ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
Even if Rondo doesn't play well, I think the rest of the roster is still talented enough with good fit to make the playoffs. It would not surprise me to see Collison have a career year with Karl
Playoffs?
- Thread starter rexb_kings
- Start date
Even if Rondo doesn't play well, I think the rest of the roster is still talented enough with good fit to make the playoffs. It would not surprise me to see Collison have a career year with Karl
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
I feel like getting ahead of myself. 
Lets face the Warriors in the first round
Lets face the Warriors in the first roundkingsfan101
Starter
Too soon. We can hope, but it's a whole new team. The guys need to play together for a while.
Add to the fact the unknowns: Can Boogie and coach put their differences behind, has Rondo recovered completely, and is he close to the player he once was? How quickly can WCS contribute, and will Ben show significant progress? Lot of things have to fall in place to get out in West. Some other teams slipping won't hurt.
I also think that Clippers will still be very good. Don't like them, but they were really good last year. I thought they would have beaten Houston, but for some ridiculous games by Josh Smith, where he kept hitting jumpers, which otherwise, he is horrible at.
They'll miss Jordan, a lot. However, they have also picked up Pierce, and Lance, both of whom are major upgrades over Barnes.
Between Paul, Blake, Pierce, Crawford, and Doc, they have enough talent, experience, and leadership to get into the post-season (unless there are several long term injuries).
Add to the fact the unknowns: Can Boogie and coach put their differences behind, has Rondo recovered completely, and is he close to the player he once was? How quickly can WCS contribute, and will Ben show significant progress? Lot of things have to fall in place to get out in West. Some other teams slipping won't hurt.
I also think that Clippers will still be very good. Don't like them, but they were really good last year. I thought they would have beaten Houston, but for some ridiculous games by Josh Smith, where he kept hitting jumpers, which otherwise, he is horrible at.
They'll miss Jordan, a lot. However, they have also picked up Pierce, and Lance, both of whom are major upgrades over Barnes.
Between Paul, Blake, Pierce, Crawford, and Doc, they have enough talent, experience, and leadership to get into the post-season (unless there are several long term injuries).
The Hammer
All-Star
I feel like getting ahead of myself.
A Kings-Warriors first round playoff matchup would. be. epic. Especially if we gave them a run for their money or even knocked them off. The crazy thing is, I don't see that as out of the realm of possibility.
Why not? It would be a nice 2-7 matchup.
IfAt1st
Starter
I found this list to take the entire conference, the Kings are "only" 175:1:
As if the freaking Suns, Blazers and Jazz have a 2 1/2 times more likely chance to win the West?
With what threats?
Are they even LOOKING at the rosters?
With Boogie, all it takes is the refs to make an active effort to favor him, and the Kings could easily be in the Conference semis. And that's with almost no help.
If Rondo, Gay, and WCS combine the way they easily might, it is absurdly likely (to anyone looking at thew teams and players involved) that the Kings shouldn't be taken so lightly after this offseason.
But everyone seems to be still looking at the past ten years, ignoring everything actually going on.
The Kings have been deliberately tanking for 7 years, and the league doesn't know it.
If there's anyone with money to bet and a favorable line, this is the year to cash in on the world's ignorance.
Interesting how even the betting lines are absurdly pessimistic about the Kings.
As if the freaking Suns, Blazers and Jazz have a 2 1/2 times more likely chance to win the West?
With what threats?
Are they even LOOKING at the rosters?
With Boogie, all it takes is the refs to make an active effort to favor him, and the Kings could easily be in the Conference semis. And that's with almost no help.
If Rondo, Gay, and WCS combine the way they easily might, it is absurdly likely (to anyone looking at thew teams and players involved) that the Kings shouldn't be taken so lightly after this offseason.
But everyone seems to be still looking at the past ten years, ignoring everything actually going on.
The Kings have been deliberately tanking for 7 years, and the league doesn't know it.
If there's anyone with money to bet and a favorable line, this is the year to cash in on the world's ignorance.
