KF Kings Prediction Poll #9: What Kind of Start to the Season Will the Kings Have?

[Bricklayer]

Prediction Poll #9.

This year's schedule has been released, and the Kings early season is very home heavy. 12 of their first 18 games are at home, giving them a chance at a fast start. On the other hand, most of the teams during that stretch are playoff caliber. What do you think their record will be after the first 18 games?

Kings Early Schedule:
Oct 31 @CHI
Nov 2 @MIN
Nov 3 @IND
Nov 5 GSW
Nov 7 DET
Nov 9 SAN
Nov 11 @LAL
Nov 13 POR
Nov 16 ATL
Nov 18 BRK
Nov 21 LAL
Nov 23 @UTH
Nov 24 UTH
Nov 27 MIN
Nov 30 IND
Dec 1 @LAC
Dec 5 TOR
Dec 7 ORL


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?

 

[RKDfan]

I came up with 9-9 through that part of the schedule.
Oct 31 @CHI W Without Derrick Rose, I think we can win pull off a victory.
Nov 2 @MIN L I think we'll make this game close, but Minnesota will be a little too much on the road.
Nov 3 @IND L Indiana is a very good team and they'll win this game at home by 10+.
Nov 5 GSW W This will be a close one, but the Kings will take the home opener.
Nov 7 DET W Kings win this one comfortably.
Nov 9 SAN L Kings will lead throughout the game, but SA will come back and win this one late.
Nov 11 @LAL L Lakers win this one comfortably at home.
Nov 13 POR W Kings take a close one against a revamped Blazers team at home.
Nov 16 ATL W Atlanta didn't have enough scoring weapons to win this game.
Nov 18 BRK L The new-look Brooklyn Nets take this comfortably.
Nov 21 LAL L I want to say SAC wins this so bad, but I think the Lakers take a close one.
Nov 23 @UTH L I think the Kings lose another close one.
Nov 24 UTH W Kings take this back-to-back against UTH at home and break the losing streak.
Nov 27 MIN W Kings win a close one.
Nov 30 IND L Indiana proves to be too much for SAC in this one. Win it comfortably.
Dec 1 @LAC L Clippers also win convincingly.
Dec 5 TOR W Kings take this win by 10+.
Dec 7 ORL W Kings blow out Orlando.

 

[rainmaker]

11-7 or 10-8 would be glorious, and running through the neighborhood naked territory.

9-9 is what I'm hoping for, would be a great start and give the team some confidence and if Cuz/Reke come in in shape, improved and ready to go, and we have an injury free training camp, is possible. Not realistic, but possible.

8-10 or 7-11 is mildly disappointing territory. Well, not so much 8-10 as 7-11. Here it would depend more on how we lose games. Are we sharing the ball, is the offense looking good, are we doing damage on the glass and improved defensively, yet can't quite squeak out games in the final 6 mins? That's positive, even at 7-11. Or are we only winning some games by trying to outrun and outgun other teams through an easy part of the schedule, and our overall halfcourt offense and defense hasn't improved much? That's more disappointing and far more worrying. Records matter of course, but the first month I'll personally be focusing more on HOW we're playing, and WHERE we've improved as a team. If we beat a team just by outgunning them ,don't expect me to be too happy, as imo that's false hope. If we lose close games and we're making a concerted effort to run an improved half court offense and tighten up the defense without relying on the fastbreak to keep us in games, I'll be positive, even after losses.

6-12 or below is kiss the season goodbye territory which we don't recover from and players start looking more for theirs than for playing for the name on the front. If we come out 6 games below .500 through the first 18, or worse, through arguably the easiest part of the schedule, after a full training camp, I think players will lose trust in whatever system Smart is trying to put in and we probably don't recover from it. As with any newer coach in most sports, when you win, players buy in to your system, when you lose, players start ignoring you and looking out for themselves.

If we went 17-1 or 16-2, and you placed a bet in Vegas on it, you'd probably at that point be worth more than the Maloofs.

 

[bajaden]

Really hard to predict without seeing how the team is jelling and how the new additions help, or not. I went with 8 and 10 while hoping for 10 and 8. Just too many unknowns at this point to make an educated guess. I'll come back and revisit this thread after halfway through the exhibition games.

 

[jcwkings]

I want to see at least 2 pre season games before i can answer. If its based on last year, 5-13 is more than possible. If there is vast improvement from the team, .500 or a game or two above is possible.

 

[VF21]

I have to confess to being the culprit who picked 18-0. My rationale is that I'm going to choose to be incredibly optimistic this year, with the full and complete knowledge that reality will smack me up side the head soon enough.

GO KINGS!

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

11-7 or 10-8 would be glorious, and running through the neighborhood naked territory.

9-9 is what I'm hoping for, would be a great start and give the team some confidence and if Cuz/Reke come in in shape, improved and ready to go, and we have an injury free training camp, is possible. Not realistic, but possible.

8-10 or 7-11 is mildly disappointing territory. Well, not so much 8-10 as 7-11. Here it would depend more on how we lose games. Are we sharing the ball, is the offense looking good, are we doing damage on the glass and improved defensively, yet can't quite squeak out games in the final 6 mins? That's positive, even at 7-11. Or are we only winning some games by trying to outrun and outgun other teams through an easy part of the schedule, and our overall halfcourt offense and defense hasn't improved much? That's more disappointing and far more worrying. Records matter of course, but the first month I'll personally be focusing more on HOW we're playing, and WHERE we've improved as a team. If we beat a team just by outgunning them ,don't expect me to be too happy, as imo that's false hope. If we lose close games and we're making a concerted effort to run an improved half court offense and tighten up the defense without relying on the fastbreak to keep us in games, I'll be positive, even after losses.

6-12 or below is kiss the season goodbye territory which we don't recover from and players start looking more for theirs than for playing for the name on the front. If we come out 6 games below .500 through the first 18, or worse, through arguably the easiest part of the schedule, after a full training camp, I think players will lose trust in whatever system Smart is trying to put in and we probably don't recover from it. As with any newer coach in most sports, when you win, players buy in to your system, when you lose, players start ignoring you and looking out for themselves.

If we went 17-1 or 16-2, and you placed a bet in Vegas on it, you'd probably at that point be worth more than the Maloofs.

Agree pretty much 100%

.500 is a realistic, GOOD number for this team.

 

[spudfan]

Picked 10-8/11-7 myself. I see them hitting that or 5-13 and choose to go with the optimistic number. I didn't pick 9-9 because I feel if they end up winning a good amount of games they are more likely to build some momentum that will let them take down some of the better teams which should be losses.

 

[HndsmCelt]

I'm guessing 5-6 wins BUT I also think the Kings will have a better second half of the season than their first half.

 

[King Baller]

I picked 10 and 8 predicated on the young Kings team coming together and winning some games early. Teams will be expecting the same old shoot themselves in the foot Kings, but the young guys surprise them by playing together, having a good time and winning!

KB