Welcome Coach Doug Christie!
- Thread starter ockingsfan
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Yeah, it's still a wild take. Maybe Brown ran tough practices.. Maybe Christie does too? But I'm pretty confident the guys weren't suffering PTSD and felt like they were getting abused by Brown.
But like I said, whatever. It's over, Christie is here and the Kings are playing excellent. Going to enjoy the fun while it's happening.
But like I said, whatever. It's over, Christie is here and the Kings are playing excellent. Going to enjoy the fun while it's happening.
I found DDR's recent anecdote about having staff put together a defensive highlight reel of Doug Christie's work as a player super revealing. On the one hand, it speaks to Christie's bonafides that he's so respected as a former player. Because he's a member of the Kings golden era, it's easy to remember the period more than the player, but the dude made the All-NBA Defensive First and Second Teams throughout his career.
Now, I'm not sure it's a good thing that NBA players often respond best to former NBA players on the sideline, but in this case, it's working so far. Christie has his roster's respect, and he appears to be a good motivator who can strike a balance between pushing his guys and knowing when to trust them. I'm still unsure about his long-term prospects as a head coach, and I'm wary of the "cult of personality" approach to coaching. It can breed long-term success, a la the Riley/Spoelstra emphasis on Heat Culture, or Pop's hard-nosed accountability in San Antonio. But then there's guys like Mark Jackson, who similarly dressed up his coaching style as "love", and I'm nervy about how far "love" can take you when the next losing streak arrives.
That said, I'm here for the current win streak! May it never end! And may Doug Christie continue to prove my fears unfounded.
Now, I'm not sure it's a good thing that NBA players often respond best to former NBA players on the sideline, but in this case, it's working so far. Christie has his roster's respect, and he appears to be a good motivator who can strike a balance between pushing his guys and knowing when to trust them. I'm still unsure about his long-term prospects as a head coach, and I'm wary of the "cult of personality" approach to coaching. It can breed long-term success, a la the Riley/Spoelstra emphasis on Heat Culture, or Pop's hard-nosed accountability in San Antonio. But then there's guys like Mark Jackson, who similarly dressed up his coaching style as "love", and I'm nervy about how far "love" can take you when the next losing streak arrives.
That said, I'm here for the current win streak! May it never end! And may Doug Christie continue to prove my fears unfounded.
I'm absolutely rooting for DC to succeed long term, but I get the feeling the situation right now is more about Brown being gone than anything. None of the players have really said anything all that negative, but reading between the lines, they have been intimating that things were too restrictive under Brown. That and (I believe) Kayte mentioning during the broadcast that Christie has shortened practices and scheduled fewer of them leads me to believe that Brown was just wearing this team down.
At the time it seemed like a bad knee jerk reaction from McNair & Vivek (who has a history of poor decisions), but as time goes on it's starting to look like firing Brown was necessary.
At the time it seemed like a bad knee jerk reaction from McNair & Vivek (who has a history of poor decisions), but as time goes on it's starting to look like firing Brown was necessary.
That may be true, but the sample size is starting to creep up. Our team point differential is +8.5 since Christie took over. If that's a true value, that would put us at 4th in the league behind OKC, Cleveland, and Boston. I find it hard to believe that we're good enough to hire a non-coach figurehead who will just say "go out and play" and we could go out and blast the league by 8.5 points every game. If that's a real number, Doug is doing something right, and it's not just waving a towel for the guys.
The one thing the players consistently mention is that Christie has simplified things.
If the Kings are able to make the postseason we'll see how that holds up as generally everything gets more complex in the playoffs, but for now I think that's been the key.
Keegan has always been a guy who 'thought" the game. That was the report on him entering the NBA - that he wants to know what he's supposed to do in every situation. DC has clearly reduced the mental workload on him and he's been hitting over 50% from 3 the last three games. I don't think that's a coincidence.
For guys like Monk, Sabonis, and DeRozan it has meant increased freedom on the offensive end to be creative. For Ellis, I think it has meant that he's not looking over his shoulder if he makes a mistake.
Doug is definitely doing a lot of things right, but I think loosening the reins is the biggest one.
If the Kings are able to make the postseason we'll see how that holds up as generally everything gets more complex in the playoffs, but for now I think that's been the key.
Keegan has always been a guy who 'thought" the game. That was the report on him entering the NBA - that he wants to know what he's supposed to do in every situation. DC has clearly reduced the mental workload on him and he's been hitting over 50% from 3 the last three games. I don't think that's a coincidence.
For guys like Monk, Sabonis, and DeRozan it has meant increased freedom on the offensive end to be creative. For Ellis, I think it has meant that he's not looking over his shoulder if he makes a mistake.
