Predictions 2024-25

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

So0 why are the Kings have so much trouble in pre-season? Is DDR really that different of a player that it takes time to adjust? What's up?

Ummm, you kinda answered your own question...It's the...preseason...Wouldn't look too much into it. Preseason performance doesn't necessarily carry over into regular season performance, as you see more of the bench guys and 3rd and 4th team guys play as opposed to your every day starters. If the struggles continue into the first handful of meaningful, regular season, games, then that's the time to panic.

 

[SacTownKid]

So0 why are the Kings have so much trouble in pre-season? Is DDR really that different of a player that it takes time to adjust? What's up?

In the last game Fox was out and that was a major issue. Brown apperently just let the guys go out and play. That will either have been a great thing or a terrible thing at the start. Jarring the new faces into the rhythm can work sometimes once a coach gives a little more guidance from the sidelines.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

I'm predicting scenario 3.

I expect some regression defensively, (the Kings maxed out their potential on that end last year.)

Offensively, I think we don't have enough high efficiency shooters in the starting lineup, so I think that will stagnate as well. We might win a couple more close games, and we might be more robust to injury and exhaustion. But I expect that to have a marginal impact

 

[PurpleHaze]

Every online review Kings upcoming season say almost exactly same thing and it's concerning. Lack of size/length, lack of defense, lack of consistent shot blocker, need to outscore opponents - help in that regard with excellent addition of DeRozen. Most projections in the very stacked west 44 or so wins. 50 would seem to be a stretch but Kings fans can always hope.

 

[Bfreeman]

Realistically they look like playing both ways is still a struggle. That could improve or they may just tell MB to stick it and try and outscore teams which would fun short term but bad in the long run. I predict 49-33 and they eke into the playoffs 5th or 6th seed.

 

[The_Jamal]

Ummm, you kinda answered your own question...It's the...preseason...Wouldn't look too much into it. Preseason performance doesn't necessarily carry over into regular season performance, as you see more of the bench guys and 3rd and 4th team guys play as opposed to your every day starters. If the struggles continue into the first handful of meaningful, regular season, games, then that's the time to panic.

Yep. I've never put much stock into summer ball. We know these guys arent going all out and we know they're trying new things. And EVEN if we went undefeated in preseason, looked amazing... you still have to go do that when the games count.

Now it's obviously better to look good than not, but I don't think preseason/summer league is predictive at all for regular season success.

 

[sactowndog]

Well to me the season is going to swing on Keegan. He has to take and make C&S 3 point shots at a high rate.

Here is the issue.
2022-23. 41.3%
2023-24. 37.5
2024-25. Pre. 25.9*
*the preseason was not just C&S

the trend here is not good and Keegan’s shot looks routinely flat.

if this trend continues I don’t think the Kings make the play-offs.

 

[sactowndog]

For whatever it is worth Duncan and LeCroix on RealGM have the Kings on the 8/9/10 of the play-offs 46 wins with the following teams ahead of them:
OKC, Denver, Minn, Dallas, Phoenix, Grizz, New Orleans,

 

[PorchSurfin]

After today's press conference with Brown, and unless Monte somehow moves him off his idiocy starting Kevin, 46 wins and a playing loss.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Man, y'all are WHACK!!! Like I said before...We bout to shock the world! 2001-2002 Sacramento Kings got NOTHING on the 2024-2025 BEAM TEAM!!! NOTHING!!! Beams are about to be lit! Memories are about to be made! And we're all gonna see Adam Silver standing at center court 8 months from now!

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!



Aight, now that I have officially gotten that out of my system...

I don't think we're any worse than we were last season, so that, in my mind, eliminates the possibility of seeing a maximum of 45 wins. Are we better than the 2022-2023 team? Only time will tell. That season was wild. And magical. It will be difficult to duplicate. As a result, that, also in my mind, and for right now, eliminates the possibility of seeing 48+ wins.

Which means that we're winning 47 games this season.

UNLESS DDR comes out in BEAST MODE, and the rest of the team feeds off of his energy. If that happens, I see the team easily eclipsing the 50-win mark. But, until I am able to see what the team looks like over the first handful of regular season games, I will stick with my prediction of 47 wins.

 

[See_Hanks]

So0 why are the Kings have so much trouble in pre-season? Is DDR really that different of a player that it takes time to adjust? What's up?

