ESPN: Inside the NBA: Say It Ain't Slow

[Warhawk]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/pr...Fsiexclusive%2F11%2F07%2Fnba1114%2Findex.html

The first part:


Inside the NBA: Say It Ain't Slow

Looks like the end of the run for the Kings, who have reined in their up-tempo attack to accommodate Shareef Abdur-Rahim


Before the Suns there were the Kings. While other teams relentlessly pounded the ball inside or ran mind-numbing isolation plays, Sacramento was a circus act of head fakes, backdoor cuts and creative bounce passes needled through traffic for easy hoops. Each player on the floor always appeared to know where the other four Kings were going, and they circulated the ball with brio. Their style wasn't just entertaining, it was successful: Sacramento was one of only three teams to win 50 games in each of the last five years.

 

[deviflux]

I don't think they have reigned it in so much as they are learning each other.

There is still the fast, crisp pass.

It'll take time. Sure, we are a slower team now, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Gtronic]

"Their style wasn't just entertaining, it was successful"

I don't remember winning any championships. This team is still a MAJOR work in progress. Give them 30-35 games and each player on the floor will know where the other four Kings are. We can work it inside, then backout. I have a good feeling about this team.

 

[Warhawk]

"Their style wasn't just entertaining, it was successful"

I don't remember winning any championships. This team is still a MAJOR work in progress. Give them 30-35 games and each player on the floor will know where the other four Kings are. We can work it inside, then backout. I have a good feeling about this team.

There are a lot of ways to measure success besides a championship. While a championship is the ultimate goal, to anyone who was around the lean years here, 50-win seasons are a form of success. Having an atmosphere of winning is a form of success. Becoming a destination for players is a form of success.

Now I do want a championship as much as anyone else here, but saying the past few years haven't been somewhat successful isn't really accurate.

 

[nbrans]

I haven't read the whole article, but the Kings haven't been a running team in years. I don't know why it's news.

 

[CaminoChaos]

re

I haven't read the whole article, but the Kings haven't been a running team in years. I don't know why it's news.

I have been wondering that for a long time also. But, once again stats don't tell the whole story. People see that we average over 100 pts a game and assume we are a fast break team.

 

[uolj]

I thought the same thing. I think the real question (that the article might be referring to anyway) is whether the Kings' Princeton offense will go away with the current roster, and whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[ONEZERO]

everyone has stamped this image that we were a run n gun team. not really ever the case except for when we had j-will and jon barry.

 

[chelle]

I really think that right now, no one really knows what to think of the Kings, including the players themselves. As a result, there will be many articles that make you wonder what team the reporters, analysts, and columnists have been watching this season and the past few. Some will be spot on right, others - not so much. This is uncharted territory for many fans. Quite a few will have trouble remembering what it was like during the pre Vlade/Webber era. Many will not be able to relate to it at all, as not much attention was paid to us before them. Most of their comments will be comparing us not to the "Glorious Years" - fair or not. Everything cycles.

We HAVE not been a "run and gun" team for a while, but we did KNOW each others tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. That made for both entertaining AND successful basketball. It does not mean that we will not get there again, but it will not be the same. It can't be. There are now different players on the stage for us. As much as I hate to admit it, that famous - or infamous- "window of opprtunity" that everyone speaks of is closed, nailed shut, and boarded up. No way to deny that. HOWEVER, onceTHIS TEAM finds its identity and spirit, there will be a new window.

It is time to wait and see, cheer and cry, for them. Some articles and analysts will declare us over. They may be right. Some will say that we are on the cusp of greatness. They, too, may be right. All I know is that this group of guys deserve my patience. I have gotten more enjoyment supporting this team over the years not to be behind them.

Take what most of these people say as speculation. After all, they do not know what to expect anymore than we do. Just be glad that we have not fallen into the ranks of the "not important enough to write about!"

 

[SacTownKid]

There are a lot of ways to measure success besides a championship. While a championship is the ultimate goal, to anyone who was around the lean years here, 50-win seasons are a form of success. Having an atmosphere of winning is a form of success. Becoming a destination for players is a form of success.

Now I do want a championship as much as anyone else here, but saying the past few years haven't been somewhat successful isn't really accurate.

And to most its championship or bust!

 

[VF21]

If people this year are thinking championship or bust, they're in for some big disappointment. If something isn't done fairly quickly to establish a character and an identity for this team, not only won't they be playing in June, they might not even make it through April.

 

[SacTownKid]

Just a general statement to a general question. I wasn't speaking about the Kings, just saying that some teams look upon 50 win seasons and first round exits as not good enough.