Doug is definitely doing a lot of things right, but I think loosening the reins is the biggest one.
There's been a noticeable uptick in our crunch time play too. Part of the reason our season analytics looked pretty good, but our record sucked is we were the worst team in crunch time, something like 3-9 in games decided by 5 points or less. We haven't seen a Nuggets or Pistons like game collapse yet under Doug. They held on in CHI, they fought back vs Philly, fought back vs MIA, they made sure BOS never got going on a run.
Deebo going out of his way to do a DC film session seems like a very strong endorsement. I think it shows he likes and trusts him a lot and wanted to make sure the younger guys who didn’t watch those Kings teams live know who Doug is.
I agree there’s a lot that’s just having MB gone but that strikes me as a very strong endorsement from our most experienced vet
I agree there’s a lot that’s just having MB gone but that strikes me as a very strong endorsement from our most experienced vet
Sure, I've read the same rumors you have. I just have a tough time believing that loosening the reins is the only thing Christie has done to get these results. I'd like to believe - for many reasons, for the sake of the team's future, for the sake of nostalgia, etc. - that Doug is bringing plenty more to the table than could be found by just nabbing a random assistant somewhere and saying, "hey, don't work them too hard or demand too much". Time will tell. Initial returns are surprisingly good, and I need to keep pinching myself.
Fair enough. To be fair to Doug, there's also been some noticeable shifts in how the team defends. A LOT more switching and hard closeouts on shooters (which has led to a big uptick in fouls on three point shots - but I think they'll figure that out) vs whatever Mike Brown was trying to do. And I say "trying to do" because I can't believe that a coach of his experience and defensive reputation would actually want to defend the paint at the expense of giving up open threes in today's NBA. So I can only imagine that he wanted something else and it just wasn't working as intended.
Either way, I think one thing Christie has absolutely done is to essentially say, "I'm going to give you more freedom on offense, let you play through mistakes, and lighten up on practices, but in exchange I need more effort on defense."
Either way, I think one thing Christie has absolutely done is to essentially say, "I'm going to give you more freedom on offense, let you play through mistakes, and lighten up on practices, but in exchange I need more effort on defense."
What Doug's trying to instill in his team supported by his comments is to play for each other, and try to understand that's the way basketball should be played. Cut for your teammate, move and share the ball, rebound, and do all those little things that usually don't reflect on stats. He praises this shift and there's a joy in that! playing selflessly and playing as a team; bringing back 2000 Kings spirit to the court.
The ball movement's been the Kings' bread and butter, without it they are toast.
His preaching is translated, Lately, they started sharing the ball more. The numbers don't lie, their assists jumped up 29.5 per game vs. 25.5 under Brown. Even Deebo less hogs the ball, unless it's crunch time. His teammates' positioning and body language unmistakably tell him to take it over when it's crunch time.
If you noticed, defensively double-teaming and help-defense have significantly increased forcing turnovers and transition opportunities, which they are really good at, demoralizing their opponents. The Celtics is the prime sample.
The ball movement's been the Kings' bread and butter, without it they are toast.
His preaching is translated, Lately, they started sharing the ball more. The numbers don't lie, their assists jumped up 29.5 per game vs. 25.5 under Brown. Even Deebo less hogs the ball, unless it's crunch time. His teammates' positioning and body language unmistakably tell him to take it over when it's crunch time.
If you noticed, defensively double-teaming and help-defense have significantly increased forcing turnovers and transition opportunities, which they are really good at, demoralizing their opponents. The Celtics is the prime sample.
It's always been the players and it will always be the players. The only time it is not the players is when a coach messes up the lineup. Otherwise it's always the players 95%
Browns downfall was not playing the best players. He didn't play Ellis, he over played Huerter and he lost his job. Simple.
All this extra practice crap, and being to hard on players is for the birds. Your not supposed to like your coach your suppost to respect your coach and they all respected brown. Doesn't mean they liked him and doesn't mean they are sad to see him leave. But he never lost respect.
Christie is easy to like, easy to respect but raw as far as experience. Almost reminds me of last years Raiders under pierce. Right before we came crashing down to earth. Only this time I feel kings actually have talent and are not over achieving. They are actually good, where as the Raiders where clearly over achieving last season and suck this season.
This is my thoughts on situation
Browns downfall was not playing the best players. He didn't play Ellis, he over played Huerter and he lost his job. Simple.
All this extra practice crap, and being to hard on players is for the birds. Your not supposed to like your coach your suppost to respect your coach and they all respected brown. Doesn't mean they liked him and doesn't mean they are sad to see him leave. But he never lost respect.
