Mike Brown Fired
- Thread starter BenchMob
- Start date
extend Brown before the season, then proceed to fire him within 31 games only to name Christie as interim has Vivek written all over it. I don't agree or like this move but it wouldn't of mattered either way because the broken foundation is still in place and until that gets destroyed, its running on a hamster wheel
I think that this firing of HC will have good impact for the team, because it was purely on Brown for majority loses of this season. Weird substitutions, playing wrong guys, bad strategy on offense and defense and, obviously, bringing tensions in the locker room and losing player trust. Not sure when it was the turning point, but I have sensed that changes should arise.
And probably, some more changes can come, not only HC change.
And probably, some more changes can come, not only HC change.
Good vibes mean something. So does having a background of actually doing it both on the court and as an assistant. 2 for 2. People act like he hasn't been putting in the work. He has. If he's not the right guy, we'll see it. Although right now the Kings are pretty much in that last ditch position now. If they don't turn this around? Bet on Christie sticking around unless he's a total cluster F because you're rebuilding at that point anyway.
The other consideration could be the team peaked 2 years ago and caught the league by surprise with Fox/Sabonis playing amazing (Huerter was insane for the first few months as well) plus the West being banged up/injured, the team got scouted and maybe does not possess the quality to overcome that. In order to overcome that they tried for a panic move for DDR which has back fired not due to talent but due to fit.
While I don't know if Brown deserved to be fired every time a coach gets fired they don't deserve it according to other coaches it's getting tiresome hearing it.
While I don't know if Brown deserved to be fired every time a coach gets fired they don't deserve it according to other coaches it's getting tiresome hearing it.
That take is rather unfair. Doug Christie has a number of advantages that an outsider, say Frank Vogel, would have stepping in at mid-season. He also brings significant professional background.
1) He already knows the players extremely well, in terms of their personalities, and in terms of their strengths and weaknesses on the court. There is a game every two nights starting Saturday night, and no time to waste.
2) He already has the players' respect. He has been there every game, greeting the players every time they come off the court.
3) He already knows the offensive and defensive schemes that the team has been using thus far this season, and can implement changes strategically, rather than wholesale.
4) Christie, by all accounts, did a fine job in Summer League, especially on defense. The Kings' squad was sixth in Las Vegas in opponents' scoring.
5) He has strong opinions, which fans know from his three years as a television analyst.
1) He already knows the players extremely well, in terms of their personalities, and in terms of their strengths and weaknesses on the court. There is a game every two nights starting Saturday night, and no time to waste.
2) He already has the players' respect. He has been there every game, greeting the players every time they come off the court.
3) He already knows the offensive and defensive schemes that the team has been using thus far this season, and can implement changes strategically, rather than wholesale.
4) Christie, by all accounts, did a fine job in Summer League, especially on defense. The Kings' squad was sixth in Las Vegas in opponents' scoring.
5) He has strong opinions, which fans know from his three years as a television analyst.
Well, what's done is done. Time to move on.
Let's see how much of this comes true:
1. Keon sees more playing time and becomes an important scorer.
2. Keegan finds his shot.
3. Huerter finds his shot.
4. DeRosen finds his niche, shoots better, plays more team ball.
5. Fox puts forth more consistent high effort in his game minutes.
6. Opponent's 3PT shooting percentage and frequency drops precipitously.
7. Free throw shooting improves even more.
8. Kings win 60% of the games for the remainder of the season.
9. Monk and Sabonis continue their productive ways.
10. The Kings have some post-season play.
Admittedly, some of this may happen as a "bubble" reaction to change but it still represents growth and improvement.
To quote the signature of a forum member on here, "I may be wrong, but I doubt it".
Let's see how much of this comes true:
1. Keon sees more playing time and becomes an important scorer.
2. Keegan finds his shot.
3. Huerter finds his shot.
4. DeRosen finds his niche, shoots better, plays more team ball.
5. Fox puts forth more consistent high effort in his game minutes.
6. Opponent's 3PT shooting percentage and frequency drops precipitously.
7. Free throw shooting improves even more.
8. Kings win 60% of the games for the remainder of the season.
9. Monk and Sabonis continue their productive ways.
10. The Kings have some post-season play.
Admittedly, some of this may happen as a "bubble" reaction to change but it still represents growth and improvement.
