie will give Mr. Bryant a run for his money.

3) The hot hand: Peja Stojakovic Peja has elevated his game to all-star status this season, having developed into a potent offensive force without being a defensive liability (as so many European players are characterized by). Without “superstar” Chris Webber, Peja led the Kings to a startling 15-5 record. Even with Webber on the floor, he is a consistent 20+ point scorer and one of the best three-point shooters in the league.

4) The rock: Bobby Jackson A leading candidate for Sixth Man of the year, you can count on BJ to give the Kings energy, defense, quickness, and much-needed rebounding night in and night out. His reliable presence will allow Bibby and Christie to rest when needed during the grueling playoffs.

While I am positively positive that the Kings will be unstoppable if they play at their current level, there are always ways to improve. Here are some of the key strategies that the Kings should employ to ensure that championship ring.

1) Chris Webber = Low post presence Chris Webber, as good as he is, would be even more effective and consistent in the low post. No 18-foot jumpers at the corner. Just plain and simple low post shots. With his great hands and quickness (for a big man), he’d be very, very hard to stop. And with his superb passing ability, a rarity for a big man, he’d be able to pass out of a sticky situation with ease. I’ve never trusted that little mid-range jump shot that he settles for so often, and I never will, even if he is on fire. He would be much more consistent and effective down low, and with Vlade by his side, the Kings would have two legitimate low post scoring threats.

2) Mike Bibby = Playmaker, 3rd scoring option The Mike Bibby for Jason Williams trade has been pretty advantageous for the Kings. Like J-Will, Bibby is fast on his feet, but unlike him, he maintains control of himself. Sometimes he controls himself a little too much, always looking to pass, rarely ever looking to score, even though he proved in Arizona that he can very well shoot the ball. By taking the initiative and shooting more open jumpers, Bibby would become a true third scoring option, and would take the heat off of C-Webb and Peja. Also, instead of simply settling for a pass at the top of the arc, Bibby could easily use his speed to penetrate and create more. From there he could 1) lay it up, 2) pass to Webber down low, 3) kick it out to Peja on the wing. This would allow Sacramento to score even more than before (if that’s possible).

3) Gerald Wallace = More minutes! Okay. Call me crazy. “Give a rookie more minutes during the playoffs??,” you may be asking, to which I answer, “YES!!” Have you seen this kid play? He’s certainly not consistent, but he sure can spark a team with his incredible energy and high-flying acrobatics. In his one and only start (against the L.A. Clippers), he dominated the first quarter, dunking, blocking shots, stealing, everything. He scored 14 points in a mere 29 minutes. The only reason he hasn’t played many minutes this season is that the Kings are mostly sufficient without him. However, Wallace’s high-energy play could make him this Kings team’s energizer; if the Kings are weary and low on energy and need a boost, this rookie from Alabama could be the perfect man to squeeze into the rotation. If he does the trick, keep him in, if not, take him out. Simple as that.

4) Clutch = Peja, Bibby, or Jackson (aka NOT Chris Webber) I am as big an admirer of Webber as the next Kings fanatic. But when it comes down to it, C-Webb just doesn’t do it in the clutch (any of you who saw the Kings-Lakers matchup know that). His jumper is inconsistent, and he has no trademark move to the basket. Sure, the Kings may ride his back for 47 minutes, but I wouldn’t make him the first option when the game is on the line. Especially with such sweet shooters as Stojakovic on the team, or such quick penetrators like Bobby Jackson. Use them in the clutch instead.

So there you have it, folks. The reasons why Sacramento will win the championship this year. Regardless, with essentially every key player locked up in a long term contract, the Kings will continue to thrive for years to come. The era of the Sacramento Kings has just begun.