Kings Playoff Standings Watch!!!

[KingsFanSince85]

Looking at these teams I'm not sure who to even root for going forward for the first round matchup.

Stephen would only talk about the Kings in the context of the 7akers beating them if they meet in the playoffs.

And then there's this GEM today......

Windhorst: Lakers 'Targeting' NBA Playoffs Matchup with Kings; Is 'Dream Scenario'
Amid a recent run of success, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking ahead to potential playoff opponents, and they reportedly believe one team in particular presents an ideal matchup.

"If LeBron [James] and [Anthony Davis] can stay healthy ... their schedule gives them a window to make something possible. And the reason that Darvin Ham is talking about sixth is that they're targeting the Sacramento Kings," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Monday on Get Up. "The Sacramento Kings are in third. I think they're very likely to finish third. That's the team that they want in the first round, an inexperienced team. That's their dream scenario."

Um, ok. Sure.

First things first -- get over .500. Then get into a playoff position. Then talk.

Honestly, as a KINGS fan, I think the LaLeBron's might be one of the best 1st round matchups for our team.

Think about it. This is a org that's missed the playoffs 2 out of the past 4 seasons and was out in R1 during one of the other 2 seasons. And they very well could miss the postseason again this season if everything doesn't go right. They're just not that damned good.

And our KINGS beat them 3x this season.

To paraphrase Swipa -- IDGAF who they got on that team. The're super old and ripe for the KINGS run off the court so long as the officials don't repeat Q4 of GM6 in 2002.

In other words, bring them on!

Given a choice between them or the Warriors with a healthy Steph? Or PHX with a healthy KD??

I know which option I'd choose.

 

[iowamcnabb]

And hey they are right to target the most inexperienced team.

our next 7 game stretch is stupid, that’s all I’m concerned with.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Since acquiring D-Lo, Vanderbilt, and Beasley, the Lakers have gone 4-1....

ya, I remember people here saying that they would only be good "on paper." They're only 2.5 games back from the 6th seed, and I think that'll be where they're targeting. As a matter of fact, I think that might be where all the teams beneath us are targeting if the Kings continue to hold onto the 3rd seed.

What does this mean for the Kings' playoff chances? I think it's going to make every team in the NBA motivated to keep winning and try to slot in #6. They probably see us the "easiest" road to the 2nd round and WCF due to our playoff inexperience.

Every win from here on out is going to be crucial. I don't think we can afford to have any losing skids because everyone else is legitimately only a couple win streaks away from threatening our playoff spot despite being up 10 games above .500. We can't take our foot off the gas pedal.

Without taking anything away from the additions, AD and LeBron are both rested and playing are they not? Because I still think their fate hinges on both those guys being good to go.

 

[The_Jamal]

Id say the Lakers chances of getting the 6th seed are around 10 percent. If they finish 13-8 which is my best guess that would put them at 42-40. Don’t think that gets it done.

Yeah, they picked a good time to start playing well with their new additions. With Minny, NOP and OKC all crumbling with 3 game losing streaks, they've opened the door to let the Lakers back into that play-in race. But 6 seed? I just don't see it. They'd have to have absolutely UNREAL luck with 6 teams crumbling in front of them in addition to them playing amazing with no cold stretches.

If we're being VERY generous and saying the 6 seed is 43 wins, here's where everyone would need to finish for LAL to pass them. Or, what everyone would need to 42 wins.

SAC: 7-15
PHX: 9-11
LAC: 9-10
DAL: 10-10
GSW: 11-10
UTA: 11-9
MIN: 11-8
NOP: 12-9
POR: 13-9
LAL: 14-7 (To get to 43 wins)
OKC: 14-8

Looking very very bleak for that to happen for LAL. I think you can pretty confidently lock in SAC/PHX/LAC into 42 wins with what they need the rest of the way. So now you need NONE of DAL, GSW, UTA, MIN, NOP, POR to play extremely well while you have to play .667 basketball to pass everybody. And all these back-end west teams should be getting an all-star back fairly soon. GSW getting Steph, NOP getting Zion, Minny getting KAT.

And again, this is being very, very generous with where we think the 6 seed ends up record wise. Bump that up to 45 games and LAL basically has to rip off a 10-game winning streak to even make it possible.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

And hey they are right to target the most inexperienced team.

our next 7 game stretch is stupid, that’s all I’m concerned with.

And we'd be right to target one of the least talented, most defensive deficient and oldest teams.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Yeah, they picked a good time to start playing well with their new additions. With Minny, NOP and OKC all crumbling with 3 game losing streaks, they've opened the door to let the Lakers back into that play-in race. But 6 seed? I just don't see it. They'd have to have absolutely UNREAL luck with 6 teams crumbling in front of them in addition to them playing amazing with no cold stretches.

