KingsFan93
G-League
If the Kings miss the playoffs this season, how would you feel?
Your true reaction if...
- Thread starter KingsFan93
- Start date
bibbinator
Bench
I just read through some of the NBA previews and have set low expectations
for this year. There are too many unknowns with the Kings and too many good teams in the West.
I predict we finish the season in 6th-10th place.
for this year. There are too many unknowns with the Kings and too many good teams in the West.
I predict we finish the season in 6th-10th place.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Always pragmatic. All NBA teams have life cycles.
whozit
Starter
My true reaction? Ask me when it actually happens. There are a lot of different scenerios that could cause them to not make it. And if they don't make the playoffs, the manner in which they come up short would impact how I would feel about it.
If the whole season is a repeat of their performance of the first half last year, probably disgust.
Injuries? possibly dissapointment.
If they play hard, compete nightly and are simply exciting to watch but come up a little short? probably dissapointment with a mix of hope for tomorrow.
If the whole season is a repeat of their performance of the first half last year, probably disgust.
Injuries? possibly dissapointment.
If they play hard, compete nightly and are simply exciting to watch but come up a little short? probably dissapointment with a mix of hope for tomorrow.
Kingzrool
Starter
The Kings have been in the playoffs since I have been a fan. And I was not an NBA fan previously. Hence, I have never been a fan of a team that did not make the playoffs. I would be disapointed, but I have gotten in the habit of rooting for The Heat after we fall out and that has been fun! I fully expect us to do better than last year (assuming we do not have as many injuries 
), which should put us solidly in the playoffs.
Bonzi was out a good portion of period from Jan on when we had 4th best record in league. And GP has built a team that one would hope will fill in the gaps better than last year.
), which should put us solidly in the playoffs. Bonzi was out a good portion of period from Jan on when we had 4th best record in league. And GP has built a team that one would hope will fill in the gaps better than last year.
Agreed.
Is it injuries? Youngsters not performing well? Getting pounded inside but playing well in general? KT and Corliss getting traded for an injured KG who will lead us to the promised land next year after he heals?
SacKings384
Starter
I would be dissapointed, but it wouldn't come as a major shock.
bibbinator
Bench
No more RA, no more Bonzi, and nothing really added over the TDOS. Other teams improved over the TDOS, at least on paper. We've got potential but who knows how long it will take to realize.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I assume you are referring to a first round and out dismissal from the playoffs during which our frontline was exposed as completely pathetic? And from which we lost both our best player, and maybe sole reason we were not swept, as well as the super experienced coach who had made the playoffs 14 of 16 years and replaced them with a player who has career averages of 5pts on 40% shooting and a coach who's never seen .500 in the NBA?
Viking
Starter
I don't know, I honestly don't feel good about the Kings this year. (Reasonable to me, at least, when we lose Bonzi AND overpay for John F. Salmons...) Will I still watch every game I can though? Absolutely!
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KingKong
Starter
It's not that I could care less about making the playoffs, obviously i wouldn't want us to regress as a team. However, I don't think we have addressed any our weaknesses, which could largely be due to financial issues or opportunites that are just not there yet. Either way, i'll be happy if we make the playoffs, but we are still a few years (and possibly a superstar) away from getting back to being an elite team. I think Brick is starting to rub off on me.
uolj
Starter
I agree with you about those things, and would also add that last year this team had a collection of talented players but a few holes and would have missed the playoffs then if not for the midseason turnaround.
However, those things don't mean that it won't be disappointing if the Kings miss the playoffs. They did have the fifth or sixth best record over the second half or so of the season with almost the same team (I assume that's what moradi420 was referring to). Wells was injured over a lot of that time, so losing him doesn't dismiss that history. The loss of Adelman is certainly a factor, but a decent coach should still be able to get this team to perform in the top 8 in the conference.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
If I had to bet my life on it I would actually go with us making the playoffs rather than not. That said there are no weak links in the conference this year, other than Portland (who improved on paper too, but just should have no chance).
