How is this happening?

[VF21]

The team was up for sale because it was losing money and salt lake was a tiny market. Larry Miller ( rumor has it that if the young Jazz didn't make the playoffs that he would have defaulted on his loan and lost his dealerships) stepped up against all odds and saved the Utah Jazz

It's cute that you think it's the same as actually seeing headlines that your team has been sold and is on its way to Seattle. We endured a Board of Directors meeting that could easily have taken our team away. When you can own that, then we'll talk again.

 

[King Baller]

Turns out Vlade is a good GM and Joerger is a good Coach

 

[Kingster]

They know who they are: The fastest team in basketball. That's their core identity. They also have a one for all, all for one team spirit. These are good guys. Coachable guys. They have a good coach who knows how to get the best out of them and teach them what it takes to be a professional in the NBA. They can see the talent on their team. They know that if they continue to work hard that it will not only be good for them personally, but also they'll be on a very good, very exciting young team for years to come.

The Kings have spent over a decade in a downward spiral interrupted occasionally by a few upward episodes, only to resume their downward spiral. That's all ended. Now the Kings are in a virtuous upward spiral. Let the good times roll.

 

[funkykingston]

How is this happening?

The Kings are a super team. Just young.

 

[MizzouKing]

...and everybody laughed at Vlade a few weeks ago when he said this. We're starting to see what he saw.

 

[Telemachus]

Are we 1a?

I'm sure in Jazz forums you are 1A, but in Kings forums you are 1B.

 

[Tetsujin]

Bill Simmons when thinking about that pick we're giving the Celtics now.

 

[Turgenev]

The ongoing process/drama with the Maloofs and potential relocation was awful. But this doesn't need to descend into who's more committed or who's suffered more etc.

I like the Aussie's on the jazz and hope they scrape their way to a championship. I wound also support a return of John Stockton's short length.

Back on topic: cool to see the Kings doing well at this stage of the season.

 

[Npliam]

I'm sure in Jazz forums you are 1A, but in Kings forums you are 1B.

That is fair.

Let's just refocus our collective effort back to hating the Lakers.

 

[Tetsujin]

That is fair.

Let's just refocus our collective effort back to hating the Lakers.

Finally, something we can all agree on.

 

[The Hammer]

That is fair.

Let's just refocus our collective effort back to hating the Lakers.

That and hitting our free throws!

 

[KingsSelecao]

This team will win 40-45 games. I thought 20-25, as well. The East is hideous this year. Outside of Boston, Toronto, Sixers, and Mil.

Kings at a min will go .600 against the East. That’s 18 wins.

The West is another animal. Kings have already faced Denver, Pels, and Jazz. All Losses.

I think Kings will be in the playoff conversation right through March. Maybe, just missing the playoffs by a few games.

I don’t expect the Lakers and Houston to stay outside.
Paul was suspended. Now Harden is out.
Their are a lot of Laker haters. But, Lebron took Cleveland teams to the playoffs, with far less talent than the Lakers. Minny is a question mark.

Who knows, maybe the Kings get the luxury of getting drubbed by the Dubs in the first round.

Curry, Klay, Durant, Green, and Cousins sounds ridiculously unfair.

 

[John Galt]

...and everybody laughed at Vlade a few weeks ago when he said this. We're starting to see what he saw.

not everybody. not me. I bought the t-shirt.

 

[nebs]

Joerger sneak attacked the NBA with this offense is how this is happening. I predicted 24 wins but that was before I knew Joerger was actually going to run these guys.

 

[VF21]

That is fair.

Let's just refocus our collective effort back to hating the Lakers.

You hit a nerve, dude. Sorry if I was rude but I'm sure you can understand why. You redeemed yourself with the Laker comment, however, so all is good...and you can still ride in the bandwagon, but maybe not next to the driver.

 

[Padrino]

This team will win 40-45 games. I thought 20-25, as well. The East is hideous this year. Outside of Boston, Toronto, Sixers, and Mil.

Kings at a min will go .600 against the East. That’s 18 wins.

...

I don’t expect the Lakers and Houston to stay outside.
Paul was suspended. Now Harden is out.
Their are a lot of Laker haters. But, Lebron took Cleveland teams to the playoffs, with far less talent than the Lakers. Minny is a question mark.

