[Game] 26/82: Kings @ Timberwolves 14 DEC 2025, 4pm PT, 7pm ET

[SacTownKid]

Damn, I’m sad for him but more Monk and Keon maybe? Or Carter finally idk - glad it’s just an ankle so we can hopefully trade Zach ASAP.

Wouldn't bet on it. Not until Doug finally just throws his hands up and says I give, youth time. He leaned into the idea after last game but... just played Nique like usual until it became clear Nique wasn't helping him to get that W.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Who knows. Again, this all depends on if there is synergy between FO and the coaching staff. This is another instance where the GM waits out the guy he didn't pick as coach so far. This isn't freaking hard. Young developing teams don't need some master head coach. Just fundamentals and experience. That's literally it. If this is DC just winging it he's ruining his own career for almost no reason. Play young guys and lose, then you just say "we're young". As we saw with Vlade it eventually runs out but it'll keep you breathing for awhile.

It's easy to see who Christie is at this point. I think I gave him a little too much credit. He's not a political mastermind, he just says what people want to hear. That will always come home to roost quickly if you don't have actual chops to back it up.

It would actually be funny if there was already little synergy between Perry and the coaching staff....and Doug remained head coach for years to come. Anything is possible at this point

 

[SacTownKid]

Eh, if Bradley freaking Beal can get traded, anything can happen. He’s an absolute bum and hasn’t been good in 6 years or more.

The only issue with Zach is he has a huge salary and will be expiring next season. The Kings probably don't want to take any long term salary and the only realistic way to move him is probably taking on someone with a longer deal at least at some percentage of Zachs yearly deal.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000395597321506872

 

[MizzouKing]

This is preposterous. If I have to watch this team losing by double digits to a team playing without their best player, anyway, I want it to be with Clifford, Carter and Ellis playing 25+ minutes.

I think this sums it up pretty perfectly. This is the kind of concise message that could be getting posted on all the official socials for organization and local media alike.

 

[hrdboild]

What is a 6–19 team trying by running 3 Westbrook iso in the 4th quarter?

 

[The_Jamal]

Oh come on people, a few months ago we were talking about Nique like he's part of the Second Coming after a Summer League where ie outshone anlmost everyone on every team. Flash forward a few months of inconsistent playing time and questionable development, and the toxic hive mind is turning its attention towards the very same guy when he doesn't instantly dazzle us.

GIVE. IT. TIME.

I dont put a single iota on any of the young Kings right now for inconsistent play. This place is a complete crap show for development that is actively hampering these guys getting better.

 

[The_Jamal]

This is preposterous. If I have to watch this team losing by double digits to a team playing without their best player, anyway, I want it to be with Clifford, Carter and Ellis playing 25+ minutes.

What? Giving up 117 to a team playing without their all-nba talent means you think we should try putting more defense on the floor? Are you crazy?

 

[The_Jamal]

If Christie is head coach for game 1 next season, does that indicate anything beyond that he has a two year contract?

Its either one of two things.

1. Perry has complete control and complete job security where we can punt two years with a complete dunce of a HC while we tear this down and he can install his own HC. In which case, maybe theres hope to a winner in 4+ years

2. Perry is a complete idiot and is in lock stop with Doug on whats going on. If this is the case, we have to hope that Vivek fires them together and let's his new GM build this right.

 

[KainLear]

Like, the only reason to play the vets 40+ mins a game is to give the poor local folks of Sactown a show while showcasing your merchandise for sale. At this current level of basketball they are playing, I think it's time to give the young kids a chance and give the hardworking Sactown fans something to cheer for.

EDIT: Might as well give Doug Christie and his staff some new look to scheme with. These days it's like a pick-your-poison style of basketball and maybe someone like Doug and Bobby who got a lot of street(ball) smart could come up with a Pete-Carrill-inspired system with Nique as your tall-one...

 

[Rob-The-Great]

I absolutely do not see Christie losing games on purpose. He does not have that gene in him. You can litteraly see it eating at him every game on the court. This coaching is going to take years off his life.

Someone is telling him we have to get the value of these players up so we can trade them.

This is the only logical explanation for keeping players types he loves on the bench.
He was benching Ellis last year for not shooting when open, this year hes benching him for.......god know what.

But there is something going on. And hes going to be the fall man too. He just dont know it yet

 

[KainLear]

But there is something going on. And hes going to be the fall man too. He just dont know it yet

Oh he totally knows it, too.

It's a tradition. Dallas just sacrificed someone. "It's just business."

 

[SLAB]

Oh he totally knows it, too.

It's a tradition. Dallas just sacrificed someone. "It's just business."

He knows it, and the second after he’s unceremoniously fired and scapegoated for this nonsense he’s going to be shilling for the organization again.

 

[MizzouKing]

I do think that if Perry is successful at offloading the vets in the next few weeks, we might end the season feeling much more positively about this franchise going forward. I think Perry is experienced and strategic enough that it would not surprise me if this first few weeks were part of a very intentional plan by the FO.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Its either one of two things.

