Mike Brown identifies three things Kings must do to win Game 7 vs. Warriors
Brown identifies three things Kings must do to win Game 7 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Just one year ago, Kings coach Mike Brown was an assistant with the Golden State Warriors on their way to a fourth NBA title in eight seasons.
Now he's on the other side of the court as Sacramento's leader, preparing to face his former team in a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday at Golden 1 Center.
So, after taking Game 6 from Golden State on its home court Friday, does Brown have an idea of how to snatch the opening-round NBA playoff series from the defending champion's clutches? Of course he does, and there are three main factors: Physicality, pace and confident shooting.
"We've got to play with physicality on both ends of the floor," Brown told reporters after the Kings' 118-99 win over the Warriors. "I don't have any magic dust, you know. We've got to play with physicality offensively, defensively. We've got to be strong with the ball offensively, we've got to make sure that they feel us defensively, we've got to box out, and then we got to get out and run. We've got to play fast, not just in the full court, but in the half-court as well.
"We've got to have a pace about us that is going to help create some separation so we can get some looks, and all of us, from [Domantas Sabonis] on down, we need to let it fly. If you're open, I don't care, let that thing go."
As the team with the highest regular-season offensive rating in NBA history in 2022-23 (119.4), the Kings shouldn't have a problem letting it fly. But against the likes of four-time NBA champions Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, who are all too familiar with the intensity of a Game 7, setting the tone early with physicality and a fast pace will be incredibly important.
Brown knows his former players will be hungry to quiet the Golden 1 Center crowd again, just as they did in Game 5.
"We're going to have to play at our best. Again, they're the champions," Brown continued. "We're going to have to play at an elite level for 48 minutes against these guys because they're going to bring it, trust me. They're going to absolutely fricking bring it from the beginning to the end of the game, because both teams know that their backs are against the wall.
"They have been through it, they have had the experience of figuring it out, and so we're going to have to come and play at a high level doing all the things that I've been talking about."
Sacramento's small-ball lineup proved pivotal in Game 6, with the Kings showing they most certainly are the younger, faster team on the court. And while the Warriors struggled to keep up Friday, Brown hopes the Kings can put together an even-more-complete package on the court in Game 7.
After four 3-pointers in the first half of Game 6, rookie Keegan Murray went quiet in the third and fourth quarters -- but he still found a way to contribute, snagging 12 rebounds in what ended up being a double-double performance. And Sacramento sharpshooter Kevin Huerter didn't score in the first half, but the guard notched a trio of threes in the second half.
They both will need to keep Brown's "let it fly" mantra in mind Sunday, the coach said,.
"It's going to -- well, more than get going, they both got to shoot when they're open. So that's the first thing," Brown said. "Then, on top of that, they can't hesitate. On top of that, I mean, obviously, the more that they get going, that's the less pressure it's on [De'Aaron] Fox and Domas to try to have to score. Because they're going to pay a lot of attention to Fox, they're paying a lot of attention to Malik [Monk].
"Those guys are doing a great job of getting downhill, and so they're going to have some opportunities to get some spray threes, and so, yeah, to help us out if they can make them, but more than make them, they got to make sure they take them, but we got to make sure we find them, too."
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The Kings can expect a fired up Warriors team to storm into Sacramento on Sunday. Because, as history shows, Golden State responds well to adversity, and it has been here before.
But even though Sacramento doesn't have any recent NBA playoff experience, the team has plenty of heart -- and talent, evidenced by the last six games. If the Kings keep doing what they've been doing with Brown's pointers in mind, Game 7 should be yet another must-watch matchup.
