The Sacramento Kings haven’t been top-20 in defensive ranking in over 15 years.
No matter how you feel about the reported finalists for the open Kings coaching position, the three of them do have a track record of leading teams with good defenses, as was noted in Sam Amick’s report about the Kings coaching hiring process.
So, let’s take a look at the defensive ratings and defensive coaching philosophies of Steve Clifford, Mike Brown and Mark Jackson because one of these guys is likely going to be another in a long list of those who walk into Sacramento with big dreams of getting Kings players to perform on the defensive side of the ball.
Steve Clifford
Jan 8, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford, right, gestures as he talks with his players during a time out against the Houston Rockets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Houston at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Wyke/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports
Clifford has coached two franchises with similar lineages to the Kings – the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic. In both cases, Clifford’s defenses start out strong with quick turnarounds, and then slowly slip.
Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets Defensive Ratings
- 2012-13 (Before Clifford Took Over) – 30th
- 2013-14 – 5th
- 2014-15 – 9th
- 2015-16 – 8th
- 2016-17 – 14th
- 2017-18 – 16th
During his introductory press conference with the Magic, Clifford spoke about lessons learned on the defensive end with the Bobcats and a little about his defensive coaching strategy.
“You can never take anything for granted. We had gone to Charlotte, they were 30th in defense the year before we got there. We were top-10 the next three years. Two years ago, we were actually 7th at the All-Star break, lost our backup center, struggled on our way in. This year, we were I think like 17th or 18th, and looking at the numbers, I spent just as much time on the defense, but I felt we were going to be a great defensive team, and if we could be a top 10, 12 offensive team, which we ended up 13th, I thought we could be right there. And I really believe that in some ways maybe I took the defense for granted. You can’t do that in this league. Every year, you have to start from scratch as if you’ve never coached them before. We start with defense in training camp, you start with the stance. You start with individual defense, then you go to help – the same things they learned when they were in elementary school. There’s no other way to do it. We did do that this year when I look at it, but I don’t think we nearly maybe in my mind, maybe I just wasn’t determined enough, or I was more thinking offense.”
It is good to see Clifford learned from his time in Charlotte and the fact that he acknowledges you can’t focus so much on offense that you let the other side of the ball slip, which is a longtime cornerstone of the Kings identity. It is slightly concerning that the defensive rating in Orlando followed the same trajectory as the Bobcats – strong start that leads to a trailing off.
Orlando Magic Defensive Ratings
- 2017-18 – (Before Clifford Took Over) – 18th
- 2018-19 – 8th
- 2019-20 – 10th
- 2020-21 – 26th
I do think Clifford’s elementary school-style basics of defense may be what this team needs. To stop the endless loop of talking about being better without any true change, the players on this roster may need to have it drilled back into them about what it truly take to defend their man and take it seriously.
Mike Brown
Nov 18, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, left, and assistant Mike Brown react against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Brown is widely considered the “defensive coordinator” of the Golden State Warriors. The San Francisco Chronicle did a feature on Brown’s impact, which dives into how he is extremely detailed and puts together plans for practice that are color-coded and spends countless hours diving into video. He has developed a Warriors defense in which every player on the roster knows how to defend the pick and roll, knows how to draw a charge, defend without fouling and when to close out. The Mike Brown Warriors defense pushes the opponent to the baseline or sideline.
He explains that in the article:
“If you try to keep the ball on the sideline or baseline, that’s where help is built in,” Brown said. “To be able to send the ball to where your help is instead of allowing the ball to again get to the middle of the floor, that’s something that is very beneficial to our unit as a whole.”
Brown has made it a goal to get the team to trust each other on defense. (A lack of trust on defense in something Kings players have brought for years.)
Here is what the Warriors have done from a defensive rating perspective since Brown joined Steve Kerr’s coaching staff. They have rebounded quite nicely from the 2019-20 “reset” season.
Golden State Warriors Defensive Ratings:
- 2016-17 – 2nd
- 2017-18 – 11th
- 2018-19 – 13th
- 2019-20 – 26th
- 2020-21 – 5th
- 2021-22 – 1st
Now, the Warriors had been good on defense before Brown arrived as an assistant coach, which leads into the Kings final coaching candidate, but before we get to that, let’s not forget about Brown’s time as the head coach of Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers (the first time).
