ESPN ranks Kings even lower.....

[CruzDude]

I'd like to think we have some all-stars in the makings on the roster right now. But only time will tell. There are no miracle cures in the NBA in the draft anymore. Too many freshmen in the top 10-15. Nash, Jordan, Kidd, Amare, even KG, took a few years to get started to big time. Nash graduated, Jordan was a junior and Kidd a sophmore when they came into the league and it still took them some years to get to big time.

Beno has fresh legs and a bigger body than did Bibby and is looking like a dish first guy but get to the bucket when its there kinda guy. He is more fundamentally sound than was Bibby when he first came to Kings plus Beno was involved for two NBA championships.

Salmons may have looked "KT like" on bench but first hand feedback is very positive on him on the bench. And I loved his work starting in place of RonRon last year, both defense and offensive.

Brad here another year is major help if Hawes gets ready to start soon after all-star break. If not, Brad one more year may be necessary to see that he is ready. Justin doesn't have as far to go to push out Mikki and even Shelden could blossom with some playing time to solve the PF problem.

Kevin is the most efficient point scorer in the NBA and should be 25/gm this year. Now if only we get two others to step up on offense and defense on a consistent basis, the Kings can start to look up at and get into the next level.

Greene, Douby and Brown are big unknowns we need to wait a bit for to see what they contribute. Cisco I think becomes the permanent 6th man if his defense improves. BJax can become the team leader for several years as kind of a pint sized Vlade, something the Kings have needed for 4-5 years.

Patience. Yeah, I know TDOS and all that crud. I hope everyone can go to some pre-season games as thats the best way to see the ins and outs of all the players and how they act on the bench.

 

[est.1999]

it didn't take Jordan a few years to get to "big time" it took him a few years to dominate the NBA! Big difference imo

 

[Section 101]

I see a drop though.. I don't see us winning 38-40 games this year. It won't be because we don't have Artest... If the kings play the youth more (i.e. Hawes/JT) then we might go through some growing pains and lose a few here and there. We won't have the (hate to say this) stability of the team last year. We knew we would be competitave when we threw out Bibby/Beno-Martin-Artest-Moore-Miller. But with Beno-Martin-Salmons/Garcia-Moore/JT-Brad/Hawes we might hit a few bumps.

I wont be upset as long as we see a future.. We could win 25 games, but if we see Martin/Hawes/JT all showing us that they will lead the team then I will be OK with it.

They will have tons more stability. No more of Ron Ron will he or won't he play 10 mins before tip off. Stability = the same starting line up and substitutions.

Beno and Hawes (remember he missed training camp too) will have their first camps with the Kings. Moore played 100x better at the end of the season than the begging. This all points to them meshing alot better than last year.

They still have the same 2 areas to work on defense and rebounding. I can see the rebounding improving with JT off the bench. As for defense, Ron was hot and cold with his moods. It will be interesting to see how they play it now with Ron gone.

I expect them to equal or better last years record barring injuries.

How they can have the Warriors winning 39 after Ellis injury is mind blowing. They have 1 unproven point guard in Marcus Williams. They wanted to convert Ellis to the point and now he will miss training camp and be coming off injury. Davis was the playmaker for that team, they will be lucky to win 30 games next year.

 

[ITSCdanimal]

So to think the Kings look better on paper than the Warrior and the Clips makes one a homer, rhythmless?

Clippers, Camby, Baron Davis - yeah, can't get much more reliable than that trio. **** my kids' 529, I'll just dump my money into the rock solid likelihood that the two most fragile players in recent NBA history guide it's most inept franchise into mediocrity.

And do I actually need to go through the effort of typing a reason for thinking that the Warriors will have trouble sniffing the Kings this year, lest you label me a homer?

Please do not try to avoid the profanity filters. -- mods

 

[PurpleHaze]

One take:

Top 4
Lakers
Hornets
Rockets
Jazz

Next 4
Spurs
Suns
Mavs
Blazers

then the Warriors, Nuggets, Clips, Kings, Wolves, Griz and Thunder


My take:

Lakers - Likely better with a healthy Bynum and full season of Gasol
Hornets - Likely as good or better with overall team maturity
Rockets - Could win it all or could struggle to get out of 1st round - again!
Jazz - Just 4th or 5th best team in WC, but always so-so dangerous

Spurs - Aging, but aging gracefully with toughest D - most rings
Suns - Last legit shot for Nash or was that last season
Mavs - Slipping, but slipping just means 7th/8th seed
Blazers - Rising fast and look set to win it all soon, like real soon

and 9-15

Kings - Why not, when compared to mostly rotting garbage heap 10-15
Thunder - Thunderous home court advantage like Sac Kings 1985-86
Nuggets - Down and out for good
Clippers - Baron Davis arrives, Elton Brand leaves - nuff said
Warriors - What style do they play now and by the way who actually plays
Wolves - Who cares?
Griz - Where will they be in a year, as in what city would take them!

