No.
It was one win against a team that’s now lost 6 of their last 7 games. I know we love Doug, but calm down.
Should Doug Christie replace Alvin Gentry as interim head coach?
A thoughtful analysis of a question many Kings fans are asking.
By Greg Wissinger | 110 Comments | Dec 16, 2021
Dec 15, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings acting head coach Doug Christie claps his hands during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
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I agree. People calling for it should pump the brakes.
However, the next few games may be a good opportunity to evaluate Doug for head coach for next year. I don’t really support that either at this point, but if the players respond, the rotations look sensible, and they get some W’s, I might change my mind.
Gentry tested positive yesterday, but I don’t think we know how long he’s had Covid. He could be out 10 days as some players have been according to Jill and Sam on the SportsEthos Sac Kings pod. If so, we could get a 5 game sample.
We shall see.
You say no but, in fact, the answer is ‘Yes’.
Exactly. The idea sounds nice, maybe one day, but please…I would hate for this man’s nba coaching career to end before it even started.
Lol you probably prefer some scrub like Gregg Popovich who doesn’t have a 100% winning record, don’t you Greg
Oh, I’m sure a certain someone will disagree with you, Greg…
Go on….
As much as I enjoyed the team’s effort and defense last night, watching Vivek and Matina sitting together courtside, I assume verbally patting each other on the back, made me sick. I am very confident that we were watching the next HC of the Sacramento Kings last night.
That is vomit inducing.
How about they try a Novel concept—-
Let a GM hire his own damn coach. Let a GM actually run the show.
I am so sick of Vivek and his henchmen and woman. Fuck them, seriously….for being so self absorbed they run the Kings into the ground.
If DC could put up with working with me on the radio for years, he could certainly deal with being head coach under the employ of a meddling, douche bag owner.
DC for head coach! One game is all I needed to see that DC is the next Ty Lue.
Go home, Grant. You are drunk…
no offense TheGrantNapear… but god grant is really the worst. An MLK quote? Go F%#* yourself please and thank you.
The Ringer had an interesting article today that pointed out the Lakers have the 29th most difficult sched the rest of the way which suggests they may be a play in team again. Wouldn’t surprise me if lebron starts nudging Vogel out of his position as the losses mount.
Just another potential solid, experienced HC that may be available this off season
I’m in the camp of wanting new blood, not a retread. Give me an eager young assistant (Darvin Ham is my preference) or college coaching genius (Jay Wright!)
How about the actual basketball people actually run basketball operations before we worry about who the actual head coach is?
Does this organization have actual basketball people?
Theoretically. Although it is tough to tell.
Do you mean McNair needs to overhaul the roster first before looking for a head coach? That’s totally fair.
You feel it’s better for an incoming coach to not have any input about a roster overhaul?
I feel a head coach should absolutely have a say on the roster that they’re working with. In this case, unless Doug or Alvin are made the official coach for the foreseeable future, then I don’t think they should have much input on what McNair does with the roster right now.
Do you mean moves shouldn’t be made right now until a new coach is picked out?
Nah, I wouldn’t want to put that limitation on things, which would either force the naming of a head coach quickly, or lock the season in concrete as it is.
I was thinking that you meant that if McNair had a person or persons in mind for the permanent job, that he ought not have in-depth conversation with them, since they would have to manage whatever came of roster changes.
It was a dumb read on my part.
Oh, no problem. I interpret things wrong all the time. Thanks for clearing that up.
I’d love jay here, but I don’t see any amount of money being able to get him to sac.
I’ve advocated for a pop disciple for the last three hires.
Experience and quality are not the same. Especially in the case of Frank Vogel.
TKH in Ranadiva’s residence today…
BuT, hE’s ThE wInNiNgEsT cOaCh In KiNgS hIsToRy, GrEg!
You mock such facts, but Davion should never come of the bench for this Kings roster ever again!
FACTS!
BREAKING: 1951 STATES THAT DAVION MITCHELL SHOULD BE GLUED TO THE BENCH INDEFINITELY
At this point, I’m not sure I care one way or another.
I know. I know. Totally. It’s a bad idea …
Great article Greg. Insightful, informative, well argued. You should really write more of these.
It has as much depth as your blurry food pics on twitter!
You really want me to stab you don’t you?
I’m just happy to see you back in the comment sections stabbing people. All is right in the world.
I am glad, however, that his blurry pics were finally addressed out loud.
I’m the Jackson Pollock of food pics you crybaby motherfuckers.
