Open Letter to Coach Christie

[GWD]

Open letter to Coach Christie:

Dear Doug,
As an experienced NBA player, you very likely know what needs to be done regarding the lineup, players' roles, and the player rotation. Press conference platitudes aside, the final few games this season are a chance to show your mettle as "HEAD Coach Christie". It is time for you to step forward and fulfill your promise that the Kings will play, and be coached, for the team rather than for individuals. It may be difficult, even painful, and there may be locker room conflicts as a result but controlling those aspects is what makes a coach strong, effective, and a winner. Longevity is the reward.

If you cannot find the gumption to accomplish what you know is needed, then you need to step aside and let someone take charge who is bold enough to make the meaningful and winning decisions. If there is something or someone that is preventing you from achieving, then please identify the obstruction so fans can better understand the decision-making process involved and react accordingly.

It is acknowledged that injuries, illness, and other absences occur during a season but all teams deal with these factors. Most are temporary and do not apply to the topic herein. A reliance on the "new circumstance" bump in performance has come to an end. It is time for you to take control and provide the difficult leadership traits that will increase the performance as a team.

 

[The_Jamal]

I look directly at Steve Kerr benching David Lee, who had been an all star in a Warriors jersey for a 2nd year Draymond to balance the starting unit around Steph and Klay. Dray of course would develop into a HOF player and be a lynch pin of their dynasty, but think about the alternate timeline where Kerr doesn't make that move.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

What about the alternate timeline where Kerr makes that move, and it doesn't work? Because that's the thing about being a first-time head coach and making a decision like that: you better be right. If you make that move and it backfires, your career is over.

 

[jphilip]

Dear doug w stoo the smelling salts and wake up keep slashing inside snd watch for shooters

 

[Tetsujin]

What about the alternate timeline where Kerr makes that move, and it doesn't work? Because that's the thing about being a first-time head coach and making a decision like that: you better be right. If you make that move and it backfires, your career is over.

Hell, Kerr always makes a point of saying that his coaching career would already be over if he had taken the Knicks gig instead of the Warriors one. Everything comes down to luck.

 

[sactowndog]

Doug is the ultimate yes man. He isn’t going to do something that makes Monte’s trade look as dumb as it was.

 

[dude12]

Posted on the game thread but this season is on the players and not Brown or DC. Leaderless. And Fox torpedoed it as well

 

[reptilexcq2]

This team would have been lethal with Fox and Ellis in the starting lineup and Monk off the bench. Now, everyone in the starting lineup don't play great D. I think the confusion was throwing Monk into the lineup and thinking that the team will be great.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

This team would have been lethal with Fox and Ellis in the starting lineup and Monk off the bench. Now, everyone in the starting lineup don't play great D. I think the confusion was throwing Monk into the lineup and thinking that the team will be great.

The parting gift from Brown that keeps on giving. I do wonder if there's any chance going with that lineup to start reverses the course of our start and we wind up 5 games over rather than under and where we wind up with Fox in that case. Doesn't matter, but we're starting 3 players that would be "SG" 10 years ago and the only true point guard we have is a reclamation project.

Seems Kings twitter is cheering a complete tear down, firing the FO, and full rebuild. I can't get onboard with that until the 26-27 season but this offseason is going to require Monte if he is retained to be far more active than he has been in years past. Probably trade two starters, or have a come to jesus moment with one of them that they will not be starting next season.

I'm not sure if Christie will survive unless we do tear it down and go full rebuild. Shame, but I think he'll coach again.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

What about the alternate timeline where Kerr makes that move, and it doesn't work? Because that's the thing about being a first-time head coach and making a decision like that: you better be right. If you make that move and it backfires, your career is over.

I think he's at a precipice here where if he doesn't make the playoffs he is not retained but I think he's also shown enough that if he is let go or demoted he'll get another shot.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I think he's at a precipice here where if he doesn't make the playoffs he is not retained but I think he's also shown enough that if he is let go or demoted he'll get another shot.

Perhaps. I would argue, however, that that is only because he's played it safe.

 

[The_Jamal]

What about the alternate timeline where Kerr makes that move, and it doesn't work? Because that's the thing about being a first-time head coach and making a decision like that: you better be right. If you make that move and it backfires, your career is over.

Possibly, but I'm not super into risk adverse head coaches in any sport. Those are the guys who get stuck in the middle their entire careers. The "Jeff fisher" if you know football head coaches at all.

