"Really trying to get after it defensively and have a focus on that," Joerger said. "That's what we're going to do as an organization. If we're going to play winning basketball, we feel like we've got to do a better job defensively and we want to set that tone with this crew, especially the guys that will be on the roster."

"We've always been a grit and grind defensive mindset type of system, especially in Memphis, and we're going to bring that here," Turner said. "We're going to pick up the physicality, we're going to put our hands on you; teams are going to know that we're on the floor first. So the scoring may come down a bit, but believe me, the defensive part is going to raise up."

If the Kings do play a tough style of defense, Turner believes it could also help when it comes to the officials.

"If you play that way and you start some type of tradition the officials usually lean in your direction – they'll allow you to do a little bit more than a non-aggressive team," Turner said.

Turner said a lot of the Kings practices are heavily weighted toward defense, with 60 percent of the time focused on that side of the ball. The coaching staff will make the players work at it, constantly show them film and Turner expects them to grasp the defensive schemes.

Time will tell.