If everyone is being honest, the Sacramento Kings preseason opener against the Lakers went exactly as people expected. Once again, a lack of defensive cohesion was a huge problem for Sacramento. And if head coach Doug Christie can't solve this problem, he won't be back for 2027-2028.
Ranking the list of issues the Kings have to overcome to be relevant again would take a lot of time. Yes, part of the problem is that it's a long list. The bigger issue is deciding the relative importance of each entry as every one of them needs to be addressed in some fashion to find success.
That being said, the number one task on that list has to be establishing a defensive presence that is both consistent and effective. It doesn't even have to be the best defense in the league. At this point, fans would be ecstatic to have the tenth best defense in the NBA. It would be a massive upgrade.
Starting the new season on the wrong foot
Unfortunately, the Kings didn't show much defensive improvement over last season in their first preseason game against the Lakers. There were actually some solid individual performances, to be sure. Still, the team wasn't really operating as a cohesive unit at that end of the court.
To be fair, this was a preseason game that Ben Simmons, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray didn't suit up for. Plus, it was the first actual basketball game in the better part of a year for formerly injured players like De'Andre Hunter and Domantas Sabonis. No one was expecting perfection.
At the same time, it probably felt like more of the same for many Sactown fans. The same defensive issues they've been living with for 20 years were on full display yet again. It would have been nice to see some real change, and they are getting tired of hearing it will take time. Again, 20 years.
Christie needs to make this work quickly
The Kings brought Christie back for his second full season as the team's bench boss. His stated goal has been to dramatically improve the defense. Yet, his window to do that is closing rapidly. Christie's contract has a team option for the 2027-2028 season and keeping him on board is not a sure thing.
This is a franchise that has not been kind to head coaches. In 2006, it let Rick Adelman walk after he got them to the playoffs for eight years straight. The only coach to find the postseason with the Kings since was Mike Brown, and he was fired for achieving that limited level of success.
If Christie can't turn Sacramento's defense into something that's at least passable, he'll job hunting in the summer of 2027. The Kings have quite literally fired coaches for far less than that. And you know co-owner Vivek Ranadive is itching to start micromanaging this franchise again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google