Quite a dry spell. Since then, the champions have succeeded with styles adapted to suit their personnel, none of which remotely resembled the Showtime Lakers or even the 1980s Boston Celtics, a very balanced but effective fast-breaking team despite a lack of team speed. Shaq never moved around so much or so quickly. Kobe never defended better. Phil Jackson never seemed smarter.
Defense wins titles.
But Phil still doesn't get it. The Kings' style doesn't doom them. There's plenty of substance here. They can run and shoot and push the pace as much as they would like, if they would just do the other things, too. So win a series, then we'll talk title.