What if...

[bajaden]

Being its the slow time of the year and most of whats on the board is speculation. Negative speculation for the most part. So I would like to present some what if's of my own.

What if, Miller returns as the Milller of old. Plays with the intensity of a man on a mission.
What if, Bibby, who has something to prove, is able to return to his old form. A decent play maker and a very good scorer.
What if Martin actually elevates his game from last year. Scores just as much, improves on defense, and becomes more of take charge guy.
What if Garcia has a break out year. Similiar to Martins last year.
What if Hawes is even better than we expected in his first year and actually earns minutes because of his skill level.
What if Douby reachs out and grabs the back-up pt guard position by the throat and makes it his.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. My grandmother told me once that if's were for children. But I think thats what sport fans are. At least children at heart. These if's are just as possible as the negative one's. And if you think about it, more likely.

Yes, I know I haven't mentioned Artest. I don't think he will be on the team. But, well, I'll let you do your own what if, if he is.

 

[creAtivetfh]

What if we made more freethrows in Game 7 of the 2002 western conference finals..
what if Robert Horry missed that shot..

this thread is pretty pointless

 

[cfechter]

Being its the slow time of the year and most of whats on the board is speculation. Negative speculation for the most part. So I would like to present some what if's of my own.

What if, Miller returns as the Milller of old. Plays with the intensity of a man on a mission.
What if, Bibby, who has something to prove, is able to return to his old form. A decent play maker and a very good scorer.
What if Martin actually elevates his game from last year. Scores just as much, improves on defense, and becomes more of take charge guy.
What if Garcia has a break out year. Similiar to Martins last year.
What if Hawes is even better than we expected in his first year and actually earns minutes because of his skill level.
What if Douby reachs out and grabs the back-up pt guard position by the throat and makes it his.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. My grandmother told me once that if's were for children. But I think thats what sport fans are. At least children at heart. These if's are just as possible as the negative one's. And if you think about it, more likely.

Yes, I know I haven't mentioned Artest. I don't think he will be on the team. But, well, I'll let you do your own what if, if he is.

If all of the above come true, the max amount of games the kings could ever aspire to win this season is probaby in the mid-40's.

Problem is, those are way too many what if's and in my experience as a sports fan, you will more than likely NOT have ALL the what ifs come true.

I think 35-39 wins is a much more likely scenario.

 

[Rain man]

What if we made more freethrows in Game 7 of the 2002 western conference finals..
what if Robert Horry missed that shot..

this thread is pretty pointless

Big difference- Bajaden is asking about what could potentially happen as a best case scenario (ie looking forward and potentially possible)- your examples would require a time machine...

As far as the thread- if everything you mentioned came true this team would be MUCH better than a 40-45 win team. If everything you mentioned came true we would be a 50+ win team with a decent shot in the West.

The team you describe would feature 4 borderline All-Star players (Artest, Miller, Bibby, Martin). It would also feature a terrific bench with Garcia, Hawes and Douby- and none of this counts any potential growth from Williams/Moore. In my opinion, it would be very close to the 2003-2004 pre-Webber return Kings- a very talented team without a real leader but lots of depth, energy, etc...

Of course this all depends on tons of ifs. We are much closer to 30 wins than 50. But, if everything broke right, players had major epiphanies, people rediscovered their games, etc... we would have a high ceiling...

 

[ovrush]

Being its the slow time of the year and most of whats on the board is speculation. Negative speculation for the most part. So I would like to present some what if's of my own.

What if, Miller returns as the Milller of old. Plays with the intensity of a man on a mission.
What if, Bibby, who has something to prove, is able to return to his old form. A decent play maker and a very good scorer.
What if Martin actually elevates his game from last year. Scores just as much, improves on defense, and becomes more of take charge guy.
What if Garcia has a break out year. Similiar to Martins last year.
What if Hawes is even better than we expected in his first year and actually earns minutes because of his skill level.
What if Douby reachs out and grabs the back-up pt guard position by the throat and makes it his.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. My grandmother told me once that if's were for children. But I think thats what sport fans are. At least children at heart. These if's are just as possible as the negative one's. And if you think about it, more likely.

Yes, I know I haven't mentioned Artest. I don't think he will be on the team. But, well, I'll let you do your own what if, if he is.

If all those what ifs happen... we make the playoffs... as an eigth seed and get knocked out in the first round. We get a year older and get a worse draft choice out of the deal. That's why many are frustrated...not necessarily because this team is worse off than last year, but because in fact its marginally better, which puts us farther away from any chance of being anything except mediocre. In fact, I think it's a distinct possibility all these things happen, and the Kings push for the eigth seed.

Maybe I should be more grateful that we're pushing so hard to get to the eigth seed, after all I had to watch the Kings for years and years when an outside shot at the 8 seed sounded like heaven. I need to temper how jaded watching a great team has made me. Now though..an eigth seed only makes me feel like we're getting farther from a championship.

