Adrian Wojnarowski’s report on the Kings is jaw dropping, and shows the flaws in a system that puts finances over true basketball knowledge.
How else can you explain Vivek Ranadive being allowed to treat the Kings like a fantasy basketball league, juggling ideas and lineups anytime he wishes.
According to Wojnarowski, Tyrone Corbin and the next official head coach will be forced to utilze a degree of four on five defense, that allows for a guard to leak out and get a basketball by cherry picking at the other end of the court.
“How Karl would deal with Ranadive will be fascinating, too. The owner played the part of a fantasy league owner, treating the Kings like a science experiment. He shared tactical experiences with Malone about coaching his child’s youth team, and pressed him to consider playing four-on-five defense, leaking out a defender for cherry-picking baskets. Some semblance of that strategy is expected to be employed with Corbin now, a source told Yahoo Sports.
The Kings are constructed around a powerhouse post player, Cousins. They aren’t built to play fast, but this is ownership’s mantra. The Kings are playing a version of the fast-break game with their Reno affiliate in the D-League, and it’s a window into the owner’s futuristic vision for the Kings.
That would explain Ranadive believing he could add Josh Smith to an already volatile mix of DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. Ranadive should be called into Adams Silver’s office immediately.
I find it hard to believe that fans will want to watch a team that simply allows a player to stand near half-court so that his teammates can get quick outlet pass off a missed or made shot.
Can you remember how many pick-up games were ended or turned into fights because some guys on the other team don’t play defense, and simply leak out for the easy long outlet pass.