A Royal Pain
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My Predictions On The Sacramento Kings’ Record This Year

By John Kelly

PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 12: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings fights for position against Zach Collins #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers on October 12, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 12: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings fights for position against Zach Collins #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers on October 12, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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How many games do I think the Sacramento Kings will win this upcoming campaign?

Most of us think we could be a great General Manager for the Sacramento Kings, so we take a stab with all our knowledge of the game and predict how many wins they will get this upcoming season.

As a fan like everyone else, I need to know what kind of season to be ready for. A great year means reveling in victories with anyone who cares to join in the celebration. A bad year means bemoaning the collapse of the Kings to anyone who cares to join me. Finding a culprit or an excuse for why the home team failed.

In anticipation of the new season, I predict wins and losses to get a taste of basketball before the real games start. I have a record of being close to the actual wins for each season. So let us see my projections for this year.

How do I determine my projections?

After trial and error, I will break it down into each month. Then I backtrack to each week and then to each game. It works well for me and I am always very close with my predictions. I account for how long the coach and players have been together as a unit and new players that the team acquires during the offseason.

I always throw in a little of “go with my gut” instincts for players whose history show they have improved every year. When the Kings were bringing in eight to ten new guys in a season, I would factor in more losses at the start of the year till guys found their chemistry as a team. Knowing where your teammates like to receive passes and the spots that they prefer to shoot from. All the little things add up when it comes to wins and losses.

My grand total of Wins for the 2018-19 season.

I came to the grand total of 27 wins and 55 losses for the year. I hope the Kings can steal an extra game or two so they can surpass last season’s win total of 27 games. The goal of a rebuilding team is to improve every year. If coach Dave Joerger can get his team to overachieve and hit 30-plus wins, that would secure his chances of keeping his job.

I really had thought the extra time in the gym by many of the Kings players this summer would prove the Vegas oddsmakers wrong. There will be a few players who stand out though, in my opinion. My money is on Iman Shumpert who will play an important role on defense. I also think that Bogdan Bogdanovic along with Buddy Hield will pick up their offensive games to new heights.

The start of the season is going to be rough.

The first two months will be brutal for the Kings. In the first two weeks, the team will be outmatched in talent and experience. The purple and white’s win total in October through November could be as low as four games. This will test the Kings and their fans. The team must play defense for 48 minutes, and on offense, the team must play at a faster pace. It is the biggest advantage they have on their opponents.

Defending the home court is a must for the Kings and their growth this season. After the team and fans weather the tough start, the schedule falls into their favor in December and January.  February will challenge the Kings with teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets. By this time of the season, we will know where the purple and white are at and which direction the Kings are heading.

Final thought on wins and losses

I have said this year is crucial for the Kings to improve their team play. Joerger is known to keep team information in-house, so opening night should display a better Kings team than they showed during preseason.

The Kings’ defense is better this year of staying in front of the ball and switching. They must play quicker and more efficient defense for a full 48 minutes. Joerger knows that defense is the formula to win more games. The offense is never a worry as you can always find a player willing to shoot, but you do not always find players willing to play defense. The defense will define how the Kings’ campaign plays out. It might also define whether Vlade Divac and Joerger will still be with the Kings at the end of the year.

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