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Chupacabra
Starter
From last years western playoff teams I dont like LAC, Portland, or Dallas. Does Dallas have a PG yet? DJ/137 year old Dirk/Parsons/Mathews/guy? Whos on their bench? I dont think any of those teams will be better than us. For me NO is borderline. It wouldnt surprise me if we finish with more W's than them. Markieff and Green are a significant part of what the Suns do and theyve had weak finishes to the last two seasons. You get the picture.
macadocious
Starter
Betting lines are not actual odds, they are set to get action.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
You think GS is going to finish 7th?
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Of the #8 seed type contenders:
Phoenix Lineup
C- Chandler/Len
PF- Markief? (trying to trade?)
SF- Tucker/Warren
SG- Bledsoe/Goodwin/Booker
PG- Knight
no #1 star, no experienced depth I can see
Utah Lineup
C- Gobert
PF- Favors/Booker/Lyles
SF- Hayward/Ingles
SG- Burks/Hood
PG- Burke/Exum
no #1 star, no experience anywhere really
Sacramento Lineup
C- Cousins/Koufos
PF- Cauley Stein
SF- Gay/Casspi
SG- McLemore/Belinelli
PG- Rondo/Collison
both a #1 star and experienced depth, just need to add one piece to make WCS a luxury not a necessity
New Orleans Lineup
C- Asik/Ajinca
PF- Davis/Anderson/Cunningham
SF- Pondexter
SG- Gordon/Evans
PG- Holiday/Cole
have a #1 star, and some direct experience this past season
I have no idea what Denver's plan is, but they could be a no #1 star, but expereience team if they keep their vets.
Phoenix Lineup
C- Chandler/Len
PF- Markief? (trying to trade?)
SF- Tucker/Warren
SG- Bledsoe/Goodwin/Booker
PG- Knight
no #1 star, no experienced depth I can see
Utah Lineup
C- Gobert
PF- Favors/Booker/Lyles
SF- Hayward/Ingles
SG- Burks/Hood
PG- Burke/Exum
no #1 star, no experience anywhere really
Sacramento Lineup
C- Cousins/Koufos
PF- Cauley Stein
SF- Gay/Casspi
SG- McLemore/Belinelli
PG- Rondo/Collison
both a #1 star and experienced depth, just need to add one piece to make WCS a luxury not a necessity
New Orleans Lineup
C- Asik/Ajinca
PF- Davis/Anderson/Cunningham
SF- Pondexter
SG- Gordon/Evans
PG- Holiday/Cole
have a #1 star, and some direct experience this past season
I have no idea what Denver's plan is, but they could be a no #1 star, but expereience team if they keep their vets.
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
The Sixers have been deliberately tanking, the Timberwolves...what the Kings have been doing up until last season was just ineptitude, not really tanking but still making additions to the point where you are now on a treadmill you can't seem to get off of.
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The X factor is DaMarcus F'ing Cousins.
He now has defensive help in the post in Trill.
He now has an elite passer in Rondo.
He now has an elite 3 point shooter Belli.
He now has a legit backup who can hold the line King Koufos.
Cousins is going to play out of his mind this season (in a good way) and I can't wait!
He now has defensive help in the post in Trill.
He now has an elite passer in Rondo.
He now has an elite 3 point shooter Belli.
He now has a legit backup who can hold the line King Koufos.
Cousins is going to play out of his mind this season (in a good way) and I can't wait!
The Hammer
All-Star
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
I don't see Utah or Phoenix as threats....Pelicans will be there though, IMO. They have the Brow and awesome complimentary pieces with a new head coach that might actually run some plays for 23 unlike Monty.
K
Kingsguy881
Guest
Playoffs is really getting ahead of ourselves for sure, but (and I am really only second to VF in my optimism, except mine is mostly internal) but I wouldn't be surprised to see this happen. You take an all star and a superior sidekick and surround them with role playing veteran talent and a rookie unknown that's mature and hungry and you have the makings of a very high potential jump
K
KingMilz
Guest
He's still on the Suns and he was far more important than his brother Marcus, Suns look good imo, TJ Warren looks like a future stud at SF which is probably why they traded Marcus in the first place while getting Chandler.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I can't imagine why its getting ahead, aside form normal Kings fan doom and gloomism. I just posted the competitors. Nobody there is out of reach, and only New Orleans really can match the top to bottom roster depth.
