Expectations

[Glenn]

This poll is anonymous!

I am wondering what fans expect from the Kings as a yearly record, year in and year out.

Much of the bickering on this forum involves rebuilding and this question will help answer what is a reasonable expectation of what the goal of rebuilding should be. The poll will be of little significance unless most people vote their opinion. Did I say it is anonymous?

In other words, what would make you happy? The word "contender" is bandied about but I want to know: contender for what? The "contender for what?" question is not specifically asked but the winning record should give a clue.

In the history of this franchise, which dates back to the late 1940's, it has won one NBA championship in 1950-51. Since the league split into Eastern and Western Conferences, we have won not even a Western Conference Championship. We have won a few Pacific Division championships since being in Sacramento.

We had a couple shots at our best year a few years back and these ended with Chris Webber crumpled on the ground with a wrecked knee and another with a disputed Game 6 with the Lakers. (Actually it went 7 games but Kings fans know what I mean.)

There is no history of earth shattering success. The reasons for this can be debated and perhaps should be debated in this thread. There might be an absolutely logical reason why we have not had the success of the Lakers or Celtics.

Personally, winning over half the games is OK, winning over 50 gets my heart pumping, and over 60 would bring me to a swoon. The results in the playoffs are only somewhat important to me but it is very important to me to make it into the playoffs. I would like to get out of the first round. Fighting it out for the Western Conference championship would get me into swoon mode and winning it would require resuscitation and a new set of underwear.

I don't ever expect to see this franchise playing in an NBA Championship game although I don't completely rule it out. I do not expect an NBA Championship.

In other words, in my world, being a contender means a solid contender for the Pacific Division title and a good chance at playing for the Western Conference Championship. Getting into the 2nd round is success.

 

[John Galt]

A 50 win season is the benchmark for me. I can be happy with less (have enjoyed this season), but I call a 50 win team, a very good team.

 

[TheFifthMookie]

This poll is anonymous!
I don't ever expect to see this franchise playing in an NBA Championship game although I don't completely rule it out. I do not expect an NBA Championship.

In other words, in my world, being a contender means a solid contender for the Pacific Division title and a good chance at playing for the Western Conference Championship. Getting into the 2nd round is success.

Back when this team was good, people used to complain about them because they "didn't win a championship, so they were a failure". Which in my opinion, was utter horse****. I think that if the team I root for can get into the second round each year, or be in the favored position to get into the second round, that's what I want. Too many things have to go right to go further consistently.
I'd be happy with the Suns of the last few years, for instance.

 

[GoGoGadget]

The question is entirely dependent on circumstance.

If you have a team that just had a 50-win season, then 35 would be the sign of a decline. But if you've got a team that just finished rebuilding and is on the way back up, 35 wins may be something to cheer about.

For me, it's never about wins and losses. It's never about the final score. It's about direction: Are we moving forward? Are we getting better? Are we making progress? And all the scoreboard stuff is only one of several factors in determining the answers to those questions.

 

[fnordius]

Although I answered "any number," none of the answers really work for me. My happiness isn't based on regular season wins. 65 wins and a humiliating first-round exit would not make me happy, 45 wins and not making the playoffs would not make me happy, and 25 wins and the 9th draft pick would not make me happy. So, although I answered the question, I probably shouldn't have.

All else being equal, I tend to enjoy watching wins more than losses, but the regular season record just isn't something I'm very concerned about right now.

 

[VF21]

For me, it's never about wins and losses. It's never about the final score.

I agree with G3 up to that point. Personally, however, my enjoyment of the team depends upon heart and hustle, energy and excitement. If they play hard and lose I can still enjoy the game. If they lose because of little effort and no real interest, however, that really turns me off.

Reggie made a good point in one of the clips last night. He said the Arco crowd was more like a collegiate crowd than any other team in professional sports. And I tend to view it the same way...

In college, you don't worry about rebuilding. You worry about the now. How is your team going to do at this point in time. You go to games to see a GOOD game, with effort and hustle. College fans can and will support their teams even if they don't win a game as long as the effort is there.

That, for me, is more important than an arbitrary number of wins or losses.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

A 50 win season is the benchmark for me. I can be happy with less (have enjoyed this season), but I call a 50 win team, a very good team.

Indeed, stated very well Francisco

 

[Showtime]

Here's my view of this season:

The kings aren't making the playoffs. Every big win extends the pipe dream of fans. IMO, it would be better to go on a losing streak to bring people back to reality. However, even if they pull it out of their a**es and make the playoffs, they won't be contending.

So, IMO, since they aren't good enough to make an impact in the postseason, and aren't bad enough for the lottery, they should just play Douby, Hawes, Justin Williams, and Garcia big minutes, like at least 25 minutes a game, so they will be ready to contribute next season. Honestly, what is the point of having Bibby and Artest out there to win games, when winning games doesn't matter? What matters is how the kings are improving, so arguably, the only thing that matters this year is...next year. So IMO, if it becomes clear to everybody that the postseason isn't going to happen, they should develop the youth to be ready next year.

 

[BMiller52]

The question is entirely dependent on circumstance.

If you have a team that just had a 50-win season, then 35 would be the sign of a decline. But if you've got a team that just finished rebuilding and is on the way back up, 35 wins may be something to cheer about.

For me, it's never about wins and losses. It's never about the final score. It's about direction: Are we moving forward? Are we getting better? Are we making progress? And all the scoreboard stuff is only one of several factors in determining the answers to those questions.

Co-signed.

 

[kupman]

I agree with G3 up to that point. Personally, however, my enjoyment of the team depends upon heart and hustle, energy and excitement. If they play hard and lose I can still enjoy the game. If they lose because of little effort and no real interest, however, that really turns me off.

Reggie made a good point in one of the clips last night. He said the Arco crowd was more like a collegiate crowd than any other team in professional sports. And I tend to view it the same way...

In college, you don't worry about rebuilding. You worry about the now. How is your team going to do at this point in time. You go to games to see a GOOD game, with effort and hustle. College fans can and will support their teams even if they don't win a game as long as the effort is there.

That, for me, is more important than an arbitrary number of wins or losses.

Word