Cleveland Cavaliers Defensive Ratings:
- 2004-05 – (Before Brown took over) – 12th
- 2005-06 – 14th
- 2006-07 – 4th
- 2007-08 – 11th
- 2008-09 – 3rd
- 2009-10 – 7th
It obviously doesn’t hurt to have Lebron, but a consistent top-15 defense is impressive over a five-year span.
In the 2011-12 season, Brown was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers would end up being 13th in defensive ranking that season. Here is Brown discussing team defense with the Lakers, in which he brings up using the sidelines.
Mark Jackson
Mar 23, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; ESPN broadcasters Mark Jackson (left) and Mark Jones during the NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kerr has credited Jackson for handing over a Warriors team that was already good defensively when the coaching switch in Golden State happened following the 2013-14 season. And you can see the incremental progress Jackson made.
Golden State Warriors Defensive Ratings:
- 2010-11 – (Before Jackson took over) – 26th
- 2011-12 – 27th
- 2012-13 – 14th
- 2013-14 – 4th
In the 2014-15 season, Kerr would propel the Warriors to 1st in defensive rating and 5th the following year.
During his introductory press conference in 2011 when he became the Warriors head coach, Jackson shared some insight into his goals with defense.
“We are going to be a defensive-minded basketball team first and foremost. We’re going to get after it. We’re going to hold each other accountable, and we’re going to play to our strengths. We’re going to be demanding. Offensively ,we’re going to be a team that’s going to push the basketball. Some may say can you push the basketball and defend? Absolutely,” he said.
Here is more:
“If a guy gets blown by and there’s no help, obviously I’m going to demand help defense,” he said. “I’m going to tolerate poor shots. That doesn’t mean that poor shots are not going to be taken, but you’re going to have to earn the right to take a bad shot. If you’re getting it done on the defensive end I’ll take the guesswork out, if you’re getting it done on the defensive end, and you’re leaving it out on the floor, you’re going to have more leeway to make a mistake on the offensive end. I’m going to be much more understanding if you’re leaving it out on the floor.”
No coach is going to say they don’t care about defense or downplay its importance, and we have heard numerous coaches in Sacramento say you can’t win in this league without playing defense only to not be able to improve the defense. We have heard them call the bench their best friend in terms of enforcing defense, only to not be able to improve the defense. So, like everything else Kangz, we’re going to have to see progress to believe any new talk that comes.
Regardless of what you think of the remaining candidates and the interview process in general, however, it is at least a good thing that the Kings are attempting to find someone with a track record of making positive improvements on that side of the ball.
The worst part of the Jackson quotes is that I can hear them in his stupid voice where he speaks in his normal register, then when he’s finally wrapping it up, he begins lowering his voice as he trails off.
And let’s cut Cliffie a little slack for ’20-’21, management traded away all of his best players.
Mark, why did you bench Barnes when he was 15/15 from the field?
Just wait until Sabonis has 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists half way through the 2nd quarter of a game.
😂
(gasps) The Mark of Satan Van Gundy!
Personally, I think the Kings could use a few miracles.
At this point not picking Jackson for the coaching job seems like it would qualify as a miracle.
or they start slapping each other on the backside for a good play.
For all the complaining about Kayte Christensen’s announcing, Mark Jackson is the King (pun!) of platitudes. cliches and braindead obvious commentary. If Jackson’s ability to announce is anything like his ability to coach, well, he’s basically Luke Walton. I’ve heard better commentary from guys passed out on the floor of The Stagger Inn.
I will say clearly the Kings need to improve defensively from historically bad levels, but the collective rationale of doubling down with the Head Coach on that side of the ball to this extreme I think is a mistake. They traded for Sabonis with a rationale. A player who is offensively unique and gifted but one specific nevertheless. Especially with a guard who isn’t much of a gravity threat and is dependent on usage.
That isn’t to take away from the signs the two of them showed at the end of the season, but them both aren’t simply going to compare to the level of offensive ingenuity on display across the league. You work with the options available but I expect we would be better with Chris Finch than any of these names mentioned simply on maximizing and thinking creatively with two unique offensive players.
