I am impressed, however, and here is why. Last season, when Tyreke Evans did not play, the Kings went 2-8. The team struggled all year to close out close games even with Evans' help. This game was a great way to start off the season. It was dramatic in all fashions. In game that was more like riding a teeter totter with the constant lead changes and ties as a spectator, you could just feel it coming down to the wire. That is what happened too! The Kings coming out on top for their first road win to open their season since October 31, 2000, just four days shy of the 10 year mark. This win marked the end of a 6 game season opener losing streak that has stood in place since 2004-2005.
The good news is that in the past 10 years, the Kings have started the season winning 4 of 10 season openers. All four of those years the Kings made it to the playoffs sitting either atop or in second place in the Pacific Division. In 5 of the past 10 seasons the Kings have made it into the playoffs. Of course winning the opener does not automatically get you a bid into the playoffs, but for the Kings, winning game 1 seems to lead the way to a winning season.In the seasons where the Kings have won game 1 they are a combined 261/386 games for a winning percentage of .676. In the Kings final two playoff appearances the season started off on a sour note. In 2004-2005 the Kings slipped from the 2 seed to the 6th seed after opening the season against the Texas Triangle (Dallas, San Antonio, Houston) where they went 0-3. In 2004-05 they were 1-2 to open the season slipping from a 6 seed to an 8 seed only to disappear from the radar after that.
What does all of this mean? Nothing really, but if the past 10 years have taught us anything it is that the Kings tend to fair better when they get a W in game 1. With a three game road trip to start off this season, the Kings are looking to do something they have not done in the past 10 years, have a perfect season opening road trip. In the past 10 years, the Kings have opened the season on the road for 7 seasons and the best record is 2-2 from 2000-01, the same year the Kings last won a season opener on the road. The match-ups for the next two stops: New Jersey Nets Friday and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. The Kings will follow their 3 game road trip with a 4 game home stand starting with their home opener taking place on Monday November 1st against Toronto.
In the past 10 years the Kings best record (10 games) to start the season is 7-3, which happened in both 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. Can the Kings finally come out blazing? Here's a look at the first 10 games of the 2010-11 season:
- @Minnesota
- @New Jersey
- @Cleveland
- vs Toronto
- vs Lakers (ESPN)
- vs Memphis
- vs Minnesota
- @Phoenix
- vs Detroit
- vs New York
Looking at the scheduled first 10 games 8 or 9 of them are very possible wins! I am very excited about this season. I think many people will look back at this season as being the one where the Kings started moving forward! Yessir Here we Rise!
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