Noise blocking Kings make loud statement in win over Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Doug Christie’s biggest achievement since taking over as interim head coach was silencing the noise.
The noise of fans filling Golden 1 Center with boos as disappointing performances mounted, and the noise of outside critics wondering what had gone wrong for a team that at one point seemed like serious and legitimate playoff hopes to cherish.
Most importantly, Christie got the Kings players to quiet the noise on the field.
That had been a problem for the Kings, who were quick to argue with the officials when the calls went against them or weren’t made at all.
When Christie took over, one of the main concerns was to get the players to stop these antics, and it is starting to pay off.
Domantas Sabonis was a perfect example of this.
On a night when he was a personal destroyer, breaking down everything the Boston Celtics tried to throw at him, Sabonis kept his lips tight. He may not have kept his cool in the past, but under Christie this is the new way of doing things.
“I didn’t say a word,” Christie told reporters after the Kings’ impressive 114-97 victory over the Celtics at TD Garden. “I just kept fighting, fighting. And that’s why I love him.”
That’s a sentiment shared by the Kings’ players, who have been more than happy to take Christie for a ride as he has led them to their longest winning streak since the 2023-24 season.
As well as keeping the players focused on the task at hand, Christie’s cool and calm demeanor has also given the players confidence.
“Together everything we experienced in December [until] now it’s down to 360,” forward Keegan Murray told reporters. “He is a coach who instills confidence in every player. Whether you make a mistake or not, whether you play well or things like that, he will continue to have confidence in you. So the rest of the year is extremely important for us and for our confidence in the future.’
The early returns of the coaching change are clear for all to see, just in the standings.
However, it is the attitude where the biggest change comes from.
“Super proud of the level of competition,” Christie said after the Kings strangled the Celtics on Friday night. “If we want to string together 48 minutes of solid basketball, it all goes to the players. Those guys are absolute rock stars. They went out there, they had a game plan and they executed it.
‘It’s mainly about faith. I think they have (started to) believe in themselves, and that goes beyond coaching. Now it’s something they own, and when they walk onto the field, when they’re in any arena, they believe they have a chance to win. Sometimes the ball falls, sometimes it doesn’t. But all we’re going to do is compete at a high level. If we get defeated, we shake their hands and move on.
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