2009-2010 Sacramento Kings Preview

2008 Record: 17-65, 5th in Western Conf. Pacific Division
Head Coach: Paul Westphal, 1st season
Key Additions: F Sean May
Key Losses: F Ike Diogu
1st Round Draft Picks: F Omri Casspi, G Tyreke Evans
2nd Round Draft Picks: F Jon Brockman

2008-'09 Kings Review:

On the morning of Nov. 21, 2008, the Kings stood at a so-so but tolerable 5-8. On the evening of Dec. 28, 2008, the agonies of Arco Arena were profoundly pronounced, as the sons of Sac-Town lost at home to the Boston Celtics by an embarrassing 108-63 score. That 45-point humiliation brought Sacramento its 16th loss in 18 games. At 7-24, a season was done and dusted before 2009 came across the calendar. John Salmons--the team's leading scorer for most of the first two months--would soon be wearing a Chicago Bull uniform and dazzling the nation with his heroics against the very same Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. There was nothing much to write home about for a franchise that has lost its way... and a lot of basketball games... in the past few years.

2009-'10 Kings Preview:

This is a year to remake reputations in California's capital city. New coach Paul Westphal, who has done his time at the collegiate level, is back on a pro bench in search of a career revival. Andres Nocioni will try to rediscover the brand of ball that made him a force with the Chicago Bulls a few seasons back. Sean May never felt at home in Charlotte (despite being a national champion at North Carolina), and is looking to jump-start his own journey in Sac-Town. Spencer Hawes, at just 21 years of age, has yet to make an imprint on the league, and newly-acquired Omri Casspi--a native of Israel--will try with all his might to translate his international game to the NBA. The Kings are that motley crew of characters with disparate personalities yet a shared desire to prove the critics wrong. It's not likely that this club will push its way into the playoff picture, but stranger things have happened in the world of sports. If Westy's wanderers can pull together and throw the chips on their shoulders into the poker pot, perhaps the Kings will get the right river card and win a big bet. The odds don't favor the Kings in 2010, but they might just have the audacity to ignore the naysayers and play with the kind of passion that's been missing in Sacramento for too long.

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By Matthew Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer

> View the entire 2009-2010 NBA preview here at ProBasketball-fans.com