Streeter Lecka - Getty Images
The single facet of Paul Westphal's suspension of DeMarcus Cousins I am having most trouble accepting is that exclamation mark in the first paragraph of the press release announcing the decision. I'm not joking: I cannot abide bullsh-t cuteness in a statement that is bound to anger, alienate and confuse fans.
The second facet of Westphal's suspension that is really bothering me is that Westphal determined it was in the best interest of the Sacramento Kings franchise to go public with the depths of his despair about Cousins. For a coach who has in the past preached the value of keeping team matters in-house -- we all remember the Spencer Hawes suspension, don't we? -- Westphal sure revealed a lot on Sunday night.
1. He gave the specific reason for the suspension, citing Cousins' purported trade demands, which have been denied by Cousins' agent. This is bizarre on two levels: no one in the NBA ever gets suspended for a trade demand and teams never show their hand when it comes to trade requests, talks or whatever. Separate from the suspension and supposing Westphal isn't exaggerating or misleading for effect, what's the benefit of disclosing that one of the two most valuable prospects on the roster wants out? The only benefit is that it makes the player look ridiculous. So, uh, congrats on that, Westy.
2. He put the onus on fixing the relationship on Cousins. Before and after the game, Westphal was quoted as saying that whether Cousins travels with the team to Memphis on Monday depends on Cousins, which apparently means that Westphal needs Cousins to buy him chocolates or something. It's like Cousins suspended himself, right? This further serves to make Cousins appear to the outside world as childish -- all he needs to do to get back on the court is to swallow his pride, right? -- which, again, benefits the team in no way other than to make Cousins look ridiculous to the outside world.
3. He built an invisible case against Cousins. The only alleged bad actions Westphal actually detailed were the two trade "demands" -- one on December 24 (what?!) and one Saturday night. But before the game, Westphal told the media that he had revealed or we, the observers, had only seen "the tip of the iceberg." Again: what purpose does this serve other than to make the player, Cousins, look ridiculous? The trade demands have been explained and/or denied as heat of the moment responses. How absurd is it to tell fans you had to suspend the kid for that, and later claim that there are more atrocities that the team won't reveal? I'm just one fan, but I don't buy that Cousins made a legit, serious trade demand to Westphal's face. Westphal has given us nothing else to chew on but the vague "tip of the iceberg" comment. How am I supposed to feel about this, given my inclination toward disbelief on the trade demand claim?
4. He threw Cousins completely under the bus. That statement ... I mean, I have never seen a team explain a one-game suspension so loquaciously. We got lectured on the foolishness of positive hope, the role of coaches in basketball. We learned that Cousins isn't just a bad dude -- he has "continually, aggressively, let it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace" the direction of the team. If you're a coach just trying to let the world know that the player who has been pegged as "immature" is being suspended for being immature, you know what you put in the statement?
Head coach Paul Westphal has suspended DeMarcus Cousins indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team, he announced Sunday. Cousins will not play in the Kings' home game on Sunday against the New Orleans Hornets.
--30--
If you want to create a scene, make an example out of a 21-year-old and distract everyone from the fact that 24 hours ago your starting point guard told the world that no one knows what they are supposed to be doing on the court, then you write what Westphal did.
Hmm.
Mission accomplished.
This is some real Wizard of Oz s--t, y'all.
25 recs | 436 comments
Wesphal is a house divided against itself; It cannot stand.
kwill - January 1, 2012
Well what does Geoff
and the rest of the staff have to say about it?
smoosh - January 1, 2012
and the players for that matter
smoosh - January 1, 2012
well this is what evens said:
no one knows what they are supposed to be doing on the court
carlsbadace - January 1, 2012
So do you think he meant no one
Or do you think he meant DMC.
Lotusprime - January 2, 2012 via mobile
He isnt going anywhere because the owners are too broke to pay two coaches.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
Keith Smart assistant coach was head coach of the Warriors last year and did net an improvement
now thats good planning.
moproblemz - January 1, 2012
true.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
Rec'd
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Flagged
Dodgers?!?!?!