In the east, which was no less hideous throughout Lebron’s time in CLE and MIA. Out west, he’s going to find that he can’t will a misfit roster to the playoffs on his own. Hell, he’s now in a conference where the Kings are being talked about as a potential fringe playoff team. It’s a much tougher road for Lebron than it’s been in some time.

 

[Spike]

 

[Gary]

I actually predicted 25 wins, hope dead wrong! This Vlade project going forward looks very promising, at least so far. If get to say 32 wins that would be 5 win improvement over last season and I'll just sigh, whew, happy. Any more than that jump for joy like almost 1999 when Kings dawn of Glory Years jumped up to over 40 wins after winning 27 in 1998-99.

That 27 was a strike shortened season. I think we went 27-23

 

[Tetsujin]

In the east, which was no less hideous throughout Lebron’s time in CLE and MIA. Out west, he’s going to find that he can’t will a misfit roster to the playoffs on his own. Hell, he’s now in a conference where the Kings are being talked about as a potential fringe playoff team. It’s a much tougher road for Lebron than it’s been in some time.

And to be fair, the Cavs misfit roster still had a lot of pieces that could work around Lebron (Korver, Love, JR as floor spacers) whereas the Lakers have like no outside shooters and a bunch of dudes that are way better with the ball in their hands than as off the ball guys (Rondo, Ball, Ingram, Kuzma).

Things could gel but the Lakers roster is like the perfect example of what not to do when building a team around the best player in the universe.

 

[Kangztillidie]

I somehow think it is more than just "young legs" young teams just dont win in the NBA. All the playoff teams are.loaded with veterans and have a couple young guys sprinkled in.

I dont think they are aware that they are "supposed" to lose. So they are just going out and competing hard and trying to win.

 

[swisshh]

They aren't winning with defense. They did play some defense tonight, but they have many defensive no-nos so far this season.

The formula is this: 1. Play fast the whole game and score a ton of points. 2. Wear out other team so they fall apart in the second half.

 

[cwebb2002]

That and hitting our free throws!

And learning how to inbound the ball...

 

[funkykingston]

That 27 was a strike shortened season. I think we went 27-23

Right. That wasn't the 1998-1999 season - it was the 1999 season only due to the lockout. And the first year of JWill/CWebb/Vlade. They finished as the 6th or 7th seed with those 27 wins and gave the Stockton/Malone Jazz all they could handle in a five game series.

I remember that series most for the nasty hit Webber gave Stockton in Game 2.

 

[John Galt]

Right. That wasn't the 1998-1999 season - it was the 1999 season only due to the lockout. And the first year of JWill/CWebb/Vlade. They finished as the 6th or 7th seed with those 27 wins and gave the Stockton/Malone Jazz all they could handle in a five game series.

I remember that series most for the nasty hit Webber gave Stockton in Game 2.

came within a little Vlade baby hook shot of going to round 2! I mean we missed it by thaaaaaat much

 

[fnordius]

I became officially impressed once the streak got to 4 wins. There had only been 6 such streaks in the previous 10 seasons combined.

 

[King-Biscuit-Time]

manys reason, but main one is Fox has learned to slow down his motor, and then go full throttle at the right time.
Last year seemed he was always going one speed.

 

[Tetsujin]

came within a little Vlade baby hook shot of going to round 2! I mean we missed it by thaaaaaat much

The problem was that we didn't have Mike Bibby yet.

 

[rosa u podne]

We are on pace to win 51 regular season games.

 

[Liontech]

Vivek, read this first: Please don’t fire anyone. That out if the way, I can’t believe I am about to type this. Sticking by Vlade and sticking to the plan was a hell of a move. With patience and a little luck, we have our next Eddie D./Carmen Policy pairing.

 

[Chupacabra]

I think we're just a really tough matchup. Too much speed and spacing. With WCS running hard to the front of the rim and Bjelica taking the big bodies away from the basket with his shooting the opposing defense ends up being over-extended and tired. It makes it even more difficult to deal with when you have a player like Fox that can exploit the extra space. Buddy is gun slinging and we're getting inspired play from Bagley and even the new guy Williams. It's a lot to deal with and fun for me to watch. Its as if other teams show up thinking they can finesse their way to a win and instead end up in a track meet with a team that is better than they thought.