Let me tell you a story. There was once an NBA franchise suffering through a stretch of historic futility, a team with a passionate and loyal fanbase known for cranking their arena’s decibel readings to obscene levels despite having almost no taste of success at the highest level. Then, everything changed; this franchise rose from the ashes behind an electric 25 year old point guard, making the playoffs and facing off against a battle-tested dynasty with four rings on their fingers.
Is this story about the Sacramento Kings or the Golden State Warriors?
Yes.
It was exactly ten years ago that the Warriors burst onto the Playoff scene. The Warriors had made the Playoffs only once in the previous eighteen seasons, cycling through coaches, lottery picks, and front offices. But one glorious season they finally broke through, winning 47 games riding the sharpshooting brilliance of a 25 year old Steph Curry. The Warriors traded their other star guard to accomodate Curry, who was beloved to the Warriors fanbase; early in his career, he promised Warriors fans that good times were going to come at a time things looked bleak.
Promise to all the Warrior fans…we will figure this thing out…if it's the last thing we do we will figure it out
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) November 12, 2009
Fast forward to 2023. The Kings haven’t made the playoffs in sixteen seasons, the longest drought in NBA history. The franchise cycled through a comical number of coaches and front offices, and even survived several attempts to relocate the team. They finally broke through to the tune of 48 wins, led by a 25 year old De’Aaron Fox who established himself as the league’s premier clutch performer. The Kings also traded a rising star guard in a controversial deal to build around Fox. And Fox is similarly beloved in Sacramento, also promising the tortured Kings fanbase early on that he would bring the franchise back to relevance.
In the 2013 Playoffs, the Warriors upset the higher-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round to set up a showdown with the San Antonio Spurs. That Spurs team, who would go on to the Finals that season and win another championship in 2014, was led by the winningest trio in NBA history: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. The franchise hung four championship banners in their arena and was widely respected across the NBA for both their success and organizational excellence.
That Warriors team fell to the Spurs in six games, still needing tweaks to become the dynasty we see today. They added Andre Iguodala the next season, a veteran point forward and elite defender raising the team’s collective IQ on both ends of the court. A couple of seasons later, they made a bold coaching change from Mark Jackson to Steve Kerr, who would transform team’s offense into an absolute juggernaut. Former All-Star David Lee suffered an injury, paving the way for the emergence of Draymond Green, the team’s emotional leader and defensive captain. The changes culminated in a championship in 2015, and three more rings would follow, the latest banner raised just last season.
And that leads us to this series between the Warriors and Kings.
Now I’m not saying the Kings are guaranteed a future dynasty. They probably also need tweaks in key areas to truly contend for a championship, particularly on the defensive end. That’s a process that could take several seasons; it may never happen at all. The point of this history lesson is to appreciate a really cool moment in time, to reflect on where the Kings are as they gear up to take on the class of the Western Conference. Back in 2013, nobody expected the Warriors to be as dominant as they would become. The Kings at the same point are a blank slate. They’ve had a magical season in their return to relevance, but the future is just as exciting.
The Playoffs are so different from the regular season it may as well be a different sport. Over the season, teams focus on working on themselves and build consistent habits, making small changes as opponents cycle at a feverish pace. In the playoffs, your opponent spends two weeks obsessing on you, and you alone. It has a way of exposing weaknesses in your team that you didn’t even know existed. And defeat means going back to the drawing board in the offseason to reload and try again next year.
Win or lose, this is where the Beam Team’s story will begin. And I can’t wait to see what is written next.
A delightful appetizer for what’s to come, Omer!
In the Warriors movie, I guess we are the Boppers?
>
I mean, let’s not even talk about the Sacramento Surge.
You mean 1992 World (Bowl) Champion Sacramento Surge!? 😁
Hell yeah!
I watched it in person!
who will be the backup center in this series? Metu?
I’d have to imagine its going to be a healthy dose of Lyles and Metu this series considering they tend to go small after Looney subs.
That might be good for the Kings. Most of their success this year came with Metu in the rotation. And Lyles pairs well with him in the frontcourt.
Agreed. I really enjoyed seeing the improvement from both of them this year
To be the man, you have to beat the man!
