The Kings have had finesse teams for a decade or more, with a few exceptions. Cousins was a physical player but had the emotional toughness of a child.
Guys like Lin and Whiteside add a physical presence but cannot stay on the floor. The Kings do play soft. Fox takes a beating every game and is taking on a leadership role, but he is out sized all the time. Holmes is pretty physical. Barnes is some of the time. Metu and Robinson are pretty physical. Bagley actually has taken a couple of charges recently. But for the most part the Kings play softer than their opponents.
The game was dominated by big center for many years, guys like Wilt, Shaq, Bill, Ben, and Nate. You don't need their full names to know who we mean. The game has changed with a larger key, defensive 3 seconds, arc under the basket, longer 3 point line, etc. All designed to open up the middle.
The Kings desperately need a player like Shumpert for the same reason they needed him a few years ago.
I guess some players grow up playing in leagues and get into AAU early in their careers. They play with refs a lot.
We grew up playing on the street for money. Later I played in the neigbors' outside court against guys that were all going to ACC schools on scholarships. Then it was industrial leagues for 30 years. I did not have the talent to play in college but learned early on the power of playing the hard-nosed physical style.
In high school I had my nose cauterized twice, I caught an elbow in practice and the side of my face was black and blue for six weeks which intimidated people. I broke ribs several times on inadvertent plays. Floor burns and hitting the deck are part of the game at all levels. Like a guy I used to work for once used to say
"Toughen up Linda."
Guys like Lin and Whiteside add a physical presence but cannot stay on the floor. The Kings do play soft. Fox takes a beating every game and is taking on a leadership role, but he is out sized all the time. Holmes is pretty physical. Barnes is some of the time. Metu and Robinson are pretty physical. Bagley actually has taken a couple of charges recently. But for the most part the Kings play softer than their opponents.
The game was dominated by big center for many years, guys like Wilt, Shaq, Bill, Ben, and Nate. You don't need their full names to know who we mean. The game has changed with a larger key, defensive 3 seconds, arc under the basket, longer 3 point line, etc. All designed to open up the middle.
The Kings desperately need a player like Shumpert for the same reason they needed him a few years ago.
I guess some players grow up playing in leagues and get into AAU early in their careers. They play with refs a lot.
We grew up playing on the street for money. Later I played in the neigbors' outside court against guys that were all going to ACC schools on scholarships. Then it was industrial leagues for 30 years. I did not have the talent to play in college but learned early on the power of playing the hard-nosed physical style.
In high school I had my nose cauterized twice, I caught an elbow in practice and the side of my face was black and blue for six weeks which intimidated people. I broke ribs several times on inadvertent plays. Floor burns and hitting the deck are part of the game at all levels. Like a guy I used to work for once used to say
"Toughen up Linda."
