Some NBA History: We've Seen This Team Structure Before

[Bricklayer]

Looking at the Kings season stats last night gave me a sense of deja vu I thought I would share.

It seemed like ****ing forever before this damn franchise and coach were going to finally get it, but I think things took a major turn when Vlade took over. Despite the amusingly ignorant pundits' opinions, Vlade actually had decades of NBA experience right through one of the greatest center eras in NBA history. If he didn't have actual conscious knowledge of what I am about to show you, he certainly must have absorbed it at an unconscious level, because he immediately set off trying to create a classic great center team.

Consider history's examples:

The soon to be 59-23 2015-16 Sacramento Kings:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAC/2016.html

The 51-31 1991-92 New York Knicks:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1992.html

The 62-20 1994-95 San Antonio Spurs

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1995.html

The 65-17 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1983.html

Repeatedly the same core elements: pass first PG, defensive specialist at PF to support the center, #2 scorer on the wing. Notably the more successful teams though also had a SG weapon which we have yet to find or develop.

Finally a less apt comparison, because Hakeem never did get to play with that pure PG, and he didn't experience a major #2 of a wing player until Drexler arrived when Hakeem was already 33 and had already won a title.

The 55-27 1992-93 Houston Rockets

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1993.html

 

[gunks]

Vlade knows what he's doing. Finally, we have a GM who is building around Cuz.

Every move this summer, even the one's that didn't work out (*cough* Marco *cough*), you could see the design there.... Every guy he got was a complimentary piece.

As apposed to the Petrie/PDA approach of: load up on discount scorers, without regard to fit.

 

[Glenn]

Vlade knows what he's doing. Finally, we have a GM who is building around Cuz.

Every move this summer, even the one's that didn't work out (*cough* Marco *cough*), you could see the design there.... Every guy he got was a complimentary piece.

As apposed to the Petrie/PDA approach of: load up on discount scorers, without regard to fit.

Signing Marco was not a mistake. Who could have projected a 1/2 year funk. Honestly, is there anyone who looked at that signing and said "ooops, that was a bad one." Let's hope that some attention is paid to him that asks him to do more than race around a few picks and shoot an off balance jump shot.

I guess you didn't say it was a mistake. Sorry.

 

[dude12]

It was a great offseason for Vlade....from the draft, the trade to the signings. I do believe the Marco signing will pay dividends, I just think he's being used incorrectly...asking him to do to much nested of spotting him up. But he's a streaky guy and just ride him when he gets hot and don't when he's not.

The Rondo signing and the WCS drafting are proving to be master strokes by the GM.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Coach Popovich said earlier this season wished they had not let Belinelli get away. Even though Marco's stock has apparently dropped I bet Spurs would take him off our hands if we wanted to short the stock.

 

[Tetsujin]

Coach Popovich said earlier this season wished they had not let Belinelli get away. Even though Marco's stock has apparently dropped I bet Spurs would take him off our hands if we wanted to short the stock.

I'd be willing to settle for Kawhi for Marco straight up. Dude couldn't even guard Curry!

 

[kingsboi]

For a guy with no front office experience prior to coming here, Vlade has done a great job of acquiring assets to build around Cousins. The biggest thing is that he has a vision moving forward and now the next step is to address the lingering SG issue and/or lack of perimeter defense which I'm sure he is aware of. Continuity is key in becoming a successful team and the core pieces are in place for the most part, whether Rudy is involved is yet to be seen.