For the first time in 17 years, Sacramento will make the playoffs this season. The Kings indeed represent one of the great stories of the 2022-23 campaign, with a third place in the West as likable as it is surprising. But their lack of experience on the big stage also makes them an ideal opponent in the first round in the eyes of certain teams (Warriors, Lakers…). And that, the coach Mike Brown wants to use it to motivate his troops.
“The Kings are the target. They are guaranteed to finish third in the table, and all those teams that might potentially meet them sense weaknesses in them.
This is what journalist Brian Windhorst said a few days ago on the set of the show Get Up on ESPN. The sequence lasts exactly 34 seconds, and is found today on the phone of Mike Brown, the coach of Sacramento.
Brian Windhorst this morning on ESPN talking regarding the Sacramento Kings: “The Kings are the mark. The Kings are stuck in the No. 3 seed, that’s where they’re going to finish. The Kings are the mark. All of these teams (going for No. 6) smell weakness, not only because they… pic.twitter.com/KUBbuUXkBM
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) March 29, 2023
If the fact of using external doubts as a source of motivation is not original, on the form it is much more. Because not only Mike Brown recorded the clip on his phone, but he also showed it to all his players.
“We are aware of the narrative. And there’s nothing wrong with that, because we deserve it. We haven’t accomplished anything yet. If we’re as good as we think we’ll change this narrative.”
– Mike Brown
The narrative that surrounds the Kings is therefore that of a team which had a very good regular season but which does not have no Playoff experience, while being one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Sacramento, the best attack in the NBA, has indeed only the 24th defensive efficiency in the League, that is to say the worst among the 20 teams currently qualified for the Playoffs or the play-in tournament.
We know that in the postseason, the game tends to slow down and harden, which does not really benefit the teams building their success on their attack, especially if they defend badly. And experience is bound to play an important role in big elimination matches. But as Mike Brown points out, the Kings will have the opportunity from mid-April to prove that they are for real as they say overseas. Proving that their regular campaign is not just a great story, but a taste of things to come.
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Source texte : #thisleague UNCUT podcast
Does Mike Brown really have a video clip in his phone regarding West teams hoping to play his Kings in the playoffs?
And did he really show it to his team?
Yes and yes.
Full episode of the podcast convo here in which he tells @ChrisBHaynes and me the story: https://t.co/yyw6fjqO2f https://t.co/kQJIdPuExE
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 31, 2023