As for our coach -- I was fine with the Muss hire given the circumstances, but here are the coaches of the teams that Eric Musselman, proud owner of two losing seasons as an NBA coach, will be competing with to get into the playoffs (I am going to omit the Spurs, Mavs and Suns all of whom I assume will be there):
Lakers -- Phil Jackson, 800+ career wins, the lord of the rings with 9 titles
Clippers -- Mike Dunleavy, 500+ career wins, been to the NBA Finals once, WCF once
Hornets -- Byron Scott, been to the Finals twice
Rockets -- Jeff Van Gundy, been to the Finals once
Warriors -- Don Nelson, 2nd all time winningest coach, been to the WCF and ECF a number of times
Nuggets -- George Karl, 700+ career wins been to the Finals once, ECF and WCF
Jazz -- Jerry Sloan, 5th all time winningest coach, been to the Finals twice
Grizzlies -- Mike Fratello, 600+ career wins, been to at least one ECF
Sonics -- Bob Hill, been to a WCF
I mean, wow. Its a freaking murderer's row there. In the entire Western Conference Muss can only compare experience wise with two coahces -- Don Casey in Minnesota, and Nate McMillan in Portland. Other than that, we fired the guy who had the comparable resume to all of the above and knew how to make it to the postseason as a matter of course. For Muss we are going to be asking him to set numerous personal bests as an NBA coach in a year in which 14 of the 15 Western Conference teams have legit playoff hopes.
P.S. As for the end of last season, mentioned numerous times that rarely carries over. New season, new coach, teams will be prepared, and the long grind is different from a short sprint. It is of course the only reason we have a shot at all, but its nothing you can count on.
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Londonking
Believer
I voted as 'disappointed'.
Its clear that The West is going to be a tough conference and we certainly arent as strong at PF as I think a lot of the fans (myself included) would like us to be. However, I do think we can be contenders for a play-off spot.
So im not taking it for granted that we will automatically finish in the top eight (as i would for the three teams Brick mentioned as his automatic playoff teams), but do i think we have the potential ?absolutely.
Maybe the Kings will prove an example where the team combination of Artest, Bibby, Martin, Miller and SAR collectively achieve more than you might pencil in their individual talents justifying.
Will i be willing us all the way ? - you bet !
Go Kings !
Its clear that The West is going to be a tough conference and we certainly arent as strong at PF as I think a lot of the fans (myself included) would like us to be. However, I do think we can be contenders for a play-off spot.
So im not taking it for granted that we will automatically finish in the top eight (as i would for the three teams Brick mentioned as his automatic playoff teams), but do i think we have the potential ?absolutely.
Maybe the Kings will prove an example where the team combination of Artest, Bibby, Martin, Miller and SAR collectively achieve more than you might pencil in their individual talents justifying.
Will i be willing us all the way ? - you bet !
Go Kings !
bibbinator
Bench
We need to get incredible mileage out of our bigs to contend. Miller and SAR need to have standout seasons as do our Woods and Admundson. I don't see it happening this year.
Miller's shooting percentage could turn out to be our critical statistic. If Miller is making his shots it will open up the key and make some nice opportunities for our slashers. If he balks his shots away we're in trouble.
Miller's shooting percentage could turn out to be our critical statistic. If Miller is making his shots it will open up the key and make some nice opportunities for our slashers. If he balks his shots away we're in trouble.
uolj
Starter
The one thing that I personally am probably underestimating is the quality of the other western conference teams. And while we are likely pretty close in our assessment of the meaning of the winning in the second half of last season, I think the reason it is relevant is because it shows that this team can and should win games. Thinking it means the Kings will have the fifth or sixth best record in the league for the full season is a bit far-fetched, but I believe that it is a pretty good indicator that the Kings should win more than they lose this year (and make the playoffs), and anything less would be a disappointment.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I think that is always the thing that happens that results in fans of all 30 teams thinking their team is a lock for the playoffs every year. Watch a lot more of your own team than the rest of the league, get wrapped up intheir stories, their potential, and the rest of the league sneaks on by.