I’m constantly reminding people the Warriors were the Kings before 2014. They seem to forget how miserable they were outside of the we believe team. Tides turn quick in sports.
LFG
LTB
We can let them use the beam to light up the bay bridge
We are the young and hungry left-handed lion.
They are the old, former-Golden (state?) Boy.
Many people thought Pacquio was going to get killed, and the opposite happened.
People are sleeping on the Kings, and are in for a rude awakening.
Let’s grab that torch.
Maybe, but Manny is still a homophobic douchebag.
Yep, his comments about homosexuals are terrible.
How do you feel about Terrence Davis? (honest question)
I’ll get back to you when TD decides to build an entire political career around them.
ok!
Wait, did TD say something stupid since he has been in Sac?
I knew about the DV issue and his Covid idiocy, but I thought he had kept it pretty clean since getting here. I wasn’t a fan of the acquisition, but I’m also not going to condemn someone in their early 20s for being a moron as long as they are willing to grow up. I was a tremendous idiot in my early 20s but fortunately nobody really cared.
I cared. I’d hoped for so much more for you.
HB is a big x factor in this series given his playoff experience and GS ties. I think we know Fox and Sabonis will play well, but who’s going to be that third guy? I think it will be HB or perhaps KH. We need a lot from both of those two to have a chance in this series.
Another potentional x factor, Davion for his defense on Steph. Usually, even with his defensive prowess, Davion can be a liability due to his size, but that’s not an issue on Curry. We really need him to slow Curry down just a touch. I’m expecting increased minutes for Davion and an overall reduction in size at the 4 and 5.
I wouldn’t bank on slowing down Curry. He’s going to get his points regardless of who is guarding him. If I’m coach Brown, I’m going to try and focus on Klay and Poole. Warriors don’t win without them scoring. I expect a heavy dose of Mitchell on Poole and Edwards on Klay.
So the whole let the superstar get his but shut down the supporting players. Not a bad idea.
Davion slowed down Curry during the regular season. Team fared better against the dubs when Davion had a few more minutes.
Yes, Davion’s defense will be needed.
I think HB will be an afterthought Esp, if Wiggens rounds into form early. HB cannot handle him, at all. The X factor is actually Sabonis.
Curry doesn’t need the ball to coax Sabonis space. leaving Sac pretty much worthless around the rim.
Wiggens and Green will run a side ball screen, Sabonis fearful of Curry getting space to launch a potential pick from Looney.
The Kings will put 2 on the ball. Worried about Wiggens attacking Huerter in s switch. Huerter is not very athletic and will also get run around by The Kinetic Wiggens.
This will force Barnes to commit to the roll man. The Dubs pass with speed and precision. That will leave Sabonis with way too uch ground to cover to effectively contest the shot. Higgens
Dubs will make Sabonis defend in space. Especially with Wiggens return. They will always have 3 high powered shooters on the floor at all times.
Without Wiggens, this series is very winnable for the Kings. With a healthy Wiggens, Dubs certainly have the edge. Wiggens is their best perimeter defender. No one on the Kings roster can match his length and versatility on the wing. Not even Barnes.
Wiggens outscored Barnes 75-9 IN the 3 meetings this year. That is complete domination. Wiggens was a paramount reason The Dubs won the championship last year.
I have never heard kinetic used as as adjective describing a human. I will be adding it to my vocabulary
This is going to be a true test. The Warriors are going to be back to full strength with Wiggins returning. Their traditional starting 5 of Curry, Klay, Wiggins, Green and Looney played in just 27 games together this year. They are basically the same core team that won it all last year. In looking at the odds makers, the Kings are already the underdogs.
Kings need to bring their A game. Winning this series would make me the happiest Kings fan in some 20+ years.
Curry > Fox
Klay = KH, but slight edge to Klay
Wiggins = HB, slight edge to Wiggins
Douchebag > Keegan
Looney < Sabonis
Bench = Bench
This is a goofy way to look at things but it’s fun. Duds clearly have the edge.
It’s going to take a mighty effort to overthrow the dynasty.
I never wish injury on players but that’s probably one advantage we have; a lot of recent injury history for Step, Klay and Wiggins that could easily turn the series.