Tom Ziller - January 1, 2012
LOL
Didn’t think the .gif through all the way. NaBaseball fan so didn’t think about the Giants fans here
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Or just the Nor Cal people who hate LA teams on principle ;)
Christina_J - January 1, 2012
Pretty much anyone who doesn't live in LA hates the place
And most of the people who are forced to live there aren’t too fond of it either…
athletics68 - January 1, 2012
I was born in raised in and around Sacramento.
Moved to LA when I was 18.
I think its just fine.
Most people who live here aren’t from here, and they tend to enjoy it too.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
Seriously, take this down
27freethrows - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Nah,
the fun part is that the Dodger team is greeting him at home plate, and all that homer did was cut the Giants lead in that game to 7-1.
section214 - January 1, 2012
Which is really weird
when you consider that a Diamondback (or National?) is pitching.
section214 - January 1, 2012
At any given moment
Somewhere in the world, the dodgers are losing to the Giants.
It is just meant to be.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
No!
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Seriously, take this down
27freethrows - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Ok
fine
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Disgusting
CoolFinity - January 2, 2012
I dont know if
going rouge against one of your star players, and fan favorite, is a real good smokescreen
smoosh - January 1, 2012
My bet is that he went through the proper channels before making the statement..
smoosh - January 1, 2012
Are you changing your tune?
Where is the DMC bashing that I’ve heard on the other thread?
kwill - January 1, 2012
Cousins
Was removed from the recorded intro at the game. It had him yelling at the end now its Jimmer. He was erased, like he was never here.
John Takanikos - January 1, 2012
Good lord.
Tom Ziller - January 1, 2012
That's interesting.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
That's ridiculous
kwill - January 1, 2012
Noticed that too.
diehardkingsfan5 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Greetings from Moscow On The American...
SierraSpartan - January 1, 2012
Great reference!
Rec’d.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
And I was just starting to like Jimmer, too
NewEraKings - January 1, 2012
well done sir
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
He's nowhere to be found on Kings.com too
CLopez63 - January 1, 2012
The plot thickens, indeed.
This ever happened before. A suspended player being removed from the team media?
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
no he hasnt i was just looking at a picture of him on one of the ads
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
though in his team photo...
he has a douche bag smirk on his face…
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
I think his missed shots were removed, too
NewEraKings - January 1, 2012
Westphal is out of line for revealing any of this to the public.
That being said, DMC has a history of this, and I doubt Westphal is the first coach that Cousins has had a problem with. Both sides are at fault, and letting DMC off the hook because of his age shouldn’t cut it in a professional sports league.
This is highly frustrating, and I’m sure some of us suspected this could happen when the team drafted DeMarcus. Unfortunately we don’t have a coach strong enough to handle him, and now this mess. I’m sure he did request a trade, but I’m more apt to believe, given DMCs level of maturity that it was one of those teenage cries for attention. Westphal giving it wings and suggesting it was completely real and meaningful is covering his tail if you ask me.
Oh well…this ruins the long time all of us waited for the season to begin.
LiquidPolio - January 1, 2012
Yes Cousins has a history of attitude problems
but how come Calipari was able to handle him? Calipari only has good things to say about Cousins now, despite some of their early problems.
How come Mike Singletary was able to help an immature Vernon Davis grow up?
Westphal’s problem is that he has no idea how to handle this. Dealing with adversity among young, immature athletes is not all that uncommon, but it seems to be a foreign concept to Westphal.
8thInningWeirdness - January 1, 2012
exactly
normally i would side with the coach in this situation. But its give and take because DMC knows PW aint cuttin it as a head coach. Its like the perfect storm. A young potential star player thinks the coaches system isn’t working and the grass is looking greener elsewhere. Bottom line is, they may have been the right move for PW right now, but the right move for the Kings would have been firing PW before the season
jadams12 - January 1, 2012
Well Singletary also threw VD out of the game and embarrased him in a media conference.
He also challenged to fight him afterwards.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
but ended up pretty much taking him under his wing and serving as a mentor
I have doubts about Westphal’s willingness to do something like that. Seems like he wants Cousins to figure it out on his own.
