Doug Christie blamed Sacramento’s 21 turnovers for its 107-100 loss to the Orlando Magic, saying the Kings cannot overcome such fundamental mistakes as they dropped to 1-10 on Tuesday.
“Turnovers. 21 of them for 33 points in a seven-point game. You just you can’t do it,” Christie said after the Kings’ fourth consecutive defeat.
Sacramento shot 44% from the field and 47% from three-point range, but its 21 turnovers repeatedly undermined those offensive numbers. The Magic scored 33 points off those mistakes, compared with 12 points for the Kings off Orlando’s turnovers.
“There’s silly mistakes. They’re mistakes that are fundamental,” Christie said. “And that was one of the things that was said before we go out there. Let’s hit singles. Let’s be disciplined and finish.”
The coach stressed that Sacramento must simplify its decisions rather than force difficult plays.
“Just have to have patience. Make sure that you’re seeing it, pass the ball with two hands. Run your cuts hard. Get yourself open,” Christie explained. “If you’re shortcutting things, that’s what gives the defense a chance to be in the position to get their hands on it.”
Christie described turnovers as a recurring weakness, but believes the Kings are close to turning their results around.
“It’s been Achilles’ heel and, as I told them, we’re close, but these are the little things that get you over,” he said.
The coach also pointed to Sacramento’s need to deliver a complete performance rather than lose focus during crucial stretches.
“I’ve felt that we’ve had opportunities to win quite a few of these games,” Christie said. “And when you look at it, whether it’s turnovers, there’s some glaring part that nips us.”
His message to the team was clear: “To get out of this, you have to put together a 48-minute game. And it takes the mental discipline … to go out there and be fundamentally sound.”
“We just want to hit singles, but we don’t need to hit home runs right now,” Christie added. “If the gap isn’t there, don’t drive it. Just get off of it and give it to the next person.”
Sacramento also lost the rebounding battle 48-34, including a 13-4 disadvantage on the offensive glass. Christie acknowledged that the Kings did not perform well in an area that had generally been a strength.
“Normally we have been pretty good on the backboard and tonight we were not,” he said. He emphasized the importance of the guards helping their big men secure rebounds rather than watching the ball.
Christie also praised Domantas Sabonis for playing despite his recent knee soreness.
“We appreciate the fact that he comes out and gives us whatever he has. That is high level,” the coach said. Sabonis finished scoreless with two rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes.
The Kings are 0-6 at home and have lost four straight. They host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday as they look to end their difficult start.
