The whole concept of bringing in veterans only makes sense, when you assume, that those veterans already know how to win, how to keep themselves accountable and how to work hard enough to succeed. So basically it shouldn't take a veteran team much time to establish a certain culture. I'm not interested at all in "I told you so"-statements and the loss to the 76ers without Embiid stings, but how do you explain the third quarter, where we gifted the 76ers 42 points? How do you explain that Tj McConnell walked through our defense all night? How do you explain, that our Kings team seems to be unable to keep their energy level up for entire games and routinely lets opponents climb back into the game?
You know a true pessimist always percheives pessimism as realism....
It is life? ;-)
Kings have veterans but are not veteran team. I agree that veterans can fit in the existing system quickly, but there was no existing system with the Kings for them to fit to.
What they can do, and are doing help establish the system with younger guys, and when they go (or stay) their successors have system to fit in. New coach also needs the time to figure out what is the system he wants to establish. He might have vision, but devil (and needed time) are in the details. Joerger did say that to anyone who wanted to listen that this year is system first, playoff second.
I would take odds on the young team that plays 3 years together over veterans that just gathered (and not start quality) any time of the day, when looking at the system alone.
About one quarter collapse, why did 76's collapsed in the first? Lazy to check, but I bet I can find collapse of Cavs/Warriors/Clips per quarter like that. It is a beauty and part of the sport that those things happen. Check the last 10 seconds. How did that happen to 76's?
It does not show that 76's are great, and nobody is arguing that Kings are great either. What is your explanation?
Regarding not keeping energy, that is a funny thing. That last question only a month ago would be laughable because Kings were doing the opposite, digging themselves in the hole and catching up. There is no rule attached to that question.
Point is, Kings are not getting blown away almost any game this year (though perfect blowout game is coming), nor are quitting in any game this year. There are no internal struggles, changes in the lineup are not erratic (might have been better if faster , like Ben's removal), in short team is playing better.
Why are you expecting Kings to play better than Philly this year?
Btw, true pessimist is always afraid they are too optimistic.