Let's be real here, people. The Kings are hitting a bad stretch of the season at the wrong time, losing five of their last nine games.

The Kings need to play better defense, and they'll try to do that tonight at home against Utah. Game time is 7:30 on Fox Sports Net, or TBS outside the Sacramento area.

If the Kings can't or won't play defense for all 48 minutes for the rest of the season, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers might race past them for the Western Conference championship.