I thought this thread was giving me the warm and fuzzies. Turns out it was blood pouring from a stab wound…
Ah, a common mistake
Tell it
The less Greg writes, the higher the praise…
Can Gentry play small forward?
Can Greg?
So, Greg does not want a guy with an undefeated record as an NBA head coach to lead this team. I wonder if Greg is really a Kings fan, or in fact a Lakers plant. Let’s go to the film:
Yep, just as I suspected.
Remember, Greg posted an article about how he doesn’t care.
The Doug disrespect is reflective that his apathy has turned to something more sinister!
I would be wary of people who write a 771-word essay when being apathetic.
I can guarantee you the next time Vivek sees the guys from Basketball Ops, he will be puffing his chest out saying, “did you see Doug last night? pretty good, huh? Hahaha…but seriously, I knew he’d be amazing.”
Gentry is a good coach, experienced, and he has coached some winning teams in the past. He’s a great person and great mentor. Christie only has a few months of experience. Let’s give him some more time on the bench this year to watch and learn and make him a candidate for the permanent long term job next year. If he doesn’t get the Kings job, he’ll most likely go on to be a championship coach for a different team in a few years anyways.
I hear that Urban Meyer is available.
There is also a former Laker player-champion who had a pretty good coaching run with the Warriors out there …
Start writing your Pulitzer acceptance speech now for this detailed breakdown.
Full text of acceptance speech:
”fine.”
Too wordy.
Yeah, just stick to letters. “OK”.
‘k
This is why I come here, top-tier analysis. 10/10
I liked what DC was doing with his substitutions, he seemed to be getting the right guys in and out of the game at the right times. I’m not sure if having fewer guys available means DC was brilliant, or if it precluded him from making bad decisions, but I’m leaning more toward the former.
One of the things that I absolutely loved was a 2-3 second shot of him on the sideline with Fox, showing him a defensive technique before the game started up again. I do believe that DC is a natural coach, but he still needs more seasoning, and the rest of the season isn’t likely to be enough.
There will be a lot of really excellent possibilities for HC come spring, and I hope that however that plays, Doug will remain in Sacramento as a coach. Former players are by no means automatically qualified for coaching careers, but DC possesses a lot of the qualities that could make him a great one.
Plus you have to respect a guy who can shut your ass down in practice.
I like Doug, as do most here, so I’m sure we’re all a bit biased, but don’t discount him just because he hasn’t coached before. Neither did Reilly or Kerr (to name a couple). Obviously different situations, but if you’ve got the “it” factor in terms of relating to players, seeing the game, etc., the rest can be ironed out.
I for one am kinda excited to see how Doug does with a few more games.
That said, prayers out to AG. Get well soon!
Good points, all. It’s important to keep in mind that no other teams are going to poach DC for a head coaching job if he doesn’t get the one here. DC may aspire to HC, but he doesn’t seem in the least like a person that feels that he’s owed anything in that regard.
Agreed. Not one single team will be interested in a guy who’s pedigree is horrible broadcasting the Kings. 3 months on the bench as an asst. It’s Stupid sentimentality and is another reason this team will be stuck in suckitude.
Lets see, Let me refresh your memory. Kerr was a GM for the Suns for 7 seasons. Maybe, not a coach. But, the man knows how to run a team. Christie could barely handle broadcast duties. It’s really crazy and shows how inept this organization is. Hiring a guy based on the fact he was a formet player. Please, Pratell.. Why did the Kings Hire Divac as GM? Why? Did he have any exp prior? How did that work out?
I agree, he needs more seasoning. I can only think of a handful of guys who went from being player then becoming a head coach without so much as a year as an assistant. Kidd, Nash, and Kerr all have done it, although Kerr did have many years as an executive. Are there others I’m forgetting? I feel it is the unusual path for head coaches.
One thing of note, many of the recent ex-NBA players who have gone on to coach in the NBA were former point guards. The three I mentioned above including Tyrone Lue, Doc Rivers, Chauncey Billups, Quin Snyder, Scott Brooks, Nick Nurse, Billy Donovan, and even Alvin Gentry were all point guards. You don’t see a lot of bigs who became NBA coaches, although Phil Jackson comes to mind. That being said, Christie had some point guard skills and could run the offense as a player. He may have that kind of basketball mind to be a good coach…someday.
That makes sense, it’s tough to be a great point guard if you don’t have a feel for the big picture, adapting in real time, and some leadership qualities.
But there’s always the exception that proves the rule about bigs: Have you already forgotten the tenure of Luke Walton? Just an absolute strategic fucking genius, who commanded respect, even from those that he couldn’t physically pin down.
