Sacramento Kings Suffering through Growing Pains

Since their first game of the season, the Kings have been very inconsistent.

Sacramento lost all their first four games on the road, then came back to Arco Arena and rattled off three straight wins. This was followed by four losses in the next five games.

Inexperience is what the Kings are suffering from.

As it stands today, the Kings are 4-8, but could just as easily be 7-5 had they managed to close out three close games—all decided by two points.

The Kings are a team that is maybe a year or two away from being a serious competitor. But until everything comes together, Kings fans will have to choke down another thrity-something-win season.

However, with the plethora of young talent Sacramento has to offer, it is hard not to be optimistic about the future. The Kings have three rookies this season in Jason Thompson, Donte Greene, and Bobby Brown, as well as Spencer Hawes, who has played well in his sophomore season. Hawes, Brown and Thompson have all been very solid players in the Kings rotation, while Greene has only seen limited minutes so far.

The Kings have also dealt with Brad Miller’s suspension, Quincy Douby’s sprained ankle, and are still waiting for Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia to come back. Hopefully once Martin and Garcia return, the Kings will finally be in business.

By then, Theus will have an ultra-deep bench to work with in Garcia, Hawes, Brown, and Thompson—if Thompson doesn’t get bumped to the starting lineup. This core wil be rounded out by Bobby Jackson, Sheldon Williams, and Quincy Douby or Donte Greene, all very capable players.

The starting lineup is—well, they have some players. In order from five to one: Brad Miller, Mikki Moore, John Salmons, Kevin Martin, and Beno Udrih.

Mikki is really more of a vocal leader and energy player, a perfect role for a bench player. Udrih is a good shooter and scorer, but lacks the ball-handling skills that make for a solid point guard.

Geoff Petrie has stated that he does not plan on making any moves anytime soon, so the team you see is the team you'll get. Although it may be hard to watch them struggle right now, the Kings will be a solid team in a few years. With a post tandem of Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson, the future is very bright.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and good sports teams aren’t thrown together overnight. Give them time, people—the construction has just begun.