Doug Christie hopes to bring stability to the Kings after the firing of Mike Brown

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Based on what he saw in one 132-122 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night after what he described as a “crazy 24 hours” after firing of Mike Browninterim coach Doug Christie believes the Sacramento Kings are capable of turning things around.

His biggest proof of that was how the Kings kept fighting, cutting a 20-point fourth quarter deficit to six before the Lakers closed things out.

“Part of my biggest message is to let them know there’s a level of competition that we’re going to continue to have, and I was proud of that,” he said.

To break through, starting with snapping a six-game losing streak, Christie will need his team to utilize the same defensive intensity that allowed him to play 15 seasons in the NBA.

Sacramento struggled to defend without committing fouls and sent Los Angeles to the free throw line 33 times. Domantas Sabonis picked up his fifth foul with 4:17 left in the third, and his absence allowed a seven-point deficit to 20.

“Defensively, what I’m asking them to do, the level of intensity that I want to see, it’s difficult,” Christie said. “That’s it. I did it and I told them. Like, I get it. I want you to play so hard that you put your hand up and say I’m out of the game.”

Those breakdowns prevented Christie from getting a chance to help the Kings’ struggles in close games. Sacramento is 3-11 in games decided by five points or less, culminating in one 114-113 meltdown to Detroit on Thursday.

De’Aaron Fox has seen his effectiveness in late game situations drop significantly after pushing the team to winning records the previous two seasons under Brown. DeMar DeRozan has also struggled in those instances since he was acquired from Chicago in a sign-and-trade in July.

DeRozan was mostly pleased with how the Kings responded under unusual circumstances. He also pointed to the defensive issues as the downside of Christie’s first game in charge.

“I mean, everything felt great except giving up two 40-point quarters and getting dirty way too much,” DeRozan said. “I think, overall, everything was here. I think we got a good foundation for what we could build on and what we have to hang our hat on going forward.”

Having started his career with the Lakers in 1992 and played two seasons with them before becoming a central figure in the rivalry with the Kings in the early 2000s as a star for Sacramento, the significance of starting this coaching tenure was in Los Angeles not. lost on Christie.

“I mean, we’re in Hollywood, so you couldn’t write a better script,” Christie said before the game. “How it will turn out, whether it’s a love story or a horror story, we don’t quite know yet.”

Those outside the organization would describe the story thus far as either a drama or a tragedy, as other head coaches around the league were vocal in their criticism of Brown ‘ s dismissal.

Christie tried to walk a fine line between professing his respect for Brown with his admiration for the Kings, where he played for five seasons before becoming a broadcaster for the team and then an assistant coach for the last four years. He spent five games as interim coach in December 2021, going 2-3 while Brown was ill.

“First and foremost for me, I got a tremendous amount of love for Mike, the fact that he held me,” Christie said. “I’ve been able to learn so much from an incredible coach, develop and continue to develop and continue to learn. It has truly been a blessing to me.

“I think all of you know, especially in this building, how I feel about this organization and the love and respect and appreciation that I have for them and all the things that have happened from the time I started to the present moment.”

But that history in Sacramento won’t mean much if the Kings don’t start winning.

___

AP NBA: