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NBA Predictions: 2014 Sacramento Kings Season Betting Preview

Kings NBA Picks

The Sacramento Kings are a classic example of a team that has procured talent without turning that talent into wins. This franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2005-06 season, and while you shouldn’t expect 2014-15 to be the year that breaks the drought, this could be one of the most entertaining seasons we’ve seen from this group in quite some time.

2014-15 Sacramento Kings
Western Conference
2013-14 Record: 28-54 (17-24 @ Home) .341
Odds to win Title: 250/1
Odds to win Conference: 125/1
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Kings Key Losses

Isaiah Thomas – Isaiah Thomas had a career year in 2013-14, but the Kings let him slip away to the Phoenix Suns. He averaged 20.3 points, 6.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game, and he shot 34.9 percent from downtown in the process.

Kings Top Newcomers

Darren Collison – Darren Collison has seemingly escaped the shadow that comes with being a perpetual backup point guard.

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Although he’s played stints in starting lineups before, his new contract and new team (a team without Isaiah Thomas running the floor general position) need him to prove he’s earning the money he’s making. If he can do that, he’ll be a great pickup.

Nik Stauskas – Nik Stauskas comes to Sacramento via the draft, as he was the eight player chosen –hailing from the University of Michigan. Stauskas is a scorer, and just as importantly, he’s a scorer who can shoot. His role will be to come off the bench early in the year, but if he can put pressure on — and maybe even outperform — Ben McLemore, he could find his way into the starting lineup before the end of the year.

Kings Top Players

DeMarcus Cousins – DeMarcus Cousins has the size and skill set to be the best center in the NBA. In fact, from a statistical standpoint, he’s already making a claim as a top-tier big man in a league that has watched the position fade away in years past.

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The problem is that he seems to have a few screws loose. Keeping a cool head and showing an improvement in maturity are crucial toward becoming a leader, and while we haven’t seen enough to be hopeful just yet, the thought is that a summer with Team USA may have been just what it took.

Rudy Gay – Rudy Gay proved last season that he can be an efficient scorer. That was a foreign thought in years past, so the hope is that his 20.1 points per game on 48.2 percent shooting (after the trade) was a trend and not a fluke.

Kings Strengths

Potential Star Power – DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay have the potential to be All-Stars, and while the former is more likely at this point in their careers, the latter is still a second-tier swingman who can impact both sides of the floor. Then there’s Collison, Stauskas and McLemore. The trick is getting everyone to buy into the team scheme, creating cohesion — something that’s lacked in years past.

Kings Weaknesses

Defense – The good news when it comes to Sacramento’s defense is that 2013-14 was one of the best years we’ve seen from this group in a long time. The bad news is that it was still just 24th in defensive efficiency.

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Because this group doesn’t have much outstanding defensive talent, getting players to buy into the scheme is going to be crucial. That theme will hold true on both ends of the floor, but at least the offense has a number of individual players who make up the difference.

Kings 2014 Betting Prediction

The goal for this team is not to make the playoffs. If it was out East, that might be a different story, but in the Western Conference, there’s virtually no way this group finishes in the top eight by the end of the year.

With that said, another trip to the lottery is around the corner. Improving as a team is the No. 1 goal, but with 30 wins as the apparent ceiling at this point in the process, finding improvement from DeMarcus Cousins should be the ultimate goal with the future in mind.

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By PDX PIX

He's young! He's Brash, he's on a non-stop mission to destroy as many sportsbooks as he can, or at least is humanly possible. He hates losing! Perfect recipe for cashing winning tickets. He's been doing just that from the West Coast since College! Stick with PDX PIX for your NBA, NCAAB, NFL & NCAAF plays all year long!