I figured it would be nice to have a single discussion thread for each playoff round (since we are definitely playing in multiple rounds

blind prophet wrote:Of all the potential people we could play the Warriors were the team that scared me the most.
LightTheBeam wrote:blind prophet wrote:Of all the potential people we could play the Warriors were the team that scared me the most.
I'm actually fine with this matchup, it's grown on me the last week. Obviously I wanted the Clippers, Pelicans, or self destructing Wolves. But I really didn't want the Lakers or Phx. Lakers will get help from the refs, and Phx is winning the west.
This is going to be a fun series. Sac in their first return take on the rivals from the Bay. The defending champions. We have no expectations to win this series, we weren't even supposed to be here, and we are facing the team with the most experience in the league.
If we get hot, I expect us to take some games. If we take it to 6 and lose it will still be a win and great experience to keep the guys hungry. If we win the series, well we just knocked off Steph Curry and the defending world champions.
BoogieTime wrote:About the only thing I can say about the draw, is I'm glad its not the Lakers, and the Kings FO may have felt the same way with the dubious complete pull on the 2nd to last game when we were still in 2nd seed contention (though other things could have been at play with the permutations, like still hoping the Clippers would have won)
10 of their last 12. They have good depth around LeBron/AD now.
The Warriors have a pitiful away record and will play our uptempo game. The Lakers would have just dictated the pace.
Lost in LA wrote:The overtime between the Lakers and T Wolves was terrible basketball. Kings must try to play up tempo in the play offs as a half court game will not suit this team as it currently composed.
BoogieTime wrote:About the only thing I can say about the draw, is I'm glad its not the Lakers, and the Kings FO may have felt the same way with the dubious complete pull on the 2nd to last game when we were still in 2nd seed contention (though other things could have been at play with the permutations, like still hoping the Clippers would have won)
10 of their last 12. They have good depth around LeBron/AD now.
The Warriors have a pitiful away record and will play our uptempo game. The Lakers would have just dictated the pace.
OGSactownballer wrote:BoogieTime wrote:About the only thing I can say about the draw, is I'm glad its not the Lakers, and the Kings FO may have felt the same way with the dubious complete pull on the 2nd to last game when we were still in 2nd seed contention (though other things could have been at play with the permutations, like still hoping the Clippers would have won)
10 of their last 12. They have good depth around LeBron/AD now.
The Warriors have a pitiful away record and will play our uptempo game. The Lakers would have just dictated the pace.
Agreed 100% abiut not seeing the Lakers.
Last night proved in the fourth and OT (and the phantom fifth foul on KAT when AD played for his Oscar) that the league wants Lebron in at least until the second round. At that point there is enough star power in the younger group to carry things through the finals. But we would have been entirely shafted against the Lakers. Let Memphis run the bell out of their old tired asses.
As for our matchup I feel very good about it. Scoring wise we are better or at worst equal. We have shown our ability to bring a ninth ranked defense on the road and therefore we simply need to focus on stepping g that up at home and not rely on simply out scoring a team that can do that right with us. We have a much bigger advantage with Mike Brien knowing Kerr’s game plan and players than they do because Mike was not the coach there but the assistant implementing Kerr’s plan not his own.
The subs have a far higher risk of burnout and injury due to much greater average age. That becomes a big factor in a seven game series. We are younger and deeper at this point. I don’t see Wiggins as anything close to “ready to play” at a playoff level after missing two plus months and his head has not been right yet this year.
An interesting take is my girl and her uncle who are lifelong Dubs fans and know their team better than any of us. Both are very well informed big time basketball fans as well. They are not at all happy about this matchup. They wanted ANYONE but the Kings in the first round. They feel their team has caught an ennui and expectation and that their younger players are not at all ready for this or capable of giving that extra needed to advance.
Lost in LA wrote:The overtime between the Lakers and T Wolves was terrible basketball. Kings must try to play up tempo in the play offs as a half court game will not suit this team as it currently composed.
Twinkie defense wrote:Lost in LA wrote:The overtime between the Lakers and T Wolves was terrible basketball. Kings must try to play up tempo in the play offs as a half court game will not suit this team as it currently composed.
Excited for this Kings-Warriors matchup. This is the first time I can remember when both teams were pretty good - either the Kings were great and the Warriors were terrible, the Warriors were great and the Kings were terrible, or both were terrible. Here's to a good series! - not like that hot garbage between the T-Wolves and Lakers last night.
Regarding style of play, the playoffs seem to force you into a half court game, the defensive intensity is amped up so much. While both teams like to run, both teams will also need to be able to execute their offenses in the half court if they want to advance.
euphorbus wrote:Assistant Coach Luke Loucks says that the Kings plan to play at a pace "never seen before." That certainly sparks my interest! They can run Golden State out of the gym, so to speak.