 

[GeraldWallace#3]

This guy knows nothing here's my take



Kings - King's got an allstar in Kevin Martin and they have the best player in the league right now in Kenny Thomas

Hornets - Two words:CP3 MVP
Rockets - They will make it then get out in the first round then we will get the 16th pick

Suns - With the faster player in the league(Shaq) there unstoppable (Exept by the Kings, Hornets and Rockets)

Jazz- Will play music we could all enjoy

Spurs - Eva Longoria is the best player on there team

Mavs - They will win more then 10 games (I think)

Clips- Nough said

and 9-15


Thunder - lol
Nuggets - major lol
Blazers - I wear them sometims, not really my style though
Warriors -Wow
Wolves -
Griz -
Lakers- Finish last will not win more than 5 games




Hope some of you get a good chuckle out of this

I sure did

 

[NewArena]

Since Mr. S£im's feelings about power rankings are well known, I'll post this on his behalf:

I don't care what a group of writers think. In fact, the lower the better.

Meh, Espn or not they are definitely correct. Hell i wont be surprised if the timberwolves have a better record after this coming season is said and done. So if anything, Espn is being generous.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

This guy knows nothing here's my take



Kings - King's got an allstar in Kevin Martin and they have the best player in the league right now in Kenny Thomas

Hornets - Two words:CP3 MVP
Rockets - They will make it then get out in the first round then we will get the 16th pick

Suns - With the faster player in the league(Shaq) there unstoppable (Exept by the Kings, Hornets and Rockets)

Jazz- Will play music we could all enjoy

Spurs - Eva Longoria is the best player on there team

Mavs - They will win more then 10 games (I think)

Clips- Nough said

and 9-15


Thunder - lol
Nuggets - major lol
Blazers - I wear them sometims, not really my style though
Warriors -Wow
Wolves -
Griz -
Lakers- Finish last will not win more than 5 games




Hope some of you get a good chuckle out of this

I sure did

Sounds like some of those sarcasm bits on InsideHoops. Love their free agents page.

 

[CruzDude]

TDOS. Ahh, TDOS. Sort of like a hangover that doesn't go away and those gremlins and nightmares keep popping up. Then the dizzyness. And visions of Eva sitting in Arco arena next to Penny Marshall. (Think about THAT one for a bit!!). I think the media have caught the TDOS handover from KingsFans.com and are exhibiting some of the same behavior.

 

[Gary]

I am going to go with Purple Haze's style of writing up the top/bottom teams.. Here goes..


Top 4
Lakers
Hornets
Blazers
Jazz

Next 4
Rockets
Suns
Mavs
Spurs

then the Nuggets, Kings, Clippers, Wolves, Warriors, Griz and Thunder


My take:

Lakers - Tell me that Bynum/Gasol/Odom/Bryant/Fisher don't look scary as hell on paper...

Hornets - Another "scary as hell on paper" team. Best PG in the NBA imo.

Blazers - Another season of "gelling" and adding Oden/Bayless/Batum?!? This team is young, and scary. I am picking them to win the Northwest this year.
Jazz - Another year Williams has to mature, but the others might be getting a bit old? Koufos will add depth at PF/C.

Rockets - I can't see them doing much this year. It seems that Yao/McGrady are always injured, and the rest of the team (including Artest) does not scare me. But they will get a 4-8 seed. Say what you want, but until they prove they can win for the whole season they wont crack my top 4 (not even with Artest)

Suns - Can't count them out as long as they have Nash/Amare/Shaq but they are aging.

Mavs - Another team that could be REAL good or REAL bad. Who knows with the Mavs. They are not as good as they were a couple years ago, but not ready for the lottery either.

Spurs - I don't know about these guys w/o Manu. Parker isn't old, but he cannot do it all on his own, and neither can Duncan. Might even miss the playoffs. This could be the surprise (lottery team) of the year.

and 9-15

Clippers - They have a few nice pieces, and are young at some spots, but they will have to learn to play Baron's game. Camby stay healthy? If so the Clips might be the best of the worst. Kaman-Camby will be a force in the front court blocking shots, and getting rebounds. Thorton is an up and coming SF. I would like them to start Eric Gordon at SG because imo he is probably the best scorer they have outside of Davis. Davis will start at PG. Jason Williams, Cuttino Mobley, Ricky Davis, DeAndre Jordan, Brian Skinner, and Tim Thomas are nice pieces off the bench.

Nuggets - I can see the Nuggets with their poor defense, and lack of a front court getting 115 put on them every night. But the Nuggets will be somewhere near 38-42 wins and will probably be 10 games out of the playoff race like the Kings. #2 or #3 of the losers.

Kings - The Kings have a good mix of young and old. The old guys will get older, and the young guys will get better. The Kings should be fun to watch this year, but should be a 35-40 win team. The top 8 should all be close to 50 win teams so this 10th spot is really 2nd-3rd best in a group of losers.

Clippers - They have a few nice pieces, and are young at some spots, but they will have to learn to play Baron's game.

Wolves - Kevin Love will take this horrible team and turn them into a 30+ win team this year. He's THAT good (or will be that good)

Warriors - Back to the celler you go Warriors. Sucks because they were a nice story while it lasted. At least we can make fun of the W fans again because the Kings are the better team.

Grizzlies - Exciting young team (love watching Mayo) but wont win much, because their good players pretty much do the same as one another. Not much variety in their decent players. Should have kept Kevin Love.

Thunder - Another year as bottom feeders. Didn't get much help in the draft taking Westbrook WAY too high.