NBA: Grading each team’s 2014-2015 season

Pacific Division, Western Conference. SACRAMENTO KINGS. D+. <p>For a brief moment, it looked as if the Kings were turning the corner.</p> <p>Sacramento began the season 9-5 while DeMarcus Cousins resembled an MVP candidate, but viral meningitis interceded, knocking Cousins out for an extended time, and the wheels came careening off the wagon. The Kings are 19-48 since that 9-5 start, and they’ve been through three coaches during that time. Needless to say, going through 3 coaches in one season isn’t ideal.</p> <p>Cousins is a monster, as evidenced by 24.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, but aside from that, this is a spotty roster. Nik Stauskas and Ben McLemore are hit-and-miss players who happen to be the lottery picks from the past two seasons, the point guard position is average at (very) best, and aside from Rudy Gay, there is nothing “safe” about this roster.</p> <p>Still, the Kings are solidly better than two teams in the West (yay), and with a real coach on the premises again in George Karl, they can begin to build.</p>. 4th