When he had vets and youth on the team at the beginning of the season it was a disaster. The vets didn't play any D and the youth didn't play period. It was an iso sh**t show with Christie's words of fire about defense showing no connection to the performance on the floor. By chance the vets got injured, then Christie was forced to go young, not out of his own volition, but by mere chance. So because of the Fates of Chance we got to see the youngins play together at the very end, with some DDR thrown in for good measure to get a few less ping pong balls. At least in the last couple of months Christie gave the youngins the license to play in a devil-may-care attitude to lessen their anxiety about mistakes and winning or losing. I'll give him that. And I'll give him credit for keeping the team relatively happy during all of it. But, wow, our standards are about an inch above ground level if that merits an extension, much less applauding his extension.
If all the vets are gone next year, sure, I could see Christie having the stature and strength to coach the team. I can see Christie coaching a youth camp. But if Sabonis is back, then what happens to Max and Cardwell? If DDR or someone like him is back, then what? If LaVine is back what happens to Clifford? If, heaven forbid, Westbrook is back, then what of Devin Carter? Can Christie manage the rebuilding of this team with a mixture of vets and youth? He certainly hasn't proven it so far.