Highs and Lows: Sacramento Kings
Francisco Garcia, Dime #22NBA training camps start up in a couple weeks. In the meantime, we’re going team-by-team, from 1 to 30, exploring what each team’s ceiling is for the upcoming season and where their basement is. In other words, what are the realistic best-case and worst-case scenarios for each squad?
Additions: C/PF Jason Thompson, SF Donte Greene, PG Bobby Jackson, PG Bobby Brown.
Losses: SF Ron Artest, PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim, PG Anthony Johnson.
Ceiling: An even-.500 Lottery team
Even though Arco Arena doesn’t rock today like it did back in the C-Webb/Vlade era, the Kings do have a distinct home court advantage there. Last season Sacramento posted a better home record than five playoff teams — Orlando, Philly, Atlanta, Washington and Toronto — pulling out home wins against the Pistons, Spurs, Rockets (twice), Jazz (twice), Magic, Mavs and Hornets (twice) along the way. If nothing else, the Kings should be able to put points on the board: Kevin Martin’s efficiently confusing way of getting buckets will buy them a few wins where he kills opponents by himself; Brad Miller’s shooting and passing ability played a big role in Sacramento finishing eighth in the NBA in points per game last year (102.5); Beno Udrih seemed to grasp coach Reggie Theus‘ system pretty quickly and now has the added confidence that a long-term contract affords; Francisco Garcia, John Salmons, Donte Greene, Bobby Jackson and Quincy Douby won’t be shy about firing up shots; and ideally, young bigs Spencer Hawes and Lottery pick Jason Thompson provide some kind of low-post production.
Basement: Worst in the West
If the Artest trade turned the Rockets a legit contender, it subsequently turned the Kings into a potential 20-win team who will be paying more attention to the NCAA Tournament next spring than the NBA playoffs. Sacramento gave up its best all-around player for a reserve (Jackson) and a rookie (Greene), getting weaker defensively when they already ranked 23rd in the NBA in points-allowed last season (104.7). And as much as the perimeter D will suffer without Artest, the only thing preventing the Kings from getting routinely eviscerated in the post is the 6-foot-11 rookie Thompson — a two-time MAAC Defensive P.O.Y. — hopefully being as good as advertised, and Shelden Williams suddenly finding his NBA niche and regaining “Landlord” status in a pressure-free situation. It’s clearly rebuilding time for this franchise, and while it looks like the front office is trying to clear as much cap space as possible for the much-anticipated Summer of 2010 (would LeBron, D-Wade or Bosh ever consider going to Sacramento?), in the meantime this is Kevin Martin’s show. But they’re not making his job easy at all.
‘08-09 NBA preview archives
9/22 — Miami Heat
9/19 — Portland Trail Blazers
9/18 — New Jersey Nets
9/17 — Minnesota Timberwolves
9/16 — Cleveland Cavaliers
9/15 — Phoenix Suns
9/12 — Milwaukee Bucks
9/11 — L.A. Clippers
9/10 — Orlando Magic
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
justice says:
they suck
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
P.C Peace says:
cmon dime, y’all got francisco garcia looking like the “Bishop Don Magic Juan” up in here, and y’all gave the dude but a minute… where is K-Mart?
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 am
Brown says:
@ P.C Peace
Have you ever seen Bishop Don Magic Juan???? Garcia doesn’t look remotely like him in that pic. He’s wearing a classy suit, not something loud and colourful with gaudy jewellery.
I have no idea where that comparison came from….is there a reason your initials are PCP? Put the pipe down.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:43 am
Jon says:
They aren’t better than the Bucks and they play in the West.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Michorizo says:
Is K-Mart a first or second option on offense…I understand he is number one on the team now, but wouldn’t he be better suited to play as the number 2 scorer on the team?… I like Jason Thompson and Donte Green.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 am
English Off The Glass says:
The fact that this was meant to be a post discussing the Kings, and in 3 posts it turned into a look-a-like contest with absoloutely NO reference to the Kings whatso ever except for ‘they suck’ is a good example of what the kings bring to the NBA.
noone knows how well they will do, but noone cares, either. At least Artest sold a few jerseys. Who wants a Francisco Garcia jersey? even Francisco Garcia doesnt want to wear a Francisco Garcia jersey.
I’m out like any kind of conversation involving Sacramento.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 am
P.C Peace says:
the whole bishop idea was because dude is looking fresh and pimpin … that was all … and the point of the whole post was that his pic is up and he only gets a second of face time … no offense
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
P.C Peace says:
oh, and that was me , pipe in hand and all lol
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
P.C Peace says:
oh, and that was me , pipe in hand and all lol
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Kobeef says:
It is say to say the Landlord has been evicted from the low post in all NBA settings. His offense is Big-Ben- esque and because he plays against guys bigger than him in the NBA his defense should earn him the name “doormat”.
But the real question is how did this guy tie-up Candace?
Brad Miller should be traded before mid-season to a playoff contender in need of a vetran low-post presence….Dallas? San-Antonio (the sibling towers)? Boston?
The future of this team is Martin and the rest is TBD.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Ian says:
kobeef
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 am
Ian says:
i wouldnt mind seein brad miller in a spurs uniform
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 am
Willis says:
fuck all the haters especially justice
anyway if yall think Artest was worth 18 wins then yall are whack. He missed like 20 games last season, and the guys still finished with 38 wins. Artest didnt play in at least 10 of those. There is no way the Kings are gonna be worst team in the west, especially with Memphis, Minnesota, and OKC in there too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they finished better than the Warriors and the Nuggets and maybe the Clippers. This team could surprise a lot of people and win around 40 games. They finished 4 games behind Portland last year. 4.
There ceiling is sneaking in as an eight seed and rock bottom in around 25-30 wins.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 am
Jason Thompson says:
I’m gonna be rookie of the year
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Michorizo says:
Kings will not sneak in for the eighth seed … Don’t get your hopes up to high
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Kudabeen says:
So Long Shareef:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaf2qaVQx-g
Not Spectacular, but effective and professional.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:09 pm
s.bucketz says:
i wood hav to think some players wood wanna go play for sacto..the maloofs are good owners theyll throw the money at you plus they basically run vegas…plus if the team gets it going you already know thers a huge fanbase there
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
JoeCozi says:
All we have to do is show a pic of our high times purple trees we got out here and the whole league will want to play for sac!!! best trees in america’s in northern cali…
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
nick says:
The Kings did a great job of getting rid of some huge problems. The chemistry will be great. The team will be strong. This is going to be another rebuilding year, but I think the Kings are going to suprise alot of teams. My best-case scenario is seventh seed (yup, i said it). I think by 2010 they will be a top five team in league. As crazy as that sounds, there are alot of good things going on right now in Sacramento-Land. Wait and see.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
David Brandon says:
nick, i like how you rock man. lol
its gonna be a really weird year for us b/c we went from killin’ the League to just being mediocre. very mediocre. the ron artest trade wasnt so much based on his defense and the offense he did bring as it was for a move to improve the team chemistry. i like ron a lot, but it just wasnt the best fit. i’m still looking forward to this season tho….it should be fun regardless. its still hoop. and hey, at least we still have a team!
sorry, austin…. lol