8thInningWeirdness - January 1, 2012
He had to punch the bully in the mouth first.
Lets see what happens here. Maybe that is Westphal and Kings management is aiming at here. Cousins has to make the first move, he should certainly know now what the rest of the team won’t tolerate.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
He was also a terrible coach and got fired.
Hoops Mike - January 1, 2012
Calipari didn't have to "handle" him for very long
And in their short time together, there were plenty of fireworks apparently.
otis29 - January 2, 2012
Maybe 35 games?
And of course Calipari “loves” all of his first round draft picks who are NBA players, he needs to recruit new kids every year.
MichaelMack - January 2, 2012
Id say Westphals problem, compared too Caliparis problem is
Kentucky was winning games , and the Kings are not.
9K1NGS6 - January 2, 2012
I wish I could rec this more than once
Well done, as always, TZ.
Christina_J - January 1, 2012
I cannot believe
how small, thin-skinned, and self-serving I have found PW to be in his tenure here. I am absolutely done with him. He has cost this team K-Mart, Omri, Spencer, Dally, and now possibly DMC.
More than anything, I am disappointed in Ownership and Geoff Petrie for allowing this.
MichaelMack - January 1, 2012
Didn't Antoine Wright have a problem with Westie as well?
Not that losing him was any great loss to the team.
PurpleLoco - January 1, 2012
And Udoka.
VenomySnicket - January 1, 2012
Antoine Wright I had no problem with losing
And his issue was with Elie.
Aykis16 - January 1, 2012
The biggest loss to the Kings since PW arrived?
A playing style. Any playing style.
elfboy_ - January 2, 2012
"Tis the season for purple prose? Another tract from the Kings expressing some half-baked
philosophy on life and I’ll puke. There’s Trouble in Paradise and this will get more interesting….
Natomaser - January 1, 2012
Rec'd
And I said this in the other thread…Westphal is not a leader of men. At this point I would love to have Larry Brown just so this inadequate egomaniac is gone. Unfortunately his bosses are even more inadequately egomaniacal.
diehardkingsfan5 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Larry Brown is more of an egomaniac than Westphal.
This is actually a classic LB move.
Talk bad about the player and embarrass him before you trade him.
He used to do it in Philly all the time.
Sharksbreath - January 2, 2012
I'd accept it more from LB since he's a proven coaching commodity
otis29 - January 2, 2012
I really think there is more going on then just Westphal vs Cousins
I haven’t any words of protest from teammates, staff, owners.. or anyone that isn’t a Cousins fan
smoosh - January 1, 2012
Well didn't Hayes call out Couisins for joking around after that loss?
Lines have been drawn, it seems.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
Cousins is immature as it comes.
LiquidPolio - January 1, 2012
almost like he is a 20 year old kid or something...
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
The league has a lot of 20 year old kids.
LiquidPolio - January 1, 2012
i shudder at the thought of what most of us were like when we were that age.
some people are always more mature than others, no matter how old they are or what they are doing with their life.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
Definitely
But I really feel this issue has been going on since the beginning, and that it’s ruining team chemistry. This type of off-season is the worst thing that could’ve happened to the Kings. A bunch of young and new players with no Summer league or adequate Pre-season.
LiquidPolio - January 1, 2012
agreed.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
A lot of rich 20 year old kids.
Lotusprime - January 2, 2012 via mobile
No he is significantly less mature than his peers in the league.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
My 8 year old
Is more respectful than this immature loser
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
wait til your 8 year old is a teenager.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
Ha ha :-)
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
If only we were warned about this before the Kings drafted him . . . oh right we were.
Ba-Da Bing - January 1, 2012
I for one am happy
That both Hayes and Westphal have put this little puss in his place
EJ08 - January 1, 2012
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
Lets see if Whiteside has a better attitude this time
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
haha
I was gonna say… he must be thrilled
smoosh - January 1, 2012
If he bitches about it, I doubt he's a member of the Kings organization much longer
otis29 - January 1, 2012
haha
not with westy around!
smoosh - January 1, 2012
too soon?
smoosh - January 1, 2012
Agree
Looks like ass-ish behavior isn’t going to be tolerated this year
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
I believe the ownership and / or Petrie signed off on this completely.
