Post by Scott on Feb 14, 2008 0:15:37 GMT -5
After winning the inaugural BBS Championship, the Sacramento Kings began looking ahead to the following season and how they could possibly repeat as champions. They, like every other team in the league as a result of the creation draft, knew they'd be returning their entire lineup from the championship season. They, however, would not be able to add a draft pick to that roster as the Kings moved their first 4 first round picks in an effort to shore up their depth and star power.
With the same team as last season and a very similar strategy, the Kings were ready to start the season and begin their journey to reclaim a championship. The season started out a little disappointing, as the Kings limped out to a .500 record through their first 15 to 20 games. However, about a quarter of the way through the season, the GM of the Detroit Pistons (Aaron Reilly) contacted GM Osburn about the possiblity of a trade. Reilly was struggling in the beginning of the season and was looking for some frontcourt help, and Osburn felt that his Kings needed some better wings for both the future and the long run. While Dale Davis was a key to winning last year's championship, Osburn put his faith in PJ Brown and Greg Ostertag to play alongside Alonzo Mourning and acquired G Eddie Jones for Davis. While Jones struggled to start his stint with the Kings, he soon found his niche as a defensive guard who could score around 15 ppg once GM Osburn suggested a move to an inside focus on offense.
This inside focus didn't help just Jones; Mourning and fellow All-Star Grant Hill are much more suited for an inside offense as opposed to a balance offense and saw their numbers jump because of this change. With the acquisition of Jones, veteran Reggie Miller moved to a backup SG/SF spot and is still providing a scoring punch from outside off the bench.
Once GM Osburn suggested the simple Inside Focus, the Kings have been on cruise control for the last half of the season as they amassed 57 wins (good for 3rd best record in the league) and won the Pacific Division as well as the #1 seed in the Western Conference.
Just today, the Kings completed the first of four legs in their attempt to repeat as the champs. They knocked the LA Clippers off in the first series by a series count of 4-2. Star center Alonzo Mourning put the team on his back through this series as he averaged 38 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. His most outstanding game was a 51 point, 15 rebound effort in Game 2 of the series.
With the way the Kings seem to be playing right now, there is no question that the fans of Sacramento are looking forward to a fun run through these playoffs and a chance at a repeat championship. Only time will tell as to how these Kings do to finish this season and in the near future, but with Mourning, Hill, and Jones locked up for the future, it sure seems as if there will be a lot of playoff drama in Sacramento for quite a while.
With the same team as last season and a very similar strategy, the Kings were ready to start the season and begin their journey to reclaim a championship. The season started out a little disappointing, as the Kings limped out to a .500 record through their first 15 to 20 games. However, about a quarter of the way through the season, the GM of the Detroit Pistons (Aaron Reilly) contacted GM Osburn about the possiblity of a trade. Reilly was struggling in the beginning of the season and was looking for some frontcourt help, and Osburn felt that his Kings needed some better wings for both the future and the long run. While Dale Davis was a key to winning last year's championship, Osburn put his faith in PJ Brown and Greg Ostertag to play alongside Alonzo Mourning and acquired G Eddie Jones for Davis. While Jones struggled to start his stint with the Kings, he soon found his niche as a defensive guard who could score around 15 ppg once GM Osburn suggested a move to an inside focus on offense.
This inside focus didn't help just Jones; Mourning and fellow All-Star Grant Hill are much more suited for an inside offense as opposed to a balance offense and saw their numbers jump because of this change. With the acquisition of Jones, veteran Reggie Miller moved to a backup SG/SF spot and is still providing a scoring punch from outside off the bench.
Once GM Osburn suggested the simple Inside Focus, the Kings have been on cruise control for the last half of the season as they amassed 57 wins (good for 3rd best record in the league) and won the Pacific Division as well as the #1 seed in the Western Conference.
Just today, the Kings completed the first of four legs in their attempt to repeat as the champs. They knocked the LA Clippers off in the first series by a series count of 4-2. Star center Alonzo Mourning put the team on his back through this series as he averaged 38 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. His most outstanding game was a 51 point, 15 rebound effort in Game 2 of the series.
With the way the Kings seem to be playing right now, there is no question that the fans of Sacramento are looking forward to a fun run through these playoffs and a chance at a repeat championship. Only time will tell as to how these Kings do to finish this season and in the near future, but with Mourning, Hill, and Jones locked up for the future, it sure seems as if there will be a lot of playoff drama in Sacramento for quite a while.
