"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Arco Arena!" The home DJ's voice boomed through the speakers, sending waves of excitement rippling through the packed crowd. "We are thrilled to kick off the Kings' 2014-15 season right here with all of you! Tonight, your Sacramento Kings will take on the Golden State Warriors!"
The deafening roar from the fans shook the arena, their energy almost lifting the roof. After the success of the Kings Defend Movement, the bond between the Sacramento fans and their team had never been stronger. Every seat in the arena was filled, the atmosphere electric with anticipation.
Inside the Kings' locker room, Coach Malone stood with his arms crossed, looking over his players. "Alright, boys, it's time to show everyone what we've been working on this summer." His voice was steady, but the fire in his eyes was unmistakable. "The Warriors are tough. They're one of the strongest teams in the league, no question. But we're not afraid of anyone. This year, we're gunning for the playoffs, and to get there, we face the toughest teams head-on."
The players roared in response, their fists coming together in a unified circle. "We must win!" they chanted in unison.
Sitting courtside, Jake watched the scene unfold. Dressed in a floral shirt under a relaxed suit, he looked more like a vacationer than the general manager of the Kings. His gaze was locked onto the Warriors as they warmed up on the court. This team, he knew, was on the verge of greatness. The rise of the Warriors dynasty was imminent, and the battles between them and LeBron's Cavaliers would soon dominate the Finals.
Unless I change that.
Jake wasn't one to sit back and let things unfold. His eyes scanned the Warriors' players, sizing them up one by one like prey.
Across the court, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, in his gray suit, noticed Jake's intense gaze. "Who's that?" Kerr asked, turning to his assistant.
"That's Jake, the new Kings GM. He's been making some interesting moves this offseason—no one knows exactly what he's up to."
Kerr raised an eyebrow. "We'll have to keep an eye on him. I've got a feeling he's going to be a challenge down the line."
Kerr's assistant nodded in agreement. The truth was, Kerr and Jake shared a connection. Kerr had been molded by Gregg Popovich during his playing career with the Spurs, and by Eastern traditions, that made Kerr Jake's senior. But this wasn't a friendly reunion—this was war.
In the TNT studio, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith were already breaking down the upcoming game.
"No doubt about it, the Warriors have the edge," Kenny said with confidence. "Curry and Klay are quickly becoming the most dangerous backcourt duo in the league. Meanwhile, the Kings are starting two second-year players, CJ McCollum and Ben McLemore."
"I'm with you on that," Shaq added, nodding. "But I'm curious about Rudy Gay moving to the power forward spot. It's a big shift from the projected twin towers of Cousins and Mozgov."
"Definitely something new from Coach Malone," Kenny replied. "Oh, and here we go—the game's starting!"
The two teams met at center court for the tip-off. DeMarcus Cousins easily out-jumped David Lee, tapping the ball to McCollum. CJ took a deep breath, bringing the ball up past half-court. His primary defender, Steph Curry, crouched low, his eyes fixed on him.
Stick to the play, CJ. You've got this. Don't mess it up.
CJ called for the play, and Rudy Gay came up to set a pick. Harrison Barnes, guarding Gay, was quick to anticipate, ready to switch at any moment. CJ seized the opportunity, cutting hard past Curry, who was momentarily delayed by Gay's screen. But just as CJ prepared to drive into the lane, Barnes stepped up to block his path.
The Warriors had countered the pick-and-roll perfectly—but CJ had anticipated this. With a sly grin, he faked the shot, drawing both Barnes and Curry's attention. In that instant, he whipped the ball to Ben McLemore, who was waiting in the far corner.
While the pick-and-roll had been developing, McLemore and small forward Omri Casspi had crossed positions, confusing the defense. Now, as Ben caught the ball, Klay Thompson sprinted to close out—but he was too late. Cousins set a hard screen, cutting Klay off from the play. With no defender in sight, Ben lined up the shot and fired.
Swish!
The net snapped as the ball dropped through, a perfect three-pointer. Kenny Smith couldn't hold back his excitement.
"Great shot! That was textbook execution," Kenny exclaimed. "The ball handler drew the defense away, and they found the open man in the corner. A flawless offensive play."
"That's right," Shaq agreed. "And what's even more impressive is that the play was set up and finished by sophomores. The Kings are showing some real growth here."
The two analysts had seen the transformation immediately. Last season, the Kings had played a scattered, chaotic style of basketball, relying too heavily on isolation plays. But now, under Coach Malone, they looked organized and disciplined—like a finely tuned machine.
The game resumed quickly. Curry brought the ball up the court for the Warriors, signaling with a glance to Draymond Green. Draymond set a solid pick, and Curry deftly slid to the right, launching a three-pointer.
Swish.
The Warriors answered immediately, and Coach Malone frowned from the sidelines. He knew defending Curry's shot was one of the toughest tasks in the league.