I dunno, I think Keegan is better than Luke Walton.
Keegan not only watches the tape, but he presses the play button with his off-hand!
Uh.. sadly no. Or at least I don’t think so. I believe that isn’t his (Keegan’s) off hand. That is Kris pressing the button.
but don’t quote me on that.
You could tell cuz he was smiling…lol
I still laugh at Joe Lacob getting booed at Chris Mullins honoring day (I’m not sure if they raised the banner or not; I don’t give 2 shits of one iota what they do out there) because he dared trade Monta Ellis. The same Monta Ellis, fans on this here site, compared Fox to. I’m curious to think if those that felt that way 8 months ago feel the same today.
There was no reason to believe Steph would be a 2 time MVP or 4 time champion either. His ankle injuries were incredibly serious, so much so the Dubs got him on a steep discount on the 4 yr 44M extension that is probably the greatest to value contract in NBA history outside of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson’s salaries in the 80s (and 90s in MJs case).
It’s funny what people actually remember, but I never thought Steve Kerr would be a great head coach. (Whoops.) I didn’t think that was a championship core, either, because I underestimated the value they were able to create on the perimeter. Of course, as all championship level teams usually do, they broke a mold. They did things that were said that couldn’t be done to win a title. MJs Bulls were of the same mold, too.
It is what it is. Every franchise has their path. The Kings, of course, are no different. They’ve forged an unique and unusual path. I’m old enough to remember when you couldn’t win games with Sabonis as the only big on the floor because he wasn’t enough offering up enough rim protection or shot creation. Whoops. I’m old enough to remember when De’Aaron Fox couldn’t be an All Star or a top player on a winning team (much less a 50 win quality team like this one). I’m just…. old and cranky.
I am old enough to remember when the Kings weren’t supposed to beat Dallas in the ’02 semis and Bibby and Jackson made games 3 & 4 into a layup line on the way to the Kings winning the series 4-1. So much so… there was a banner about it in the Mavs practice court for the entirety of the 02-03 season. And all the Kingdom remembers about the ’03 series is Chris Webber crumpled into a heap in game 1 in Dallas.
Anyhoo, doesn’t matter really what gets said, who remembers what, and so forth. It was a fun season, provided so many fun, memorable moments and what not. Enjoy these playoffs because soon, very soon, you’ll expect them to win every game, every night, against every opponent, and when they don’t you’ll be upset. (Or whatever.) I’m excited because I think the Kings match up very well with the Dubs, and championship banners, historical legacies and the like do not play basketball. Humans do, and in basketball terms those humans in the GSW unis are rather old. If the Kings maintain their composure, don’t let Dray-day play his monkey games, don’t get caught up in the antics, storylines, and what not, they’ll win this series. Narratives be damned, the Kings are more talented. They are deeper 1-7 and that matters alot. Can Fox and Sabonis do their part as stars? I think yes. Sabonis’ issues in Indy during the playoffs will be brought up but this is a different team and different construction. Incidentally, this is also the first series where Sabonis is on the team with the higher seed and an actual home court to go with it (Indy was the 4 seed in the 2020 bubble playoffs then got smoked by Miami in that 1st rd).
We’ll see where this goes and my prediction is Kings in 6. But if the Kings don’t lose their heads, it could be Kings in 5. The Kings are the more talented team, and all the Dubs really have is their past success propping them up as the favorite. I love the Kings odds of shocking the world. And be doubted all over again when they play the Lakers in the 2nd rd.
This could probably use an edit, to avoid any misplaced accusations of ugliness.
Probably. But I am old and cranky and forgot to add what I was going to write. Oh wellzies.
The story is that the fans booed Lacob and Mullin because of the Ellis trade, but I think it was cover for the fact the Oakland fans were booing because Lacob had announced a new arena in SF.
Won’t argue that. That move to SF certainly pissed off alot of fans.
Great article and a fun comparison.
I just hope that The Beam Team isn’t the Kings version of the We Believe Team. I’d be surprised, because what we’re building looks a lot more sustainable and with growth potential.
didn’t “we believe” start with the sign lady against Utah in 1999?
