Playoffs? Um...

by Tom Ziller on Dec 22, 2007 8:16 AM PST in Commentary

John Salmons thinks the Kings have "a good chance" to make the playoffs. Reggie Theus says the team "realistically has a shot." Ron Artest, of course, has maintained since October this team would play into May.

The Trail Blazers have won 10 straight. They are barely in as the 8th seed. Utah and Houston are on the outside. And the Kings have a realistic chance to jump into the conversation because they went 3-2 on a road trip? It's nice to dream, but...

Hey, if the Kings can go 3-1 or 4-0 on this homestand (Denver, Boston, Philadelphia and Phoenix), I'll jump on the bandwagon. I'm just a bit worried about overrating a gutsy but incomplete team at this point.

(Cue Brother Hedo. I'm a defeatist, and I'm sorry.)

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Forget the playoffs..

Let's talk about:

Getting back to .500
Getting key players healthy
Winning ONE division game

Until 2 of 3 of those happen, we're joking.

Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Dec 22, 2007 10:02 AM PST reply actions

Which reminds me...

The Kings record vs. Eastern Conference:

6-3

The Kings record vs. Western Conference:

5-11

I'd feel good too if I was just on an East Coast road trip.

Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Dec 22, 2007 10:03 AM PST up reply actions

Thanx for pointing that out

I meant to say something like that, and totally forgot, then was relieved to see that someone else noticed it also. It's been bugging me this team hasn't beaten anybody in the division, and lost a ton of games in the conference already.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 23, 2007 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

There is only one injured player.

Louis needs to check his grammar. It's key PLAYER not players.

Kevin Martin absolutely needs to be their for us. I would love to have the Kings sneak into the eighth spot and see how we match up against San Antonio, Dallas or Phoenix, but I want to see K-Mart back, ASAP.

The Sacramento Kings: Where Amazing Happens!

by kingme18 on Dec 22, 2007 10:32 AM PST reply actions

Hmm...

I assume that's a slam on Bibby?

Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Dec 22, 2007 11:14 AM PST up reply actions

Not a bad assumption

Technically Shareef as well...

I don't have anything against the play of Mike Bibby but when you have Beno Udrih + rebuilding stage + Bibby who could be valuable to a team that has expectations for playoff success=

TRADING MIKE BIBBY:

If we can get a rebounding big man, a draft pick... YOU DO IT.

The Sacramento Kings: Where Amazing Happens!

by kingme18 on Dec 22, 2007 1:17 PM PST up reply actions

Perspective

This team is absolutely exceeding expectations right now. At the beginning of the season all we wanted was hard nosed play and maybe a little protection of the home floor. Well, that is occuring, so as fans we jump to the next step - playoffs. Proceed with caution.

The 3 teams that the Kings beat on the last road trip are the 9th (Phl), 10th (Mil) and 12th (NJ) worst teams by record in the NBA, combining year to date for a 31-46 record. The Kings have the 13th worst record. That being said -

A 3 out of 5 east coast road trip is fantastic no matter who you play, and even more impressive when you are 0-9 on the road prior to the trip. That being said -

There is a huge difference between battling for the last playoff spot and actually securing the last playoff spot. And I mention that because -

It is once again very likely that a .500 team from the west will fail to make the playoffs. And lest we've forgotten -

San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, New Orleans, LA Lakers, Golden State, Portland, Houston and Utah are all in front of us right now. Care to pick the three teams that we are going to leap frog? But, I must say -

I love the fact that the players on this team think that they can make the playoffs, and I really love the fact that so many of these guys are pissy and miserable after a loss. Bodes well for the future.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 22, 2007 10:55 AM PST reply actions

Playoff Talk

Honestly, the playoffs may sound good but I don't think it'd kill any RATIONAL Kings fan if they didn't make the playoffs.

