The Turning of the Schedule: Why we Need to Just Hang On

[Bricklayer]

I wanted to underline what could become a major story for us during the 2nd half of the season.

Amidst the debate about how well are actually doing now, about playoff positioning etc., one of the points only occasionally made is this: We're 10-16 and 2 games out of the #8 spot, while playing a very tough schedule. Great teams, back to backs, long road trips. And that's not going to let up for another 6 weeks when we cap a first half from hell with what is now an 8 game road trip including 3 sets of back to backs. F U NBA.

BUT, and here is the BUT, if the schedule screws you one half of the year, then it almost has to favor you eventually. For the Sacramento Kings that moment begins on February 1st, when for the next month and a half they get to feast on what will have to be the easiest schedule in the NBA over that stretch. If we're healthy, haven't blown it up, are still hanging in there, we are going to be able to make up a lot of ground. to whit:

February 3-March 13:
14 home games
4 road games
longest road trip? 2 games
longest home stand? 6 games (and another 5 game home stand)
schedule losses? 3


2/3 PHX
2/4 GSW
2/6 CHI
2/8 BOS
2/10 ATL
2/12 NOH
2/14 @LAL
2/15 @GSW
-----------------------> All Star Break + trade deadline
2/23 DEN
2/25 CHA
2/27 MIN
3/1 BKN
3/5 UTH
3/6 @DEN
3/8 @SAS
3/10 WSH
3/11 DEN
3/13 ORL

 

[Glenn]

I wanted to underline what could become a major story for us during the 2nd half of the season.

Amidst the debate about how well are actually doing now, about playoff positioning etc., one of the points only occasionally made is this: We're 10-16 and 2 games out of the #8 spot, while playing a very tough schedule. Great teams, back to backs, long road trips. And that's not going to let up for another 6 weeks when we cap a first half from hell with what is now an 8 game road trip including 3 sets of back to backs. F U NBA.

BUT, and here is the BUT, if the schedule screws you one half of the year, then it almost has to favor you eventually. For the Sacramento Kings that moment begins on February 1st, when for the next month and a half they get to feast on what will have to be the easiest schedule in the NBA over that stretch. If we're healthy, haven't blown it up, are still hanging in there, we are going to be able to make up a lot of ground. to whit:

February 3-March 13:
14 home games
4 road games
longest road trip? 2 games
longest home stand? 6 games (and another 5 game home stand)
schedule losses? 3


2/3 PHX
2/4 GSW
2/6 CHI
2/8 BOS
2/10 ATL
2/12 NOH
2/14 @LAL
2/15 @GSW
-----------------------> All Star Break + trade deadline
2/23 DEN
2/25 CHA
2/27 MIN
3/1 BKN
3/5 UTH
3/6 @DEN
3/8 @SAS
3/10 WSH
3/11 DEN
3/13 ORL

Absolutely hideous.

 

[VF21]

I wanted to underline what could become a major story for us during the 2nd half of the season.

By the second half of the season, I predict a good number of the more pessimistic posters will have, once again, faded off into the woodwork. We probably won't see them return until things once again look less dire in their eyes.

 

[SacTownKid]

The Kings are within 3 games of being in the playoffs and 3 games of having the worst record in the west. And it will probably be the 3 ball that defines where the Kings head from here.

 

[kingsboi]

meh...the thoughts remain the same, no playoffs for this team and hopefully no loss of a draft pick in the process would be the best part of the season to me.

 

[KingsFan80]

I wanted to underline what could become a major story for us during the 2nd half of the season.

Amidst the debate about how well are actually doing now, about playoff positioning etc., one of the points only occasionally made is this: We're 10-16 and 2 games out of the #8 spot, while playing a very tough schedule. Great teams, back to backs, long road trips. And that's not going to let up for another 6 weeks when we cap a first half from hell with what is now an 8 game road trip including 3 sets of back to backs. F U NBA.

BUT, and here is the BUT, if the schedule screws you one half of the year, then it almost has to favor you eventually. For the Sacramento Kings that moment begins on February 1st, when for the next month and a half they get to feast on what will have to be the easiest schedule in the NBA over that stretch. If we're healthy, haven't blown it up, are still hanging in there, we are going to be able to make up a lot of ground. to whit:

February 3-March 13:
14 home games
4 road games
longest road trip? 2 games
longest home stand? 6 games (and another 5 game home stand)
schedule losses? 3


2/3 PHX
2/4 GSW
2/6 CHI
2/8 BOS
2/10 ATL
2/12 NOH
2/14 @LAL
2/15 @GSW
-----------------------> All Star Break + trade deadline
2/23 DEN
2/25 CHA
2/27 MIN
3/1 BKN
3/5 UTH
3/6 @DEN
3/8 @SAS
3/10 WSH
3/11 DEN
3/13 ORL

We lost to arguably the worst team in the NBA today by 20 points. There isn't a team in the league that is "easy" or "guaranteed"

 

[IfAt1st]

The Kings will be irrelevant... once again... before this magical stretch of "easy" games comes around.

