Sacramento Kings · 13 notes
Doug Christie wants the Kings to stop settling for early mid-range shots, and players at Sacramento's media availability agreed: "We waste them sometimes for sure... we agree with him for sure." Asked if Ben Simmons' injury looked bad at once: "we keep that in-house."
Zach LaVine on the Sacramento Kings' starters barely playing together in preseason: "it sucks." Doug Christie: "it took the last game to finally see a unit out there that you can see hitting the court." Asked if that group starts the season, he said: "we'll have to see."
Keegan Murray played 19 minutes in the Kings' Oct. 13 preseason game, and Doug Christie said he is still finding his legs at both ends of the floor as Sacramento brings him back slowly: "19 minutes for him as we build him up is good."
Emanuel Sharp drew extended minutes against top guards for the Kings, and Doug Christie told him to stay physical through foul trouble: "I went to him and I said, do not back up. You gotta figure it out." He said Sharp's physical style sets the tone for the team.
The Kings rested Ben Simmons to manage his soreness and workload. Doug Christie: "There's a bigger picture here, and that picture is for him to be available for 82 games in the regular season." No commitment on his next step: "We'll see what's happening in the morning."
Precious Achiuwa left the Kings' Oct. 13 preseason game with an ankle injury and was icing it afterward. Doug Christie gave no status: "I saw him just ice and... talked to him for a second. But we'll see... how it goes and how he feels."
Asked if he was limping, the Kings' Emanuel Sharp shrugged off the knocks: "So it ain't nothing new. ... But I'm good." Nor is he fazed by Damian Lillard, Ja Morant or Jrue Holiday: "I'm not looking at these guys intimidated or anything." He credits Doug Christie for that.
Emanuel Sharp "earned his minutes" and "played really well," Sacramento Kings coach Doug Christie said, with Malik Monk's preseason absence a possible opening. Christie gave no timeline for Monk: "I'm hoping to get him back... but we're going to play who's on the floor."
De'Andre Hunter has played one game as a King and is still working off rust, Doug Christie said, but "DeAndre has been great." Christie likes him with Precious Achiuwa at center, Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray: "it's beautiful because you have the ability to switch."
Keegan Murray is back for Sacramento. "Really happy to see Keegan back out there striding down to the corners and running the floor," Doug Christie said. On Maxime Raynaud, who went down, Christie wouldn't speak until results are in: "We'll see what the doc comes back with."
Sacramento's Ben Simmons played under 9 minutes in his first game in a year, which he said was planned as part of a buildup. He feels great. Asked about ramping him up over the next two preseason games, coach Doug Christie didn't commit: a group decision made with Simmons.
Darius Acuff Jr. won't always have to handle the ball, Kings coach Doug Christie said. More ball handlers let him attack once the ball swings to the other side: "Now you can get him on second sides with a live dribble, and that changes the game."
Nique Clifford is "not a point guard," Kings coach Doug Christie said — he's a secondary ball handler who can make plays in pick and roll, but his priority is to defend, rebound and communicate. Asked if Ben Simmons, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray play next, Christie didn't commit.