The Sacramento Kings: Where Amazing Happens!

by kingme18 on Dec 22, 2007 1:19 PM PST up reply actions

No,

but it would kill any Kings fan I'm interested in associating with.

by Michael Beasley on Dec 22, 2007 7:07 PM PST up reply actions

I guess I'm dead to you then

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 22, 2007 9:32 PM PST up reply actions

I'm dead to you too

It would kill any Kings fan you're interested in associating with, if we miss the playoffs?

Either you have no friends anymore, or you just became a Kings fan this past July.

I'm glad I'm not your kind of Kings fan, I'd have killed myself back in the mid 80s.

What it comes down to for me is, would I rather be in a Nuggets fan's shoes or a Blazers fan's shoes right now? Nuggets have been to the playoffs the last 4 years, Blazers have missed the last 4 years.

I'd much rather be a Blazers fan, nice young core of blossoming talent, vs a solid playoff team that as far as I'm concerned will peak soon or has peaked in the 4-5 seed 1st-2nd round exit range.

And if I were a Blazers fan, it wouldn't hurt me if they missed the playoffs this year.

by Kfan in Korea on Dec 23, 2007 1:00 AM PST up reply actions

Hold on

There are NO other Kings fans who are rooting for this team to reach the playoffs? That's a strong claim and, if true, a sad statement about our fanbase. I think I've written this post before, so I won't delve into the psychological impossibility (for me) of hoping my team misses the playoffs. But I will say I'm pretty proud of it. And the whole "anyone who disagrees with me must not be a serious Kings fan" angle is pretty lame and beneath the dignity of this site.

by Michael Beasley on Dec 23, 2007 11:17 AM PST up reply actions

There is a large difference between

expecting a team to make the playoffs and not believing that goal is attainable for the same team in any given year.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 23, 2007 11:19 AM PST up reply actions

There is also a large difference between

expecting a team to make the playoffs and hoping that they will.

by Michael Beasley on Dec 23, 2007 12:52 PM PST up reply actions

Indeed

If you wish to say that I don't want the team to make the playoffs is dumb. I wish they could. It's just the chances are high. They haven't been healthy enough to take advantage of their easier schedule (than houston). So in that vein am I supposed to get excited about a 3-2 road trip with wins against a team with some very serious flaws? Sorry, doesn't work for me. I'm not interested in keeping Bibby or Artest to make the 8th playoff spot, possible or not. If that's defeatist, or against competitive spirit, than I'm a defeatist soundly against competitive spirit.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 23, 2007 1:00 PM PST up reply actions

the chances aren't high^

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 23, 2007 1:00 PM PST up reply actions

More Power to You

If you don't want to get excited, don't get excited. As a Kings fan, past trauma certainly justifies you in not wanting to get your hopes up. All I'm saying is, I'm part of the crowd that DOES get excited over relatively insignificant 3-2 road trips. That's not being unrealistic, that's looking for any reason to believe.

We're just different, that's all.

by Michael Beasley on Dec 23, 2007 1:29 PM PST up reply actions

The level of excitement

Good conversation. It made me realize that I am indeed very excited about this team, but the playoffs have not really entered into my thinking yet.

I'm excited because Martin (before the injury) and Salmons are playing well past expectations, Miller and Garcia are at least meeting expectations, and Udrih is a pure bonus. Moore does some things well (some things not), and I have not had to watch K9(woof!) too much. And Artest seems to be getting a better grip on his offensive role. The team is competing and Theus is doing a lot of things well for a first year coach. My only disappointments so far are 3-Wil's lack of playing time (the leave of absence hurt him) and Douby's offensive struggles. Well, and that we have not dealt Bibby yet.

That's more than enough to fire up this King's fan. I won't start stoking my fire with playoff thoughts until after the trade deadline.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 23, 2007 3:06 PM PST up reply actions

I'll get excited about the playoffs

IF bibby and artest are traded. Not if their kept to either A) raise trade value or B) an attempt to make the playoffs as a low playoff seed.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 23, 2007 8:26 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think I ever said that.