The team will have mailed it in with wasted games like so many (already) this season long before this comes around.

They've wasted yet another season, in a long line of wasted seasons, with the exact same pee-poor effort, lack of ball movement, lack of shooting, lack of defending, and lack of emotional toughness.

You're holding on to vapor, Brick.

 

[KingsFan80]

The Kings will be irrelevant... once again... before this magical stretch of "easy" games comes around.

The team will have mailed it in with wasted games like so many (already) this season long before this comes around.

They've wasted yet another season, in a long line of wasted seasons, with the exact same pee-poor effort, lack of ball movement, lack of shooting, lack of defending, and lack of emotional toughness.

You're holding on to vapor, Brick.

Switch out the roster with some guys with talent then all of those problems go away

 

[hrdboild]

I think what happens with Portland between now and March is just as important to our playoff chances as the schedule. If they figure out what isn't working and start to play like they did last season we're probably not going to catch them. If they continue to flounder like they are now, we can stay relevant. I don't really see the point though unless we trade Rudy Gay and then bounce back to make the playoffs. Limping into the 8 seed and losing our #2 player for nothing (not to mention our draft pick) still feels like one step forward and two steps back to me.

 

[kingdivac]

No way they make the playoffs - the delusion is palpable here.....need to start over with or without Cousins, doesn't matter. Need a roster and management overhaul. No one is safe. Last year's team without a lick of defense was better than this years horrid product.

 

[SLAB]

Playoffs was always a reach. Barely feasible even if everything was going right.

All I wanted was .500 and no drama. We can't even get that. Every positive this team does is immediately wiped out with a step back. We're over a quarter of the way into the season. That should be enough time to see steps being taken forward. And I'm not seeing them. We're the same mediocre team that wins because Cuz can talent his way to ~30 wins no matter what's around him.

It's time to blow it up. Keep Cuz, hopefully lock him up, and rebuild the right way. Play the kids. Axe the (non-Cuz) drama. Get any asset for Rudy. Dump Afflalo... Hopefully a high pick comes at the end of the season.

Then you just gotta hope Skal turns into the player when everyone thought was a top 5 pick. Gotta hope Bogdanovic really is the best player in Europe. Gotta hope Malachi is the SG we've been waiting for since we drafted McLemore. Etc etc etc.

The moral victories and "we're close" talk is nice... But it isn't happening.

I hope I'm wrong, I really really do, but I don't see it at all. Same old team.

 

[VF21]

Playoffs was always a reach. Barely feasible even if everything was going right.

All I wanted was .500 and no drama. We can't even get that. Every positive this team does is immediately wiped out with a step back. We're over a quarter of the way into the season. That should be enough time to see steps being taken forward. And I'm not seeing them. We're the same mediocre team that wins because Cuz can talent his way to ~30 wins no matter what's around him.

It's time to blow it up. Keep Cuz, hopefully lock him up, and rebuild the right way. Play the kids. Axe the (non-Cuz) drama. Get any asset for Rudy. Dump Afflalo... Hopefully a high pick comes at the end of the season.

Then you just gotta hope Skal turns into the player when everyone thought was a top 5 pick. Gotta hope Bogdanovic really is the best player in Europe. Gotta hope Malachi is the SG we've been waiting for since we drafted McLemore. Etc etc etc.

The moral victories and "we're close" talk is nice... But it isn't happening.

I hope I'm wrong, I really really do, but I don't see it at all. Same old team.

There are pluses if you look hard enough.

1. We're not in Seattle.
2. Our arena is drawing performers and events beyond our wildest expectations.
3. We have finally got a coach who reminds me more of a real NBA coach than a circus clown.
4. Our coach supports our franchise center who, warts and all, is progressing in the right direction.
5. Most of our losses have not been the result of a total crapfest.

I know it's easy to get discouraged. I've been a fan of the NBA for an eternity and the Kings since 1985. If the Kings hadn't had those couple of seasons in the sun, I wouldn't be disappointed because I wouldn't have expectations. But I look at it this way - look at the Cubs fans. All things come to those who wait.

I believe Bricklayer is right when he says we are close to turning things around. It's always darkest before the dawn...and other platitudes go here.

