Sacramento Kings · 3 notes
Ben Simmons is out with no timeline, so Doug Christie changed his rotation plan. The Kings won't ask Malik Monk or Nique Clifford alone to replace his playmaking: "it's not going to be one person." Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud weren't with the team; everyone else is active.
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.
Nique Clifford ran more point guard in the Kings' preseason-opening loss to the Lakers, with Ben Simmons and Malik Monk out. He said he'd played point one day in camp, called too many plays and needs to attack off the dribble more: "it's a learning process."