Bee: Wreck on the road, Artest guarantees playoff berth.

G_M · Jan 30, 2006

kingsfannPDX said:

I disagree with that. If the Kings play well enough to make the playoffs given the schedule in front of them and their current record then they would be a force. Then your talking about a team not limping into the playoffs just to get wiped out in the 1st round.

I just don't think they can put together that kind of effort.

Mad Iron · Jan 30, 2006

kingsfannPDX said:

I understand that, and I agree with you. There is a very slim chance of even grabbing the 8th seed. But, if the Kings are able to turn things around and start to win games at this point in the season, earning a playoff spot...I think that's way more exciting than getting that high lottery pick. I have no doubt we'd end up losing in the first round, but at least we got there again.

I also think if we're going to keep Artest happy here, the Kings are going to have to compete. Otherwise we'll be forced to trade him. Let's face it, there are a lot of players out there who will eye Sac as a potential home if they're able to play alongside a guy like Artest.

That's my opinion.

kingsfannPDX · Jan 30, 2006

G_M said:

yeah i guess they could be the denver nuggets of last year. but denver still lost in the 1st round. this team just doesn't have what it takes(even when healthy) to beat a team on the road in the playoffs. our starting 5 has potential but they can't play the whole game. IF we make a change to our bench then MAYBE.

kingsfannPDX · Jan 30, 2006

Mad Iron said:

this could be very true. and good enough reason to try and make the playoffs even if we lose in the first round. i'm just a little skeptical in artest wanting to stay here either way!!

JonBoy418 · Jan 30, 2006

kingsfannPDX said:

You forgot...

We're only 3 games behind the 8th seed with only the Hornets, Jazz, T-Pups, Warriors and Sonics between (and only 5 games behind the Lakers for the 7th spot).

With only 38 games left in the season, any team can get hot and cold and any given time. And these teams between us and the 7th seed aren't exactly the most talented/stable teams in the league.

If the Kings can sneak into the 7th or 6th spot, I can see a good match up against the Northwest Champ (Denver, Utah, Minny?) or against the Pacific Champ (Phoenix, LAC?). We could have a chance especially if our confidence is high...

I'm with Artest, these new look Kings have the talent to make it to the playoffs, they just need the confidence and the leadership. Thank you Ron Artest

SacKings384 · Jan 30, 2006

It's all about momentum. Would you rather have the Kings make the playoffs and lose in the first round and the players will have much more confidence going into next season (keep in mind Bonzi can opt out after this season) and a happy Artest... Or... Would you rather miss the playoffs and get probably the 10th pick in the draft... The Lakers got Bynum with their pick last year... Some help he is...

Fillmoe · Jan 30, 2006

kingsfans mad because a kings player guaranteed a playoff berth....... hmm thats odd.....

kingsfannPDX · Jan 30, 2006

SacKings384 said:

good points but the kings could get lucky like the bucks and get the #1 pick. also momentum did a heck of alot for the nuggs.

kingsfannPDX · Jan 30, 2006

Fillmoe said:

who's mad???

piksi · Jan 30, 2006

JonBoy418 said:

You forgot...

We're only 3 games behind the 8th seed with only the Hornets, Jazz, T-Pups, Warriors and Sonics between (and only 5 games behind the Lakers for the 7th spot).

With only 38 games left in the season, any team can get hot and cold and any given time. And these teams between us and the 7th seed aren't exactly the most talented/stable teams in the league.

If the Kings can sneak into the 7th or 6th spot, I can see a good match up against the Northwest Champ (Denver, Utah, Minny?) or against the Pacific Champ (Phoenix, LAC?). We could have a chance especially if our confidence is high...

I'm with Artest, these new look Kings have the talent to make it to the playoffs, they just need the confidence and the leadership. Thank you Ron Artest

only,only,only

"only" 5 games means 5 wins for You and 5 losses for them. We won 3 in a row twice this season.

JonBoy418 · Jan 30, 2006

piksi said:

As I was looking at the schedule, I noticed that we've won three in a row three times. Jan 15-19, Dec. 10-13, and Nov. 23-29. But that's not that important.

The current seventh seed of the Western conference (Lakers) has won three in a row three times this season and one four game winning streak, not exactly catching fire. They also have a five game losing streak this season.

Let's do the math:
Lakers lose 5 games, Kings win 3 games...
Now we're only one game behind. It's all a matter of timing.

Just for perspective, the New Orleans Hornets (current #8) has 1 three game win streak and 1 four game streak.

Obviously we're not in the presence of greatness and this is what our expectations have been reduced to. Compared to the expectations of the last several years, we should have at least a 6 to 8 game winning streak, no losing streaks greater than 3 (we have two 5 game losing streaks and several back to backs).