Hang in there.

 

[peacelate]

There are pluses if you look hard enough.

1. We're not in Seattle.
2. Our arena is drawing performers and events beyond our wildest expectations.
3. We have finally got a coach who reminds me more of a real NBA coach than a circus clown.
4. Our coach supports our franchise center who, warts and all, is progressing in the right direction.
5. Most of our losses have not been the result of a total crapfest.

I know it's easy to get discouraged. I've been a fan of the NBA for an eternity and the Kings since 1985. If the Kings hadn't had those couple of seasons in the sun, I wouldn't be disappointed because I wouldn't have expectations. But I look at it this way - look at the Cubs fans. All things come to those who wait.

I believe Bricklayer is right when he says we are close to turning things around. It's always darkest before the dawn...and other platitudes go here.

Hang in there.

The Cubs did it the right way. They drafted young, talented players who will be All-Star players for the next decade while the Kings sign mediocrity. Big difference.

 

[macadocious]

The Cubs did it the right way. They drafted young, talented players who will be All-Star players for the next decade while the Kings sign mediocrity. Big difference.

As a diehard lifelong cubs fan who watched that process unfold, it's really not possible in the NBA. It's a stars league. You can't stash 30 NBA prospects in the D League.

 

[gunks]

I'm back on Team Pessimism myself. Games like tonight's make it hard to get excited about an easy schedule.

Time to start rooting for lins!

*hides from Slim*

Honestly though, with how this franchise drafts, it's hard to give a **** about draft position, even as playoffs get further out of reach (and yes, I know we're right there. But it's almost time for our annual pre trade deadline meltdown).

So uh..... bring on the crap teams! I guess. ..

 

[VF21]

The Cubs did it the right way. They drafted young, talented players who will be All-Star players for the next decade while the Kings sign mediocrity. Big difference.

Did it the right way? It took them over a freaking century. It wasn't about the team, anyway. As I specifically said, it's about the fans.

 

[VF21]

Time to start rooting for lins!

No. Just no. The stupidest thing this board ever was subjected to was the concept of "lins".

 

[Mass]

I love your optimism Brick, I really do. I've always been one of the most optimistic fans here, always trying to see the good side of every situation, but now I can't anymore. I have no hope in this team, I don't see how they can be better and I don't see a bright future. I really want to be wrong anyways...

 

[peacelate]

As a diehard lifelong cubs fan who watched that process unfold, it's really not possible in the NBA. It's a stars league. You can't stash 30 NBA prospects in the D League.

Right, but what you can do is understand the higher the pick, the better the chance at drafting a star player, even if it's by stupid luck.

 

[Siranthony]

Trying to be patient. We got the win we wanted in Memphis to help the coach after forfeiting one to rest Cousins. Then we can't beat the worst team in the league. We still can't defend the 3. We seem to be worse on offence than ever. It's hard to see how we are getting any better. I mean I see effort out there. But what is this leading to?????

 

[dukeswh]

It's always darkest before the dawn...

Out of curiousity, I just did a forum search on that phrase......

I think we're in the midst of the longest solar eclipse in the history of mankind....

 

[kingdivac]

Trying to be patient. We got the win we wanted in Memphis to help the coach after forfeiting one to rest Cousins. Then we can't beat the worst team in the league. We still can't defend the 3. We seem to be worse on offence than ever. It's hard to see how we are getting any better. I mean I see effort out there. But what is this leading to?????

The Kings ARE one of the worst teams in league.

They mailed it in from the start on the game against the Mavericks - they looked lazy once their collective shooting was in the toilet......team is dejected and uncompetitive. They did not work well together. Not enough players giving their all including and especially Cousins. These guys are paid too much to mail it in....

Having Cousins waft at the top of the key much of the time is asinine - negating his post play and rebounding. Offense lacks movement. Must be more cutting from many players Cousins must pass it more readily out of doubles.

They DESPERATELY need a confident (read a bit greedy) guard on offense. Collison is not it. McClemore has butter fingers, and has to work on his full-speed dribbling fundamentals. His rebounding and defense has improved a bit, but his shooting still off. Kings got jumped on and were content to "hang around", trying to shoot their way into the game.

 

[SLAB]

The Kings ARE one of the worst teams in league.

They mailed it in from the start on the game against the Mavericks - they looked lazy once their collective shooting was in the toilet......team is dejected and uncompetitive. They did not work well together. Not enough players giving their all including and especially Cousins. These guys are paid too much to mail it in....

