KF Kings Prediction Poll #16: Will We Pass The Ball This Year?

[Bricklayer]

Prediction Poll #16.

Back in the paleolithic era we were once the best passing team in basketball, but we've had issues with assistmaking for years. Our additions this summer are a shoot first but very quick PG, a surprising passing defensve SF, and a rookie PF that may have shown more passing skills than post skills in summer league, but matched each dime with a turnover. Where do you expect us to rank this year?

Assists and rank by year:
2011-12 26th 19.3
2010-11 23rd 20.4
2009-10 20th 20.5
2008-09 27th 19.7

Previous Polls

Poll #1: How Will Reke Do This Year?
Poll #2: TRob's Rookie Season
Poll #3: How Does Our PG Position Play Out
Poll #4: Marcus Thornton's Future Role
Poll #5: Will DMC Be an All Star This Year
Poll #6: Where Will We Finish in the West This Year
Poll #7: Jimmer's Future in the League
Poll #8: How Will The Kings Do On Defense?
Poll #9: What Kind of Start to the Season Will the Kings Have?
Poll #10: What Will Salmons Role Be This Season?
Poll #11: What Will The Kings Record Be Against the Lakers This Year?
Poll #12: Boogie's Numbers?
Poll #13: Cisco's Future With the Kings?
Poll #14: How Long Does Coach Smart Last?
Poll #15: How Much Will James Johnson Give Us?

 

[Gary]

I am going to say #6-10.. Why? Because we finished middle of the pack from the allstar break until the end of the season in assists per game as a team.

Before the allstar break we were dead last so we had a lot of improvement. If we can see an improvement this year then we could finish in the top 10.

 

[DesertFox]

Voted 16-20 out of pure hope. If between IT/Reke/JJ the team can get 15 assists, and Cuz and JT show expected improvement, I think middle of the pack is very reasonable.

The bench will be a different story though, which is why IT of the bench (but still getting the majority of PG minutes) behind Brooks makes some sense.

 

[Gary]

The people that voted 26-30 either;

A) Did not see the kings in the second half of the season,
or
B) Think Smart is going to move Evans back to the starting PG position and scrap the IT project.

If IT starts at PG there is no way we finish 26-30. 0.0000000% chance based on what IT did last year for the Kings in the assists per game department.

 

[bajaden]

I am going to say #6-10.. Why? Because we finished middle of the pack from the allstar break until the end of the season in assists per game as a team.

Before the allstar break we were dead last so we had a lot of improvement. If we can see an improvement this year then we could finish in the top 10.

I think your projection is highly possible. We averaged 19.3 assists last season, and the difference between where the Kings ended up and first place is around 4 assists. So they wouldn't have to increase their assists more than a couple a game to get to 6th to 10th. The Kings have several players that are talented passers. Its just a matter of getting everyone on the same page.

 

[bajaden]

The people that voted 26-30 either;

A) Did not see the kings in the second half of the season,
or
B) Think Smart is going to move Evans back to the starting PG position and scrap the IT project.

If IT starts at PG there is no way we finish 26-30. 0.0000000% chance based on what IT did last year for the Kings in the assists per game department.

IT will start, bet on it. Tyreke will be at SG, and I doubt he'll get much more than a sniff at PG throughout the season. Circumstancial only. IT will only get better. I doubt that Brooks will unseat him. He won the job, and I think you'd have to kill him to take it away from him.

 

[Prince_XY]

I have a feeling the young ones will go for their own shots again in the hope of establishing themselves as the team's primary offensive option. The mediocre veterans will again try to prove they can still play by going for their own. Smart will try to make everyone happy, will again get confused on his rotation, and the whole season will be wasted developing the wrong players again. I hope I am wrong.

 

[King Baller]

The assists total should go up if for only one reason. Surely there is no way the Kings will shoot the ball as badly as they did last year. Many of those misses were "assisted misses"

KB

 

[gunks]

Crappy.

We still have Thornton, we added another midget me first shooter, Tyreke is our best assist man and he has tunnel vision. Oh and our coach is mediocre at best.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

i think with Isaiah running the team and a couple of good passing big men we will be able to do pretty well with assists per game

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

I think Assists will go up this year based on players' roles solidifying.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

I think Assists will go up this year based on players' roles solidifying.

Yes, this plus IT being the full time Starting PG now will lead to more assists per game. im not positive, but didnt the kings team assists per game go way up after Isaiah took over the PG role last year?

 

[Kingster]

The people that voted 26-30 either;

A) Did not see the kings in the second half of the season,
or
B) Think Smart is going to move Evans back to the starting PG position and scrap the IT project.

If IT starts at PG there is no way we finish 26-30. 0.0000000% chance based on what IT did last year for the Kings in the assists per game department.

Agreed. IT is an outstanding passer, and the constant in the equation. I'm waiting to see Cousins pass the ball like we know he can. He could easily get to 4 assists a game this year if he just concentrates more and we get some movement off the ball. I'll be an optimist and say we get in the 10-15 area in assists.

 

[The_Jamal]

it depends on 1. How much IT is running PG and 2. How much Reke/Thornton/Cuz play together.

 

[Spike]

I think it depends more on the players actually finishing shots - something they didn't do early in the year that they did do later in the year.