Kings have depth to thank for recovery after season's horrendous start

[NBC Sports BayArea]

17 games into the season, that depth is the only reason that Sacramento has a fighting chance to recover from their horrendous start. Injuries have sapped head coach Luke Walton's rotation, leaving him to institute new schemes while adjusting to personnel. Despite back-to-back losses to the Celtics and 76ers, the Kings are still 7-5 over their last 12 games and four of those losses are by a combined 13 points.

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[VF21]

Moved this here from the News Link forum as (believe it or not) the writer actually makes some good points.

 

[jcassio]

Hard to argue with the premise of the article. I could nitpik it, but why bother? As VF said, the writer makes some good points.
If CoJo could learn to shoot (not lights-out, but just respectable NBA shooting), he could have a nice career. As a sub .400 shooter, but a stellar defender, he's limited.

 

[ppine]

Defense has saved them.

 

[ppine]

Number 22.

 

[Roc Paint]

Does this look like a Missouri jersey to you guys?

 

[cwebb2002]

I said it before. Vlade focusing on depth with solid locker room vets in the off season addressed many major issues, especially the defense. He kept offensive sparks like yogi. That all has brought stability while Fox and Bags have been out. Im ok with Cojo not shooting a great percentage because he is only shooting 6 shots a game and many of those are only when he needs to or late in the clock. His shot is the baseline jumper and he hits it when they need it. They are not losing any games due to it. If it is a choice of his stellar defense at the expense of sliggtly better offense, I'll take the defense. So yes, i believe Cojo has moved the needle. Will move it even more when fox is back.

Cant argue the dedmom and ariza bits, but they are on somewhat reasonable contracts.

 

[L'Optimisme]

Defense is about team culture and everyone buying in and doing the little things. Yes you have to have defensive talent, but that alone will not do it. You have to have an attitude of mutual support that pervades the team. Bringing in (the right) vets to accomplish this second-tier strategy is Vlade's value add. When everyone feels a part of the team they will give the extra effort and be happy to do so. Players much prefer to be on a team like that anyway. It's not about shaming people into working harder.

 

[VF21]

Defense is about team culture and everyone buying in and doing the little things. Yes you have to have defensive talent, but that alone will not do it. You have to have an attitude of mutual support that pervades the team. Bringing in (the right) vets to accomplish this second-tier strategy is Vlade's value add. When everyone feels a part of the team they will give the extra effort and be happy to do so. Players much prefer to be on a team like that anyway. It's not about shaming people into working harder.

That's pretty much why Webb chose to stay here rather than bolt to Detroit.

 

[Tetsujin]

That's pretty much why Webb chose to stay here rather than bolt to Detroit.

Rather ironically, the Pistons wound up winning the championship several years later using a similar concept (and also riding a Lakers meltdown to victory)

 

[ppine]

and some good coaching.