Having Cousins waft at the top of the key much of the time is asinine - negating his post play and rebounding. Offense lacks movement. Must be more cutting from many players Cousins must pass it more readily out of doubles.

They DESPERATELY need a confident (read a bit greedy) guard on offense. Collison is not it. McClemore has butter fingers, and has to work on his full-speed dribbling fundamentals. His rebounding and defense has improved a bit, but his shooting still off. Kings got jumped on and were content to "hang around", trying to shoot their way into the game.

ESPECIALLY COUSINS?!!!!

He was the only player who even remotely showed up yesterday!!!! I'll leave it at that to not turn this into yet another Cousins thread.... But what?!!!

 

[KingsFanGER]

ESPECIALLY COUSINS?!!!!

He was the only player who even remotely showed up yesterday!!!! I'll leave it at that to not turn this into yet another Cousins thread.... But what?!!!

For me it's a difference between not showing up and not hitting shots right? Because Temple did play good D, as did Tolliver. But nobody except Cousins and Lawson could hit even wide open shots. Games like this just happen and with a sub par roster with no elite shooters, they tend to happen often enough to hurt the record in the end.
And when nobody is hitting jumpshots, calling Cousins out for not using post play and rebounding is a bit strange from my point of view. How is his post game about to work in todays game without space to operate in?
Team shot 25% from 3 this game and most of these shots were wide open, because the Mavs dared us to beat them from outside.

 

[Npliam]

I wanted to underline what could become a major story for us during the 2nd half of the season.

Amidst the debate about how well are actually doing now, about playoff positioning etc., one of the points only occasionally made is this: We're 10-16 and 2 games out of the #8 spot, while playing a very tough schedule. Great teams, back to backs, long road trips. And that's not going to let up for another 6 weeks when we cap a first half from hell with what is now an 8 game road trip including 3 sets of back to backs. F U NBA.

BUT, and here is the BUT, if the schedule screws you one half of the year, then it almost has to favor you eventually. For the Sacramento Kings that moment begins on February 1st, when for the next month and a half they get to feast on what will have to be the easiest schedule in the NBA over that stretch. If we're healthy, haven't blown it up, are still hanging in there, we are going to be able to make up a lot of ground. to whit:

February 3-March 13:
14 home games
4 road games
longest road trip? 2 games
longest home stand? 6 games (and another 5 game home stand)
schedule losses? 3


2/3 PHX
2/4 GSW
2/6 CHI
2/8 BOS
2/10 ATL
2/12 NOH
2/14 @LAL
2/15 @GSW
-----------------------> All Star Break + trade deadline
2/23 DEN
2/25 CHA
2/27 MIN
3/1 BKN
3/5 UTH
3/6 @DEN
3/8 @SAS
3/10 WSH
3/11 DEN
3/13 ORL

I see 7 maybe 8 wins on this schedule. how many do you see?

 

[Kingsfan23]

The Kings ARE one of the worst teams in league.

They mailed it in from the start on the game against the Mavericks - they looked lazy once their collective shooting was in the toilet......team is dejected and uncompetitive. They did not work well together. Not enough players giving their all including and especially Cousins. These guys are paid too much to mail it in....

Having Cousins waft at the top of the key much of the time is asinine - negating his post play and rebounding. Offense lacks movement. Must be more cutting from many players Cousins must pass it more readily out of doubles.

They DESPERATELY need a confident (read a bit greedy) guard on offense. Collison is not it. McClemore has butter fingers, and has to work on his full-speed dribbling fundamentals. His rebounding and defense has improved a bit, but his shooting still off. Kings got jumped on and were content to "hang around", trying to shoot their way into the game.

cousins was still on the perimeter versus Dallas? good thing I'm not currently watching

 

[kupman]

I see 7 maybe 8 wins on this schedule. how many do you see?

It is hard to see many the day after losing by 20 to one of the poorest teams in the league

 

[Bricklayer]

I see 7 maybe 8 wins on this schedule. how many do you see?

Depends if we are still fighting or not, but long homestands allow you to do something this team has never had a chance to this year: settle in and get in a winning rhythm.
There are 3 automatic losses, and 15 winnable games during that stretch. You subtract the 3 auto losses, and the remaining 15 games have opponents who are a combined 170-234 .420. On our home floor. There's room for an easy 10+ wins out of the 18 even if you concede the 3 bad ones.

 

[jcwkings]

No. Just no. The stupidest thing this board ever was subjected to was the concept of "lins".

Lins got us Demarcus Cousins. Unless you feel you can build a winner around Cousins, lins will be needed.

 

[ppine]

Good points. How can the NBA come up with this schedule?