Also, it does make sense that owners are largely bad at owning sports teams. Theyd rather stay stuck in the middle than risk the team bottoming out

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Possibly, but I'm not super into risk adverse head coaches in any sport. Those are the guys who get stuck in the middle their entire careers. The "Jeff fisher" if you know football head coaches at all.

That's easy for you to say, as a fan. It's not your job security on the line.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Perhaps. I would argue, however, that that is only because he's played it safe.

It's true but the team seems to perform the best when the option to play too much Monk/LaVine/Deebo is taken away (and his best run we actually still had a starting PG). Someone ran the numbers and when any 2 of those are on the court with Keegan and Keon our nets are overwhelmingly favorable but when those 3 are on together we're deep in the negative.

On the other hand, coaches that come in a disrupt vets who are proven starters aren't long for the league. Mike Brown probably has plenty to say on that.

 

[Rob-The-Great]

It's too late to change starting lineups. I've come to the conclusion. You gotta roll with the punched at those point. This team so good enough to catch fire. It's the offense I'm worried about lately. It's what we fuel on.

Our defense.starts with a good offense. If we can catch fire, we will be fine. Ellis gets plenty of playing time now. He's not going to save our season by starting. He comes in 4 min into the game.

Yes we are down 20 by then, but we have started out offensively terrible during that stretch.

 

[kingsboi]

The parting gift from Brown that keeps on giving. I do wonder if there's any chance going with that lineup to start reverses the course of our start and we wind up 5 games over rather than under and where we wind up with Fox in that case. Doesn't matter, but we're starting 3 players that would be "SG" 10 years ago and the only true point guard we have is a reclamation project.

Seems Kings twitter is cheering a complete tear down, firing the FO, and full rebuild. I can't get onboard with that until the 26-27 season but this offseason is going to require Monte if he is retained to be far more active than he has been in years past. Probably trade two starters, or have a come to jesus moment with one of them that they will not be starting next season.

I'm not sure if Christie will survive unless we do tear it down and go full rebuild. Shame, but I think he'll coach again.

this is the only way forward for success. the sooner Vivek realizes this and signs off on it, the better opportunity to get back on the right track, of course, you have to hit on those draft picks or they will be back in the 16 year drought frame again.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Open letter to Coach Christie:

Dear Doug,
As an experienced NBA player, you very likely know what needs to be done regarding the lineup, players' roles, and the player rotation. Press conference platitudes aside, the final few games this season are a chance to show your mettle as "HEAD Coach Christie". It is time for you to step forward and fulfill your promise that the Kings will play, and be coached, for the team rather than for individuals. It may be difficult, even painful, and there may be locker room conflicts as a result but controlling those aspects is what makes a coach strong, effective, and a winner. Longevity is the reward.

If you cannot find the gumption to accomplish what you know is needed, then you need to step aside and let someone take charge who is bold enough to make the meaningful and winning decisions. If there is something or someone that is preventing you from achieving, then please identify the obstruction so fans can better understand the decision-making process involved and react accordingly.

It is acknowledged that injuries, illness, and other absences occur during a season but all teams deal with these factors. Most are temporary and do not apply to the topic herein. A reliance on the "new circumstance" bump in performance has come to an end. It is time for you to take control and provide the difficult leadership traits that will increase the performance as a team.

What exactly are you getting at here? What are the changes you are hinting at? Or is this just a broadly worded general polemic?

Look, I know we've lost the last three games, got blown out even. But our morale took a massive hit with (what I imagine the players feel) were to rigged games in a row. Plus injuries.

But it sounds like you have a specific idea of what Coach needs to do. Why not list that?

 

[GWD]

What exactly are you getting at here? What are the changes you are hinting at? Or is this just a broadly worded general polemic?

Look, I know we've lost the last three games, got blown out even. But our morale took a massive hit with (what I imagine the players feel) were to rigged games in a row. Plus injuries.

But it sounds like you have a specific idea of what Coach needs to do. Why not list that?

Christie is the coach and he has far more experience in ALL aspects of the NBA, from management to player, than any of us on the forum. My trust in his knowledge of what the team needs to do to succeed is strong. The concern is that he is choosing not to do what his intellect is indicating for unexplained reasons and it is hurting the team's performance.

But you ask for a list of my options. Well, here is one problem/solution offering inspired by baseball pitching rotations...the "Pitching Opener". Such a scheme has never been done in the NBA to my knowledge but fits this team appropriately.

Problem: The Kings generally underperform in the first quarter, falling behind and having to play catch-up the remainder of the game. There are several issues involved and have often been discussed on this forum.

