Another season, another promise of defense is upon us. Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie preached picking up 94 feet on defense all week last week during training camp.
Until the season begins, it all remains just that – talk. In the meantime, we all can cautiously hope that a team that finished with a defensive rating of 22nd and is bringing much largely the same roster can be better defensively.
To change things on defense, Christie is going to have to get what he can out of every rotational player on the roster, including the ones not exactly known for their defensive prowess. For now, there appears to be some effort shining through, according to some of the players known their defensive ability.
“You see different guys trying, which is the biggest thing. Trying to slide their feet, stay in front of the ball and things like that,” Keegan Murray said.
Keon Ellis, whose minutes this season are going to be interesting to watch, has noticed it too.
“Everyone is really trying to bring it on that end so far. He [Christie] wants us picking up 94 feet, playing physical, making sure we are touching people, so I think we’ve done a good job of that,” Ellis said. “He’s really trying to emphasize everyone picking up 94 feet.”
When Ellis said “everyone” in that quote he added emphasis when he said it.
Two of the players on the roster not exactly known for their defense over the years are DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. Christie was asked about LaVine’s effort on defense during training camp:
“I’m just super excited. He’s been challenged and he’s accepted the challenge. That’s what a real pro does. And then his teammates get to watch him do that and he’s not the only one. DeMar is out there playing defense, like everyone. … I had a clip of him today picking up 94 feet, we all smiled and had a laugh but that’s what winning habits, that’s what those are,” Christie said.
Last Monday at media day, LaVine was asked what how he can elevate his game defensively. He said: “Effort and competitiveness are the main things. … Somebody like me, I’m not going to be Kawhi Leonard overnight [on defense]. I don’t think any of you guys or me are going to expect that, but I think that the competitiveness, us being able to challenge ourselves. I don’t want to be scored on, I don’t think anybody does and I think that is going to be the focus of the team is how can you hold your own yard and then if your teammate does, and sometimes you will get beat, how can we be there to help? If you have a support system that helps our weaknesses, I think we’ll be good.”
Christie realizes the defense isn’t going to go exactly as planned on every play, but if Dennis Schroder is out there picking up 94 feet, he wants other guys to be in that 70-foot zone “so that the pass doesn’t advance up the side of the court.”
Schroder shared his approach.
“Picking up when I have the chance to do it, after free throws, don’t make it comfortable, make it uncomfortable for the opponent and I think everybody else who is behind me has to follow and do the same thing and I think that’s when we create not great environments for the opponent and we dictate how we want to play,” he said.
The calendar continues to inch toward the Kings showing all of this in action.
Guards can get blown-by at 90’ the same as they do at 26’.
The theory of it is great. But I expect a few steals and a lot of wide open layups to be the outcome.
Interested to know how many other NBA teams employ this strategy and how well it works out for them.
Yeah, any of you stat people out there way smarter then us have any insight on that? I am also curious.
I think the Pitino-coached Celtics were the last to try it consistently.
It might work if you employ it sparingly. But once a team is prepared for it it becomes hard.
Is DC talking about full-court pressing all game? I could be wrong but I don’t think so, I think he just wants the opposing PG to be picked up. Make them work to get into their offense.
So have a wing help the PG and bring up the ball, while using some screens to spring the PG free. Solely targeting PG’s sounds like a losing strategy, but what do I know?
Just pester them a bit and make it harder/take longer to get into their O.
That’s about how I’d imagine it going.
Would much rather have Dennis/Keon/Devin cover the lead guard from the opposing team (say Ja Morant for example) in waves, and completely deny him the ball. Use up some fouls as needed. Make them hate playing you.
I am thinking it would be done in “waves” and will have certain “zones” on the court. The guards (Dennis, Keon, Carter, Malik) would be the first line of defense, with the next group (Zach, Keegan, DDR, Nique be waiting around half court or deeper to try and have a layered approach. Will it work throughout the game, for 48 minutes, for 82 games? Absolutely not. But employed/used for portions of the games, I could it see it being effective. Game changing for the better? probably not a whole lot.
I expect some easy baskets because of the pressure that leaves offensive players open, but may result in some steals or making the offense get in to their offensive set later in the clock. Based on the sub-par defenders on the roster, this might be the way they have to play at times.
It all sounds good. I really want Doug to be successful. He deserves it, He deserves a team that buys in and is committed to his strategies. I saw a Drew Eubanks interview where he said this is the hardest training camp he has ever been a part of. I found that interesting. One of the more interesting things that has come out from a lot of normal blah blah blah typical talking points from training camp so far.
I heard that more than a few times in my life as an NBA fan. It’s just a variation on “best shape of my life“. Or a blah blah blah typical talking point, in your words.
Love the idea and hope Doug can succeed in getting consistent 94 feet of defensive pressure . However, for that to happen Zach and DeMar are not likely to play much .
Magical Transformation season is here.
Love this but we still need another strong wing.. with the help of chat I tried to narrow things down … I agree with a lot of people that talk about Tari Eason as a strong fit and with van fleet injured hope there is a chance .. the list has Jonathan Isaac at the top. I personally would rank him two or three. The other players are upside swings that I would look at too.
I think the Kings’ next move has to be finding the right 3/4 or 4/5 forward to balance out the roster around Sabonis, LaVine, Keegan, and (for now) DeRozan. With Fox and Barnes gone, we don’t need another high-usage scorer — we need low-usage, high-impact forwards who can defend, rebound, and fit offensively without demanding the ball.
