Post by jcarter17 on Dec 7, 2010 12:52:30 GMT -5
Atlanta, Ga.- A few short years ago, Doug Christie was one of the premier defensive players in SSBL. He also showed he could score a little bit, averaging a career high 19 points in 2000 with the Bulls. From there it went downhill for Christie. His offseason conditioning suddenly came second to everything else.
He played one more season with Chicago, but his 3 year run of appearing as an All NBA Defender had ended and his scoring average dropped nearly 7 points a night. It would appear Doug Christie took the money and ran. Chicago decided they had enough of him following the 2001 season and dealt him to Atlanta.
Talk to management in Atlanta and you will get the same response,
"It's easily the most regrettable trade I've made in my tenure with the Hawks."
See it wasn't what the Hawks gave up that made them regret this deal, Cliff Robinson, Mark Blount, Maurice Evans and a 2005 1st round pick to bring Christie, Kukoc and Dickey Simpkins to Atlanta, no it was what they got that has them regretting this deal still.
The Hawks believed they were getting one of the league's best defenders, they felt in the right situation, his offense would come back, and maybe that was the case, but Atlanta clearly was not the right situation for Christie.
Two seasons in Atlanta and Doug Christie's scoring average has been cut in half both seasons, down to 3.7 points per game backing up Eddie Jones this season.
It would appear the relevance, or irrelevance of Doug Christie has come to an end.
Not so fast.
Doug Christie is still causing problems in Atlanta.
Christie after he got the news that Eddie Jones had re-signed
Following the Hawks re-signing of all star Eddie Jones, Christie and wife Jackie were seen publicly speaking poorly of teammates and management in Atlanta.
Despite what his numbers have shown, Doug Christie still believes he should be the Hawks starting 2 guard, over Eddie Jones, saying
"Anybody can put up those numbers when Gary Payton is passing them the ball. Let me start and I'll put up twice that."
Needless to say, all in Atlanta want Doug Christie gone, but there in lies the problem.
Oddly, despite Christie's proclamation that he would put up 54 points and 6 steals a night if he were starting (Double EJ's numbers), there doesn't appear to be many takers. How could anybody not want a player who has vowed to put up 54 points and 6 steals a night next season?
Get a clue Doug, get a clue!
