What are the keys to the Kings winning going forward? Most importantly, Fox and Bogs have got to bring it on defense every game. And Bjelica has to stop with the occasional game in which he is non-existent. The Clippers game provides some insight on Fox and Bogs.
What you saw from the very beginning was Fox picking the ball up in the back court and getting into a serious defensive crouch. His body language said it all - he meant serious defensive business. If Fox starts the game upright like he's walking around the park, and he's passively waiting in the front court for the opposing ball handler to get to him, that spells trouble in my book. He's just not taking the game or the opposition seriously like he should. Fox must start every game with defensive intensity. No excuses. He's old enough and should be mature enough to set the tone on defense in every game.
Then there was Bogs. Like a Pomeranian on a choke chain, Walton yanked him twice in the Memphis game because of his care-less ineptitude on defense. Coach seems to have gotten his attention. In the first quarter of the Clipps game Bogs made three very good defensive plays. First, while trailing Shamet he ran hard into a Clipps pick and as a result got the foul call and the Kings got possession. Second, on a Leonard fast break Bogs got back on defense and put both hands around the ball as Leonard was going up for the shot; Leonard missed the shot and the Kings got possession. Third, he stole the ball from Morris on the wing. That play in which he grabbed the ball with both hands around the Leonard layup attempt is exactly what is needed. That play requires the player to have enough moxy to really stick his face in there and possibly risk getting an elbow to his nose if he's not careful. The Kings need for Bogs to play with defensive intensity and moxy in every game, not just against a team that many think has a chance of winning the chip.