The Kings‘ post-All-Star push for a playoff spot got off to a rocky start on Friday, as they lost at home by 24 points to a Golden State team that entered the day tied with Sacramento in the Western Conference standings.
Within his recap of the game, Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee noted that Doug Christie took over an hour to come out for his post-game media session, writing that the Kings’ interim head coach had “delivered an impassioned message to his team” during that time. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter video link), Christie met with Sacramento’s starters – Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray – during that time.
“First and foremost, in that meeting, I was told that Christie reiterated how he’s in the fight with them,” Haynes said. “But there were some issues he wanted to address, such as making sure that everyone understood the gravity of the situation right now. He addressed ball security. He talked about how they’ve been compromising on defense. He wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page. He spoke on learning how to communicate with each other, and he challenged his players to challenge each other in a positive way to yield some positive results.”
Speaking to reporters after Friday’s loss, Christie didn’t specifically mention meeting with the starters, but he referred to his team’s effort vs. Golden State as “totally unacceptable.” According to Monk, the Kings’ coach made it clear that “we can’t get punked like that at home” again.
“I get down in a certain way and I expect you guys to represent that,” Christie said of his message to the team, per Anderson. “I know what these fans appreciate and what they want, and I know what our organization wants, and that ain’t it. That ain’t ever going to be it.”
The Kings are still adjusting after making some major roster changes at the trade deadline. De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Colby Jones, Alex Len, and Jordan McLaughlin were all dealt during the first week of February, with LaVine, Jonas Valanciunas, and Jake LaRavia added via trade, while Markelle Fultz later signed as a free agent. As Anderson writes, the new-look roster showed some growing pains on Friday by turning the ball over a season-high 24 times and being outscored 38-5 in points off turnovers.
“Twenty-four (turnovers) for 38 points won’t win you a game, I don’t think, anywhere in the world,” Christie said. “… We can keep saying we have a lot of new guys and we’re trying to find our way, but that excuse, no one checks for you in this league like that. People will just run through you and beat the hell out of you, so it doesn’t matter what the excuse is.
“Take care of the basketball, play together, move the rock, and if we do that at a high level, we give ourselves the opportunity to win. We’re not even giving ourselves the opportunity with 24 turnovers for 38 points. It’s just not acceptable. It will never be acceptable. I said that to them man for man.”
The Kings are still in a play-in position in the West — at 28-28, they hold the No. 10 seed in the conference, with a 1.5-game lead over the No. 11 Suns. But after winning one play-in game last season and losing the second, they know how challenging it is to earn a playoff berth from that position and would like to move up in the standings before the end of the season. They have the fifth-hardest remaining schedule, per Tankathon.
“The bottom line is we have to come out and play with a sense of urgency, aggressiveness and physicality,” Christie said. “We have to want to win more than we want to breathe.”
Their entire defense was double team Curry all game. So the warriors were making passes to the open player.
I hate to say this, because he seems like a genuinely good dude, but this is the same type of issue that came up a lot during his time with the Bulls. I watched a lot of his games, and he frequently floats around the 3-point line if he isn’t involved in the offense. He doesn’t cut or move around screens to help distract for other offensive options.
Defense is a disaster, with most of the effort seemingly dedicated to looking like he’s trying. It sticks out even more when you have full-effort players like Alex Caruso on the Bulls last year or Sabonis on the Kings.
I hope a coach like Doug Christie who is more of an in-your-face type in the media can motivate him more than the Bulls cavalcade of coaches could.
I presume you are talking about Lavine?
At the same time this Kings roster is seriously lacking in guys who play defense. Even if you are generous I see 3 guys, Ellis, Carter and Murray. Two of them come off the bench and that just isn’t enough for a team to be successful. Especially considering how many good teams are in the West.
Yes, LaVine, whoops! Kind of applies to DeMar, also, but he is more competitive overall.
His defense has always been questionable but yeah you are right he doesn’t drift like Lavine does.
Lavine was playing better at the start of the year in Chicago. But this is exactly what he looked like last time him and Demar shared the court. I get that offence is his strength and frankly more fun to play but it blows my mind when professionals don’t put in effort.
Yep, can’t argue with that. It’s especially frustrating because you can see that LaVine has the skills to play average or slightly better D when he puts in the effort. The effort just comes way too sporadically.
DeMar has the bonus trait of the irresistible pump fakes that cause defenders on other teams to get fined when they fall for it :)
Mike Brown had this team overachieving in his first two years.
In year 3, as they tired of his ways of motivation, they (the players) simply regressed back to who they are.
Now they (the players) have done the same thing with Doug Christie – overachieve and then regress – except with him it only took 2 months, rather than two years.