Its not to say that the coach couldn’t have been defensively minded first but the extreme and lack of inspiration to which they are approaching this search is seeking mediocrity. All these options have offensive schemes from a decade ago.
Maybe it will manifest the ever so obsessive attempt at an 8th seed. I don’t expect it likely nor that being enough to resign Sabonis and eventually Fox. Thats going to come from being aspirational and optimistic about the direction of the team or playing good basketball beyond the results. None of these names inspire that confidence or project that reality.
If it has to be one of these three I hope it to be Brown. But the hopes of what could have been with Darvin Ham and Will Hardy loom large and still make a lot more sense. And if they hire Jackson the team needs to be commandeered by the league office.
Mike Brown, please. Dude knows what he is doing.
Fun facts that no one seems to be talking about in all this coaching analysis:
Years of NBA coaching experience:
Clifford 21 (8 as a HC).
Brown 21 (8 HC).
Jackson 3 (lol).
Three! That’s Mark’s entire coaching universe and it was 8 years ago! For reference, Doug Christie now has only two (2) years less of NBA coaching experience than Mark Jackson and Doug Christie has infinitely more NBA coaching experience since 2015.
Setting aside all of the other “stuff,” it’s kind of a joke that he is considered a legitimate finalist!
So when you think about it, Jackson is the remaining candidate with the most upside. He has the most room for growth, and more importantly, when his hire fails spectacularly, McNair gets fired and Vivek gets run out of town. Winning!
For sure. The leaks from minority owners about bonkers toxic head games would start before the 1st season even begins. Then, when the Kings are sub .500 by the all star break the leaks would just get nastier …
It would be a boon for local media folks and the discussions on here will be Boogie era cray cray, but it will be a painfully slow and messy train wreck for the fans in general.
Fuck it, I wouldn’t even care anymore and I’d be here just to watch everyone cannibalize each other!
Save the neck for me!
I know I have no interest in Mark Jackson. And would expect Monte McNair to resign as soon as possible as he found another job.
I would hope so. I hope McNair forces Vivek to pick a reasonable NBA coach, or he quits immediately. Unlike D’Allessandro, who I’m convinced is cleaning toilets in Denver, McNair’s reputation is still intact.
I was being nit picky. Carry on.
Controversy sells too.
Mark would generate plenty of controversy.
Unless the Kings get out of town.
This is the whole story. If (when) Jackson underachieves, McNair is going to get fired for a decision that wasn’t his, to cover for the guy who actually made it. He might as well go to the mat on this now, so if he gets fired, at least it’s on his own terms.
Think he already is. That’s why you’ve seen the multiple leaks about Mike Brown being McNair’s guy.
Passion of the Christie.
Brown Almighty.
The Divac’s Advocate.
Loved that movie!
The Mark of Zero
What’s funny is that reading this, and listening to James Ham plead with Vivek Ranadive to let McNair make the final decision on his pod, it always comes back to the same stuff. Do you invest the appropriate amount in your coaching staff? Do you let your coaches choose their coaches, do you let your basketball people make choices?
Because Clifford and Brown, and for that matter Jackson, had that in their coaching stops. Will they in Sac?
Good piece Blake.
Who is Blake?
Never heard of him.
I hope Jackson doesn’t make the players wear pasties in the shower.
On the other hand that would make for a hilarious tiktok video.
My question is; who of the three is the most likely to sit Fox’s ass down when he sleepwalks through three consecutive defensive possesions and just lazily leans into a screen to catch a breather?
Who will be the one tough enough to hold him accountable? And will he get the backing from the FO/ownership.
Because he’s a difficult player to hide on D.
Hopefully no one. We can still hope Fox gets traded this off season. That’s what will need to happen if the Kings have any chance of making the playoffs and keeping Sabonis on the roster.
As much as I like Fox, I wouldn’t be opposed to him getting traded for the right player or package.
I seem to recall a very vocal contingent that felt Ben Simmons would have been the right player to get in a trade that sent Fox out.
Granted, his contribution to his teams from game to game is more consistent than Fox’s over the past season.
I have no idea what Ben Simmons has to do with the topic of Fox’s defense, but hey, better to pivot away from a discussion than to have it, I guess? I mean, people get elected President with that strategy, so it must be the way to go.
