Comments on: What To Expect When You’re Expecting

By: harjot

harjot — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:03:30 +0000

I think that the kings will do better this season maybe not 27 wins but in the 20′s. Maybe in a few years (if the grow a lot from now to then) the kings could be up to the status of the 2002 season, the team everyone feared even the powerful lakers feared.
Bear with me on the spelling.
PG: mike bibby
SG: doug christie
SF: peja stojakvic
PF: Chris Webber
C: Clade Devoc

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:19:04 +0000

Yeah you are an optimist. The kings do have a chance to win 10 games, but i don’t think the rookies will have that much to do with it. Lets remember that the NBA and summer league are totally different. Evans is not going to be the say all end all of the kings. The only shot that the Kings have of improving is making Kevin Martin at least a Brandon Roy caliber player, and right now maybe due to injuries he is just a scorer. Evans I will admit did look great in summer league, but so did Donte Greene when he was there. I believe Greene scored 40 pts in summer league, but don’t quote me. Right now I believe its up to Martin where he wants to take this team. He with no question is the kings star, and if he wants to win he has to step up and be a leader. Sure the improvement of the front court will also be a big help, but i dont think thats gonna happen till 2011. Wat the kings need right now is a veteran big man that knows how to win games. Where you find one is another question. Until they do i still think they may improve 3 maybe 4 games. lets not forget they on in the wild west, and with teams like the clippers, golden state, the timberwolves, mavericks, spurs…i think i might be easier to say which teams didn’t get better in the west, thunder, grizzlies, jazz, and rockets(only because yao is out). On top of that the east is always climbing up the food chain. So lets really realistic, even with Nocioni, Evans, and maybe Rodriguez, they’ll only win 4 maybe 5 more games.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:53:59 +0000

You are an idiot…the kings will only win 4 games TOTAL next year! They suck

By: pookeyguru

pookeyguru — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:37:21 +0000

Nice Zach. I see you’re an optimist which is probably a good thing in your particular case. (But, usually an optimist is when you have a personal stake in it.)

On the other hand, I’m not an optimist. This team isn’t that good, and unless Jason Thompson becomes a more versatile player than he showed in Summer League (and he has a ways to go to become a legitimate C that the team honestly believes, and should expect, that he can be), it’s going to be difficult for this team to overcome lack of quality depth up front.

On the other hand, you have Donte Greene, Omri Casspi, and Jon Brockman. I think 2 of those 3 will absolutely pan out (I’m betting it’s Greene and Casspi solely because 1st rounders are always going to have a better chance), but it could happen that all 3 do eventually pan out. I’m not holding my breath though.

As far as how I think this team will do? I’ll be ecstatic if they don’t lose by 45 points to Boston at home and by 48 points to Phoenix on the road like last season. Less blowouts, more competiveness, and more intelligent play would just be swell. I’m a glass half full guy.

Good stuff Zach.

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:27:14 +0000

@Mike
I think that’s a great point. Team basketball is where they’ll be successful. Assuming that Tyreke Evans isn’t an absolute world-beater from the get-go, he’ll have to grown into his role as the best player on the team. And the only way to properly do that while helping the team improve is if everyone is playing team ball.

There isn’t a Vlade anymore nor a Brad but I think they can make up for that with their youth. Something this city hasn’t seen in a long time is youthful exuberance on the basketball court in a team-wide sense. Personally, I think a year or two of that can invigorate the city and the fan base, especially if they’re getting better year by year as a team. I think it’s a really exciting time to follow this team because there’s something special about watching a young team grow.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:14:55 +0000

Good analysis…

I think it is reasonable to see at minimum a 10 game improvement. The real test will be the team dynamic. If the game devolves into each player out for their own points then there isn’t likely to be much improvement. If Tyreke passes willingly and sets that tone for the team we could see better than what you predict.

It is going to come down to who will fill the role of making everybody better. Brad Miller is gone and I am not sure if anybody on the roster can be as unselfish as he became. There is no Vlade to teach the intangibles anymore.

Kings basketball is team basketball. It is the reason I started watching the games. Seeing those guys have so much fun enjoying success together, in stark contrast to ball hog types like Kobe, was what made the Kings good. Can they re–capture that essence? I hope so.

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:09:59 +0000

@Drew Thanks. I think the important thing to remember is that it will be a process to get back to the playoffs. But that's something that can happen in two years. It's unlikely to go from 17 wins to 45 in one off-season. But you can make an initial and modest leap this season and then be ready to make a bigger leap with another lottery pick and some possible free agency help the year after.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:00:50 +0000

Great article, Mr. Harper. I have some optimism now.