If we're being VERY generous and saying the 6 seed is 43 wins, here's where everyone would need to finish for LAL to pass them. Or, what everyone would need to 42 wins.

SAC: 7-15 6-4
PHX: 9-11 6-4
LAC: 9-10 5-5
DAL: 10-10 5-5
GSW: 11-10 5-5
UTA: 11-9 5-5
MIN: 11-8 4-6
NOP: 12-9 4-6
POR: 13-9 5-5
LAL: 14-7 (To get to 43 wins) 6-4
OKC: 14-8 4-6

Looking very very bleak for that to happen for LAL. I think you can pretty confidently lock in SAC/PHX/LAC into 42 wins with what they need the rest of the way. So now you need NONE of DAL, GSW, UTA, MIN, NOP, POR to play extremely well while you have to play .667 basketball to pass everybody. And all these back-end west teams should be getting an all-star back fairly soon. GSW getting Steph, NOP getting Zion, Minny getting KAT.

And again, this is being very, very generous with where we think the 6 seed ends up record wise. Bump that up to 45 games and LAL basically has to rip off a 10-game winning streak to even make it possible.

In this super-competitive, super-tight Western Conference, I think we may be giving everybody a bit too much credit for how well they're all going to do down the stretch. Next to the records necessary to get to 42 in the quoted material, I've put each team's last-10-games record. As you can see, everybody is hovering right around .500 in their last 10 games, and overall the combined records of these 11 teams is exactly .500. The Lakers would have to pass 6 teams in front of them to get to the #6 spot, but if everybody does continue to hover around .500, a hot streak for the Lakers at .667 could actually get it done, or at least very very close.

To some extent I feel like we're looking at the future and convincing ourselves that everybody below us is going to go .700 the rest of the way, and I think that's a lot more battered fan syndrome than a realistic projection of what the field is going to do.

 

[kingsfan101]

Pretty deflating what LA managed to spin out of Westbrook. Both the Lakers and GS are picking up pace and I agree they all likely see us as the easiest path to proceed. Fortunately our team appears excited about that challenge.

They had a clear talent upgrade and also a better roster fit after the trade. Was it worth giving up their 2027 pick? For Lakers, it clearly was, since they don't want to miss the playoffs with Bron and AD, but I think Utah made a bad trade. Both Beasley and Vanderbilt have value, and the latter is on an extremely team friendly contract next year. The pick is out in 2027, and while it might go as high as #5 for Utah, it can also drop to a second round pick in 2028. Think they could have done better. Likely wouldn't have a shot at such a high pick with these guys, but more solid assured returns.

 

[The_Jamal]

In this super-competitive, super-tight Western Conference, I think we may be giving everybody a bit too much credit for how well they're all going to do down the stretch. Next to the records necessary to get to 42 in the quoted material, I've put each team's last-10-games record. As you can see, everybody is hovering right around .500 in their last 10 games, and overall the combined records of these 11 teams is exactly .500. The Lakers would have to pass 6 teams in front of them to get to the #6 spot, but if everybody does continue to hover around .500, a hot streak for the Lakers at .667 could actually get it done, or at least very very close.

To some extent I feel like we're looking at the future and convincing ourselves that everybody below us is going to go .700 the rest of the way, and I think that's a lot more battered fan syndrome than a realistic projection of what the field is going to do.

Great points. The parity in the west has made it tough to predict anyone really popping up and distinguishing themselves from the pack this year. Really, it's just been DEN and MEM who have held strong and only recently us building any sort of separation from the blob of 4-13 West teams.

I guess I just think it's mostly impossible that ONLY the Lakers are able to rifle a big win streak while everyone else just keeps beating each other up and hovering around .500 the rest of the season. They are the Lakers though and things just randomly work for them, so I guess it's possible.

 

[Telemachus]

They had a clear talent upgrade and also a better roster fit after the trade. Was it worth giving up their 2027 pick? For Lakers, it clearly was, since they don't want to miss the playoffs with Bron and AD, but I think Utah made a bad trade. Both Beasley and Vanderbilt have value, and the latter is on an extremely team friendly contract next year. The pick is out in 2027, and while it might go as high as #5 for Utah, it can also drop to a second round pick in 2028. Think they could have done better. Likely wouldn't have a shot at such a high pick with these guys, but more solid assured returns.

Yeah, I don't expect everyone below the Kings to play great. I do believe at least 1 or 2 of those teams hovering around .500 will play well enough to stay in front of the Lakers. Most likely Dallas and GS (if Curry returns).

 

[The Effort Police]

Great points. The parity in the west has made it tough to predict anyone really popping up and distinguishing themselves from the pack this year. Really, it's just been DEN and MEM who have held strong and only recently us building any sort of separation from the blob of 4-13 West teams.