Ja Morant is no bargain when it comes to defense, but the sum of his contributions more than counters his defensive shortcomings. The same holds true for Luka Doncic, among others. Fox really has a couple of way to get the focus off of his defense. One is to become much more dominant and consistent on the offensive end. The other is to improve his defense. Either way, he, and only he can change the narrative. It really doesn’t matter who the Kings hire as HC if Fox lacks the desire to improve the sum of his game.
Two years ago, Fox was on a par with Morant and Young. They have progressed, and Fox, for the most part has not – he has certainly not kept pace with those two guys. It’s on him to improve. Not Brown. Not Clifford. Not Jackson. And not Ben Simmons.
If you’ll check, I responded to a post expressing some interest in trading Fox. Neither that post, the one above it, nor the one above that specifically addressed the issue of Fox’s defense, focusing instead on the possibility of him being traded.
I gladly concede that the first post in the thread was about Fox’s defense. If you’re suggesting that people need to stay on topic when commenting in threads, or face rebuke, this place is going to look like SacTown Royalty in about three days.
Good points.
Right now, I’d like Clifford one, Brown two. Fine with either one. The problem with Jackson is not even whether he can coach but is he going to be continual embarrassment to the team and to Sacramento. A lot of red flags. In most hiring situations, red flags mean you don’t get the job.
Go on
Right now I like Jabari Smith, Banchero and Murray and that matters a hell of lot more than the next coach. All 3 coaches are competent but the roster they get will determine how successful they are.
I asked this a day or two ago, but has an assistant coach accepted a head coaching gig for another team while still in the playoffs with his current team?
https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/1521961672553861120
Make him an offer he can’t refuse Monte, before Vivek changes his mind.
Alvin Gentry did that in 2015 when he took the Pelicans job and was still an assistant with the Dubs.
The toxicity on this site has been rising for a while now. The problem used to be fans would over value our own players; now the majority of the commenters shit on our best players nonstop.
It’s becoming harder and harder to be a part of this community. We aren’t close to STR levels due to the excellent writers here, but I’ve definitely cut back on my daily visits due to non stop vitriol towards our own team from all the people posting their hate for the franchise.
It seems like there are so many new fans who haven’t learned how to properly suffer yet. Maybe it’s the fault of the writers, they’re so good that despite the commenters now hating the Kings, they keep coming back.
I’m not saying anyone has stop fanning how they want, I just don’t understand why people would follow something they dislike so much.
I can only answer for myself. I have been a fan of this team since ’85. I have been to a ton of games (including playoffs!), watched thousands more on TV, and have followed the team through thin, thick, thin, and anorexic.
I have moved past dislike for this team. I am at unbridled apathy. Honestly, I don’t give two shits about the Kings organization right now. That’s my reaction to 16 years (and counting!) of being asked to eat the same shit sandwich, re-boxed year after year after year.
My sole reason for being here is because of the site, its writers, and its members. The topic is an afterthought at this point, and will remain so until the team becomes NBA relevant again. That is the biggest reason that I write so few articles anymore – my time is more valuable to me than to spend it on long-form Kings commentary. To your point, we are fortunate that we have a staff that is younger and much more dynamic (and talented) than me and my old digits.
I would posit that the folks that are the most “toxic and vitriolic” (or “honest,” depending on your lens and the results of the organization) are among the most loyal Kings fans, which is why they are also the most frustrated. This is a group that is not accepting that we should just be thankful and kiss Vivek’s ass for keeping the team here – a team that you have never been able to root for once the regular season ends since he bought the team. Nice arena, though, and all that.
Optimists, pessimists, realists – none of these flavors of Kings fans bother me. Because it is the product that is the problem here, and not the consumer.
“Okay Rob, I know it’s been a while since you’ve typed up an article, but all you have to do is drag the mouse across the desktop.”
I wouldn’t mind some well reasoned arguments, but we tend to just see comments about trading away our best but flawed players for the perfect no name player that doesn’t exist.
Maybe it’s me, I haven’t been acclimatized to nonsense. I’ve never been on Twitter, IG, Facebook, or any other social media so the commenters with the thoughtless hot-takes calling some of the best basketball players in the world bums or that they suck just irritates me to no end.
I heard Old Gregg ruined your articles by trying to dress them up a bit.