1. Perry has complete control and complete job security where we can punt two years with a complete dunce of a HC while we tear this down and he can install his own HC. In which case, maybe theres hope to a winner in 4+ years

2. Perry is a complete idiot and is in lock stop with Doug on whats going on. If this is the case, we have to hope that Vivek fires them together and let's his new GM build this right.

I think that acquiring DeRozan, Lavine, Shroder, and Westbrook has screwed up almost everyone else on this roster. That includes Murray, Monk, Sabonis, Ellis, Carter, Clifford and it probably has completely discombobulated Doug Christie's head coaching attempt as well.

All we can do is continue to shake our head at this sorry organization

 

[SacTownKid]

I do think that if Perry is successful at offloading the vets in the next few weeks, we might end the season feeling much more positively about this franchise going forward. I think Perry is experienced and strategic enough that it would not surprise me if this first few weeks were part of a very intentional plan by the FO.

And if they don't I'm going to assume we'll see maybe some development the last 2 weeks at most and let the vets do this pretty much all year. Likely with a little win streak somewhere along the line getting everyones hopes up, lol.

 

[SacTownKid]

I think that acquiring DeRozan, Lavine, Shroder, and Westbrook has screwed up almost everyone else on this roster. That includes Murray, Monk, Sabonis, Ellis, Carter, Clifford and it probably has completely discombobulated Doug Christie's head coaching attempt as well.

All we can do is continue to shake our head at this sorry organization

Yet, he stands idly by and watches Westbrook bounce the ball into mush unless he's swinging it to DeMar DeRozan. Is it Perry or DC? Does it matter, this is bad, bad, bad and someone regardless is really, really being a bonehead. None of this is going to build value. Westbrook as a trade asset? NOT POSSIBLE. It's like putting money in a slot machine that's not even plugged in. He's on a minimum contract what are they thinking? I can see LaVine maybe munching shots but he's not even doing it because the alpha's are Westbrook, Monk, and DeMar. They are the only personality types that will eat their dinner and yours if you don't protect it.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Yet, he stands idly by and watches Westbrook bounce the ball into mush unless he's swinging it to DeMar DeRozan. Is it Perry or DC? Does it matter, this is bad, bad, bad and someone regardless is really, really being a bonehead. None of this is going to build value. Westbrook as a trade asset? NOT POSSIBLE. It's like putting money in a slot machine that's not even plugged in. He's on a minimum contract what are they thinking? I can see LaVine maybe munching shots but he's not even doing it because the alpha's are Westbrook, Monk, and DeMar. They are the only personality types that will eat their dinner and yours if you don't protect it.

I think it does actually matter who is in charge of deciding most of what is going on with the playing time. If a new powerless head coach knows that he will be fired if he goes against what management and the owner wants, it's a really difficult spot to be in. Especially someone that knows he won't get a head opportunity anywhere else in the NBA

 

[The_Jamal]

I think that acquiring DeRozan, Lavine, Shroder, and Westbrook has screwed up almost everyone else on this roster. That includes Murray, Monk, Sabonis, Ellis, Carter, Clifford and it probably has completely discombobulated Doug Christie's head coaching attempt as well.

All we can do is continue to shake our head at this sorry organization

Honestly, I think you can stop at Russ and Dennis. Get those guys off the team, you would have found plenty of minutes for Keon/Carter and Nique to get on the floor and balance the lineups.

Which is entirely on Perry. Bad times around here for sure

 

[GWD]

Being a bit more sympathetic to Coach Christie than some on here, his philosophy and behaviors indicate that he is not at all happy about the role he has to fill for the team.

1. He wants to win but not at the cost of his employment. Higher-up are dictating the decisions that go against his instincts. He is a puppet whose strings are being yanked in directions he abhors.

2. His coaches are in on it too. There is no way Bobby Jackson would accept a defensive scheme that so miserably fails night after night. Sure, there are players that lack defensive skills but there are logical alternatives. Mike Woodson knows more about offensive choices than is being displayed. Of the host of other assistant coaches, there must be at least one that has creative solutions to this dilemma that is the Kings. They all appear to be stifled by some force beyond Coach Christie.

3. There may be a larger plan, understood by Christie and staff, to completely overhaul the team in the coming months. Perhaps this is just a time to grit ones' teeth and endure the requirements that will make meaningful progress for the team possible. (Others here have also mentioned this.)

4. Scott Perry must have a long-term plan that he cannot and should not publically announce. Otherwise, he would not have the endorsement of Vivek and cooperation of Christie and staff to an extent that they fully suppress their instincts. (Vivek to control, Christie to win)

5. All in all, waiting until the trade deadline to fully evaluate the direction the Kings intend to navigate is a prudent choice. After that, the door is wide open to change from top to bottom if failure is perceived.

