2005 Sacramento Kings Preview

At the time of publish the NBA regular season is around the corner. What better way to get you locked and loaded for a winning season than a free season preview from Maddux Sports. We remind you that MadduxSports.com is an expert NBA handicapper and offers NBA Picks against the point spread. For more information on this years basketball package click here. Onto the individual team preview for this years Sacramento Kings.

2005 Sacramento Kings Team Preview

The Sacramento Kings, like their Pacific Division rivals the Phoenix Suns, can score. Each of their starting five averaged ten or more points per game last season and four of those five averaged 15 or more points per game! They’re also a fantastic ball control team that can run, pass, and shoot with the best of them. Four of their starters—Paja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Brad Miller-- are considered to be franchise players.

Last season forward Stojakovic hit 92% of his free throws (third best in the league) and averaged 20.1 points per game (best on the team). Standing 6’ 10” the seven-year vet is one of the best shooters in the league. Because his release is from behind his head, Stojakovic always gets his shot in the air. He’s become a premier catch-and-shoot player, who also has great quickness to the basket.

Power guard Mike Bibby, a gamer day-in and day-out, can pass, score and rise to the occasion when the game is on the line. Bibby, like Stojakovic, is entering his ninth season and, also like Stojakovic, was on the 2001-02 Kings that won 61 regular season games and almost went all the way. Along with being an excellent shot, Bibby can create opportunities for his teammates while taking charge of the offense.

At 7-feet even Brad Miller is a rugged center-man who can continuously hit 15-foot jump shots or make a pinpoint pass from the high post. With 9.3 rebounds a game and 15.6 points, he’s a dependable anchor in the middle.

Forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a ten-year NBA player, is one of the new guys in town. Abdur-Rahim is an effortless scorer who should blend work well with the Kings’ other starting forward Stojakovic. Can he fill Chris Webber’s shoes, which currently reside in the City of Brotherly love? Most feel that Abdur-Rahim can do what his predecessor did, and his 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game attest that he has the potential to match Webber’s stats.

A major concern on this team is health. Although not old, three of the four key players missed a substantial number of games last season, with Bibby being the one healthy guy. In an 82-game season a gun and run team can wear down quickly and fatigue can insure a good team is eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. That’s exactly what happened to Sacramento last year; they don’t want to repeat that performance. For this team to click all four have to be able to play at peak level throughout the year.

For more information on the 2005 Sacramento Kings Team, click here to visit their official team website.