K
Kingsguy881
Guest
I really hate posting on here on my phone. It really sucks. That being said, I am not trying to be doom and gloom nor am I trying to be 'normal Kings fan' Debbie downer. I remain optimistic but internally. My Dad greeted me at the door Sunday and I was all grins about the Kings BUT I haven't been that way for a VERY long time so I am trying to temper my enthusiasm. Last time I felt this way was when we drafted J Thrill. That was before I could post on my phone. Honestly, I look at what has gone down, the having an all star and sidekick and then surrounding them with complimentary talent and I get giddy with chills. Its a team 2 deep at every position with multiple options to run with and it scares me to get too optimistic. Its the type of team that contends. The type of team that wins games in so many different ways and so easily that you expect it. I said in another thread that we will loom back on the hiring of Vlade and see it as the turning point and I hate to jinx that.
c-webb1s#1
Starter
I dont think any of us will be suprised next season if DMC puts up a stat line of say... 26ppg 13rbs 3 assists
I wanna see how he is again after a nice rest from his illness! We all saw what he did towards the end of the season!
Cause lets not forget people...
He still has not reached his prime!
I wanna see how he is again after a nice rest from his illness! We all saw what he did towards the end of the season!
Cause lets not forget people...
He still has not reached his prime!
Kingsgurl
Starter
The thing of it is, we really DO have to put the past behind us. Granted, this isn't as important to US, since we aren't suiting up and playing the games, but the team? New team, fresh start. They aren't 'trying to make a leap' from an under 30 win season with the same players and some hopeful rookie in our endless cycle of rebuild. They are a team with the #1 big man in the game, a star #2, a future Hall of Fame Coach, solid players with play off experience, a deep bench and the obligatory promising rookie. The mindset of losing really has to end. In fact, that downtrodden, maybe we can win 10 more games thought process is just as much of a cancer.
Before the disastrous Viral Meningitis bout took Boogie out for nearly a whole month of the season ( I can only imagine the impact on his conditioning that took, not that he showed it) followed by the equally damaging to team cohesiveness, morale and identity firing of Coach Malone, that team was easily on pace to be a .500 team. This team is a much better team than that one was (on paper, this is why we play the games)
I am not placing that 'haven't won 30 games in 7 years' albatross around this teams neck. New day, new team, new season. Clean slate.
Before the disastrous Viral Meningitis bout took Boogie out for nearly a whole month of the season ( I can only imagine the impact on his conditioning that took, not that he showed it) followed by the equally damaging to team cohesiveness, morale and identity firing of Coach Malone, that team was easily on pace to be a .500 team. This team is a much better team than that one was (on paper, this is why we play the games)
I am not placing that 'haven't won 30 games in 7 years' albatross around this teams neck. New day, new team, new season. Clean slate.
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
There should be a lot of pressure on Cousins...it's put up or shut up time now. He is getting paid big boy bucks and if he really wants to cement himself as a top 10, or even a top 5 player in the league...he needs to have this team competing for a playoff spot or making it with the burden of the work load on his shoulder and Rudy a close foot step behind him.
Kingsgurl
Starter
Boogie is the one I am least worried about. We have pretty much simmered him in a cauldron of pressure and expectation, heavily spiced with ineptitude since he got here. Cousins has been the only one who HAS continually 'put up' The way I see it, this was the time for the team to put up or shut up with him, and Vlade has tried to do that.
Cousins contract is a steal in the current landscape, and figures to be even more so next year with the cap explosion. He's been shouldering the blame for this team for a long time. Slice it anyway you like it, he IS a top 5-10 player in the league, the question has long been are WE able to catch up with him and put some pieces around him. He will produce, as he always will, the question will come when we see if the moves we have made mesh.
Cousins contract is a steal in the current landscape, and figures to be even more so next year with the cap explosion. He's been shouldering the blame for this team for a long time. Slice it anyway you like it, he IS a top 5-10 player in the league, the question has long been are WE able to catch up with him and put some pieces around him. He will produce, as he always will, the question will come when we see if the moves we have made mesh.