Here’s how I’d rank the best realistic targets if the Kings are willing to trade either DeRozan or Malik Monk + a protected 1st:
1. Jonathan Isaac (Magic) – If healthy, he’s the perfect defensive PF. Elite switch defender, guards 3–5, and doesn’t need touches. DeRozan + a protected 1st could make sense for both sides: Orlando gets a veteran scorer/playmaker, Kings get their frontcourt stopper. Huge upside, big health risk.
2. Tari Eason (Rockets) – Switchable 3/4 with elite energy, rebounding, and defense. Low usage, thrives in transition and off the ball. Monk + a protected 1st would be attractive for Houston’s bench. Fits beautifully next to Sabonis and LaVine.
3. Dean Wade (Cavs) – More of a role player than a needle-mover, but a clean fit. True stretch-4 who shoots ~37% from three, defends his position, and doesn’t need touches. He’d cost far less than a 1st and could help space the floor for LaVine/Sabonis actions.
4. Leonard Miller (Wolves) – Upside swing. Athletic 6’10” forward who rebounds, runs, and defends, but raw. Monk + a pick could get Minnesota’s attention if they’re chasing scoring. Not plug-and-play right now, but interesting long-term fit.
5. Ousmane Dieng (Thunder) – High upside, but way too raw for the current roster. Would make sense only if the Kings were retooling.
Bottom line:
Isaac (if healthy) is the home run fit.
Eason is the cleanest two-way modern forward to slot between Sabonis and LaVine.
Wade is the low-cost floor spacer fallback.
Miller/Dieng are longer-term swings.
If Sacramento is serious about contending with Sabonis, LaVine, and Keegan, this forward spot can’t be a patchwork job — it has to be where they invest their next real asset.
I’m a bit surprised you rate Dean Wade so highly. For their careers, Eubanks is a better shooter, rebounder, and shot-blocker, as well as being significantly cheaper. During his stint with the Jazz last season, Eubanks spent about 46% of his time at the PF position.
Wade can definitely stretch the floor where Eubanks has made less than 25 3’s over his career and last year shot one about every 9 games. wade has a strong percentage over 35% on 3.8 attempts last year…
I think that you need youth and depth to pull this off.
(Looks at Kings roster.)
Yup. Asking this roster to to defend all 94 feet is like like asking Eubanks to hit more 3’s For the record he’s made at total of 21 threes in 7 years in the NBA, and for reference Alex Len has made 121 threes in his career.
Blood from a turnip.
Atlanta somehow managed to squeeze blood from the Alex Len turnip during the 1 full season he spent with them. He made 74 of his 204 3PAs (36.3%) in the 2018-19 season. Outside of his stint with the Hawks, he has never taken more than 25 3PAs in a season and has made them at a 26.4% clip outside of that full season with the Hawks!
It isn’t realistic for 82 games. And, regardless of the defense, players have to do the things required to defend well. If the Kings players can’t do it in the half court, there isn’t much reason to believe that they will do it full court, either. Or, to put it differently, if the players can do it for 94 feet, they should be able to do it for 47 feet. And these players don’t.
Faced with average talent, Coach (fill in the blank) attempts to establish “out-efforting” everyone as an identity.
Then the grind of the regular season sets in.
I’m so happy that we have Scott Perry as
strawmanleader of this franchise.If this offseason was bold, he’s more conservative than Monte.
Now we just have to get Vivek to follow him!
Vivek seems to be skipping the “acknowledging mistakes and learning from them” stage and is stuck in the “allowing mishaps to define him” stage.
Side topic: Should the Kings pick up Kevin Knox? Warriors have parted ways. He seems like a good fit and a good gamble. Let Dexter Dennis or Daequan Plowden go in exchange for Knox on a 2 way? Size and positional need plus skill set seems to fit a lot better then those two dudes. No disrespect, it’s not their fault this squad has 11 guards and 4 centers out of a total of 19 total players listed on the roster
I’d rather the teem took a chance on a player closer to 20 than to 30 since we’re talking about a player for the Stockton Kings. Use those spots on guys with NBA aspirations, not older guys trying to hand on. I’m looking at you Terrance Davis.
Kevin Knox is only 26. Technically closer to 30 but… He is still young and has potential to fit / fill a need now. Clearly they are trying to win now. Knox seems like a good gamble for the big team. to me at least. I’m sure there will be some other names out there that might be on the younger side which would fit your preference better. same concept though. I dont get why any 2 way contracts are being used on guards. All 4 should be small forwards or power forwards. period.
Hey I agree we need to have every potential invite for guys between 6’’7 and 7 foot that can play 3/4 and hope we find a diamond in the rough
I’m also a Raiders fan . Everything before the football season sounded great coming out of the Raiders training camp too…..
Great point.
I’m interested how the season will go. I’m not excited.
Well the Kings aren’t too great, but the Raiders & Davis are even worse. One of the worst owners in sports, hands down and they’ll never win with him there. As an ex-Raider fan myself, I suggest you do yourself a favour my man, and find a new team.
IIRC, mdeedublu is not a man.
Nobody is worse (or more irrelevant) than Vivek’s Kings.
Even the Raiders have appeared in the playoffs twice in the time Vivek has been in Sac… In a league that is much more difficult to qualify.
“Christie realizes the defense is going to go exactly as planned on every play…”
Typ-o? It’s a big one!
The Reno Bighorns–the Kings’ former D-league affiliate before abandoning Reno–played true 94 foot basketball for 48 minutes under coach Dave Arsenault, now head coach at Grinnell College. All 10 players continuously rotated in, and were phenomenally conditioned. I loved watching those high-scoring games.
Current mood:
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