Christie is easy to like, easy to respect but raw as far as experience. Almost reminds me of last years Raiders under pierce. Right before we came crashing down to earth. Only this time I feel kings actually have talent and are not over achieving. They are actually good, where as the Raiders where clearly over achieving last season and suck this season.
This is my thoughts on situation
I think what Doug is doing is what he learned from the old Kings? I remember the old Kings were playing loose and guys feeling comfortable in their role and even they play loose, they're pretty darn effective. Like I said before, maybe the military hard nosed style of Mike Brown had worn players out because they think too much OR over think. And maybe playing loose is what they needed to be effective.
I think you have noticed very close and good vibes Sabonis vs Christie. During recent interview (which Domas made to Lithuanian journalist), Domas told that during preseason preparation Doug has spend some time with him and his parents in Lithuania, at a small tourist town Palanga. They did together preseason preparations + relaxing, Doug even got lost once in that small town 
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Looking forward to Coach Christie and the Kings reestablishing the vintage Sacramento home court advantage. The Kings should be playing well above 0.500 at home
I'm sure Christie will make sure the players are motivated and focused to defend their house, every game they play at home from now on. I would be stunned if the Kings don't have a stellar home record from here on out.
I'm sure Christie will make sure the players are motivated and focused to defend their house, every game they play at home from now on. I would be stunned if the Kings don't have a stellar home record from here on out.
Is it just me or does it seem like this Kings team has found their "Joy" of playing together again?
They seem like they are pulling hard for each other and enjoy playing basketball again, like a family. When you play with "family" then you are willing to run through walls for each other. Hopefully this blossoms into something special.
They seem like they are pulling hard for each other and enjoy playing basketball again, like a family. When you play with "family" then you are willing to run through walls for each other. Hopefully this blossoms into something special.
Is it just me or does it seem like this Kings team has found their "Joy" of playing together again?
They seem like they are pulling hard for each other and enjoy playing basketball again, like a family. When you play with "family" then you are willing to run through walls for each other. Hopefully this blossoms into something special.
They seem like they are pulling hard for each other and enjoy playing basketball again, like a family. When you play with "family" then you are willing to run through walls for each other. Hopefully this blossoms into something special.
Getting the same vibe with this team we had after we beat the Clippers in the double OT game in 2023 (Which happened to be my first Kings game in 7 years). The "We don't give a F who's over there" from Fox postgame. Big credit to Christie for getting that mentality back. We are as talented as any other team in the league, outside a few. Keep bringing that dawg mentality and keep playing our game, let's keep stacking the W's. Thank you coach, also always awesome to have someone leading us who knows how special the city/franchise/fans are.
I think this is pretty much exactly it. It's remarkable that there is this palpable feeling of the old days now when you watch the team. It's in the body language and the way they play. That is absolutely from Coachie, Vlade, Adelman, and everything those guys built. And Doug, more than anyone, is THE guy to bring that ethos back. I'm a little surprised at how fast it happened... literally overnight. Discounting that first Lakers game when he was hired that day, literally the next day the Old Kings clicked in. Of course it helped that Doug has been on staff and has relationships with these guys. But still, it's remarkable.
Chuck chalking this up to some kind of new coach bounce just misses the point, which is actually rare for the Chuckster re: the Kings.
Chuck chalking this up to some kind of new coach bounce just misses the point, which is actually rare for the Chuckster re: the Kings.
Funny you mention Vlade, but Vlade made the big mistake of hiring a former Laker (Luke Walton), instead of looking inward and hiring Christie as the coach back in the day. Big mistake that cost Vlade his job.
I guess everything has come full circle for Doug now though. IMHO, Doug is going to restore the Kings to the glory days.
I guess everything has come full circle for Doug now though. IMHO, Doug is going to restore the Kings to the glory days.
Funny you mention Vlade, but Vlade made the big mistake of hiring a former Laker (Luke Walton), instead of looking inward and hiring Christie as the coach back in the day. Big mistake that cost Vlade his job.
I guess everything has come full circle for Doug now though. IMHO, Doug is going to restore the Kings to the glory days.
I guess everything has come full circle for Doug now though. IMHO, Doug is going to restore the Kings to the glory days.
Yeah when did Doug start coaching? Remember he was a broadcaster when the org brought him back into the fold. Bobby Jackson initially looked like next man up from the golden years. Wonder if Doug would find a role for him if he is permanent coach for 2025-26. Associate Head Coach? He is just one of many on Philly's bench? Can you imagine those two preaching hustle and defense and being team first players. My god.