Larry Bird was made head coach with zero coaching experience, although he had some vague FO role in Boston prior to that.
Got COY award that first season, too.
RikSmits thinks Doug Christie is as good as Larry Bird, more at 11.
RikSmits is one of the most respected basketball analysts in Holland. In fairness it has been said that he is the only basketball analyst in Holland.
Those are some good example of exceptions, for sure. There are just so many factors involved in trying to get a good outcome, roster, injuries, etc., that it’s probably best to not assign too much credit or blame to a coach in that opening season.
If a coach can oversee steady improvement during a season, or year-to-year? You may have a keeper.
I disagree. There will no no team in the NBA interested in Christie. Lets get real. The guy has no experience. Teams are going to be looking at guys they have been assistants for years. Not 3 months. The only team interested in Christie will be Sac.
I will be totally (TOTALLY) shocked if anybody other than Doug Christie is the next head coach of the Kings. I’d be willing to bet that last night’s performance settled it for Vivek.
Unfortunately, as long as Vivek is the owner it really doesn’t matter who’s the head coach.
Or the GM, for that matter.
Agreed
Of course they should sign him long term, I’m here for all the chaos.
OT: Well, fuck.
The good news is that local media lickspittles now have a ready made excuse for why this season was wasted. The happiest guy in downtown Sacramento today might be Monte McNair. Let’s roll it back another year!
.
It’s the same people we already knew about. There isn’t new news here.
The followup tweet from Woj explaining the Kings have closed their facilities is news, though.
True. It seems likely tomorrow’s game gets cancelled now. My OC was made based off the Shams report, not this Woj update.
That’s terrible news. Symptomatic cases doesn’t sound good. Hope there’s more of an update from the team on the player’s wellness.
Of course it would be Bagley.
I think the dog ate Greg’s full post
I would say yes. Gentry is a minimally competent interim coach who no one is suggesting will be rehired as the head coach next year. Although Doug Christie has never been a head coach before, one could say the same thing about many other successful head coaches before their first chance. I think his time as a commentator would help because he has been analyzing the league on a daily basis. His youth and passion for the game are positives. His experience and attitude as a former player are a positive. And personally, I like his “unfinished business” comment.
Pat Riley was the analyst with Chick Hearn. He ended up being a head coach without coaching experience when he was moved over. I can hope for someone again to come along and be surprisingly successful as a Head Coach. I don’t know how Doug will make out a a coach, or even a head coach one day. He speaks well and given that, he may communicate well with players?
Pat had been an Assistant under Jerry West !
Jack McKinney was the head coach in 1979. He got in a serious bike accident and the lead assistant Paul Westhead took over head coach duties. He hired Pat Riley from the broadcast booth in Nov of 1979. The following season Magic Johnson got Paul Westhead fired after 6 games, by asking for a trade if the coach didn’t go. Pat Riley became head coach. He had about as much experience as Doug. You never know?
I think you stay with AG until at least the end of this season. This team has already had a ton of HC snafus and we don’t need the story of how we terminated a coach who replaced a coach who should’ve been replaced before the season due to Covid.
Fail fast….
Vivek is ready to make the move…..
Vivek can’t even fail fast. He’s been failing for 8 long years now.
I’m more in the camp of SSSI than hard no. Trying to make a judgement call right now is absolutely in exercise in futility… but neither am I seeing evidence that Doug needs to be excised from the team either.
Let him marinate a bit. Might not be ready by coach searching time, but nor is he so bad is to be written off entirely. There’s just no basis to do something with him right now.
One only needs to look at career winning percentages to answer that question. Gentry has proven to be mediocre (I’m being nice) whereas Doug is a PROVEN WINNER.
Who was calling for this outside the front office?
Urban Meyer just became available…
Holy crap what a mess. I feel bad for the Jacksonville fans – pretty crazy when I’d prefer to be a Kings fan.
I’m a lifelong Bengals fan, so I don’t feel sorry for anyone.
It’s going to happen we all know it and can see it coming. Just like Vlade. I have it on good info that the only reason Gentry is the coach is monte got his pick. Vivek will name DC the coach in the offseason, monte will be gone shortly thereafter and it’s gonna be the Dumars/Vivek show. Of course to the same results because GM Vivek thinks it’s everything but his roster and players fault we aren’t in the playoffs.
Credit where credit is due for a detailed list of things that are less likely to happen than me winning the lotto.