To quote the signature of a forum member on here, "I may be wrong, but I doubt it".
Based on what I've seen so far, I think these things are true:
1. Mike Brown lost the locker room for whatever reason.
2. In times like these, the coach has to take the first fall.
3. The way in which Mike Brown was relieved of duty wasn't the best way, and it should have been done with more respect, no matter the discomfort.
4. All persons in the organization need to be ready for authentic feedback and accountability, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. You can't have a good team without it.
This new style by Sam Amick seems to confirm several of these points. Christie's relationships throughout the organization had a lot to do with him leapfrogging Jay Triano and Luke Louks.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6023065/2024/12/28/mike-brown-firing-sacramento-kings-nba/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6023065/2024/12/28/mike-brown-firing-sacramento-kings-nba/
Whether you believed Brown should have been fired mid-season or not, there are ways to do these things and this was not it.
Mike Malone on Brown’s Firing calls Kings Classless
Mike Malone on Brown’s Firing calls Kings Classless
The Athletic article today said the final decision was not made until mid afternoon and part of the hold up was they had to have a replacement in place which is why Doug was not at practice. I don’t like the decision to fire him but if they made the call then it would have been even worse had they let him travel. So either make it when they did or earlier in the morning but it sounds like there were some complications there
the Athletic article says Monte is safe. If true I’d imagine he has a deadline plan layed out for Vivek. If he and Wes keep their job it’s hard to imagine that Doug is their long term choice. Monte is an offense first guy, he should be after the dudes in San Antonio or Memphis. Their might only be 2-3 jobs open in the offseason
The only grievance I have with the timing is it seems like it was done on the phone which is a bit cowardly. Though there’s not great context around that, perhaps they called him real quick so he wouldn’t get on plane and then set up in person meeting. In which case really not that bad.
I mean he was fired before the flight, not after. I think that timing is overblown. What would have been better, right after game last night? 1st thing in morning I guess? But not biggest deal. Timing in terms of being after the Detroit game specifically is a bit odd in my opinion though - I mean they played pretty spirited ball for 40 minutes unlike previous games. But rest of “timing” seems overblown
I mean he was fired before the flight, not after. I think that timing is overblown. What would have been better, right after game last night? 1st thing in morning I guess? But not biggest deal. Timing in terms of being after the Detroit game specifically is a bit odd in my opinion though - I mean they played pretty spirited ball for 40 minutes unlike previous games. But rest of “timing” seems overblown
I would just think that a HC that got this team to end its playoff drought and made us relevant again deserves a longer leash than this.
It would be one thing if we had a roster built to be a contender and were performing this way, but no sane person thinks this roster is built to be a contender in the playoffs. I’m not even sure it is built to get there.
It would be one thing if we had a roster built to be a contender and were performing this way, but no sane person thinks this roster is built to be a contender in the playoffs. I’m not even sure it is built to get there.
I agree that he should have had a longer leash. Especially when two of his best 3pt shooters are shooting horrifically for no good reason whatsoever.
This roster should at minimum be a play in team IMO. Definitely should not be lower in the standings than San Antonio. We're 3 games behind the Spurs. That's sad.
This roster should at minimum be a play in team IMO. Definitely should not be lower in the standings than San Antonio. We're 3 games behind the Spurs. That's sad.
Considering Brown was fired after a game where he decided not to foul with a 3 point lead to there is a somewhat related question:
Has any of you have an example where fouling and not allowing a team trailing by 3 very late in a game backfired. Obviously there are plenty of examples weekly of teams not fouling and paying for it and yet coaches refuse to foul.Why, am I missing some kind of data?
Has any of you have an example where fouling and not allowing a team trailing by 3 very late in a game backfired. Obviously there are plenty of examples weekly of teams not fouling and paying for it and yet coaches refuse to foul.Why, am I missing some kind of data?