 

[mac]

If all those what ifs happen... we make the playoffs... as an eigth seed and get knocked out in the first round. We get a year older and get a worse draft choice out of the deal. That's why many are frustrated...not necessarily because this team is worse off than last year, but because in fact its marginally better, which puts us farther away from any chance of being anything except mediocre. In fact, I think it's a distinct possibility all these things happen, and the Kings push for the eigth seed.

Maybe I should be more grateful that we're pushing so hard to get to the eigth seed, after all I had to watch the Kings for years and years when an outside shot at the 8 seed sounded like heaven. I need to temper how jaded watching a great team has made me. Now though..an eigth seed only makes me feel like we're getting farther from a championship.

If all that happens and we only make the eighth seed, then the West must be insanely strong, and we can just give up trying to win for the next 20 years. I don't think a 50+ win team is an eighth seed...

 

[quick dog]

What if this was not the most boring three-month period in the entire history of the Sacramento Kings?

 

[Jkbiker]

Had a buddy ask me how I thought the Kings would do this year so made up
my own "What If" list so thought I would post it, some duplication but here it is:

If Reggie Theus can inspire the group to play as a team

If Ron can stay out of trouble, and get back his tough defense and stop Hogging the ball

If Mike can get his shot back, stay Healthy

If Mike or Ron dont get traded in Feb

If Kevin continues to shine now that he has the big bucks!

If Kenny, Shareef, Mikki, and Justin dont kill each other for Power Forward Minutes

If Miller really did get in shape over the summer instead of Fishing and Drinking Beer all day and it turns out Spencer Hawes can rebound and Play D instead of just being Miller Lite.

My oh My So many IF's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If all the above then Kings will sneak into the eighth playoff spot and maybe make it past 1st Round

If not then Woohoo we win the Lottery Next Year!!

 

[Bricklayer]

I think this is typically where someone throws in the what if monkeys come flying out of their butt comment.

But there are a lot of what if lists you can put together.

1) What if Brad, who will be 32 by the end of the year, shows that the decline is age related and irreversible?
2) What if Bibby clashes with Reggie's "do as I say, not as I did" defensive minutes earning regime?
3) What if Artest, insulted by the Kevin as face of franchise bit, insecure because Cisco is a Reggie favorite, goes Indiana on us and announces that we don't need him anymore and he wants to be traded?
4) What if Kevin's late fade last year turns out to be the permanent result of more defensive attention?
5) What if Mikki's year was classic contract year stuff?
6) What if...

You can do what ifs about pie in the sky trades too. Been doing them all summer. What if Cleveland trades us LeBron for Cisco and Douby? etc. etc.

And if we get to do what ifs, so should every other team.

What if Al Thornton, with his age, turns out to be the most NBA ready of all the rooks in his frist year?
What if Chris Kaman recovers from his down year and resumes his climb up the ranks of NBA centers to the tune of 16 and 10?
What if Corey Maggette, freed from shot competition with Brand, turns in a big year at 20+ppg?
What if Cassel comes out feeling healthy and puts together a throwback year?

What if... truly is what if. What if I win the lottery? What if Jessica Alba sees me and thinks that I'm just the cutest guy ever? Its all a bell curve of probability. Naming off all of the perfect positive what ifs that could happen is no better than daydreaming really. Naming off all the terrible nightmare what ifs just as unlikely. By far the most likely scenario: what if, like every year, some things go right, some things go wrong, most players play right in their normal ranges, and ice cream faeries don't descend upon arco bearing pots of gold topped with marble fudge sundaes?

 

[VF21]

Naming off all of the perfect positive what ifs that could happen is no better than daydreaming really. Naming off all the terrible nightmare what ifs just as unlikely. By far the most likely scenario: what if, like every year, some things go right, some things go wrong, most players play right in their normal ranges, and ice cream faeries don't descend upon arco bearing pots of gold topped with marble fudge sundaes?

What?!?!?!?!

They've cancelled the ice cream faeries?!?!?!

Now that's just not right...

 

[Kingster]

Let's say Miller and Bibby play at the top of their game - season bests. My question is: Would Petrie trade them then? At midseason? At season end? And would the Maloofs allow him to do it if he wanted to do it? Or, would he hang on to them one more year to try to wring out the last bit of veteran value they might have, postponing the rebuild for one more year?

 

[VF21]

Webber was the reigning player of the month when he was traded.

 

[bajaden]

Ahh, I can always count on Bricky to bring his dose of reality to the show. The point of the thread is that there is potential on the team. Thats its just as easy to be positive as it is to be negative, especially when there hasn't been a game played yet. I think that everyone would agree that the team last year underacheived. The question is, was it because of age and perhaps chronic injuries that will never go away. Was it because of bad chemistry, or was it just a one year abberation. How much of the responsibility lay with the coach.
I don't have the answers to those questions. The season will unravel the mystery. You'll have to excuse me. I have to go find a bunch of monkeys.