Solution: Start an all-defensive team. Ellis, Carter, Murray, LaRavia, and either Sabonis or Valanciunas for example. There is plenty of offense to score in that group while effectively stifling the opponent's offense and confidence. Valanciunas could secure the paint while teammates stretch to cover the perimeter. After a few minutes of depressing the opponents, then start filtering in the regular starters and evaluate their contributions to determine who finally plays and for how long. Motivation to perform by all players would dramatically increase.

Remember, you asked.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Christie is the coach and he has far more experience in ALL aspects of the NBA, from management to player, than any of us on the forum. My trust in his knowledge of what the team needs to do to succeed is strong. The concern is that he is choosing not to do what his intellect is indicating for unexplained reasons and it is hurting the team's performance.

But you ask for a list of my options. Well, here is one problem/solution offering inspired by baseball pitching rotations...the "Pitching Opener". Such a scheme has never been done in the NBA to my knowledge but fits this team appropriately.

Problem: The Kings generally underperform in the first quarter, falling behind and having to play catch-up the remainder of the game. There are several issues involved and have often been discussed on this forum.

Solution: Start an all-defensive team. Ellis, Carter, Murray, LaRavia, and either Sabonis or Valanciunas for example. There is plenty of offense to score in that group while effectively stifling the opponent's offense and confidence. Valanciunas could secure the paint while teammates stretch to cover the perimeter. After a few minutes of depressing the opponents, then start filtering in the regular starters and evaluate their contributions to determine who finally plays and for how long. Motivation to perform by all players would dramatically increase.

Remember, you asked.

Really interesting idea actually.

I wish NBA locker rooms/egos would permit this. Maybe it takes a great leader to implement such a scheme. A lot of groupthink holding back the NBA possibly. I'd love to see something like this tried.

 

[GWD]

Really interesting idea actually.

I wish NBA locker rooms/egos would permit this. Maybe it takes a great leader to implement such a scheme. A lot of groupthink holding back the NBA possibly. I'd love to see something like this tried.

Madison Bumgarner refused to pitch for the Giants if they dared using an Opener in a game he was scheduled to start. Egos are a huge factor in sport, as you have intimated.

 

[ockingsfan]

Any wholesale changes will probably have to occur in the off season. If the main guys remain healthy, DC will probably ride with what he has been.

On the flip side, sending either DDR or Lavine to the bench would drop their trade value, which wouldn't be a good thing considering we are likely to lose our 1st round pick as a play in team. In the summer, I can see Monte try to flip either DDR or LaVine for a legit PF or SF, so Keegan can hopefully move back to his more natural SF spot.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Any wholesale changes will probably have to occur in the off season. If the main guys remain healthy, DC will probably ride with what he has been.

On the flip side, sending either DDR or Lavine to the bench would drop their trade value, which wouldn't be a good thing considering we are likely to lose our 1st round pick as a play in team. In the summer, I can see Monte try to flip either DDR or LaVine for a legit PF or SF, so Keegan can hopefully move back to his more natural SF spot.

The problem that I see, is there are too many "cooks in the kitchen" in the current starting lineup. 2 out of the 3 of Monk, Lavine, and DeRozan can work well, but not all 3 together. Remove one of them and replace with a 3&D really good defender and you instantly gain balance. That guy right now is Keon Ellis. The team has been better with him on the floor for nearly 2 seasons, with the previous makeup of the roster and now this one.

There is such a thing as having one too many "All Stars" or "cooks" in a lineup

 

[Jdbraver137]

The problem that I see, is there are too many "cooks in the kitchen" in the current starting lineup. 2 out of the 3 of Monk, Lavine, and DeRozan can work well, but not all 3 together. Remove one of them and replace with a 3&D really good defender and you instantly gain balance. That guy right now is Keon Ellis. The team has been better with him on the floor for nearly 2 seasons, with the previous makeup of the roster and now this one.

There is such a thing as having one too many "All Stars" or "cooks" in a lineup

I just think there are too many ball stoppers. Too much 1 on 1.

 

[Caccia]

I just think there are too many ball stoppers. Too much 1 on 1.

I watch to see how much off-the-ball movement is going on. Surprisingly, everybody just stops in their tracks when Jonas Valančiūnas gets the ball. If anything, people should be cutting to the basket at that point because he is a decent passer. Chalk that down to unfamiliarity. It can be remedied.

There is too much "Pass the ball to DeMar and watch him go to work" happening in the fourth quarters. That can be remedied, as well. It also requires a willingness on his part to look for the open man.

Also, when one of those two guys goes to work, other players need to position themselves for the offensive boards, especially Keegan Murray and Trey Lyles.