ESPN Article: Kings Show They Can Win Ugly
- Thread starter Bricklayer
- Start date
I love this Bulls team. I watch them whenever they are on and root for them when they aren't playing the Kings. Thibodeau's defensive scheme and the players' willingness to buy into it wholeheartedly makes for good basketball to me. Consistently funneling players to help, swarming the pick and roll, packing the paint and generally making it hard for teams to get penetration or post ups. I love Noah's versatility, Gibson and Butler's growth, Rose's explosiveness (when healthy) and adding Pau's skill and and shooting from Mirotic and McBuckets I think they'll represent the East in this year's finals.
And the Kings beat them in a physical game. That speaks volumes to me. As does Noah losing his mind and Boogie staying composed. As does Collisons assist to turnover ratio. As does Malone's substitutions and coaching overall. The Kings have a ways to go, but this team is for real and on the upswing.
And the Kings beat them in a physical game. That speaks volumes to me. As does Noah losing his mind and Boogie staying composed. As does Collisons assist to turnover ratio. As does Malone's substitutions and coaching overall. The Kings have a ways to go, but this team is for real and on the upswing.
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Livinthedream
All-Star
I suspect most of our wins will be ugly and I don't mind it. I'm also glad I haven't heard the FO talk about being and up and down team and a fast pace team. For all of Cousins strengths, he's not a floor runner like an Anthony Davis and never will be. We're going to be a half court team when our best player is DMC. Embrace it. Seems like the coaches finally have. Much more screens and cuts to the basket in this game. Less emphasis on motion and guard shooting numbers. The sooner we break away from trying to emulate the Warriors, the better.
What's weird, and maybe a little concerning, is that they didn't mean to make this kind of smash mouth team, even though our best 2 players are ideal for it. They were trying to build a fast paced, get up and down team and failed into a more successful brand of basketball. I'll take it.
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
Its really fun to see how the defense has come together. You have Collison, who's been coached by Vogel, Carslisle, and Doc Rivers. Rudy's been a part of some great defensive Memphis teams. We have Ben and JT who Malone has basically molded into good defenders. And then there's Cousins who started making real strides defensively under Malone last year but really blossomed in the summer under Thibs and become one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.
This Kings team defense has basically taken its DNA from some of the best defensive teams in the league. Its awesome to see come together
This Kings team defense has basically taken its DNA from some of the best defensive teams in the league. Its awesome to see come together
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Best part about this is it's a style which wins in the postseason. Game get physical, slows down, gets chippy and ugly and it becomes a half court game. For all we've heard about wanting to be an up and down team, this team really is gravitating towards smash-mouth basketball and we're looking much more like Chi/Mem/Ind than a Den/Pho, which brings a smile to my face.
Rudy and Cuz really have the potential to be a top 5-7 half court duo in this league which can't be slowed unless teams load up on them, which of course is where a guy like Ben or other shooters come into play. It's not just shooters either as a big part of Omri's success now is slashing off the attention they get. But add a couple more 3&D guys, shore up our frontcourt defense and this is a team and style which should put us in the top 4 out west within two years.
Rudy and Cuz really have the potential to be a top 5-7 half court duo in this league which can't be slowed unless teams load up on them, which of course is where a guy like Ben or other shooters come into play. It's not just shooters either as a big part of Omri's success now is slashing off the attention they get. But add a couple more 3&D guys, shore up our frontcourt defense and this is a team and style which should put us in the top 4 out west within two years.
