Cheer up BobbyJfor3! It might not be the best year for a championship for King's, but that's exactly what everyone else is thinking - it's called flying under the radar. Those teams you named are doing well now, but many predicted that Minne, Rockets, and even the Lakers with Kobe would end up on top, or at least in the PO's (read Minne & Lakers). Certainly Sonics & Suns were not expected to do as well as they have.
I think we need to get to the second round, but there's something about that first round with our new squad is just giving me the heebie jeebies. Nothing about the play of the team, just the great 'unknowns'...like injuries and Brad, and have Thomas & Skinner ever played in a playoffs?
It's in that vein that I hope we play Sonics, but I also believe we can beat the Mavs (and believe it that the Mav's DO NOT want to meet Kings first round).
Too bad tanking games is unsportsman-like ... cause it is. ;p