… yeah, that’s when Cher’s song “believe” reached #1, March 1999, and I’m pretty sure people were holding up “believe” signs in the playoffs. it was pretty cool that the warriors rode the believe train, and the dubs are a cool team and all, but I think the Kings started it in 1999.
Given how loaded the West is, we shouldn’t take for granted this season and the playoffs. We could easily be a play in team next year. That’s not a knock on the Kings, the West is just that loaded with parity and teams with talent and capital. Not a far stretch to assume the Mavs, Blazers or Jazz being playoff teams next year.
Parity has definitely arrived in the Western Conference. It took all 82 games to determine the seedings as teams 6 – 12 went down to the wire, with teams 13 & 14 in the mix up until last week. That said, the Kings could just as easily be in the 1 or 2 seed next year as the Play-Ins. Watching their success battling through one hell of a schedule this year, I’m fairly confident they’ll be closer to the 1 seed than the 8th once again.
Reminded me of a scene from one of my favorite movies, 24 Hour Party People, when the main character gives money to a homeless person and receives words from the philosophy Beothius on the vicissitudes of fortune:
It’s my belief that history is a wheel. “Inconstancy is my very essence,” says the wheel. “Rise up on my spokes if you like, but don’t complain when you’re cast back down into the depths. Good times pass away, but then so do the bad. Mutability is our tragedy, but it’s also our hope. The worst of times, like the best, are always passing away.”
It’s the Kings; time to rise up!
Everyone thinking the Warriors won a prize by getting the 6th seed reminds one of a certain movie:
https://twitter.com/LaBradfordS/status/1645503041699995648?s=20
there is a reason why they call him “Windy”.
Dissin’ Sac isn’t anything new. To be on the fair – The regular season is history, the playoffs a mystery.
This is the time for talk. Pundits gonna pundit, that’s what they are paid to do. And here we are respondin’ to it and everything.
I stopped counting 20 years ago. And that was before social media. It hasn’t improved in the years since.
I’ll allow for the possibility that he’s right, but will permit no debate on the fact that he hasn’t seen his own dick since the nineties.
As a fellow Ohioan…..I appreciate the courtesy you’ve offered Windy.
I highly doubt he’s ever been able to look down and see his dick, though. And I say that as someone who has been very overweight most of my adult life.
Ugh, I didn’t know that he was from Ohio. The rest of us are great, though.
Yeah he’s from Akron. Why do you think he’s the appointed LeBron James dickrider?
😂😂😂
Honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever watched him on television or online, and didn’t know he carried James’ balls around in his mouth. He’s just a guy I hear about second-hand who seems to say a lot of dumb things.
For whatever reason, he started covering Lebron in his HS years. That translated to a number of jobs including ESPN.
(I’m going to assume you’re being serious. If not, I understand. You are Andy Sims after all.)
I would take it a little farther and suggest that he hasn’t seen his feet for decades but WTF does that have to do with his knowledge of the league, it’s front offices, it’s coaches and players. He appears to be dialed in with relationships with the movers and shakers in the league. He surely has the East Coast bias that he shares with most of his ESPN co-workers and fellow analysts. The dude has paid his dues and is respected thru the league and has nothing to do with his Hobbit body.
I would like to see Mike Brown more engaged in play calling deep in the game. Especially when the offense sputters and points are hard to come by.
The Kings tend to lean toward hero ball at times (Fox, Barnes) instead of finding and leaning on the hot hand (Keegan, Lyles, Monk, etc.)or rewarding hard workers. Call plays for Keegan late in the game, see what you get, he tends to play well at what he does best and limit mistakes. Sabonis in the post may be a strong advantage. Get the ball in the paint and manipulate the defense for perimeter options, gang rebound, pressure the ball on defense before the opponent is ready to initiate offensive sets. Throw their offensive timing off.
Basketball in fast game that generally favors the aggressor on either side of the ball. Be that aggressor. Luke Louts spoke of increasing the pace even more in the playoffs, I like this plan.
Historically, the game slows down in the playoffs but the future does not have to equal the past. This Kings team is historic in their own identity and have an opportunity to outpace their opponents.
