You know, I kinda/sorta see your point with your disdain for the "moral victories," but the team actually is progressing on schedule. The progression is actually quite similar to how we looked the first year under Malone: we didn't win, but we were always competitive. And then, in the second year, that's when we started to put it all together... until Cousins contracted meningitis, and Malone got fired shortly thereafter.
But, the point is, with the personnel we have, and a coach like Joerger, this is how it should look. The reason why many Kings Fans feel such a strong sense of urgency is Cousins' contract status: they're all convinced that we have to make the playoffs this year, or else losing Cousins is "inevitable."