Of course I'm rooting for the Kings to reach the playoffs. I never hope they'll lose a game.

I said it wouldn't kill me if they miss the playoffs. Huge difference. I don't expect to make the playoffs this year, and it would probably be better for the long term rebuilding if we didn't. Again that doesn't mean I don't get excited and nervous and hope we win every game.

Where I think we may differ is that I would make a trade/trades that would hurt our chances this year, in order to improve our chances over the next few years.

If I implied that you aren't a serious Kings fan because you disagree with me, that wasn't my intention. I was just joking about the "it would kill any Kings fan.." comment(ie. all your friends would be dead).

There were many years where the playoffs were a pipe dream. During that time just making the playoffs was a worthy goal.

I don't think this season is even close to those times. We're not that far removed from having a contender, and for me having a contender again is and should be the goal.

I don't expect us to make the playoffs this year, I also don't advocate hanging on to pieces that are not part of the future, at the expense of developing our youth, just to make a run at the 8th seed.

But I'd love to see a lineup of Beno, Kmart, Salmons, Moore, Miller with Cisco, Hawes, Douby off the bench, (with a couple of draft picks in the bank, maybe a prospect and cap space), make a run at the post season. That's what I'd love to see.

by Kfan in Korea on Dec 23, 2007 3:10 PM PST up reply actions

Well put Kfan--Because I can't find something

in your statement I really disagree with.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 23, 2007 8:24 PM PST up reply actions

Playoffs

The likely range of wins for the Kings this year is probably somewhere between 35 (if we play .400 ball the rest of the way) and 45 (if we play .600 ball the rest of the way), and it will take that upper range or close to make the playoffs.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Dec 22, 2007 2:23 PM PST reply actions

good prediction

Given the current make up of this team, I think the 35 - 40 win prediction is about spot on. Doesn't mean they can't or won't keep overachieving; but given the strength of the West and our lack of punch at the 4 and a center that does not inspire much fear around the basket offensively or defensively - (yes, I agree Brad is playing his ass off right now, but he is still a jumpshooting, passing Point Center) - , I find it unlikely that we can surpass the .500 mark and stay there. At this point, the current squad is a 10 - 12 team in the West. A fun, energetic, hustling, scrappy squad no doubt. Just not one quite ready for prime time. Just a couple more pieces, though, and this team is going to pretty darn good. Be patient Kings fans.

by Kusian on Dec 22, 2007 6:43 PM PST up reply actions

You know who would love this team?

Clips fans, Grizzlies fans, T'Wolves fans, Sixers fans, Bucks fans, Nets fans, Knicks fans, Knicks fans, Knicks fans...sorry, Bryant Gumble just said he was "geeked up" over next week's NFL Network game and I lost my train of thought. What a tool.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 22, 2007 8:27 PM PST up reply actions

Kings in the playoffs

The Kings have a realistic shot at the playoffs. Considering an Artest suspension, Bibby and 'Reef injuries. Those are three huge early season setbacks. Salmons, Cisco, and Kmart have picked up the slack. Add a revitalized? Brad Miller and an incredibly huge sign in Beno. Once Bibby and Martin return we have an incredible starting 5 plus a pretty solid bench (minus K9 woof!) I really like our chances at a 7 or 8 spot.

by gtrman1973 on Dec 22, 2007 10:56 PM PST reply actions

Terrible hands

Oh, and teflon hands doesn't begin to describe the incredibly sudsy paws of Moore soap. This is really KILLING me. This guy is starting? Too bad instinct cannot be taught. I can understand why some see him as servicable. Rah Rah, draw a charge, catch a pass close to the basket and dunk. I want to see a Doug Christie bounce pass underneath the legs with a power forward trailing awesome hands catch and dunk. Please tell me this 4 spot is short term.

by gtrman1973 on Dec 22, 2007 11:10 PM PST reply actions