Detroit v. San Antonio -- Why We Have Hope

[ReinadelosReys]

Mike Lam's single (and probably last) most greatest contribution since hitting the Sacramento airwaves: " We've seen it happen to us, so why can't it happen for us"

The Kings have been the victims-and I use that term loosely-of a lot of unusual and unfortunate circumstances-more in the span of the last 3-4 years than perhaps most teams will have in their entire history. Point is, a lot of things have to go right in order to win it all, why can't we have a true and genuine hope that this is the year they do?

 

[HndsmCelt]

If you guys had $1000 riding on the winner between SA and Sac, who would you bet on?

Are you aksing about a match up tonight or in April... Do you expect teh Spurs to be palying batter in April than they are now? The same? Do you think the Kings are likley to be playing the same? worse better? My point is that play off performance is based on what happnes with a team during the season. Last year at this time Detroit would hardly have been the favorites to win the East much less publicly hummiliate the 4 FHF team from La La Land. If you are simply observing that at this time the Spurts look like they could beat the Kings I'd expect 3 to 1 odds against the Kings. But that is not reality. Reality is the play off are a long way away and the only thing we can be sure of is things WILL change. As of this moment we can pick favorites write off some bottom dwellers and look at teams that are likely to make the play offs and are there fore contenders at differing levels of probablity. I suppose at some remote level past performance may be some indicator of potential perfoarmance but givne the dynamic nature of the NBA and the reality that even with largely the same personal these are still NOT the same teams that met in the past.

 

[KA_2]

The Pistons added Rasheed Wallace midseason, of course they weren't the favorites in December. It's blatantly obvious that such a move would change things. But seeing as how major impact midseason moves like that happen once in a blue moon, and seeing as how injuries played a part in the Pistons winning, then of course it goes without saying that the contenders could look different in April. You might as well say any contender or team on the verge of being a contender could win the championship.

Problem is, right now, you'd have to be blind not to see that the Spurs are the clear favorites for the championship. Over the last two years the Spurs have outplayed the Kings during the regular season (Spurs are 5-3 against the Kings the past two seasons) and have won one title. They are very likely better than the Kings.

 

[KingKong]

If you guys had $1000 riding on the winner between SA and Sac, who would you bet on?

If you had $1000 riding on the winner between the Yankees and the Redsox after being down 0-3 in the playoffs, who would you have bet on?

Similarly, if you had $1000 riding on the winner between the Lakers and the Pistons Finals last year before knowing the results, who would you have bet on?

The point is stranger things have happened. I don't even think you can point out a clear favorite this early in the season. But I'm personally more worried about the Wolves than the Spurs.

 

[Bricklayer]

The Pistons added Rasheed Wallace midseason, of course they weren't the favorites in December. It's blatantly obvious that such a move would change things. But seeing as how major impact midseason moves like that happen once in a blue moon, and seeing as how injuries played a part in the Pistons winning, then of course it goes without saying that the contenders could look different in April. You might as well say any contender or team on the verge of being a contender could win the championship.

Problem is, right now, you'd have to be blind not to see that the Spurs are the clear favorites for the championship. Over the last two years the Spurs have outplayed the Kings during the regular season (Spurs are 5-3 against the Kings the past two seasons) and have won one title. They are very likely better than the Kings.

That's a pretty damn shaky 5-3 (all of 1 game over .500 BTW), as you well know, given the health of our team over those years. If we go into the playoffs missing people again, well obviously. Then again if they go into the playoffs injured, they aren't winning it either. Strength on strength its a much tighter series than you would like to think. San Antonio has exactly one shaky championship run over us since we arrived at the elite party, and that came in a year when WE were the favorites until we were hit by catastrophic injuries. Otherwise they have done no better than we have, and indeed have normally bowed out of the playoffs with considerably less of a fight. As I said at the beginning, if you pop the Spurs in the nose, they have been prone to collapse like a house of cards.

 

[HndsmCelt]

The Pistons added Rasheed Wallace midseason, of course they weren't the favorites in December. It's blatantly obvious that such a move would change things. But seeing as how major impact midseason moves like that happen once in a blue moon, and seeing as how injuries played a part in the Pistons winning, then of course it goes without saying that the contenders could look different in April. You might as well say any contender or team on the verge of being a contender could win the championship.

Problem is, right now, you'd have to be blind not to see that the Spurs are the clear favorites for the championship. Over the last two years the Spurs have outplayed the Kings during the regular season (Spurs are 5-3 against the Kings the past two seasons) and have won one title. They are very likely better than the Kings.

