2016 Record: 23-9
The Pick:
KINGS -1.5 over WOLVES
Here's the angle:
The Kings just had their first game at the Golden 1 Center.
If there were three teams I would not want to play if I were the Kings, it would be the Cavs, Warriors and Spurs for the opening of that arena.
What does the NBA do to the Kings, a franchise and fan base that may have suffered more than any other?
They scheduled the Spurs on the grand opening.
In short, they fu**ed them. The fear of god had to be inside Dave Joerger when he saw how easily the Spurs dismantled the almighty Warriors and then had to open this arena against them.
And despite that, the Kings lead every second until 2:33 in the third 69-68 and then, in a VERY un-KING-like fashion came back to tie it at 83-83 in the 4th.
This is the what Dave Joerger brings to the table as does a more mature and physically superior Cousins.
I said to myself ALL offseason I would bet the Kings ML on that opening night if it wasn't one of those three teams.
And there it was staring at me...the Spurs.
Despite not winning outright, the bettor on the Kings spread won as the Kings covered the 8.5 by .5 point.
Now we get a gift.
The Kings can make up for the grand opening dud and christen their stadium right.
It comes against a young and talented Wolves team. The Wolves had a 17 lead and blew it. Thib's post game comment: "We need more discipline." Sounds just like...the Kings.
Playing under Thibs is tough. He is a task-master and drives you hard in practice. The results pay off in the long-term, but in the short-term there will be struggles. And what can be shorter than 2 games?
This is a tough way to open the season: Back to back road games @ Memphis and now they must immediately fly out West to play the Kings who have 2 consecutive home games. Travel to Sacto is not easy. Teams are said to despise it.
Don't underestimate the opening of the Golden 1 Arena and the influence it has over the players. Getting a win there is important, especially the first.
Look at the quotes:
Cousins:
“It was beautiful, man, as much as this city has been through as much as they fought, they were more than deserving of this night. I wish we could have sealed the deal with a win, but we’ve got 80 more so we can make it up later.”
Coach Joerger:
“That was a tremendous night for the community. Our guys really felt the love. All the work that everybody has put into this in keeping this franchise here and opening up this building is just beautiful. So really excited, it was a fantastic night. I wish we could have got the win.”
Barnes:
“I think it’s great. Our focus is basketball, obviously, but I know how big this is for the city. They came out and supported us tonight and we really appreciate that and I think we put a great effort. We’re not looking for moral victories here, we think we’re a better team than that, but we played well tonight and if we play with that kind of intensity throughout the season we’re going to have a good season.”
And now, look at what the players are saying under Joerger. This isn't just lip service folks, this is a change in mindset. And mindset drives the body and output on the court:
As far as the way the team has played in its first two games, it is pretty obvious how Joerger has made an impact. The players are actually rotating on defense and with Joerger’s goal to play this way the entire game, the Kings look a lot different than the teams we have seen over the last 10 years. This was highlighted by a comment from Barnes.
Barnes:
“I was listening to the guys on the bench that were here last year saying, ‘We would have gave up or this team, we would have lost by 30,’ type of things. So we’re slowly, but surely, trying to change the culture again,” Barnes said. “You can’t control whether your shots go in, but one of the things you can do is control how hard you play and that’s something that we preach every day.”
Cousins supported this by saying that the Kings would have lost a game like Thursday’s game by 25 to 30 points last season.
NEW ARENA, NEW COACH, CHANGE IN MINDSET, FLUID PLAY, TEAMWORK, A WINNABLE GAME vs. A YOUNG TEAM TRAVELING WEST, VIRTUALLY NO SPREAD TO DEAL WITH, A RAUCOUS FAN BASE, AN ARENA CHRISTENING OPPORTUNITY, A TEAM THAT APPRECIATES THE BLESSING OF THE CONFINES OF THIS ARENA AND WILL FEED OFF THE ENERGY OF THE FANS WHO HAVE LONGED FOR THIS AGAINST A REASONABLE FOE...
Folks, if after all that, you say Wolves +1.5, I can't help ya!
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