Bulls could storm NBA in '06-By Sean Deveney - SportingNews (disses the kings)

[SacKingsFX]

Bulls could storm NBA in '06
By Sean Deveney - SportingNews

On the day after the Bulls' season ended, general manager John Paxson cheered up a gloomy city by telling reporters, "I think our young corps, in two, three, four years, could be one of the best teams in the league."

Hey, why not next year? Of the teams that were knocked out in the first round, the Bulls head the list of candidates to shake off this year's disappointment and reach Round 2 in '06.

# Bulls. They had eight players who were 25 or younger this year -- four of them starters.


# Nuggets. A better start than 17-25 will keep them from having to face San Antonio in Round 1.

# Nets. There are many "ifs," but a nucleus of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter is a good start.

Of course, there also are the teams that should be glad just to have made a first-round appearance this year---they probably won't be back in the playoffs next year.

# Grizzlies. This roster has issues from top to bottom. Jerry West's toughest summer is just ahead.

# Celtics. Danny Ainge will have to get back to the youth movement.

# Kings. Lottery, anyone?

Sean Deveney is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at sdeveney@sportingnews.com.

 

[NoBonus]

Let me guess. This guy lives and works on the east coast?

 

[KingCookie]

A very astute analysis...

 

[VF21]

Apparently the Kings must be locked in to their present roster with no opportunities for off-season personnel changes.

What a maroon!

 

[striker]

Western Conference teams:

Short of disaster teams that will be in the playoffs next year
Dallas
Denver
Houston
Phoenix
San Anonio

Probable based on retaining free agents
Seattle

Possible depending on improvements
Golden State
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis
Minnesota
Sacramento
Utah

Unlikley to make the playoffs
New Orleans
Portland

Anything can happen but I'd say that Petrie has his work cut out for him. Some of those possible teams have more talent than the Kings do to start with.

 

[Londonking]

At the end of last season i dont think many people would have believed Phoenix would have the fantastic season they have had (are having!). So it's way too early to dismiss us at this time.

I suspect the author was just trying to offer some crumbs of comfort to disappointed Bulls fans for next year and its easier to knock someone else that offer constructive comment about their own unit.

 

[thesanityannex]

Western Conference teams:

Short of disaster teams that will be in the playoffs next year
Dallas
Denver
Houston
Phoenix
San Anonio

Probable based on retaining free agents
Seattle

Possible depending on improvements
Golden State
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis
Minnesota
Sacramento
Utah

Unlikley to make the playoffs
New Orleans
Portland

Anything can happen but I'd say that Petrie has his work cut out for him. Some of those possible teams have more talent than the Kings do to start with.

oh please. more talent??? name one. wait until the trades are done before you speculate. this years team will NOT look the same.

 

[captain bill]

I'd put Seattle in the unlikely-possible category, seeing as it is all but impossible for them to retain all their free agents. All of their top players and their head coach are going to be sought after elsewhere, and the entire team knows they won't be the same next year so no one will have a problem leaving for more cash. If they make some moves, they can definetely come back next year, but that's a big if.

Utah has got to be unlikely to get in- they've got AK47 complete with injuries and an underacheiving Boozer. It would take a miracle for them to get into the playoffs with just a few improvements next year.

And it would take a lot less than a disaster for the Nugs to miss the playoffs. The mystique of Karl will be gone and teams will be ready for them next year. People were getting excited because they beat everyone as the season was winding down, but the playoffs were pretty revealing when they got stomped by San Antonio in the first round. The logic that makes Denver a lock makes Golden State a lock too, since they were playing at the same high level, only their run began too late.


The article, while certainly lacking in any sort of accurate analysis, is pretty much correct. As it stands, the Kings are a .500 team. But it is all but impossible that this offseason will end without any major changes, meaning that forcasting the fate of the '06 Kings is all but impossible. Predictions could have been made for the Suns, Heat and Lakers immediately after the season last year but that would have been pretty useless, too. At this point, the Kings have tremendous potential to turn into world beaters over the summer, or equally fall into the basement of the west depending on how things go.

 

[SacKingsFX]

on talk radio, everybody is saying the Kings are going to get blown up, with only Bibby and Miller staying...

 

[Kev.in]

He's right about the Bulls. Shot selection and occasional turnover problems are what held them back this year (aside from the injuries). Next year they'll be a real force.

 

[VF21]

on talk radio, everybody is saying the Kings are going to get blown up, with only Bibby and Miller staying...

The Kings ARE going to get blown up?

Look at the facts. Of the 12 players who went to the playoffs in 2004, ONLY Bibby, Bobby, Brad and Peja - FOUR PLAYERS - went in 2005. I'm pretty sure the bomb already went off. The smoke hasn't cleared yet - and there may be aftershocks, but the real bomb went on Feb. 23.

 

[KP]

The Kings ARE going to get blown up?

Look at the facts. Of the 12 players who went to the playoffs in 2004, ONLY Bibby, Bobby, Brad and Peja - FOUR PLAYERS - went in 2005. I'm pretty sure the bomb already went off. The smoke hasn't cleared yet - and there may be aftershocks, but the real bomb went on Feb. 23.

I know I've been seeing the same post over and over again in multiple threads. The team has already been blown up, nothing trade-wise would surprise me at this point.

 

[SacKingsFX]

The Kings ARE going to get blown up?

Look at the facts. Of the 12 players who went to the playoffs in 2004, ONLY Bibby, Bobby, Brad and Peja - FOUR PLAYERS - went in 2005. I'm pretty sure the bomb already went off. The smoke hasn't cleared yet - and there may be aftershocks, but the real bomb went on Feb. 23.

so who do you think will stay/go?