However, what we have witnessed this season so far is a listless group who goes out on the court and goes through the motions. They've played with no passion and no heart and no leader to motivate and inspire.
In comes Ron Artest and in two games, he's shown more hustle, drive and passion than any other player this year.

There's still a lot of time left in this season and I have a feeling the Kings will make a push with Ron Artest leading the helm.

Bballkingsrock · Jan 30, 2006

I like the ocnfidence and enthusiasm!

Kings113 · Jan 30, 2006

I like Ron Artest

foretaz · Jan 30, 2006

Mad Iron said:

i personally have been wondering how long before jamison brewer is donning the purple and black...

SoupIsGood · Jan 30, 2006

foretaz said:

Is he a FA?

The Hammer · Jan 30, 2006

G_M said:

Well if they had that kind of attitude losing would be guaranteed. Guaranteed. Yeah, ending the season that way would definitely be worth a number 10 pick.

The Hammer · Jan 30, 2006

kingsfannPDX said:

All I know is I wouldn't want a person with your attitude to be a fan of any team the I was on (if I was actually trying to win).

love_them_kings · Jan 30, 2006

G_M said:

I agree. I think making the playoffs would be tough at this point, but if we do pull it together and make the playoffs we would have to have some serious winning streaks. By then we'd have gathered enough momentum that we'd put up a decent performance. Not sure we'd make it through the first round, but we'd put up a fight.

kingsfannPDX · Jan 30, 2006

The Hammer said:

whoa!!! dont get it twisted hammer. i want the kings to win! i'm just being realistic of our chances under the circumstances. i do like what artest said and maybe it will come true!!

GO KINGS!!!!

Bricklayer · Jan 30, 2006

The Hammer said:

Oh no, not that stuff again.

The flipside is, if losing got us a top pick, and said top pick caused us to be much better next year, and the year after, and the year after, then its winning pointless games THIS year that is actually the loser way to go.

We'll never throw any games, and missing the playoffs, though likely, could be a problem with Artest. But as a fan if option #A was miss playoffs + get the #1,#2 or #3 pick, or option #B was make playoffs as the #8 seed, get dismissed in the first round, and get the #15 pick or whatever, I'll take option #A. In the long run my team WINS a lot more that way than they do farting around crawling onto the edges of a playoff berth with no hope to make any noise.

love_them_kings · Jan 30, 2006

Bricklayer said:

But I think there are a lot of intangible "wins" from going to the playoffs. Keeping Artest happy & motivated, giving some of the younger players a taste of the playoff experience, keeping the fans spirit alive, and hopefully giving us a better chance of keeping the team in Sac.

Fan support is important. There are a lot of disgruntled fans right now, and there will be a lot more if we miss the playoffs. I'm not talking about you or me, or the many of us on this board that liked the Kings back in the days where this year would represent a "good" year. But for all the thousands of fans that are used to a winning team, whether or not we make the playoffs is a big measuring stick of how the team is doing. I know it's not directly related, but I can't help but think that the better the Kings do, the more support we get for keeping the team here.

BMiller52 · Jan 30, 2006

This draft isn't even very good. I mean yeah, just because we missed the playoffs if we got the first pick doesn't mean it might not be a bust. I'd rather keep Ron happy, keep the fans happy, be a free agent spot than draft a guy who might be a bust.

Bricklayer · Jan 30, 2006

Fans can be shortsighted weenies sometimes. But they will come back if you win.

If you can get a top pick (dubious though that might be) you just do it. In fact if the 10th worst team in the league was guaranteed the first pick in the draft, I would be more than a little pissed off if we snuck into the playoffs instead. Shortsighted amateur hour. The kicker though is that getting the top pick in the draft is a longshot unless you truly are awful. And we aren't going to be that kind of awful. So migfht as well take a shot at the pointless exercise and then just cross your fingers and hope we get lucky if we fall short.

Entity · Jan 30, 2006

coming off a 1-5 road trip we are only 3.5 games out of the playoffs. So you have to think that with just .500 ball from here on out we could indeed make the playoffs although i would like over .500 ball and when we get all our weapons back we should do just that.

Bricklayer · Jan 30, 2006

Entity said:

No way really. Realistically its goign to take .500 FOR THE SEASON to make the playoffs. Right now the team in the 8th spot is 1/2 a game under .500. So we realistically need 41 wins. And that's only if none of the other teams ahead of us gets a little hot. And since we currently have only 18 wins with 38 games to go, means we need 23-15 to reach .500 and have a shot at that #8 spot.

If we only plyed .500 ball from here on out we'd end up 37-45, and that's just not cutting it for the playoffs.

thesanityannex · Jan 30, 2006

G_M said:

It would be something like what the Steelers have done this year. With 5 losses and not a single game to lose, they showed extreme desire and won out.

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