The Hammer
All-Star
Uhh... he's already a top 5 player in the league. The fact we haven't sniffed the playoffs has nothing to do with him.
That's just how inept his ownership is
The pressure is on Karl. Cousins has never been a selfish player or team killer. He makes players around him BETTER. I could care less if he's not buddies off the court. He makes them better on the court. Collison understands this. Rudy understands this. Omri understands this (funny how he's the one signed back). JT DID NOT, because JT doesn't understand the finer points of the game, and can't really catch difficult passes, so Cuz passed to him less. He's been carrying this team on his back, and yes, to 29 wins (team revolting under Corbin remember... which 90% of us were supporting). Do you remember how bad it was last year? It was horrific.
So I agree with Kingsgurl, time for the rest of the team, including Karl, to put up or shut up for Cousins. He is owed, not the other way around.
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rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Hammer, we're talking two different things here. Cuz is owed by the franchise to put a good supporting cast around him, a fitting roster, to correct mistakes over the last five years and put him in a position to succeed.
But as a top 5 player in this league, Cuz also bares responsibility to lead this team now that talent is around him. You're essentially arguing Cuz bares no responsibility to lead this team as guys like KG/Dirk/Wade/Lebron/Harden/Durant/etc lead their teams to success, lead the locker rooms, take control of "their" teams and put them on their backs and carry them. It's not as simple as just show up, have a good game and go home if you want to be considered a top 5 player.
When it comes to the talent on this roster now, the last five years don't mean anything. It's about the here and now, what we currently have. Cuz was owed a better supporting cast. Vlade's in the process of giving him the best supporting cast he's had. Now it's going to be on Cuz to lead that cast. Cuz refers to this as "his team" and with that comes the responsibility of leadership. You're presenting the implication that if he doesn't have success with a superior supporting cast, he can blame it on different rosters from past seasons. That doesn't make sense.
But as a top 5 player in this league, Cuz also bares responsibility to lead this team now that talent is around him. You're essentially arguing Cuz bares no responsibility to lead this team as guys like KG/Dirk/Wade/Lebron/Harden/Durant/etc lead their teams to success, lead the locker rooms, take control of "their" teams and put them on their backs and carry them. It's not as simple as just show up, have a good game and go home if you want to be considered a top 5 player.
When it comes to the talent on this roster now, the last five years don't mean anything. It's about the here and now, what we currently have. Cuz was owed a better supporting cast. Vlade's in the process of giving him the best supporting cast he's had. Now it's going to be on Cuz to lead that cast. Cuz refers to this as "his team" and with that comes the responsibility of leadership. You're presenting the implication that if he doesn't have success with a superior supporting cast, he can blame it on different rosters from past seasons. That doesn't make sense.
Yep. Honestly, this roster is good enough for at least 40 wins. It's now time for DeMarcus to rally everyone up and prove that he can lead a team.
You can't be a top 10 player on a losing team imo. You also can't be a top 10 player without being a leader
This year, we finally have a great supporting cast around Cousins. It's the make it or break it year for Cuz and Karl.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Of course you can. You can even be the GOAT:
1986-87 Chicago Bulls 40-42
1986-87 Michael Jordan 37.1pts 5.2reb 4.6ast 2.9stl 1.5blk 3.3TO
But now, drama aside, we have finally put that level of veteran talent around Cuz that we should be up and in the conversation. Injuries or Karl related crap could still scuttle it. But its not going to be a roster problem anymore.
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
You can call him a top 5 player all you want...IMO players aren't made until they reach the postseason. We saw this with Durant, Curry, Davis, etc. He has been on a video game like tear as far as numbers these last two seasons...but prior to that his FG% was terrible for a center and he took many ill advised shots and missed a lot of easy ones too, not just then...even last season.
I'm not taking anything away from because let's face it...it's hard to show case yourself in the playoffs when you can't even reach 30 wins...matter fact 45+ wins which is a minimum to get to the Western Conference playoffs.
Until Cousins gets to the playoffs and shows he can carry a team in a series and further....then and only then will I proclaim him as a top 5 player. Until then...he is in the top 10.
