Training Camp, October 2023
- Thread starter Caccia
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I disagree. For the first couple weeks, maybe, but once we started rolling nobody was taking us for granted. Everyone was gunning for us given that we were ahead of almost everyone, especially the last half of the season. There was repeated talk of how all these teams that reloaded at the trade deadline were going to pass us while we went on to keep winning games and beating a LOT of very good teams. They knew what we were bringing and they were fighting for playoff positioning.
So exactly when are they OK even *thinking* about winning a championship if they can't contemplate it this year, according to your rules? Exactly how many series do they have to win first? If they sweep a series, does that count for two series in your book? If they win two series this year, does that mean they can't think about it this year and have to wait until next year? I'm unsure about the formulaic expression you are working with to allow a very good team to contemplate a championship-type run.
Should the Bucks not be talking championship because they lost in the first round last year? I mean, they have HURDLES to go now, right?
Should the Bucks not be talking championship because they lost in the first round last year? I mean, they have HURDLES to go now, right?
Bucks and Kings aren't in the same conversation, Bucks are proven winners and former champions. There is no specific amount of series they have to win but let's just say if you talk championship and a first round exit is the result, then heads start rolling. When you establish a winning pedigree consistently, championship talk can begin but that's just my view on it.
My view is when you got a new coach, brought in role-players that generally fit the system, have two all-stars on the team, and just demolished the expectations for wins in the first year together with your new coach in making the playoffs and taking the previous year's champs to 7 games (and, frankly, should have won the series except for the Stomp and a couple of broken hands, etc.), IMHO you have earned the right to contemplate a championship run the next year when:
- you now can start off with a year's experience under your belt with the coach and his offense instead of playing catch-up at the beginning of the season
- many of the other teams in the west have arguably gotten worse (still very competitive, mind you, but arguably worse); see the Captain's post on this elsewhere
- when talking about team health, most seem to ignore that we have generally gotten players that play through injury and other teams in the west often have older star players exiting their prime and more prone to injury - you can't ignore this fact - we are built to weather the season's ups and downs better than the top heavy but fragile teams like those in LA, SF, Phoenix, etc.
- you upgraded the bench significantly adding the Euroleage MVP and deadeye shooter in a position of need who apparently will fit this offense perfectly based on his skills and off-ball motion, brought in a better defensive player at backup center, upgraded the deep bench positions with youth and defense, and brought in a good friend of your all-star center to help fill the guard rotation that was very promising his rookie year before injuries in his sophomore year
- lost absolutely nobody in the core rotation; in fact, you extended two players who contributed significantly to your success last year ("max" extension for your all-star center and a team-friendly contract for your veteran "stabilizer" on the floor), guaranteeing stability and not feeding into questions about contract status/trades throughout the year
- and have total buy-in up and down the organization with the direction of the team, the coaching, the players we have, and the goal of winning a championship clearly stated by the front office and coaching staff and players
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The Kings had a better winning percentage after the all-star break (.640) than before (.561). Even if you take out that 0-4 stretch to start the season, the Kings would still have a worse winning percentage before the all-star break (.603). Other teams loaded up for the stretch run and the Kings just got better.
I'll be keeping close tabs on Slawson in Stockton. More so than Colby (assuming he winds up there) because he's got a really interesting skill set that could potentially benefit the Kings as a very poor man's Draymond. He has the defense and playmaking, and seems to have the court awareness and strength to be a small ball 5 and run a lot of the same actions as Domas. The big question is whether he can shoot well enough to space the floor and make it worth playing him at that spot.
I'll be keeping close tabs on Slawson in Stockton. More so than Colby (assuming he winds up there) because he's got a really interesting skill set that could potentially benefit the Kings as a very poor man's Draymond. He has the defense and playmaking, and seems to have the court awareness and strength to be a small ball 5 and run a lot of the same actions as Domas. The big question is whether he can shoot well enough to space the floor and make it worth playing him at that spot.
Thanks!I respect and understand your view but all these things need to happen on the court for more than one season. I'm not saying the Kings are going to be worse but just keeping their core group of players together is a plus in itself. One winning season in 16 years doesn't all of a sudden make you a title contender. How long did it take the likes of Denver, Golden State, Miami, Boston just to name a few to start consistently becoming threats for title contention? Those teams have some of the best players in the league currently and even they needed time to gel and plug and play pieces appropriately.
Maybe so. And in no way am I saying we are favorites - believe me, I'm not delusional. But if we stay "healthy" and other teams don't (like last year) - again, somewhat by design by this FO - why can't we go into the PO expecting that we can get at least 1-2 rounds closer to winning it all and possibly making it to the finals to compete for the championship? We took the last year's winners (Warriors) to 7 games and, frankly, should have won that one without some "unusual" factors. We were beating teams like those in LA. We could at least compete with the likes of Denver and the Grizz. In the west, that's a huge part in being pretty successful. We've got guys on the team this year who have won it all and a reigning coach of the year who has as well. We have a team that has now tasted that early success and is hungry for more. We don't have to fight through the Celtics and the Bucks and the Heat in the PO, we only have to get there to take on one of those types of teams at the end. That's what we are talking about.
Wait, what? The Warriors lost in the first round and then won the finals the next year. Miami missed the playoffs and then the next year lost in the Finals. Don't those disprove the point you are making, or are you trying to say that those teams weren't considered title contenders either because they weren't considered among the favorites for that year they made the 'ultimate' leap?
I would agree that the Kings aren't a 'title contender' in that sense, but can they contend for the title this year? absolutely.
I would agree that the Kings aren't a 'title contender' in that sense, but can they contend for the title this year? absolutely.
not saying that it will happen again but who's to say right now, those same winners in Barnes and Huerter who had the most Playoff experience were no shows in that series and that's unacceptable from two starting players. Brown, like every coach has won and has lost, no coach wins all the time. West is much older with star power, East has better players in their prime.
@kingsboi can you please have a talk with Coach Brown? This type of unrealistic expectation is not good for our players' mental health, you know this as well as anybody. Plus - it's horrible for the fanbase, as the crushing disappointment that will come if we don't win it all will cause many fans to stop believing in the team.
This is unacceptable. Just when we thought we had the right coach - he goes out makes this horrible blunder.
This is unacceptable. Just when we thought we had the right coach - he goes out makes this horrible blunder.
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