There is more to this story than Westphal simply speaking his mind.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
for sure
he knows damn well his job is on the line with this
smoosh - January 1, 2012
It also means that the owners and/or Petrie are fed up with Cuz as well... right?
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
I would think
he checked with a few people before that statement came out
smoosh - January 1, 2012
I bet he is having trouble with players too
smoosh - January 1, 2012
that is just pure speculation, however
smoosh - January 1, 2012
It's already documented that he has. This year and last.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
And documented that DMC has problems with authority figures, not a good combination.
LiquidPolio - January 1, 2012
The Petrie aspect is my biggest concern
I’ve been a huge GP fan, but we may need a new GM along with a coach. Where in the hell was Petrie? I’m in disbelief that he could allow Westphal to go forward with something so potentially destructive, but even if he didn’t, it’s just one more indication that he doesn’t have his hands on the basketball operations steering wheel. Either way, he needs to go when Westphal does and hopefully that right soon.
Toeontheline - January 1, 2012
It is pretty WTF worthy.
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
Cousins is a child
Who has never done a GD thing in his career to justify him making any demand. Westphal accomplished more in his NBA career than Cousins will probably ever accomplish. My guess is that Westphal sees this “done nothing” loser question a 40 year NBA household name and he is going to put this immature little baby I his place. KUDOS to Westphal and I hope he doesn’t let him on the plane tomorrow. In my opinion,he better do a hell of a lot more than buy Westphal chocolates to back on this team.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012
Sounds more like
you’re projecting your own personal issues. If anyone isn’t acting their age here, it’s Westphaul.
thelettere - January 1, 2012
Treading lightly...
I don’t think PW went home and concocted this as a smokescreen. He is not smart enough or manipulative enough in my opinion. I could be wrong. Things just may be really bad with DMC behind the scenes. The public airing is always a mistake.
Kingstime - January 1, 2012
To follow up on my previous post
I do think that DMC has probably been much more of a handful than any of us who do not have access to the team know, I still can’t get out of my mind him chasing down Donte, angry that he didn’t get the ball in a last second situation. I wouldn’t care if we traded DMC, he is not nearly the player he thinks he is, and who knows if he mentally will be able to fix his wild inefficiency. That being said, PW is not a teacher, has not done a good job in Sacramento, and is not someone I want to develop our young players.
MichaelMack - January 1, 2012
cousins fired the first shot
With his comments after last nights game
Howard Nevens IV - January 1, 2012 via mobile
yep
It was very disrespectful
smoosh - January 1, 2012
Have to kind of agree here
So did Tyreke
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
Tyrekes remarks were more scathing yet he has not been reprimanded at all
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Just like the Hawes situation
dampania - January 1, 2012 via iPhone app
exactly
MichaelMack - January 1, 2012
That could be debated
I never saw the video from Reke, but his words were definitely scathing. Demarcus on the other hand, you could tell he was throwing coach under the bus.
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
So was Reke... again
same as last year
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
I think we are agreeing here, after all I did say
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
No we are fighting!
I don’t care what you say!
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
No we are Not fighting Dammit!
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
Both were bad though.
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
Disagree
Westy fired the first shot by not knowing how to coach.
kwill - January 1, 2012
He shoots, he scores
elSAVinator - January 1, 2012
Ziller
If you had to guess, who do you think the Kings Org. would let go: Westy or DMC?
kwill - January 1, 2012
My name isn't Ziller
But all signs point to DMC
glazier_25 - January 1, 2012
Glazier
It does seem to point that way.
kwill - January 1, 2012
I think that
there are signs that the players are having significant problems with Cousins too.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
such as?
deadenddude - January 1, 2012
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
Get rid of them both..
And call it good!
Sincere P. - January 1, 2012 via mobile
I don't care if Demarcus is the most immature, a-hole bastard in the world...