I would like to see Mike Brown unroll all of the intel on the Warriors from his days in Golden State.
If we’re going to make any noise in the playoffs, we were gonna have to play the Warriors anyway. Bring them on.
One thing that’s always bothered me is the hate Cousins got vs. the hate Draymond gets (which he’s always deserved more hate than he gets). Draymond plays dirty, and I hate that shit. Cousins just whined. If we win this series, it would be so much sweeter by knocking Draymond out.
Both Cousins and Draymond were involved in Nut Altercations of some sort.
Cousins had a few dirty plays that stood out, for Draymond playing dirty is the norm. The antics and non stop games are a joke. If the NBA actually followed it’s rules he’d have four or five times the amount of technicals he actually received.
Oh man, I can’t wait to boo Draymond.
He’s the perfect foil, especially with his preseason comments about the Kings.
May he suffer the wrath of 16 years of basketball hell.
Please don’t don’t boo!
A few things I want to see play out and what sort of adjustments coach Brown makes to the below:
Perimeter Defense – Golden State can light it up from 3, and the Kings seem to have trouble guarding out there. What adjustment will be made?
Big men running point – who wins the battle of Draymond and Domas dropping dimes?
Kings advantage – how will the Warriors defend Domas? Who hits the big shots when he is double-teamed?
Foul trouble – could easily see Golden State attacking a certain player (might be someone different each game). How much will Fox or Ox on the bench with 4 fouls be a factor?
Bench tidal wave – can either team’s bench out duel the other?
The more I think about it, the more I’m inclined to think this can be really close – and possibly decided by some bad calls, 50-50 balls, or foul trouble. I think momentum will be a key; and just super excited that a potential final game will be at Golden1.
Light the beam!
My friend and I were able to buy tickets at a reasonable price from a STH for game 1. Nosebleeds, but who cares? Not me!
And they’re in section214. The section, not the person.
So, pants are optional!
I’d still like to attend a watch party, especially with TKH folks, so hopefully TKH makes something official?
I’ll to attend a pants optional watch party. It would be cool if there was a playoff game to look at too.
I was invited to a pants party once, but my mom said I wasn’t allowed to go.
I’ll be in 215 for some games and 121 for others.
The Warriors appear to be a prohibitive betting favorite. One site had the Warriors at -295 and the Kings at +225.
But I think that the young, hungry team is going to win.
People know about Fox and Sabonis, but don’t really know them like they know the big stars around the league. Fans nationally are going to discover how good they really are.
I think that Murray and Mitchell will be huge factors. Both are the kind of smart players that make plays to win games, and the TV audience is going to be amazed at how well Mitchell plays defense. They will have national reputations after this series.
Kings in 6.
I saw on twitter that a fan won over $30,000 for betting $150 for the Kings to win the Pacific Division.
Hoping for more Kings success!
I think HB will be an afterthought Esp, if Wiggens rounds into form early. HB cannot handle him, at all. The X factor is actually Sabonis.
Curry doesn’t need the ball to coax Sabonis space. leaving Sac pretty much worthless around the rim.
Wiggens and Green will run a side ball screen, Sabonis fearful of Curry getting space to launch a potential pick from Looney.
The Kings will put 2 on the ball. Worried about Wiggens attacking Huerter in s switch. Huerter is not very athletic and will also get run around by The Kinetic Wiggens.
This will force Barnes to commit to the roll man. The Dubs pass with speed and precision. That will leave Sabonis with way too much ground to cover to effectively contest the shot.
Dubs will make Sabonis defend in space. Especially with Wiggens return. They will always have 3 high powered shooters on the floor at all times.
Without Wiggens, this series is very winnable for the Kings. With a healthy Wiggens, Dubs certainly have the edge. Wiggens is their best perimeter defender. No one on the Kings roster can match his length and versatility on the wing. Not even Barnes.
Wiggens outscored Barnes 75-13 IN the 3 meetings this year. That is complete domination. Wiggens was a paramount reason The Dubs won the championship last year.
Wiggins. With an i
Also, he hasn’t played in 3 months.
If Wiggins plays more than 15-20 minutes a game, I will be surprised. He may not play even that until near the end of the series.
Badge Legend