Yes, what you said... There is obvious chemistry issues with the big 3. They are all kind of the same "type" of player that has high assists and score a lot as well. I am sure there are issues with whether to pass or not with the big 3. I have a feeling that we will be "Scenario 4:"

 

[See_Hanks]

OK my prediction.

60% chance of Scenario 3:
40% chance of Scenario 4:

It's not going to be pretty this year. We had a good core trying to develop who I thought could make some huge strides being among the top 4 teams in the west and winning a playoff series, but I just don't see it. We will have a couple win streaks bookended by pretty bad losing streaks when the players aren't that good on the floor.

On paper the Kings are top 4 in West and top 6 in the NBA.
On the court the Kings will be wondering why they cannot get a win against inferior teams when we have such a good team (on paper).

I predict 32-50 as the worst record at the end of the season and 40-42 as the best.

 

[Kingster]

Well to me the season is going to swing on Keegan. He has to take and make C&S 3 point shots at a high rate.

Here is the issue.
2022-23. 41.3%
2023-24. 37.5
2024-25. Pre. 25.9*
*the preseason was not just C&S

the trend here is not good and Keegan’s shot looks routinely flat.

if this trend continues I don’t think the Kings make the play-offs.

The three point shooting from Keegan and other spacers like Heurter and Ellis, etc. will be critical.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

OK my prediction.

60% chance of Scenario 3:
40% chance of Scenario 4:

It's not going to be pretty this year. We had a good core trying to develop who I thought could make some huge strides being among the top 4 teams in the west and winning a playoff series, but I just don't see it. We will have a couple win streaks bookended by pretty bad losing streaks when the players aren't that good on the floor.

On paper the Kings are top 4 in West and top 6 in the NBA.
On the court the Kings will be wondering why they cannot get a win against inferior teams when we have such a good team (on paper).

I predict 32-50 as the worst record at the end of the season and 40-42 as the best.

That will be a complete disaster if anything between those two happens

 

[sactowndog]

OK my prediction.

60% chance of Scenario 3:
40% chance of Scenario 4:

It's not going to be pretty this year. We had a good core trying to develop who I thought could make some huge strides being among the top 4 teams in the west and winning a playoff series, but I just don't see it. We will have a couple win streaks bookended by pretty bad losing streaks when the players aren't that good on the floor.

On paper the Kings are top 4 in West and top 6 in the NBA.
On the court the Kings will be wondering why they cannot get a win against inferior teams when we have such a good team (on paper).

I predict 32-50 as the worst record at the end of the season and 40-42 as the best.

I would hope this is not a possibility. If it is clear we are not making the play-offs prior to the all star break we had better tank like hell and keep our draft pick. Monte has never tanked so not sure he will but if we end up with a 40-42 record and lose our pick my previous comments about Monte will seem flowery in comparison.

 

[SacTownKid]

I would hope this is not a possibility. If it is clear we are not making the play-offs prior to the all star break we had better tank like hell and keep our draft pick. Monte has never tanked so not sure he will but if we end up with a 40-42 record and lose our pick my previous comments about Monte will seem flowery in comparison.

I'm not sure how you tank with a team like the Kings. They'd probably just end up in that 10-15 range without obvious tank trades. If this thing is off the rails early, the likely scenario is a star swap trade at some point whether that's Fox/filler or Domas/filler.

 

[SLAB]

I’m a little less optimistic with the Huerter news. People have been saying Keon is such a better starter than Malik (in our current build) because of the balance he brings, but now we’re starting a guy who undoes any of that Keon balance, and who even knows how he’ll come back after a really bad season then a pretty significant injury.

Still think we’ll be good though.

 

[midtowner]

I think this team is going to be super fun to root for and that the beam is going to be a regular part of Sac Life. I’m predicting 50 wins, All NBA for Mr Fox and Sabonis, and a deep playoff run.

 

[Jones2006]

Rooting for Kings but I have a bad feeling about this season ... "When healthy" they're a solid 45-50 win team in my opinion but factoring in a couple guys out here or there & I think they'll struggle. Love DeRozan the person, but still not a fan of his game leading to winning basketball especially as an older DeRozan.