They are some of the best basketball players in the world. Using the NBA yard stick, they suck, and have sucked for over a decade and a half, at least collectively. While other teams reload and get to the playoffs, the Kings set NBA records for failure.
This is my only social media account as well. My two cents: We get so tired of the lack of progress from this organization and feel so powerless & helpless that we start picking at the messenger, in this case fellow Kings fans.
The product sucks and has for a long, long time. A lot of people are unhappy with that.
People are just frustrated man. It’s that simple. If the kings were average and had made the playoffs 1 time since Fox was drafted you wouldn’t be seeing “fox is a bum” comments. It’s all frustration talking. Fox is very very far from a bum. His defense and inconsistent shooting along with the slow start this year are not why this team sucks. He’s actually one of the few shiny objects we have in the drawer. This team sucks because we selected Bagley over Doncic, we fired two good coaches and hired two terrible coaches to replace them. (Don’t act like Karl was a good coach in sacramento, the guy didn’t even really coach during the games because he couldn’t talk loud enough. On top of the other toxic shit he did. He WAS a good coach MANY YEARS AGO, he was no longer a good coach when he was hired by the worst GM in Kings history. Dude wasn’t fit for the position. Period )
This team sucks because they hired two terrible GMs in a row. This team sucks because they have Mo Harkless as the starting SF to start the season. There’s many other examples, those are just my highlights.
the team does not suck because of Fox. People are just FRUSTRATED and he’s the best player so he takes more shit than is really deserved. I like Fox. I’d also be ok if he was traded because he should bring back a big haul. I still see so much potential in Fox and I don’t think he has hit his ceiling. Most likely he’s on this team next season and I’m 100% fine with that. He needs as does Sabonis better plates around him, a legitimate coach who isn’t toxic and healthy locker room with no BS from players that don’t want to be here.
I want a qualified coach with no history of drama to get the job and keep it for 5 years. Win or lose I don’t care. I want Monte to be here for those same 5 years with the coach HE HIRES!!! Win or lose. I want consistency and a plan for growth. If it fails then fine. I seriously doubt it would though. In those future five years of consistency with a real coach, a real philosophy, a competent GM that shares it and a good working relationship with each other it will result in good things happening. Having a qualified coach and respectable GM for 5 years doesn’t mean that Fox can’t get traded this summer or at any time in those 5 years. I just want a god damn plan with qualified people in power who aren’t shitty humans that are known to cause drama. (Monte seems qualified. Mike Brown definitely is).
So… let’s do that and try that. I don’t think it’s asking for much but as a kings fan I know that it’s actually asking for a miracle. I want the obvious and easy miracle. If we could get that, we can all continue to be fans of this team and actually root for them to improve as opposed to fail.
Vivek hiring Mark Jackson would be a slap in the face to at minimum half of all kings fans. If he does that he should expect a slap in the face right back at him.
it’s all frustration man. Alleviating some of that would see the “negativity” you can’t stand drop exponentially. Having qualified people in control for a consistent amount of time (5years minimum in my opinion) would accomplish that.
Vivek fired Vlade and hired Monte. That was smart. I’m simply asking for him not to fuck that up. Don’t do something stupid to erase the smart thing you did. It’s not rocket science.
my somewhat cohesive rant is complete.
There should be a million recs on your post.
appreciate that comment. a real glue guy.
I’d have to add that none of us created a lottery system that incentivizes losing and its absurd corollary where fans can’t agree on whether to win or lose. But then again, I like absurd satires like Catch 22.
As a fan of professional sports since the 70’s, this is the first time I’ve rooted for one of my teams to fail and to be horribly embarrassed. I’m finding I actually like it, and see no negative effects on my mood at all, since I still have hope with my other teams.
I guess once the apathy sets in, it’s hard to care about little changes and the day to day ops because the results stay the same.
I don’t think I’ll ever be capable of actively rooting for them to lose (even while I’m a proponent of tanking going through a full rebuild).
I want new owners.
Which we aren’t getting anytime soon.
And so, here we are.
Because I really want them to improve and they keep screwing up, and I’m not going to pretend that’s not happening.
I am firmly in the camp that no head coach is gonna help the lack of talent on this team.
That being said, I’d rather have Doug Christie in charge instead any of these three coaching corpses.
