With their recent impressive showing against the rockets, perfect home record so far, and the surprise performance of brad "maybe a legit allstar" miller impressive showing. Considering they still have CWebb on the injury list, do you think the Kings are still a legitimate contender for a title this year? or they had their chances, but they already blew them?
Anything is possible for them in my mind. They can blew it terribly in the p-offs or ride through them with ease. Depends on which team they face. Also I think that they will have no problems integrating Chris once he's back giving them a hat's off since this is often problematic for other teams which need like 7 games to get back to rhythm once their "star" player is back. Prediction 1: WC out against Lakers. Prediction 2: Finals 4 : 3 loss to Indy. Prediction 3: Finals 4 : 1 win over Indy.
We probably won't win it this year (and it really hurts to have to admit that), but we're definitely contenders.
I think you just answered your own question there..especially when Cwebb is still on IL. Kings have the best court vision and smarts in the league, one of the reasons they always contend for the ring the past few years now. They have the same core of players througout the years add to it experience and good shooting. Lakers and Kings are still the teams to beat out West simply because they both know how to PASS and make the offense easy, the rockets on the other hand....
pretenders? cmon now. you have to admit there're a talented team. for the past few years, they've been up there. of course they're contenders. no doubt
can't understand why the Kings have dropped off people's radar, sure Divac is a year older, but how much difference does that make anyway, he is still smart, can still pass and can still flop, sure they lost a little depth of there bench in Pollard and i want my undeserved minutes Turkeygloo!!!! but they added Brad Miller (and damn he is playing great, when CWebb comes back they will just have a 3 man rotation at the 4 and 5, so that is plenty of depth) and Peeler and have Wallace wanting more minutes. Peja is better this year, Bibby has an uninterrupted preseason, Bobby is still great value off the bench, Christie does the little things and they still have their best player yet to play. they will contend, as usual
People sure were quick to lump the Kings behind the Lakers, Spurs, Mavs and Wolves into the 5 best team in the West spot. Media always gets so worked up over adding "talent" they never take into account chemistry. Brad Miller while over paid is really fitting in nicely in Sacramento and the team is rolling even with their best player injured in Webber. Their offense is brilliant whereas the Spurs, Mavs, and Wolves are having some chemistry issues with their players that they are trying to work out. The question will be how long will it take for those teams to work through those issues and will they EVER be able to work them out. Kings are contenders if they have everyone healthy. Team chemistry goes a long way.
i had written them off when the season started, but i got to say, after a slow start, brad miller has impressed me. the kings look to be a damn good team, along with the lakers they are the best in the nba right now (especially after the trashing the lakers gave indy last night). man, can't wait until sac and la dukes it out.
so most people seem to think the kings are still contending.. but can their style be really translate into playoff success?? I think that's always the big question about the kings. Granted, they can beat a lot of teams with their style and looking good in so doing.. but what about their interior defense?? When it comes to playoff.. can they play against team with guys like Shaq, duncan, or KG? I am not asking about contending for a good regular season record, but for the championship. Can the Kings win ugly ?
I agree with what the others have said about chemistry. Team chemistry is an important component that analysts often forget about. It is what makes the whole greater than the parts. The Kings have it, while other teams do not. The TWolves have Garnett, Sprewell, Cassell, Olowokandi, Madsen, and other talented players, but as a team, they are struggling. Over in the East, the Bulls have Chandelor, Curry, Crawford, Hinrich and other talented young players, but they do not have much chemistry together.
Can the Kings win ugly? Yes! Although we haven't done it in the WCF yet, we've been battling it out with the Jazz the last few years in some really ugly series where we were unable to play our open style of game and really had to grind it out. More than held our own against the Lakers of two years ago... This year? Who knows... but as you all have mentioned, having the same personnel is a definitely plus, and I really think we can win at either style of basketball if necessary.
