Why the assumtion of playoffs is not out of the question.

[apollo916]

Name one problem we have had since the fall of the kings.
My answer, no actual post threat.
We have the most talented young guards and small fowards together.
I've notice we are usually close in every game but lack but lose it on late game half court offense, we play 1 on 1 like last year with tyreke who actually followed thru with great game winners.
Now, Whiteside, sammy, cousins, landry, jason. Are you serious? Landry and jason were the best pair we've had in a while when talking about talented youth and they are consistent enough. Add the new bigs, I say wow!!

Well the overall main idea of my rambling is...

Like every year we bicker about we mite have a chance, I believed it has changed to if we don't make the 1st round its a diss to our team. Rambling is fun sorry to use up bandwidth for my thoughts but I had to vent

 

[Kingsguy881]

They're just young, thats all. Give them a chance to play together before heaping expectations on them.

 

[Chupacabra]

As ive said many times before, I like this team for their defensive ability. Everyone is tall and long and for the most part athletic.

 

[Jespher]

[yt=Jerry Reynolds on Kings Predictions]dXfL-a0WnQA[/yt]
2:05 mark - Jerry's predicting 35 wins due to the loaded western conference and the overall youth of the Kings...
3:25 mark - Kings would need 48+ wins to make the playoffs, so that's not very likely...

 

[Bricklayer]

[yt=Jerry Reynolds on Kings Predictions]dXfL-a0WnQA[/yt]
2:05 mark - Jerry's predicting 35 wins due to the loaded western conference and the overall youth of the Kings...
3:25 mark - Kings would need 48+ wins to make the playoffs, so that's not very likely...

Hey look at that -- get Jerry away from the (live) cameras and he gets reasonable.

Ths silly ESPN thing aside, I think there is actually a good degree of agreement on about what we are looking at this upcoming season -- 35-40 win range, outside chance to make a run at .500, maybe hang on fringes of playoff picture until March or so, but just too young to punch on through this year. That's where most people are coming down, and with reason. Seen this development year out of many teams on the way up. Then the year after they make the jump to 45-50 wins and trying to make the playoffs and make some noise. Just again really really sucks that our "next year" could get obliterated by a lockout. What timing.

 

[pshn80]

Hey look at that -- get Jerry away from the (live) cameras and he gets reasonable.

Thanks, Brick, for posting Jerry's thing so I could enjoy it, and enjoy it I did. Made me smile broadly. I think he is as close to right on as anyone can be at this point. The chemistry thing is the more important because everyone is so new and young. I hope it gets a good start and continues to grow. This is a really new basketball team, so new it's still under the "30 day money back" guarantee. I'm really looking forward seeing them play.

 

[TheRaven]

Like every year we bicker about we mite have a chance, I believed it has changed to if we don't make the 1st round its a diss to our team. Rambling is fun sorry to use up bandwidth for my thoughts but I had to vent

It takes time for young talent to develop and start winning a significant number of games. The team has taken some large steps forward talent-wise in the past two years, but they still have a ways to go to reach the playoffs in a very tough Western Conference.

That isn't a diss on the team, it is just a pragmatic view based on the history of young but talented teams. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, because other than a championship run this is actually when it is the most fun to be watching a team. We get to watch a bunch of young players come into their own, and most of the negatives are swept away by the thought that these guys are still developing. In a few years we will be stressing out over every loss, worrying about the playoffs, wondering about why certain players aren't living up to whatever our expectations are, and desperately trying to figure out what can be done to take the team to the next level and get a championship.

 

[VF21]

It takes time for young talent to develop and start winning a significant number of games. The team has taken some large steps forward talent-wise in the past two years, but they still have a ways to go to reach the playoffs in a very tough Western Conference.

That isn't a diss on the team, it is just a pragmatic view based on the history of young but talented teams. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, because other than a championship run this is actually when it is the most fun to be watching a team. We get to watch a bunch of young players come into their own, and most of the negatives are swept away by the thought that these guys are still developing. In a few years we will be stressing out over every loss, worrying about the playoffs, wondering about why certain players aren't living up to whatever our expectations are, and desperately trying to figure out what can be done to take the team to the next level and get a championship.

What he said, especially the last part.

It's a shame the legendary server disaster of 2004 destroyed all the old threads. The excitement of watching our Kings come together the first time and make a legitimate run for the big show is something I still think about today. I promised myself back then if it ever happened again I'd enjoy every single step of the journey and not be in such a hurry to end it. And that's what I intend to do.

We have an exciting young team and "the future is so bright I need to wear shades." I'm not about to heap expectations on this young group of warrior Kings. I'll be content to let them learn and grow and just be thankful to the great god Naismith that I'm still around to enjoy it.

I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!

 

[Bricklayer]

Thanks, Brick, for posting Jerry's thing so I could enjoy it, and enjoy it I did.

Actually if you pan up Jespher found it, I was just replying to his post.