Definitely accurate. Poor roster construction is the real issue in Sacramento. Kings fans deserve better.
Did the Kings consider that they got cooked by at-minimum, a WCF team?
Jimmy Butler playing unbelievably selfless ball, doing everything he can offensively and defensively, and looking vintage a lot of the time, should be the terrifying visual of GSW’s 4-1 record with him. The way they are gelling instantly with Jimmy should be terrifying for the other teams and great for the NBA, as GSW are now must-watch again.
Consider this: Steph and Jimmy, two guys known for unlocking more of their game in the playoffs, are about to enter the playoffs. Together. Like #1 and #2 best playoffs guys of the last 10 years. On the same team.
Consider this: Jonathan Kuminga, might be leading the second unit. He might also flourish there, as he was doing prior to getting hurt. There will be no more easybeat rotations. While “strength in numbers” can win you a title, so can “8 guys who are on-fire and healthy in May and June”. Steph Dray Jimmy Kuminga Moody Podz Buddy Bigman (one of Loon/TJD/Post) might be all that’s needed this year. Can’t wait to see how it plays out! popcorn.gif
Also: TJD and Post closing out in garbage time with the 2W guys means I finally got my twin towers lineup! First time Kerr has even tried it (very stupid). So now do it with Dray, Jimmy and Steph! I wanna see something (unlocking unlimited wins like the Cavs are currently doing with the exact same formula)! Why is Kerr so scared of the Post-Loon-Dray-Jimmy-Steph lineup? Unleash it!!
Im really not in the mood for this Javey
Nobody want to see a Kings news article or any other team into a Warriors thread. Davey trying so hard to make his copium takes into reality. Everything always has to be about the Warriors.
A lot of words just to say the kings stink
5 Worst move this season
1. Mavs trade away Luka
2. 76ers signed Paul George and keep him
3. Kings trade away Fox
4. Suns did not trade away Durant
5. Rockets did not acquire a superstar and they are likely to be knocked out in the first round
You need to think like this
If 76ers trade George. picks and swaps for Durant, …..
It’s not as urgent as it seems.
There’s only one other team fighting for the play in, and the other teams in the west are deliberately tanking.
So the Kings are going against the Suns, Warriors, Dallas, Minnesota, Clippers. That’s 6 teams for 5 spots.
If one team has a bad injury or starts playing like crap the Kings are in automatically by default. No problem.
I think the issue is more playing well then getting the 10 seed.
You know what that’s a excellent point that I obviously missed.
Playing well is the bigger picture. Because who cares about the 10 seed lol if you’re not playing well and you back into the play in game, you’re going home.
It’s amazing how much help I need sometimes lol
With the Wemby news we are probably one Buddenholzer side eye to Durant away from the west being settled.
Still, difference between 8 and 9/10 seed huge
Going to be an awesome next 55 days out west
The boost from firing the coach doesn’t last long. The Kings are what they are, they need to tear it all the way down.
Im not sure this team will win another game for the rest of season. LaVine looks asleep on almost every push up the court. Sabonis looks confused on whats going on every play. Nobody on this team is even mildly a threat to defend the perimeter besides Keon. And the best 3pt shooter has been DeMar.
In all the years Ive watched terrible Sacramento basketball, this is something so very different. I just can’t understand how anyone thought this roster would be competitive. You took the 2 best players from the most mid team of the last 5 years while subtracting the most impactful player on the roster.
F*** you Rich Paul.
I feel for you. Being a Kings fan must be tough. Just a mixture of players now without a purpose. There is no identity with the team now. Monk is better as a SG than a PG. The bench lost much of its punch. They have no 1 star right now a few option players but no big star to lead the team.
You’ve got the Hornets then the Jazz the next two games. That’s two wins to get the momentum going and confidence rekindled.
I think you’re being very optimistic Gary. And while I appreciate that, I truly would not be shocked if they dropped both of those games. And probably in embarrassing fashion.
I think arc absolutely hit the nail on the head. This team has no identity. And I mean none at all. They are going out there trying not to lose oppose to trying to win with their style of basketball. That probably sounds very convoluted to a lot of people but if you’ve played organized ball you know exactly what I mean. White knuckling the rail through 4 quarters hoping the other team makes enough mistakes to give you a shot.
I truly hope your guys’ Warriors make a run. Sacramento is dead in the water, right where they like to be. If Monte isn’t gone at the end of the year Im convinced we’re in the midst of another 17 year drought.
Long live the Kangz.
I’ve been watching the kings for 30+ years. This might be the most frustrating team if you don’t include injuries. Plenty of talent, but so poorly constructed. I’d rather go back to watching mitch Richmond every night. At least they didn’t botch trading him like monte did fox