In any case, legitimately, ignoring the fact everybody improving is highly unlikely barring an historic squashing of the Eastern Conference, almost every team in the West has a solid reason it feels it is going to the postseason, yet only half are:
Spurs -- won 63, made only cosmetic changes, should win 55+
Mavs -- won 60, made only cosmetic changes, should win 55+
Suns -- won 54 (despite crippling injuries), get back Amare + Kurt + added Banks, expecting to win more
Clippers -- won 47, get back Maggette for the full year, expecting to win more
Lakers -- won 44, added Radmanovic, expecting to win more
Seattle -- won 35, but were over .500 after the All-Star break + with Wilcox, brought everybody back, expecting to win more (40+)
Utah -- won 41, get Boozer back for a full season + added Fisher, expecting to win more
Denver -- won 44, get Nene back, added JRSmith at OG, and Joe Smith up front (cost of Patterson), expecting to win mroe
Houston -- won 34, but get TMac back, added Battier, and might add Bonzi, Yao was huge down the stretch, expecting to win much more (and were #6 seed two years ago with health)
Golden State -- won 34, and then brought in Don Nelson, who's only made the playoffs 17 times, expectign to win more
Minnesota -- won 33, added Mike James and Randy Foye as their new backcourt, to team with Ricky Davis and KG. Expecting to win more.
New Orleans -- won 38, added Peja, Chandler and Bobby, as well as several shotblocking rooks, for Claxton and old PJ Brown. Expectign to win considerably more.
Memphis -- won 49, swapped Battier and Wright for Swift and Gay. Depends on how Gay works out, but likely thinking that as the #5 seed last year even if they slip a little, they still make it
Portland -- won 21, added Lamarcus Aldridge, Raef LaFrentz and Jamaal Magliore to Joel Pryzbilla, Zach Randolph and Darius Miles to form biggest frontcourt in the league, added Roye as the new OG. EWxpecting to win more.
And us of course. Won 44. Lost Bonzi and 700 win coach, but finished last season with a rush.
In any case, by my count no less than 14 of the 15 teams legitimately have arguments why they should win 40+ this year. Its not about having a lot of great teams, but about tremendous, ridiculous depth. EVERYBODY is thinking they are a playoff contender this year, and they may all be right. Wrong year to have a poor offseason. Very easy to get passed up.
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thedofd
Bench
The Kings could be in the same ballpark, record-wise, as last year and not make it. Of the teams that finished above them in the Western Conference last year, I'd have to say that only Memphis (with Gasol's injury) have taken a major step backward.
Of the teams that finished below the Kings, the Warriors should improve because of Nellie, the Jazz and Rockets are due for some luck in the injury department, and the Hornets made some significant moves.
Although Bonzi's gone, I still like the Kings' starting lineup. Brad isn't Shaq, but he's still in the upper echelon of NBA centers. Bibby has spent a lot of time on his body this offseason, according to the Bee. We all saw Artest's impact; we all, I'm sure, look forward to seeing him with a training camp under his belt (and pray that he'll stay under control). Shareef/KT are functional. Martin has lots of potential.
They're a ways away from being in the full rebuild mode, in my book.
But the Kings' depth is mainly unproven and the same things we've all acknowledged in the last several years -- lack of an inside presence, lack of overall toughness (yes, we'll miss Bonzi in that regard), lack of athleticism -- are still a concern.
While Adelman will also be missed for all the reasons that have been discussed here, perhaps an increased attention to detail on defense under Muss and better situational substitutions in close games will make make it a wash.
Of the teams that finished below the Kings, the Warriors should improve because of Nellie, the Jazz and Rockets are due for some luck in the injury department, and the Hornets made some significant moves.
Although Bonzi's gone, I still like the Kings' starting lineup. Brad isn't Shaq, but he's still in the upper echelon of NBA centers. Bibby has spent a lot of time on his body this offseason, according to the Bee. We all saw Artest's impact; we all, I'm sure, look forward to seeing him with a training camp under his belt (and pray that he'll stay under control). Shareef/KT are functional. Martin has lots of potential.
They're a ways away from being in the full rebuild mode, in my book.
But the Kings' depth is mainly unproven and the same things we've all acknowledged in the last several years -- lack of an inside presence, lack of overall toughness (yes, we'll miss Bonzi in that regard), lack of athleticism -- are still a concern.
While Adelman will also be missed for all the reasons that have been discussed here, perhaps an increased attention to detail on defense under Muss and better situational substitutions in close games will make make it a wash.
uolj
Starter
Maybe true, although in my case I doubt it. I never watch or do much following of any other teams in the league, and I have been charged with being pessimistic about the Kings as often as I have been called optimistic.
(Not unlike several of the senior members here.)And by the way, I don't think I ever said nor meant the Kings were a lock for the playoffs. The point is that they should probably be there, and I know you agree.
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