It’s just a stupid move on Westphal’s part.
avishai - January 1, 2012
Why?
bignerd - January 1, 2012
If you think he is a bad coach, then that is your answer.
kwill - January 1, 2012
Even a bad coach doesn’t excuse immature behavior on the players behalf. This is at least the 2nd indictment, Petrie suspended him last time.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
I know what you're saying.
But if I was coaching, they would be mad, and rightfully so, because I would be awful. I think they are rightfully mad and acting out because PW is bad, just not as bad as I would be.
A person can only take so much badness.
kwill - January 1, 2012
It lowers DMC's trade value, probably freaks out the other players, just makes him look bad
avishai - January 1, 2012
OMG the secret is out!
Cousins has maturity issues!
who betta than kanyon? - January 1, 2012
This is a whole other level though
otis29 - January 2, 2012
Consider that Westphal was green lighted to do these things.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
I'm DONE with this joke of a coach!
I really don’t care who the replacement is….just fire him TONIGHT!!!
I’m good with any half-decent replacement as long as they can manage a locker room and have a coherent system. Get me Sloan, Van Gundy, Larry Brown, hell, get me Calipari! I’m just ready for a good coach again.
Noble_Bloodlines - January 1, 2012
Dream Dream Dream
No way in hell are the Maoofs going to anywhere near what it would take to get one of those names. Keith Smart is the best replacement you are going to get.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
A great coach's dream job
A team in flux geographically, with young players, 18 shooting guards and no leader on the floor other than Hayes, who has been around a week.
LiquidPolio - January 1, 2012
Many a coach has gotten his job because of adverse circumstances - a burp in the universe.
There is a lot young talent to work with on this team. Coaches like to make a difference, have their skills turn things around.
No sarcasm here – this could be a great coach’s dream job.
Slam_Dunk - January 2, 2012
Not to be argumentative here
Because I am pretty fed up with PW’s antics myself. But you are complaining out of both sides of your mouth. On the one hand he said too much. On the other hand he didn’t give enough details. Which way do you want it?
My guess is that if PW had issued the exact release you gave, you would have made assumptions and complained just as much.
Maybe I am wrong, and I think PW totally botched this. But either ask for no pubic comment or complain about not enough details. Don’t do both.
SavageBeast - January 1, 2012 via mobile
That's exactly it
There are no details to elucidate the situation for fans. There are only details to make the player look bad. If you are going to say “tip of the iceberg,” back it up.
Tom Ziller - January 1, 2012
4 games into the season
And Hayes and PW have both had issues with Cousins…..Sorry but I automatically side with the 2 grown ups on this one.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Westphal's post game wasn't exactly mature
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
What about Hayes’ comments?
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
Didn't see them
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
There weren't specific comments
he just (reportedly) told DMC not to joke around after a loss like that
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Out of what I've seen out of Hayes
His locker room presence will be the unsung hero pickup of the off-season
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Hayes?? You mean Hawes?
PurpleLoco - January 1, 2012
No,
Hayes told DMC to knock off the jokes after the NY blowout.
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
I'm sorry but
if you are going to lay your burdens down, you need to lay it all out there. This is bridge burning stuff. This is last resort we are done with player x and just trying to save the team and the season type stuff.
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
I don't understand the hard line response saying Westphal is the bad guy here
bignerd - January 1, 2012
Ditto
CLopez63 - January 1, 2012
i dont think at all that in the grand scheme of things that all the drama is PW's fault.
that statement though, was bush league and completely his fault.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
Agreed
As opposed to the kid with a long history of causing problems. I do agree that Westphal handled it poorly, but it seems like we fans don’t want to point the finger at the guy actually causing the problem in the first place.
Carl - January 1, 2012
Who is the adult here?
DMC is a competitive 21 year old who is not used to losing. PW is a mature coach whose job is to figure out how to handle the players, including talented children. I would be surprised if the rest of the team is in PW’s camp on this. In fact, I think that might explain, in part, why Garcia is in PW’s doghouse.
polotown - January 1, 2012
not used to losing? Did I miss something last year and DMC played somewhere else?
