Sacramento Kings
2008-09 Record: 17-65
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Tyreke Evans
SG- Kevin Martin
SF- Andres Nocioni
PF- Jason Thompson
C- Spencer Hawes
Key Reserves: Omri Casspi, Donte Green, Desmond Mason, Sean May, Sergio Rodriguez
Biggest Strength: Wing scoring
Tyreke and Martin will be shooting and scoring a lot – more than anyone else. Martin does so at a very efficient rate. Evans that’s to be determined. Add to the mix Nocioni and the Kings are actually pretty good in this area. They also went out and got a young point guard in Sergio Rodriquez who has some potential, especially in an up-tempo offense.
Biggest Weakness: Defense
Worst defensive team in the NBA last season. I really don’t know who on this team can defend. Their backcourt can’t and their front court is rather soft. Their only hope may be in the toughness of Nocioni, Casspi and Jon Brockman and then rely on Desmond Mason to play tough D on the perimeter. But that’s a stretch and Paul Westphal isn’t really known as a defensive minded coach.
Key Player: Tyreke Evans
I was tempted to put N/A. I mean we are talking about one of, if not the worst team in the league. No one is really “key” to anything positive. I went with Evans because he has a chance to be the rookie of the year and a really dynamic player along side Martin. They can form a really tough backcourt offensively immediately.
Biggest Question: Should this be the next team to go back to it’s graphic roots?
I’ve mentioned this for a couple teams so far in this preview. With the Sixers returning to their older, and better, logo and uniforms, should other teams follow the trend? Near the top of that list would be Kings, who are currently sporting this look. This is one those logos that was cool during the 90s, and then quickly looked out-dated. Meanwhile, their old look, is classy, simple and could be tweaked slightly and become really, really sweet. Once they get a new franchise player, they should consider re-vamping their look.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: Oscar Robertson, 1961-62
30.5 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 11.4 apg
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 5th place, Pacific division / 15th place, Western conference / 29th place, NBA
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 5th place, Pacific division / 15th place, Western conference / 30th place, NBA
My worst team in the NBA. They might be able to score some points with Evans, Martin and Jason Thompson but it won’t be enough to make up for their defense which again will be the worst in the NBA.
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I actually think they have addressed their softness issue somewhat in the past 2 seasons adding Nucioni,Casspi, May and Evans[over Udrih] but it is tough to become a consistant team when your star [Martin] misses so many games. Thompson had some big preseason games and like our J.Smith [weak college competition] may take a little longer to catch up at this level.
Greatest strength(s):
-Offense
-Athleticism is added
-The fans (when it is sold out and they are great fans!!)
Kevin Martin, someone a team could revolve under
Biggest weakness(es):
-Their identity (Are they a fastbreak team or a half-court team?)
-The fans (when it is not sold out!!)
-turnover prone
Like you said:
-defensively they are shaky
-they do lack ball movement (Where on Earth are those cowbells and THAT ball movement? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLmJfOf3Vag&feature=related )
Nothing much to report about the Kings. Just another lottery bound season. Only head coach Paul Westphal is the only interesting factor with this team.
With that said, the Kings will be 5th in the Pacific, 15th in the West.
(On a side note, the Sixers will sweep the Kings (2-0). They will be just too much for the Kings, but look for Paul Westphal’s uptempo style to at least make things interesting though.)
Also, Bobby Jackson will retire this season!