Just Saying

What is going on at Golden 1 Center? For the fifth time in a row, a curious beam has lit up the skies near Old Sacramento. The noise level seems to raise the roof at the arena and rumor has it that the Sacramento Kings have done a U-turn, since their coach, Mike Brown was fired. Five wins in a row? Really?

During his tenure as head coach of the Sacramento Kings, Mike Brown brought the team to the playoffs for the first time in a very long time. Although they were eliminated, ownership rewarded him with a new contract. Unfortunately, the current 2024-2025 season had not been turning out as the team would have wished and after a string of consecutive losses, the powers that be decided that a change was needed and parted ways with Mike Brown.

Doug Christie, assistant coach is chosen to move up, albeit temporarily, into the head coach position and after losing the first game since he took over, Boom!…….the Kings win five in a row. What happened? Same players, different results? Many of the talking heads of sports analysis have questioned the timing of Brown firing but for whatever reason, the aftermath is, at least a testament that this move has allowed the team to make a U-turn and head their season in the right direction.

Since that coach can only teach, direct and formulate a plan for each opponent to give them the best chance to succeed and come away with a win, it’s the players that have to execute the plan, defend and outscore the other team. Every team has an off night. Every player can have an off night. But the avid fan, who can only watch, relish every win and mourn every loss, and is not privileged to what may be going on in between games and off the court, might question why change of leadership is turning the tide and possibly saving the King’s season. I have my two cents to interject into this conversation. I would suggest, first of all, a different starting lineup or at least a change when needed, sooner in the game. Disagreements in the locker room between coach and players may have affected the effort. or lack thereof, during the game. Egos often come into play and as much as the win is the prize, the players know that if they continue to drop games and they are no longer on the same page with Mike Brown, they know that the coach gets the blame and will be the first to pay the price. Coaches don’t have the power that the players do anymore. Raking your star players over the coals and chastising your team on national TV doesn’t help any situation. Even though everything he said was probably true, NOT on the camera, Mike Brown. That’s stuff that should be expressed off camera.

So the page has turned with the tide and the outcome of the remaining Sacramento King’s season remains to be seen. Will they rise to the occasion, save their season, make trades before the deadline in February to improve their chances, elevate their interim coach or bring in someone else to take the reins? The fan can only wait…..and hope. the team was on a losing slide. The coach got axed. The wins start adding up. Coincidence? Perhaps. I’m just saying.