As the game wore on, the tension in the arena only grew. Jake could feel it in the air—the Kings were playing well, but the Warriors were relentless. This was only the beginning of the season, but for Jake, it was the first test in what would be a long and challenging road.
"Play the No. 2 tactic!" CJ shouted as he dribbled past half-court, making a quick gesture. Immediately, Rudy Gay stepped forward, took the ball, and moved to the top of the arc.
Kenny Smith's voice on the broadcast crackled with surprise. "Wait a minute—look at this setup!"
Gay held the ball at the top, while three Kings players stationed themselves around the three-point line. Inside, Cousins had positioned himself deep in the paint, demanding the ball.
Gay gave Cousins a quick glance and then lobbed the ball into the post. Without hesitation, Cousins backed down David Lee, his powerful frame overwhelming the defender. Lee braced himself, but it was like trying to stop a freight train. Cousins nudged him back, inch by inch, closer to the basket.
With a swift spin, Cousins faked a shot. Lee, biting on the fake, leapt to contest—but it was too late. Cousins spun again, now facing an open rim, and with a thunderous leap, slammed the ball in with both hands.
"Roar!" Cousins let out a primal scream, and the arena erupted in deafening applause. Fans jumped to their feet, applauding as if they'd just witnessed a gladiatorial victory.
"Look at that footwork!" Shaquille O'Neal exclaimed in the studio, impressed. "That's how you dominate the paint. This play takes full advantage of Cousins' strength inside. That's classic big-man basketball, baby!"
On the Warriors' bench, Coach Steve Kerr folded his arms, his expression serious. This Kings team isn't the pushover they were last season. The West was shaping up to be a battlefield, and the Kings weren't going to lie down easily.
Midway through the first quarter, the Kings had jumped out to a 12-7 lead. Sensing David Lee's struggles against Cousins, the Kings kept feeding the big man. Possession after possession, Cousins bullied his way to easy baskets, racking up six points in a matter of minutes.
"Double him! Double-team!" Kerr finally shouted from the sideline, recognizing the need to adjust. Draymond Green, who had been shadowing Gay, caught the signal and rushed over to help Lee with Cousins.
Seeing Green come for the double-team, Cousins gave a cold smile. As Green arrived, Cousins pivoted and threw a sharp pass out to Gay, wide open at the top of the arc. Gay caught the ball, his eyebrows raised—there wasn't a defender within ten feet of him.
With time and space, Gay squared up and launched the shot.
"Swish!"
The ball sailed through the hoop cleanly. Kerr's face tightened in frustration. Did they just run a low-key version of the Warriors' own one-star shooting tactic? He hadn't expected the Kings to be this sharp.
"Timeout!" Kerr barked, unable to let the Kings' momentum continue unchecked.
The game paused, and the crowd buzzed with excitement. Last year, the Kings had been at the bottom of the Western Conference. Today, they were pushing around the Warriors, a playoff contender. In the stands, Kings fans could sense something special brewing. Could this be the start of a new era for Sacramento?
On the bench, Kerr addressed his team. "David, take a breather. You've been grinding hard. Bogut, you're in. Don't worry about scoring—I need you to shut down Cousins in the paint." Andrew Bogut nodded firmly, understanding his mission.
Back on the court, Coach Mike Malone pulled CJ aside. "Run the No. 2 tactic. If they adjust, switch to No. 1."
CJ gave a quick nod and stepped back onto the floor, ready to execute.
Moments later, the Warriors responded. Curry broke free from a screen, launching a smooth two-pointer to bring the score to 19-13, Kings still leading by six.
CJ brought the ball up court, eyeing Cousins once more as the big man established position in the post. We're rolling, he thought, passing the ball to Cousins.
This time, things were different. Bogut had subbed in and wasn't giving an inch. Cousins backed into him twice but couldn't budge the Australian. The clock ticked down, and Cousins, running out of time, turned for an awkward hook shot.
Clang! The ball bounced off the rim, and Bogut grabbed the rebound, quickly throwing it up to Curry. In transition, Curry fired a pass to a streaking Harrison Barnes, who hammered home a dunk.
"My bad, I rushed that," Cousins muttered as he hustled back up court.
CJ gave him a sideways glance. "No, Coach says we're switching to tactic one."
Cousins grinned playfully, sticking out his tongue. "You're no fun, man." He wiggled his massive frame and jogged back into position.
CJ rolled his eyes. "Is he serious?" he muttered to Gay.
Gay gave him a sympathetic smile. "You get used to it. He's... Cousins."
The Kings shifted their strategy after the break. With Bogut anchoring the Warriors' defense, the Kings began working the ball around the perimeter. Gay waited at the top, setting up the pick-and-roll with Cousins. As Gay rose up for a quick jumper over Green, the ball sailed smoothly into the basket.
"Swish!"
At the end of the first quarter, the Kings led 29-21, an eight-point lead that few had predicted.