 

[Srzly]

Doug doesn’t deserve a pass for any of this. The coaching (regardless of horrible PT management) has been awful.

This style of basketball is horrible for any player that wants to play team basketball the right way.

Look at Keon - the best 3pt shooter on the team that is shooting 20% from 3 in his last 10 games he has played in.

Keegan is struggling too right around that same percentage. I’m sure the injuries don’t help, but this is the opposite of the style of offense he thrives in.

Then you see former kings that were ripped on go elsewhere and look a lot better in real offenses.

This offense is only conducive for “me-ball” type players and big guys that run the PnR with Russ.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Honestly, I think you can stop at Russ and Dennis. Get those guys off the team, you would have found plenty of minutes for Keon/Carter and Nique to get on the floor and balance the lineups.

Which is entirely on Perry. Bad times around here for sure

The iso ball hog style from DeRozan and Lavine, really throws off the rhythm of everyone else, who can hardly expect to get a pass for a shot in anything but an emergency situation

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Doug doesn’t deserve a pass for any of this. The coaching (regardless of horrible PT management) has been awful.

This style of basketball is horrible for any player that wants to play team basketball the right way.

Look at Keon - the best 3pt shooter on the team that is shooting 20% from 3 in his last 10 games he has played in.

Keegan is struggling too right around that same percentage. I’m sure the injuries don’t help, but this is the opposite of the style of offense he thrives in.

Then you see former kings that were ripped on go elsewhere and look a lot better in real offenses.

This offense is only conducive for “me-ball” type players and big guys that run the PnR with Russ.

Can you reasonably expect to change the play style of DeRozan and Lavine, also Westbrook? That is the problem

 

[Srzly]

Can you reasonably expect to change the play style of DeRozan and Lavine, also Westbrook? That is the problem

I understand your point, but I think we can and should expect a head coach at the NBA level to be able to figure it out better than this at least.

If Doug has a problem with this style of play, he sure hasn’t shown it. He seems to reward it.

I will give him credit for pulling Russ after he got that tech even though Russ was ticked off about it. He should be doing this more if these vets are actually ignoring his offensive game plan.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I understand your point, but I think we can and should expect a head coach at the NBA level to be able to figure it out better than this at least.

If Doug has a problem with this style of play, he sure hasn’t shown it. He seems to reward it.

I will give him credit for pulling Russ after he got that tech even though Russ was ticked off about it. He should be doing this more if these vets are actually ignoring his offensive game plan.

I'm not sure what else your game plan can be with a lineup of Westbrook or Shroder, Lavine, and Derozan. It's just an awful fit, if you expect to run any kind of ball movement offense

 

[dude12]

Doug gets no pass. What you see is what he is. He ripped into his teams effort early in this year. I don’t think he’s getting getting any directive from anyone. He’s showing he’s not a good coach. This is what people wanted and this is what they are getting. True, the roster is some kind of terrible construction but look at how terrible some of the players we want to retain are playing. Selfish vets and Christie letting it happen on his watch.

It’s hilarious watching games and when our young guys make mistakes, the vets come and tell them what they should be doing or where they should be going and then I watch same vets proceed to play iso ball hero. And some of the vet turnovers or so bad.

Christie has turned Nique into some catch and shoot nothing burger when he’s best with the ball in his hand and finding others in team ball offense. Effing horrible. This falls on Doug. Perry gets to the deadline before we get to evaluate him and his plan. Can’t waste this year on effing trying to keep the vets desirability up……wasting a year of the young guys development.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Doug gets no pass. What you see is what he is. He ripped into his teams effort early in this year. I don’t think he’s getting getting any directive from anyone.

Really? You don't think there is any input from the general manager for how the roster is used? Does a completely hands off approach between GM and head coach even exist in today's NBA?

 

[TaxMan]

Really? You don't think there is any input from the general manager for how the roster is used? Does a completely hands off approach between GM and head coach even exist in today's NBA?

For me personally, I believe there are certainly external pressures, could even been edicts by the front office on how the rosters should be used, but I now strongly believe Doug is just a terrible coach.

 

[Jdbraver137]

For me personally, I believe there are certainly external pressures, could even been edicts by the front office on how the rosters should be used, but I now strongly believe Doug is just a terrible coach.

He is a cheap coach mainly just bridging the gap imo. Vivek relying on his popularity with fans.

 

[dude12]

Really? You don't think there is any input from the general manager for how the roster is used? Does a completely hands off approach between GM and head coach even exist in today's NBA?

I think GMs ask coaches for input on what they want or need but once here, I think coaches coach what they think should be on the floor. The only time is when GMs and the organization as a whole make it mandatory to play the young guys for development…..organizations tend to be in lockstep 9n that. I’m not sure I’ve seen a GM demand a coach to play your over the hill vets 40 minutes per game and stunt the growth of your young prospects……especially when the season is basically over. This stuff doesn’t make sense. Maybe by trade deadline it will. Not holding my breath. But Christie is a bad head coach.