Everybody loses in the NBA at some point, regardless your age. You are a professional, they need to act like one. Your getting paid millions to play a game, I don’t want to hear just because of your age you can get away with this stuff.
Kazper - January 1, 2012
DMC’s job is to play basketball. PW’s job is to manage the talent. DMC’s been playing at least as well as anybody else on the team. How’s PW been doing with the talent?
Since when is there a correllation between getting paid millions and maturity?
No player in the NBA expects to win every game, but in high school and college DMC played for teams that had a culture of winning and a legitimate expectation that they could win any game.
polotown - January 1, 2012
The writing is on the wall for Westphal. It's just a matter of time unless we go on one hell of a run.
But Cuz is an asshole, apparently.
That’s not good.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
its a perfect storm, a lose lose
coach sucks cant win games, young star is immature and hates losing games
jadams12 - January 1, 2012
You have to add in ‘Team probably isn’t good enough to go much more than .500 anyway’
Cyg - January 2, 2012
Lost in all of this is Tyreke had an awesome game
Probably the reason we won.. I don’t understand.
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
We have to ignore that part
It goes against our need to amnesty him…
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
haha
smoosh - January 1, 2012
In all seriousness though
I hope he brings it consistently.
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
He can go 2-14
as long as he is showing Effort and a willingness to learn/improve, I don’t care.
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
Westphal is using the media to call out Cousins on his ridiculous BS
It’s not an unprecedented move, so I don’t get why TZ is acting like it is. It’s not the end of the world if he gets traded either. Jason Williams pulled this exact same stunt and the Kings netted Bibby.
who betta than kanyon? - January 1, 2012
i dont remember as much drama regarding 55's exit. just that he wasnt playing well.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
Was 01, the constant bitching/drama cycle that is current news and internet wasn’t quite the same.
Cyg - January 2, 2012
What Now?
It seems to me the line has been drawn in the sand and that these two just don’t like each other. You can’t fire the coach any time soon, unless there’s a long losing streak, because then it will look like the inmates run the asylum. You can’t trade DMC, not that I would, because you would get robbed. I don’t see how the obvious disdain for each other can be overcome. Especially because of how willing they are to disrespect each other in the press. I don’t like how Wesphal handled this, but I feel for him because DMC is very immature and seems stubborn as hell. One of them won’t be here long-term, that’s for sure, and DMC’s potential will probably keep him in a Kings uniform.
youknowit100 - January 1, 2012
You can quote me on this
But if the Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins it will be one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history.*
*unless we net Dwight Howard with an extension
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
or derek smith's kid nolan.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
I dunno.
If the damage has already been done, it just may not be feasible for Cousins to ever “mature” while still a part of the Kings organization.
The Kings aren’t doing squat this year and will have ample chances to draft high again and obtain a franchise level player.
I’d rather trade DMC as soon as we’re sure he’s nothing more than a ticking time bomb. If he excels elsewhere, so be it… doesn’t mean he would have done it here
Variant - January 1, 2012
There is quotes that Thornton looks at Cousins as a brother
The damage hasn’t been done with the players by the sounds of it.
As far as the Kings “not doing squat” they are a game under .500
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
HAHA. I wouldn’t trade DMC right now at all because he could be so good, unless we get D12 with the extension. The only way Westphaul wins this is if the Kings start playing consistent, solid basketball and DMC mopes and gives a lazy effort.
youknowit100 - January 1, 2012
Good bigs are a scarcity in the league
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
I'm right there with you.
I think I’ll go as far to say that if the team trades Cousins before firing this dung heap of a coach, I will never support the Kings again.
Terrible, terrible ownership.
Hoops Mike - January 1, 2012
This is all kinds of bad
any way you slice it, any new facts that pop up, just anything. It’s bad bad bad bad bad stuff.
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
as a fan
the best thing I can possible think of is DMC did something Gilbert Arenas crazy.
And that still incredibly sucks.
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
This is ridiculous.
Geoff Petrie determines the roster, PW coaches the roster. If DMC requests a trade, he does so through the GM, you don’t see Stan Van Gundy sitting Dwight Howard since he wants off the team, you coach who is on your team and it sounds like that’s too hard for PW.