 

[RunNGun]

All I ask is no more crap for gold. IF Bibby and Artest get traded I want the best deal possible. Which I hope means that GP blocks calls from the Heat and Calves and gives the Knicks his home phone number.

 

[Spike]

What?!?!?!?!

They've cancelled the ice cream faeries?!?!?!

Now that's just not right...

The garlic fries are still there...right?





RIGHT?!

 

[Jerryaki]

What if, Miller returns as the Milller of old. Plays with the intensity of a man on a mission.

just a question: in today's uber-athletic NBA, how much value would a miller of old bring anyway?

 

[ninjabiscuit]

If all that happens and we only make the eighth seed, then the West must be insanely strong, and we can just give up trying to win for the next 20 years. I don't think a 50+ win team is an eighth seed...

Actually it seems to me that the West is insanely strong. Look at each of the teams in the West that are better this year than they were last year.

• Portland = (In spite of Oden being out, still better than last year in my opinion)
• Houston = Better IMO (Adelman)
• Seattle = Better (debatable, I know)
• Golden State = Better if BD isn't hurt...a big if, I know, but they have confidence now.
• I'm probably leaving some teams out that are also better.

I think the only that has really gone downhill is the Clippers, because of Brand's Achilles.

 

[Kingster]

Webber was the reigning player of the month when he was traded.

He certainly wasn't at the top of his game, that's for sure. If he were (an uninjured Webber) we wouldn't have gotten the dregs we did in that trade. So I wouldn't use the Webber trade as support for the notion that Petrie has traded players at the top of their game and that therefore we shouldn't be surprised if Mike & Bibby have stellar years that Petrie would trade them for the rebuild.

 

[VF21]

He certainly wasn't at the top of his game, that's for sure. If he were (an uninjured Webber) we wouldn't have gotten the dregs we did in that trade. So I wouldn't use the Webber trade as support for the notion that Petrie has traded players at the top of their game and that therefore we shouldn't be surprised if Mike & Bibby have stellar years that Petrie would trade them for the rebuild.

Mike and Bibby ???

Anyway, Bibby and Miller aren't going to be at the top of their games again, either. They may have good years, however, AND if they do, I can see Petrie pulling the trigger on trade deals for them.

The idea that people on message boards know better than one of the league GMs on how to rebuild a team just floors me.

As far as Webber goes, if (and God I hate the word "if") Webber had been the uninjured Webber at the top of his game, we never would have traded him. He was our franchise player. It was the injury and resulting decline that caused the Maloofs to panic, IMHO, and have Petrie do a deal that was clearly a move of desperation.

 

[VF21]

Actually it seems to me that the West is insanely strong. Look at each of the teams in the West that are better this year than they were last year.

• Portland = (In spite of Oden being out, still better than last year in my opinion)
• Houston = Better IMO (Adelman)
• Seattle = Better (debatable, I know)
• Golden State = Better if BD isn't hurt...a big if, I know, but they have confidence now.
• I'm probably leaving some teams out that are also better.

I think the only that has really gone downhill is the Clippers, because of Brand's Achilles.

Very true. And Houston is better for a lot of reasons. Of all the teams in the West, I think I fear them the most.

 

[creAtivetfh]

Actually it seems to me that the West is insanely strong. Look at each of the teams in the West that are better this year than they were last year.

• Portland = (In spite of Oden being out, still better than last year in my opinion)
• Houston = Better IMO (Adelman)
• Seattle = Better (debatable, I know)
• Golden State = Better if BD isn't hurt...a big if, I know, but they have confidence now.
• I'm probably leaving some teams out that are also better.

I think the only that has really gone downhill is the Clippers, because of Brand's Achilles.

I think the only team out of that list that will be considerably better is Houston. Yao and McGrady playing in an uptempo offense is going to make that team incredibly fun to watch and much more dynamic. JVG using McGrady in a half court offense was just dumb.

Portland is going to have too much depending on second year players. Brandon Roy will hold his own but i dont think Aldridge is ready physically to be a full time starting forward/center..especially in the West. Pryzbilla we all know can only play well against the Kings... i do like the addition of Channing Frye though. but i still think they will end up with about the same record as last year.

I personally think Seattle is going to be terrible...but we will see

 

[AriesMar27]

how is seattle better? they lost lewis and allen... durant is cool but damn... thats damn near 40 points a game they lost...

 

[Kingzrool]

Let's say Miller and Bibby play at the top of their game - season bests. My question is: Would Petrie trade them then? At midseason? At season end? And would the Maloofs allow him to do it if he wanted to do it? Or, would he hang on to them one more year to try to wring out the last bit of veteran value they might have, postponing the rebuild for one more year?

