Kings win seventh straight behind Christie’s ‘contagious’ energy originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Kings are on a roll after winning their seventh straight game Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, improving their record to 7-1. under interim coach Doug Christie and exceeding .500 for the first time since November 21.
De’Aaron Fox returned to Sacramento’s starting lineup at United Center after a three-game injury absence, and the star guard explained how Christie’s mentality rubbed off on the Kings after their victory 124-119.
“He brings a type of energy that’s a little bit infectious,” Fox told reporters about what’s changed for the Kings under Christie. “I mean, like I said before, he’s the same guy he was, but anytime you’re at the front of the bar, I feel like you probably feel it a little more.
“But we have a good thing going right now, so you want to continue to play at a high level. And playing on this team, obviously Zach (LaVine) did everything he did, but I mean , they have also played at a high level, so to be able to come here and get a victory is always a good thing.”
Since he took over after the firing of Mike BrownChristie seems to have revived a Kings team It was on a six-game losing streak before beating the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 30 — Christie’s second game as interim coach and his first win. During Sacramento’s current seven-game winning streak, the team is averaging an NBA-high 50.3 rebounds with 121.6 points (second) and 9.4 steals (third) (via NBA TV).
Fox and teammate DeMar DeRozan both talked about how Christie’s streamlined offense helped the Kings get things going on the court after Sacramento recorded 33 assists with just seven turnovers against the Bulls.
“Obviously you’re just trying to get high drags, spot actions – those are things that everyone in the league runs, but you have to be able to do it with pace, and you have to be able to to attack every time that happens,” Fox said. “So those are just the little nuances of (Christie’s offense). If you watch Memphis play, that’s about all they do. They don’t make a ton of plays. They have a group of guys who can shoot the ball and get downhill, and that’s what they do at a high level. So that’s kind of something that we’re doing right now, and I think we’re doing it at a high level. high level.
“Doug just tells us, ‘Go out there and bring your game’ when we play,” DeRozan told reporters after the game. “That’s it. That’s what he says: ‘Just bring your game. I can’t teach you how to play. You all know how to play,’ you know? And the fact that he trusts us and whether he has an altruistic attitude. group like ours, that’s the result you get.
The message for the Kings to be themselves and play to their strengths has worked throughout the seven-game streak, and it inspired a decisive effort Sunday in which Fox and DeRozan combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter . In a game where the lead changed 28 times, Sacramento took a 114-113 lead with 5:42 left and never relinquished it.
And everyone prospers. In addition to Fox’s team-leading 26 points and DeRozan’s 21 against his former team, Domantas Sabonis finished with a double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds; Malik Monk recorded 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds; and Keegan Murray finished with 14 points and a trio of 3-pointers.
“You just have to allow them to play to their strengths,” Christie told reporters after the victory. “I think sometimes we get into things that aren’t really actions. We just have to focus on business; there’s no need to do a lot of other things besides the fact that we want to drive, kicking, swinging and moving the basketball So it gives us more time to do that, just allowing them to use their particular talents.
“I mean, Fox is fast. He can handle the basketball and get to the rack. Malik is the same way. DeMar is one of the best iso players in the game, so you put him in position. The ability to Domas turnover. When you go down the list – Keegan’s shot. We have defenders on the wings, just trying – not to make it difficult, and we live with the results on the other end of the floor. Let’s close our arms and play very loud that side.”
While Christie has moved from assistant to interim coach, DeRozan recently showed his Kings teammates a highlight of the competitive defender’s playing days in the NBA. He did it to show Sacramento that Christie had already done exactly what he’s asking of them now, and DeRozan thinks it helped the team.
To Christie, DeRozan’s actions show how determined the team is to win — together.
“I’ll tell you it’s priceless, man,” Christie said of DeRozan showing the video of him. “I mean, that’s the kind of trust and love and respect I want from all of them, but spending time with DeMar this summer, watching how he gets down, and then always being One hundred with him and trusting him to do his thing in that moment, it says a lot about who he is, but it says a lot about our team and what we’re trying to (do). .
“It’s together. I’m not separate as a coach. They’re not separate as players. They have their room. I have my room, but at the same time we’re one. It’s not a hand, it’s a fist.”