Amazing how you can help mke my point for me and miss it at the same time. MY main point is that teams as they stand in early Dec is a lousy way to predict how they will perform in the play offs. The Kings as they are now are extreemly unlikley to face the Spurs as they are now. What is likely is that things wil change.

To adress your absurd hypotheticla of Kings now Vs. Spurs now in a 7 game series I already said I'd take the bet but I'd expcet 3 to 1 odds. I'll also go a little way out on a limb and say that baring injuries to the Kings they will be a much stronger team in April than they are right now, while I am not sure that I would say the same for the Spurs.

 

[KA_2]

That's a pretty damn shaky 5-3 (all of 1 game over .500 BTW), as you well know, given the health of our team over those years. If we go into the playoffs missing people again, well obviously. Then again if they go into the playoffs injured, they aren't winning it either. Strength on strength its a much tighter series than you would like to think. San Antonio has exactly one shaky championship run over us since we arrived at the elite party, and that came in a year when WE were the favorites until we were hit by catastrophic injuries. Otherwise they have done no better than we have, and indeed have normally bowed out of the playoffs with considerably less of a fight. As I said at the beginning, if you pop the Spurs in the nose, they have been prone to collapse like a house of cards.

I thought the Kings were a very good team in 2003, but that the Spurs would be able to lock them down and keep their perimeter shooting in check. As it turns out, Webber's knee was in very poor condition, and he was eventually going to go down anyway. It just happened to be that postseason. If Webber wasn't so injury-prone, it might have been a different story. But injuries are part of the game, and are part of what makes iron men like Duncan or KG so great.

That said, I don't doubt the Kings can beat the Spurs, I just doubt they can play their absolute best when they need to, and more importantly, be healthy for the first time in years.

Amazing how you can help mke my point for me and miss it at the same time. MY main point is that teams as they stand in early Dec is a lousy way to predict how they will perform in the play offs. The Kings as they are now are extreemly unlikley to face the Spurs as they are now. What is likely is that things wil change.

What exactly is going to change for the Spurs and Kings between now and the playoffs? A trade? Injuries? What are you banking on exactly, a once in a decade Rasheed Wallace type of trade?

To adress your absurd hypotheticla of Kings now Vs. Spurs now in a 7 game series I already said I'd take the bet but I'd expcet 3 to 1 odds. I'll also go a little way out on a limb and say that baring injuries to the Kings they will be a much stronger team in April than they are right now, while I am not sure that I would say the same for the Spurs.

What makes you think that of the Kings but not of the Spurs? Certainly, not every Spurs players is having a great year. Specifically, Parker and Barry. Are you saying they will continue to play mediocre?

 

[Gargamel]

Amazing how you can help mke my point for me and miss it at the same time. MY main point is that teams as they stand in early Dec is a lousy way to predict how they will perform in the play offs.

I'm dying to see a Spurs/Kings matchup. God, please make it happen.

 

[VF21]

What makes you think that of the Kings but not of the Spurs?

Um, could it be maybe, just maybe, because WE'RE KINGS FANS???

Is there a rule written down somewhere on a Laker fan site that says you guys have to come to our site and look down your nose at our team?

You doubt the Kings can play their absolute best when they need to? Well, lucky for us I seriously doubt if the Kings will be affected one way or another by your doubts...

 

[KP]

Spurs V Kings

I dunno the Spurs look pretty good every time I've seen them(about 10 times) this year. They look like a well oiled machine to me. That offense the Spurs run... it's both methodical and fast, the way the constantly pick and slice guys into the lane, and either finish or kick out to Duncan or another perimeter threat. Don't even get me started on their Defense! Kings are picking it up too, they're showing an ability to exicute consistantly in the halfcourt and to win close games where they are behind in the 4th. Gotta say the Spurs look better and are playing better ball right now. But Celts right it's December! A lot can change personally I think both teams will improve, they always do...

 

[KA_2]

Um, could it be maybe, just maybe, because WE'RE KINGS FANS???

Is there a rule written down somewhere on a Laker fan site that says you guys have to come to our site and look down your nose at our team?

You doubt the Kings can play their absolute best when they need to? Well, lucky for us I seriously doubt if the Kings will be affected one way or another by your doubts...

Yeah, OK, I don't see how being a Kings fan doesn't mean you can't be objective about your team. I'm a Lakers fan but I'm being pretty damn objective about the Spurs, the last team (next to the Kings ) I'd ever root for.