Hell ya! Hopefully, he trades them when they have more value. I suspect that that is exactly the idea. Seems a good chance that at least one of them will do better than last season and up their value.

 

[fnordius]

VF21's opinion:

The idea that people on message boards know better than one of the league GMs on how to rebuild a team just floors me.

Bricklayer's sig:

“Settle down. Put away the torches and pitchforks. The sun will come up tomorrow. Unless, of course, Kevin McHale is somehow put in charge of the solar system. In which case the sun will implode and we all will die.” -- St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Tom Powers on the KG trade.

Reasonable minds may differ, as they say.

 

[VF21]

Reasonable minds may differ, as they say.

Yep. And, at least in the two examples above, they VERY OFTEN do.

 

[KevinSalvadori]

Actually it seems to me that the West is insanely strong. Look at each of the teams in the West that are better this year than they were last year.

• Portland = (In spite of Oden being out, still better than last year in my opinion)
• Houston = Better IMO (Adelman)
• Seattle = Better (debatable, I know)
• Golden State = Better if BD isn't hurt...a big if, I know, but they have confidence now.
• I'm probably leaving some teams out that are also better.

I think the only that has really gone downhill is the Clippers, because of Brand's Achilles.

Here's how I'd classify it:

PREMIER CLASS:

Phoenix Suns
Dallas Mavericks
San Antonio Spurs

All capable of winning it all, all either complete teams, or less than one piece away.

DEEP&DANGEROUS CLASS:

Houston Rockets
Golden State Warriors
Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets

Unpredictable, well-coached, and with the right combination of players, could easily play the upset role.

IMPROVED, BUT PICTURE STILL CLOUDY:

Seattle Supersonics
Portland Trailblazers
Sacramento Kings
LA Lakers

All teams that have made incremental changes over the past off-season that may pay long-term dividends to improve their status in the Conference. Any could make the playoffs, but also should realistically not be surprised when they are watching reruns of "24" in June.

X-FACTORS:

Minnesota Timberwolves
Memphis Grizzlies

Perennial underachievers, yet in the case of Minnesota, so dramatically overhauled that they could surprise some people. Not better than the above 10, however.

INJURED, AND/OR CRAP:

New Orleans Hornets
LA Clippers

Not deep enough, not savvy enough, not healthy enough to contend for a full 82 games. The collection of moveable pieces makes each of these teams interesting, however, and bears watching...

 

[Bricklayer]

Er...


Tier 1: is Dallas/San Anton/Phoenix are obvious of course.

Tier 2: is Houston and Utah a next tier, with Houston having the definite edge after their offseason.

But after that?

Tier 3: The playoff likelies/hopefuls are Denver, Golden State, New Orleans, Lakers,

Tier 4: The next tier is Portland, Sacto, Memphis,

Tier 5: The bottom is Minny, Seattle, and Clippers


And you never ever want to be tier 3 or 4. Up, or down. Not in the middle.

 

[Entity]

refering back to the original post. with the What if's. All of those things don't have to happen for us to make the playoffs. All of them DO have to happen for us to be contenders. if Bibby plays better and Kevin and Cisco improve more then you are better right there. Our frontcourt is better already over the last 2 years with Mikki, Spencer and Justin could see more PT so thats better than what we had with Mo, Potapenko. Either way I think as it stands right now we are better than we were last year.

 

[bajaden]

My top five..

San Antonio, ( until someone beats them, their my choice.)
Dallas, (forever the bridesmaid. Maybe this is their year.)
Phoenix, (fun to watch, until the playoffs. Always seems like last year.)
Houston, (Could be the surprise team, if they beleive in the system.)
Utah, ( Mystery team of the top five. Could slide if things go wrong.)

My second five, in no particular order.

New Orleans, ( I like this team. Could be on the rise.)
Golden State, ( over acheived last year. Will be harder this year.)
Sacramento, ( under acheived last year. Good start would help.)
Memphis,( Mystery team, could surprise if healthy.)
Denver, ( a lot of good peices that so far don't seem to fit together)

Outside looking in.

Lakers, ( no improvement on the team. Could slide in if another team falters
Portland, ( no Oden, and they lost Randoff. Too young this year.)
Seattle, ( I love Green, Durant will be player, but just too young.)
Clippers, ( wow, how far we have slid. Dangerous team that could surprise.)

 

[Bricklayer]

refering back to the original post. with the What if's. All of those things don't have to happen for us to make the playoffs. All of them DO have to happen for us to be contenders.

There is no amount of things, none, that make us contenders. I remember a foolish blogger trying to argue that last year. It was sugarplum faeries (who are decidely behind ice cream faeries in my book). San Antonio is a contender. Phoenix, Dallas, and I think now possibly a Houston or Boston as well. Our high end is as the juicy bug that goes splat on their windshield.