K
KingMilz
Guest
Nothing ugly about winning
Sac.Kings
All-Star
Cuz is front and center on NBA.com .... For MVP talk. What a change in the winds I gotta say I'm more proud of Cuz than any other player I've seen play.
http://www.nba.com/2014/news/featur...rcus-cousins-showing-his-mvp-chops/index.html
http://www.nba.com/2014/news/featur...rcus-cousins-showing-his-mvp-chops/index.html
NewArena
All-Star
100% agreed. i never understood the uptempo talk
Running on every opportunity that makes sense (done in a smart way) is awesome, but some 7 seconds or less crap, just isn't the way to go, when you have a beast down low like Cousins. NO team in the league, has what we have at the center position in this current era. Its very 90's and unique. Embracing that uniqueness going forward, may have some teams praying they could be more like us, as opposed to us mimicking teams like the Warriors who have experienced recent success. I certainly dont wish to have a "splash brothers" type of thing. If thats your best weapon, its fun during the regular season, but you likely aren't winning a title. im sorry.
NewArena
All-Star
ugh i could cry tears of joy
but, its time to continue putting a few great games together. No more congratulating ourselves too much after a good win. Keep striving, and pushing forward. Nothing wrong with being proud of this team, though. That, i most definitely am
twslam07
All-Star
The way we are playing really makes me want to get our third option at the PF/C position. Grabbing M. Gasol or Horford would be the only two I would be okay with because both can pass, operate away from the basket, and operate close to the basket. Not to mention both are great post & help defenders who protect the rim well. With a three of Cousins, Gay, & Gasol/Horford, we would dominate the paint every game. Jump shooters get hot and cold, but controlling the paint is a very easy way to consistently win.
Some trade that brings Horford and Korver over would be ideal. It probably wouldn't be able to happen until after the upcoming draft when the Hawks (likely) fall short of another eastern conference title and our picks are unlocked for trading again (assuming we are good enough to lose our 2015 pick). A trade centered around Stauskas, Thompson, and a 2016 1st round pick could possibly be enticing for them.
With a frontcourt of Cousins, Horford, Landry, and Gay, you have four guys who can score on the block as well as stretch the defense with their midrange game. The only other thing to do is to surround them with shooters and defenders at PG, SG, and backup SF.
Collison/McCallum
McLemore/Korver
Gay/Casspi
Horford/Landry
Cousins
Although I have loved the way Casspi has played, I would probably opt for a player who is a better three point shooter if I had this core, but other than that, this lineup seems pretty studly to me. This team would be very difficult to matchup with and would win games much differently than the rest of the league.
Some trade that brings Horford and Korver over would be ideal. It probably wouldn't be able to happen until after the upcoming draft when the Hawks (likely) fall short of another eastern conference title and our picks are unlocked for trading again (assuming we are good enough to lose our 2015 pick). A trade centered around Stauskas, Thompson, and a 2016 1st round pick could possibly be enticing for them.
With a frontcourt of Cousins, Horford, Landry, and Gay, you have four guys who can score on the block as well as stretch the defense with their midrange game. The only other thing to do is to surround them with shooters and defenders at PG, SG, and backup SF.
Collison/McCallum
McLemore/Korver
Gay/Casspi
Horford/Landry
Cousins
Although I have loved the way Casspi has played, I would probably opt for a player who is a better three point shooter if I had this core, but other than that, this lineup seems pretty studly to me. This team would be very difficult to matchup with and would win games much differently than the rest of the league.
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randymoss1881
Starter
A trade for Holford will start with Ben/JT
I don't think it failed at least on the psychological side of the scheme.
Every good team has some sort of a fast paced, get up and down style of play that they use. It is very important to have that scheme, especially for the Kings who are known for being so much in-love to the slow-to-execute isolation plays. The scheme makes role players work harder and active all the time knowing there is an opportunity for them to score. It prevents laziness and lackadaisical brand of play, because it gives good opportunities/incentive for role players (who are otherwise useless and will just stand on the side on an isolation heavy system) to be more involved.
IMO, the coaching staff is right and is headed on the right direction. They probably knew already the Kings will naturally gravitate to the half-court game from time to time, since our 1-2 punch are basically half-court isolation players. This season we are seeing every player getting involved (except Sessions and DWill who are still on 5 miles/hour mode) and we are winning.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
upinsmoke
All-Star
I think twslam07 hit it when he says it starts at a unprotected pick on draft night (assuming Chicago gets our pick this year).