Prediction: 41-41

Stylistically I think they'd maximize their success this season by giving Keegan enough shots/opportunities to be the 2nd leading scorer (20+). Then they'd have more potential imo ... But if the coaching staff / system make him secondary to Fox/Monk/DeRozan that's unwise in my opinion. DeRozan, Monk, & Sabonis should be 15 ppg type guy, Keegan should be 20, and Fox 25.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Rooting for Kings but I have a bad feeling about this season ... "When healthy" they're a solid 45-50 win team in my opinion but factoring in a couple guys out here or there & I think they'll struggle. Love DeRozan the person, but still not a fan of his game leading to winning basketball especially as an older DeRozan.

Prediction: 41-41

Stylistically I think they'd maximize their success this season by giving Keegan enough shots/opportunities to be the 2nd leading scorer (20+). Then they'd have more potential imo ... But if the coaching staff / system make him secondary to Fox/Monk/DeRozan that's unwise in my opinion. DeRozan, Monk, & Sabonis should be 15 ppg type guy, Keegan should be 20, and Fox 25.

I'd be shocked if Murray averages more points than DeRozan. Maybe next season or the one after

 

[Jones2006]

I'd be shocked if Murray averages more points than DeRozan. Maybe next season or the one after

I agree - I'm saying he should though ... Meaning if the system, style of play leads to him shooting more. But I think we'll see a lot of DeRozan isos, mid-range shots instead. I think DeRozan will average 17-18, and Murray 16-17. But Murray will be more efficient.

 

[Caccia]

Can we at least wait until November 5 to make a prediction? That would be after 7 games. The team is still not complete--there are even two open roster spots right now.

After 7 games, I will upgrade my prediction to scenario #3 and a winning record. I hope I am wrong and the coaching staff and players figure it out soon. They still need another veteran wing for that open roster spot--now, not in January.

 

[Caccia]

Before preseason... Scenario 2. After four preseason games... Scenario 3.

Nobody likes the guy who freaks out over preseason, especially me, but I find myself being that guy. These four games have been very alarming. If we can't defend the three, we are in trouble.

And after nine regular season games, we still can't.

 

[joemama]

We've been very fortunate so far.

Utah was without Lauri for most of the game and right after devastating Hendricks injury.
Toronto games had no IQ and Scottie B.
Miami had no Jaime J.
LA no Klaw.

Now Phoenix games without KD.

We look like a .500 team.

 

[SacTownKid]

We've been very fortunate so far.

Utah was without Lauri for most of the game and right after devastating Hendricks injury.
Toronto games had no IQ and Scottie B.
Miami had no Jaime J.
LA no Klaw.

Now Phoenix games without KD.

We look like a .500 team.

The Kings 3 point defense is the issue right now. Beyond all the things they lack roster wise of course in regards to overall athletic ability, defensive personnel, etc. Giving up 3's is basically one of those things where teams not having stars almost doesn't really even matter. You're walking a fine line moment to moment doing it regardless. That said, the Kings offense being able to score late in games in the clutch could easily swing a team decently over the .500 mark and into the playoffs. They just can't have many lapses and have to keep taking smart shots. Even if and when the 3 point shooting comes back it's still a gambling style of ball, one the Kings don't really need to play.

 

[The_Jamal]

We've been very fortunate so far.

Utah was without Lauri for most of the game and right after devastating Hendricks injury.
Toronto games had no IQ and Scottie B.
Miami had no Jaime J.
LA no Klaw.

Now Phoenix games without KD.

We look like a .500 team.

One of these things is not like the other!

 

[sactowndog]

We've been very fortunate so far.

Utah was without Lauri for most of the game and right after devastating Hendricks injury.
Toronto games had no IQ and Scottie B.
Miami had no Jaime J.
LA no Klaw.

Now Phoenix games without KD.

We look like a .500 team.

we are a 500 team even with all that and you left out the injuries Atlanta had which were significant.

 

[sactowndog]

Scenario 3.5. Kings make the play-in, refuse to tank, do not make the play-offs and lose their draft pick.

 

[The_Jamal]

Scenario 3.5. Kings make the play-in, refuse to tank, do not make the play-offs and lose their draft pick.

You seem confident.

Charity bet #3. Kings make a 7-game playoff series. $100 to the winner's charity of choice.

booked?

 

[sactowndog]

You seem confident.

Charity bet #3. Kings make a 7-game playoff series. $100 to the winner's charity of choice.

booked?

Let me think about it. Not because I don’t think I will win but it would feel like giving up hope. Right now I can at least hope I’m wrong. If I bet it feels like I have given up all hope for this year.