So the experts have predicted for the last 3 months that we are the worst in the West if not the entire league. Their points are: we were the worst last year; our best player isn't a star; we have too many young players no talented veterans; our coach was chosen because he was the cheapest not because he was the best.

These points are all true to an extent. But there are some points not considered that all of us posters are more that happy to point out. They are as follows: we have no place to go but up; Kevin was injured and has never been the real go-to-guy; the veterans were who really led us into the hole last year and our young players have only improved; Westphal has experience, perspective, and hopefully a chip on his shoulder after being in the background for so long.

All valid points. But another way of looking at this is to take a serious hard look at some of the other teams we have the misfortune of competing with for worst in the league. Because I need to be negative, but not about the Kings, as i usually am.

So let's discuss this. First, i think we are much less disfunctional than several of our fellow bottom-dwellers, especially after the movement of some unhappy and sometimes insane (Ron-Ron) veterans.

For example, Golden State. Their strategy has been to mismanage their own players while trying to win games by confusing the other team. I am all for the apositionality movement; i just don't think Nellie should be leading it. Too many lessons not learned. Meanwhile, their Captain has mutinied, their young star crashes mopeds, their most consistent player is Corey Maggete. They have ran out of town the veterans who contributed to their most recent winning season, and the front office has more internal struggles than the coach and players. They are arguably more talented than us, but they have no idea what to do with it. I could see a worse season from them than us. Especially considering we are at least trying to play defense and rebound.

Minnesota has the injury swine flu- a front line of Jefferson and Love would be intriguing, but neither has been able to stay on the court with the other, and both are currently battling injuries already. They traded away their perimeter  scorers, picked someone in the draft who was not only unproven but also a prima donna, and the other draft pick, while a solid player and person, is playing the hardest position in the game. Also, it is freaking cold in Minnesota. Unless Love and Jefferson both play 70 games, they are likely to have a worse record than us.

Memphis. Ha! At least the Warriors admit their disfunction. They have at least 3 players who want 25 shots a game  and the ball in their hands constantly. AI is not a bad guy, and a future HOF, but this was another bad decision by him. Not that he had much choice. Z-Bo will take time and money from other more deserving talents, Gay will sulk, Conley will wish he was the one in Houston and not Lowry, and the owner will trade away one of his young talents to a better team for money. If they actually played hard, they could be in the playoffs. But they won't. Practice? You wanna talk about practice? I think the younger Gasol will be the only good, consistent performer. They may not end up worse then us, but they won't be that much better.

Other teams that might end up worse in the West if some really bad things happen are: Phoenix, who are a Nash or Stoudemire injury away from losing 60 games; Houston, who plays well as a team, and hopefully that is enough because Morey might just have something new and interesting; the Clippers were almost as bad as us last year, and some people think Evans is better than Griffin, even if only on this site; OKC if Bones Durant gets hurt.

I didn't even touch on the East. But potential winners for worst are the Knicks, Detroit, NJ, Milwaukee. My bet is on NY and Detroit to end up with the worst in the East. I actually like Milwaukee, but they won't win much this year. NJ will be better than last year. 

So, are we still planning on being worse? I don't care about John Wall. Besides, Stern wants him in NY. You just watch.