The reason TZ is angry is because this BS has happened before with Spencer Hawes and PW doesn’t take the high road he takes the basement level approach. He bullies them through the media and via suspensions and then like before he punishes one player who speaks out and let’s whatever comments or actions Tyreke say go unpunished.
moproblemz - January 1, 2012
agreed thousand times over.
Evans is the blessed child.
carlsbadace - January 1, 2012
different situation though, Dwight isn't throwing fits and yelling at his coach after games.
Hes doing it like an adult
Kazper - January 1, 2012
The adults I know honor contracts that they willingly sign
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
are you serious?
I really don’t like this argument. When a player doesn’t “honor, their contract” then people always say this. Yet when a team cuts a player aren’t they not honoring the same contract they signed? when they trade a player isn’t the team not honoring their contract? it goes both ways. Its a business. In real life people with contracts quit, or get fired all the time.
Kazper - January 1, 2012
When a team cuts a player they are honoring their contract
because they still pay that player their full salary.
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
As long as they don't play in the NFL.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
Haha true but even then they get partial guaranteed
and the player knows this when he signs the contract
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Of course.
I only kid.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
So few understand this business sense.
kwill - January 1, 2012
Or as I like to call it
Businense
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
How do you know what DMC has done?
Hoops Mike - January 1, 2012
Vernon Davis was an immature/selfish player until Mike Singletary bullied him through the media. I remember at the time 49ers fans said the same things about the way Singletary handled that similar situation, and now he is given all the credit for Vernon Davis growing up and becoming a mature player. It remains to be seen if this will work out in the same way.
Rambaldi - January 1, 2012
Considering how Westphal handled the Hawes/Omri/Dalembert situations
I sincerely doubt it will.
Singletary ended up helping to develop the young man. In his tenure here, Westphal has failed to snub out little bad habits, much less change a player’s entire mindset.
Beyond that, I really don’t think that Cousins is as me first as everybody here seems to make him out to be.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
Reminds me of the Webber / Don Nelson situation.
But uglier?
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
and with a worse coach.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
and with a worse player
Shizzo - January 1, 2012
Yeah great.....
…and the Warriors went on to be awful for a decade.
Hoops Mike - January 1, 2012
Except for one year
you can argue theyre still awful.
jstnblke41 - January 2, 2012
Losing Webber will do that
Let’s not put DMC in that category.
otis29 - January 2, 2012
I would buy the argument that Cousins deserves a lot of blame.
But for the most part, he seems to be well-liked among his teammates and his fire on the court doesn’t take away from his play.
I’ve never thought Cousins was as bad as his public reputation suggests. Why is a 20 year old who sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him such a foreign concept?? The fact that we’ve actually seen any kind of effort at all from Cousins to improve his attitude is a good sign. And there has been improvement in his attitude on the court IMO. Slip ups should be expected and dealt with accordingly. Sure, Cousins should not be yelling at his coach in the locker room, but the Kings should’ve known what they were getting into when they drafted Cousins. As a grown man, he’s not a finished product, because he’s freakin’ 20.
Part of player development is developing young men off the court. At least that’s what the good coaches do. It is baffling to me that when Cousins has a slip up, Westphal decides to publicly throw him under the bus instead of trying to work with him to solve the issue.
I’ve been a Westphal supporter before, but in this scenario, he’s the immature one.
8thInningWeirdness - January 1, 2012
and the root of all this nonsense is the way the Kings have lost. Looking like no one new where they should go and what assignments they have
Its all been a lot of smoke and mirrors to distract everyone from his terrible coaching.
Ba-Da Bing - January 1, 2012
First and foremost, it appears that Westphal handled this abysmally
But maybe at some point we learn a little more and it gives him a little justification. We’ll see.
But what really irks me is Cousins’ behavior. Frustrated over a loss? OK. Venting? Fine. But demanding a trade? What is that horsesh*t? If I’m a teammate of his, that does not sit well with me.