 

[bajaden]

I'm as optimistic as anyone about the future of the team. But lack of experience is a bigger obstacle than some would like to think. The Kings now have two players that I think are special. Evans and Cousins. They have some nice support players in Greene, Casspi, Landry, Thompson, Beno and Cisco. And its possible that one of those players could have a breakout year and raise his game to a higher level. I didn't include Whiteside because I don't see a lot of contribution on a regular basis this year. Hopefully he'll surprise us all, but I do see him as part of the future.

A lot of how good the Kings will be this year depends on the two special players. How improved will Tyreke be? If he can hit his outside shot with regularity, he then moves into the rarefied air of superstar. High expectations, I know! But few players even get a sniff of that air, so to even get close, exceeds orginal expectations. To my mind, Cousins is the key player this year, and I hate to put that much responsibility on his back. But he's a special talent. Its possible that he could come out of the gate running at full speed such as players like Jabbar, Walton, Shaq, AKeem, Ewing, Mourning, Duncan, etc. He does have that kind of talent. The question is whether he has the mental toughness and maturity to go along with the natural talent.

Personally, right now, I don't think so. Don't get me wrong. I think he's going to be very good. I think he'll be an impact player on the team this year. I just think it will come in spurts while he learns the league and what it takes to compete on a daily basis. Lets not forget that most of those players, if not all, had four years of college ball under their belt upon entering the NBA. So I expect some inconsistancy from Cousins, and from the rest of the team. I expect that there will be nights when this team will get on a roll and just destroy other teams. And I also expect there will be nights when they'll look completely lost and frustrated. So I seriously doubt that they'll make the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised to see them tease us with the possibility for most of the season though.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

The west is just too tough. It's not like the East where you can sneak into the 8th spot even if you're a few games under 500. I hope they prove me wrong and win 45+ games but I have to be honest, I think it's a long shot. Things are going to have to go pretty much perfect for that to happen. They aren't going to have any room for a poor start, extended losing streaks, not staying over 500 at home, injuries to key players, etc.

 

[Bricklayer]

The playoffs remain a longshot for us, but with Phoenix and now apparently Denver losing their main guys and beginning to crumble, and age a looming factor in San Antonio, L.A. and Dallas, there may be some wiggle room for somebody. Not us necessarily, but somebody. Only Portland, OKC and Utah (with the nice Jefferson save) look to truly be in their primes/on the way up. All the other playoff teams are on the other side of that hump. If we are able to scramble up with the midrange teams like Memphis and New Orleans (and Houston who could be good but has the ultimate team of glass) who knows how solid the aging teams ahead of us will appear.

 

[bajaden]

The playoffs remain a longshot for us, but with Phoenix and now apparently Denver losing their main guys and beginning to crumble, and age a looming factor in San Antonio, L.A. and Denver, there may be some wiggle room for somebody. Not us necessarily, but somebody. Only Portland, OKC and Utah (with the nice Jefferson save) look to truly be in their primes/on the way up. All the other playoff teams are on the other side of that hump. If we are able to scramble up with the midrange teams like Memphis and New Orleans (and Houston who could be good but has the ultimate team of glass) who knows how solid the aging teams ahead of us will appear.

Portland has some question marks as well. The new GM was very vague when asked about Oden and his return to action. He also said he didn't expect Przbilla to return until late december or early janurary. That makes Camby their starting center without a true backup. That leaves them with Roy and Aldridge as the only true stars on the team. I still think they're a decent team but not a great team.

I see the Lakers, Thunder, Jazz, Dallas and Houston, if Yao is healthy, as the teams to beat in the west. The Suns are a question mark, and I don't think NO scares anyone even with a healthy Paul. The Spurs will probably sneak in again, but it might be a battle for them. They're not getting any younger. The Clippers are loaded with talent, and should make the playoffs easily, but then, they are the Clippers.

Bottom line, the west is still tough, but not as tough, and if Denver decides to fold up its tent, the Kings just might have an opening. If nothing else it should be interesting.

 

[apollo916]

Due to the upgrade of immense talent at the C and PF positions this past season. I see us reaching 45 wins. This team is better then to just make a small jump, I see a leap to 6th place maybe

 

[pshn80]

Thanks, Brick, for the heads up, and thanks Jespher for the thread on Jerry. I'm still smiling. And, yesterday I divided up tickets/Kings games with my partners and I know who I'll see first at Arco. Phoenix in preseason and my first regular season game will be Minnesota on the 10th. Feels good - gets the blood flowing again. I do think the Kings will be fun to watch and winning enough to keep me from going out for pop corn.

 

[Jespher]

Thanks, Brick, for the heads up, and thanks Jespher for the thread on Jerry. I'm still smiling. And, yesterday I divided up tickets/Kings games with my partners and I know who I'll see first at Arco. Phoenix in preseason and my first regular season game will be Minnesota on the 10th. Feels good - gets the blood flowing again. I do think the Kings will be fun to watch and winning enough to keep me from going out for pop corn.

No problem. Glad I could make you smile .