And that’s just one of the reasons that the team fired you.
Thanks for the research and article.
I, my own self, would have liked one of the young coach candidates. Kings are not going anywhere soon. Young coaches have been impressive in Boston, Memphis, Toronto (way back when), NPO etc. There have been some failures: Charlotte, OKC
But looks like we get to have an old guy. Of these, I like Mike Brown. Jackson has little experience and a bad reputation. He talks a lot but can he coach?
The coach influences defense but the players have to “play it”.
Except for Mitchell and a bit of erratic DDV, there is no D in Sactown.
The Kings seriously need shooters- look at all the successful playoff teams- they can all shoot. Kings not so much. If Kings end up at 7 or 8, hope that the top 5 go as expected and Griffin goes next, then Kings can choose from the high school kid (no D), Davis and Mathurin (indifferent D).
I wanted a new young assistant when this all started but I think the reality is Mike Brown truly is the best candidate (including the other young guys that were originally listed) for this particular cluster fuck of a situation that is basketball hell and 16 years of failure.
I really hope he is our next coach. He’s qualified more than any other for the actual job at hand and that’s how desperate we are. If he stays for 5 years and Monte is with him the entire time I think (and of course HOPE) good things can and will happen in that time.
Samick has spoken:
‘The Kings insist.’
This is good news if you want Monte to have that control.
That whole quote is completely self-contradictory. It’s this all over again, with Mark Jackson this time.
But sure, Monte gets to make the final decision. My only hope, as mentioned above, is that if Jackson fails, Monte is going to get fired for a decision he didn’t make to cover for the guy who actually made it. He might as well just pick the person he wants now.
It’s not the whole Nik Rocks thing. I know it appears like that. From Fedora Ham:
This isn’t a Nik Stauskas deal. Vivek wants Jackson, Monte wants Brown. In the end, though, if you’re basing this on history, McNair likely gets his way. I said this in the other thread, but I feel Ranadive is just testing McNair’s resolve. And much of the Jackson talk is that.
What Ranadive really wants, IMO, is to be seen on the right side of history. What he doesn’t get is that there isn’t a right or wrong side. You’re just either successful or you aren’t. It doesn’t matter if you stump for Mark Jackson and he’s successful elsewhere. It matters that the coach you choose is successful in Sacramento.
He still doesn’t get it. And I’m not confident he will. But, I’ve had the sense Monte will win this battle. If they make a good move this summer or two, Fox makes the leap they think he will and Domas is a bit better than he was post trade, Ranadive might calm down. Then again, he might make things worse. Forever Chaos Agent’s ‘Forever Chaos Agent’ until otherwise noted, I’m afraid.
Brown should be the choice. But, i don’t think it changes the W-L significantly.
The talent on this roster still has a limited ceiling.
When I look at the Top 10 teams in the West.
A healthy Western Conference? Suns, Clips, Pels, Nugs, Grizz, Wolves, Dubs, Mavs. and Utah will continue to be locks next year.
Dame will be back for the Blazers, OKC will be rising. With money to spend and 2 picks in the first round.
Lakers will find a way to procure stars.
Even with Brown, this team is talent deficient compared to most of the West.’
Fox/Ox is not getting you more than 40-42 wins in the West. That’s predicated on being a Top 15 defense and Fox playing well from Week 1.
If that’s the goal, have at it. That’s the best case scenario.
I was slightly intrigued by Mark Jackson because I liked how he transformed the culture of the Warriors team during his time there. Now, I kind of hope it is not him just from the optics.
If you analyze the past 16 years or so of this organization’s ineptitude, the only conclusion that makes sense is the team is cursed.
Satan, demons, bad juju, djinn, evil spirits … whatever entities that have been haunting this team, there is only coaching candidate uniquely qualified to exorcise these demons.
Mark Jackson is our man.
Gotta ask: Where does Doug Christie fit into all of the discussion and strategy around defense? He made his mark on the Kings as a true premier defender who complemented his teammates and made the Kings a winner–though not a great shooter or scorer. Kings Herald: do you have any access to actual Kings staff–or just write your own opinion pieces and call it news?
Vivek WannaLoseEh? Kings need to do a George Costanza and choose the OPPOSITE of whomever Vivek likes.
Badge Legend