Said all of us at some point with every bonehead move this org has made. What I said has $1 scratcher odds of happening not super lotto.
Hiring Christie would be DAF. It should convince everyone here. Once and For all. Vivek is making all the basketball decisions. It’s Highly doubtful Monte would hire a coach with literally 3 months exp as an asst. If that’s the case, Mcnair will be fired within the next couple years.
The level of incompetence of this front office is blinding. I don’t have issue with Christie as a broadcaster(Eventhough, he’s not very good) or Asst coach. This organization continues to make basketball decisions on sentimentality, blind loyalty, and players that are almost 2 decades removed from the last sucessful regime.
But to hand the keys over to an ex player with no pedigree in coaching is beyond idiotic.
I am in the camp that both Dumars and Monte are merely figureheads. Collecting a paycheck and being yes men.
Bobby Jax deserves it more than Doug at this point but throwing Gentry under is totally unfair and unwarranted but seems very Matina and Vivek centric !
Yep. Let him have the rest of the year.
Don’t judge the results based on whether we make the “play-in” or not … those are the fake playoffs and the stupidest fucking idea the NBA has come up with in years.
Instead, see how he manages the minutes, rotations, etc., and more importantly how the players respond to him.
See if that leads to a competitive product on the floor … by competitive, I mean not giving up 81 points to any NBA team in one half of basketball.
Low bar, yes, but I just want to see buy-in and max effort by guys like Fox, Hield and Bagley, you know, the guys who were supposed to be our “core” three years ago?
If this buy-in happens and tangible improvement occurs, Vlonte McDivac should then give Doug a two-year contract and actually sit in the room with him – and him only – and honestly evaluate the roster as to what type of player he wants, and what type he doesn’t.
And then go from there.
I say go for it. This whole “he needs seasoning” thing is pointless.
Why? What’s the worst thing that can happen – we miss the playoffs?
The guy can relate to players – I mean, Marvin Bagley has actually been contributing in a positive way to the Sacramento Kings (!) since Doug started working with him this year – and clearly Doug knows what it takes to win in the NBA.
I also like the fact that he stayed here after he retired – it means he cares about the city and the team.
Make Bobby his top assistant coach and let those two tell the team that anyone who doesn’t play defense starting from Day 1 is going to sit their ass on the bench, regardless of contract or rotation status.
Ask Alvin if he wants to stick around as a “papa bear” type who they can bounce ideas off of behind the scenes.
I think this could work.
Not sure how great I’d feel if we hired a head coach and lead assistant who, combined, have exactly one game of NBA coaching experience.
There are people who weren’t on the best third-place team in NBA history who would also make fine additions.
Based on one game against a struggling Wizards team? You’ll change your tune real quick in the next KIngs losing streak. And I can guarantee you, Looking at Jan’s schedule, there will be one. This team has a lack of talent problem. Coaching is important. But, when your teamdoesn’t have a single All Star, How much do you think you’re going to win? Seriously? Talent supercedes everything. Until this team makes a swing for the fences or blows it up, it’s not going anywhere. That, my friend, you can count on like the air you breathe.
Being a nice guy and relating to players as a coach is overrated BS< Getting players to buy in consistently, know their role, and play d consistently. Getting aloing with players is a bonus That’s high school. Alot of players have won in the NBA. SO lets make Tristan Thompson the coach. He’s won a ring. Certainly more qualified than Christie.
I’d like to see Gentry finish the year. But, Doug did play under Rick Adelman for 5 years so he’s seen how a great coach approaches preparation, game management, post game analysis, etc as well as managing all the ginormous egos from ownership to front office to players. Not such a bad background to have.
Greg, I think “No.” was sufficient. No need to get wordy about it! I like DC and think he might deserve a HC job one day, but he needs more time in an assistant role. It would also be setting him up for failure to give him the job now. I don’t think AG will be terribly upset if he only has the job the rest of the year. He seems like a solid guy and deserves to finish the season.
Agreed, not yet. However, Doug has the “it” factored. He is going to be a good head coach sooner rather than later.
If McNair thinks DC is the right guy or wants to get a feel for him prior to the next off-season, then what do I care…nothing they’ve done prior to this has worked and Gentry isn’t going to be retained.
DC’s been playing basketball his entire life, if he knows how to get players to all move in the same direction, awesome. No matter what happens, I want to see a real coaching search in the off-season.
Coaching search will not happen ! Matina and Vivek have decided Doug will be the next coach ! Hope for once they are correct ! If not, will Bobby J or Bibby be next ?
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