The Kings have missed the playoffs for six straight seasons and it doesn't look like this will be the year that they get over the hump. Sacramento has improved its roster with a few offseason acquisitions including point guard Aaron Brooks, who is back in the NBA after he spent the lockout-shortened season playing over seas in China. He is a former Most Improved Player and will compete for a starting position.
The Kings drafted Thomas Robinson number five overall from Kansas and the 6-foot-10 power forward should contribute very quickly. He has NBA size and strength. Combining Robinson, Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins will eventually give the Kings one of the NBA's best rotations of big men.
If Tyreke Evans returns to the player he was as a rookie, the Kings have a legitimate chance at sneaking into the playoffs as the eighth seed in the West. In 2010, Evans averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 assist and 5.3 rebounds.
The starting five should consist of Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Thornton, Tyreke Evans, Thompson and Cousins. The bench will have Aaron Brooks,Thomas Robinson, Travis Outlaw, Jimmer Fredette, Francisco Garcia, Chuck Hayes, John Salmons and James Johnson.
According to NBA 2K13, the Kings will end the season in last place in the Pacific division. Cousins ends the season as a top-five rebounder and averages nearly two blocks a game. Evans also has a good seasons averaging nearly 23 point per game to for the first few months of the season but eventually injuries slow down his game and he ends the season averaging just over 17 points per game.
The real bad news for the Kings is that they lose Thompson and Thomas to season ending injuries early in the season. The injuries severely weaken Sacramento's bench. The bright spot is that Robinson has an outstanding rookie season as a rebounder averaging nearly ten rebounds per game. He also scores around 13 point a contest.
Here is how the game simulates the Kings' season:
Regular Season Record: 28-54 tied for last place in the Western Conference
Top scorers: PG Aaron Brooks 15.1 PPG, SG Tyreke Evans 17.3 PPG, C DeMarcus Cousins 18.4 PPG
Leading rebounders: SG Tyreke Evans 4.9 RPG, PF Thomas Robinson 9.6 RPG, C DeMarcus Cousins 10.9 RPG
Assist Leader PF Thomas Robinson 2.7 APG, SG Tyreke Evans 5.5 APG, PG Aaron Brooks 6.3 APG
Playoff Opponents
Round 1: Did not qualify
Round 2: Did not qualify
Conference Finals: Did not qualify
NBA Finals: Did not qualify
You can check out our review of the game here and read about Jeremy Lin's player rating here.
Check out the entire NBA 2K13 team previews below:
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Sacramento Kings