I guess I just think it's mostly impossible that ONLY the Lakers are able to rifle a big win streak while everyone else just keeps beating each other up and hovering around .500 the rest of the season. They are the Lakers though and things just randomly work for them, so I guess it's possible.

Speaking of that, the last thing I expected was for Danny Ainge to help out the Lakers.

Lost all respect for him. Fraud GM.

 

[Telemachus]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1630362855747862528

 

[macadocious]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1630362855747862528

Ya, that looked bad. I know he toughed it out, but I thought that was super dumb. I think he popped a tendon on the bottom of his foot.

 

[The_Jamal]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1630362855747862528

annnnnd there it is.

Don't wish injury on anybody, but unfortunately LeBron at 38 playing 36 MPG and AD being made of glass, something like this was very likely to happen down the stretch this year.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1630362855747862528

In my last reply, I originally was going to close by saying either LBJ or AD or both will get injured between now and the postseason. Cause that’s been the norm.

But I didn’t want to jinx it.

I sure didn’t expect the news to drop this soon.

 

[Tetsujin]

Lakers: We want the Kings in the first round!
Also the Lakers: Our best player shredded his foot keeping us at the 11 seed and now is probably going to miss the rest of the season.

 

[mrlaze]

I was going to say AD is a strong breeze away from being hurt again. But this time its Lebron I guess.

 

[NewArena]

Im hoping everyone stays healthy. Would never wish injury on anyone, but i do find it ridiculous that LA was thinking about the 6th seed after just 3 or 4 wins. Talk about getting ahead of yourself

 

[kingsfan101]

Speaking of that, the last thing I expected was for Danny Ainge to help out the Lakers.

Lost all respect for him. Fraud GM.

I do wonder if the GMs give in to agents' pressure.

 

[hrdboild]

Without taking anything away from the additions, AD and LeBron are both rested and playing are they not? Because I still think their fate hinges on both those guys being good to go.

Exactly. The Lakers definitely improved their roster at the trade deadline but not enough to make up for losing Lebron or AD for a long stretch. They've always been a team you have to take seriously when their top two players are healthy -- the problem is that Anthony Davis is hardly ever fully healthy and Lebron is the ageless wonder but eventually the late-career injury bug will catch up to him too.

 

[Letsgokings13]

Not sure if it's been asked, or if I've missed it - but if you could choose who we play in the first round, who would it be?

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Not sure if it's been asked, or if I've missed it - but if you could choose who we play in the first round, who would it be?

Dallas, although not based on any kind of metric on winning the series. Just because I think that would be fun AF, and I'd at least call it a coinflip.


*apologies to our mods.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

also just imagine how rad it would be if Luka steals the clutch player of the year award and we bust them in the first round.

granted there will be people here on suicide watch if that goes 7 games. But holy hell!!!!


ps. I love you mods. I really do.

 

[NewArena]

Not sure if it's been asked, or if I've missed it - but if you could choose who we play in the first round, who would it be?

Mavs or Warriors but i doubt Golden state will climb that high

 

[Telemachus]

Mavs or Warriors but i doubt Golden state will climb that high

I'm confused.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

The Magic pull out a win on the road against the Pelicans. Results continue to go our way lol

 

[iowamcnabb]

The magic have a handful of games left against our competitors and could do us a favor if they pull off a couple wins. They are a team people might be penciling in victories against but have been pretty dang good the last couple months

 

[Tetsujin]

The Magic pull out a win on the road against the Pelicans. Results continue to go our way lol

Pels dangerously close to slipping out of the postseason picture entirely with no sign of Zion returning in the near future.
People were talking about them as a dark horse championship contender like a month ago.

 

[Rain man]

The Magic pull out a win on the road against the Pelicans. Results continue to go our way lol

It’s starting to feel like a lot of these teams just aren’t that good, at least as currently rostered. We’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop on us, and it seems like we are probably just better than New Orleans, Minnesota, Golden State and the Lakers, especially with their injuries.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Shams Charania on Twitter: "Sources: There's fear Lakers star LeBron James is likely to miss an extended period of time with his right foot injury. James suffered the injury in Sunday's win over Dallas, played through it, and belief is he will be sidelined an indefinite amount." / Twitter

The rare win that may have been a season-breaking loss.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1630303220353605633

I too, would very much like to play the Lakers in the first round. Would be an easier path to the second round than like 7 other potential match-ups

The west is an absolute madhouse this year. Thankfully we've been able to stay mostly above it so far, but there are literally 13 competitive teams vying for 8 playoff spots - with FOUR GAMES separating the 4th and 13th place teams. The only two that aren't competitive are having two of the greatest tanking seasons of all time with a combined 25 losses in a row between them (SA + HOU).

Very quaint that the Lakers, who are currently 12th out of those thirteen are expressing their "preferences". First you gotta make the playoffs buddy! Good luck!