I think that Cousins is at his core a likeable young man battling with major bouts of immaturity. But that probably doesn’t mean much to me if I am a paid professional and I have watch this guy bluster around the locker room and come off in a way where he is putting himself above the team. There’s a right way and a wrong way to go about these things, and Cousins is definitely going about it the wrong way. He’s getting paid millions now, and he needs to start to grow up, before his fellow teammates have decided that they have had enough of his crap (or before his fellow teammates feel that they should be able to do the same crap that he does).
Again, I have a lot of disappointment with Westphal here. He knew when he took the job that he was going to have to be a bit of a mentor. Turns out that he’s a better tormentor.
This is on both of them and both of their egos, and the rest of the team pays the price. Sucks.
section214 - January 1, 2012
Reke'd
elSAVinator - January 1, 2012
People say a lot of Pooh Jeter they don't mean out of anger
Not defending cousins actions, but I would be more worried if he formally asked to be traded
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
But there seems to be a lot of evidence that Cousins' "trade demand" wasn't really one at all.
It seems more like heat of the moment, Westphal being frustrated with Cousins, and Cousins telling him to trade him.
8thInningWeirdness - January 1, 2012
Right
Likely in front of the rest of the team, forcing Westphal’s hand.
Again, I have never played at the professional level, just a lot of organized baseball and softball through the years. But even at that level, if a teammate said that in front of me, I wouldn’t want him around anymore. Anytime you don’t get your way or you’re a little ticked off you want to be traded? As you wish, pal. On a sinking ship, the rats leave first.
Cousins is wearing big boy pants now. Yeah, he’s young and still has a lot to learn. But this has been a recurring theme with him, and he better figure out how to get it under control, and quickly. And he better also realize that he’s going to get little help from his coach, as he is a bit of an egomaniacal douche nozzle.
section214 - January 1, 2012
Completely agree!
And the other players on the team may, in fact, really like DMC most of the time. Just because they’re not scowling at him on the bench or bad mouthing him in press conferences doesn’t mean they may all be relieved or secretly wishing the distractions he brings to practices and goings-on is removed…
Variant - January 1, 2012
Everything about this is spot on, rec'd.
It’s interesting to put yourself in Cousins’ shoes: he played for a great coach in college, on a fun and talented team. Then he moves up to the pro’s, to a team lacking in talent with a coach that hasn’t proved capable of preparing his team to be successful in the NBA, and he realizes things aren’t likely to improve where he’s at. So he speaks his mind, because that’s who he is.
The blame definitely goes both ways in this situation, but personally I think Cousins has a brighter future in the NBA than does PW, so I hope we find a way to keep him and work all of this out.
There are enough “egomaniacal douche nozzle’s” playing on the court in the nba today as it is, I wouldn’t mind getting one off an nba sideline
kingsforaday - January 1, 2012
Yes...
I’m guessing this is correct. Something said in the heat of the moment most likely and it’s a real head scratcher why the team decided to make it public.
That said, there is no way this is an isolated incident. I’m perfectly OK with this, the latest in what is undoubtedly a long string of insubordination by Cousins resulting in a suspension, but really weird to bring up the trade demand thing.
Variant - January 1, 2012
It was about another outburst
Still, cannot be saying stupid things like that. Not in front of the rest of the team. As much as I agree Westphal isn’t being the most mature here he cannot let that kind of stuff go unchecked.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
yeah
A few media insiders alluded to it being more of a “if you think I’m a cancer then trade me” outburst rather than a formal “I want to be traded”
I think putting a press release out there mentioning his “trade demands” was purely Westphals attempt to point the finger elsewhere.
dampania - January 1, 2012 via iPhone app
I agree.
Westphal handled this bizarrely, and I’d have no problems with him being axed (in a way that doesn’t undermine the authority of the team and a future coach) — probably down the road after the dust has settled.
But I am also coming to grips with the fact that DMC is probably going through issues that stem from something more than just “youth” and while it would be too bad to lose a talent like his, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
We have enough problems and challenges as it is. Don’t need the distraction.
Variant - January 1, 2012
My thoughts exactly.
DTG13 - January 1, 2012 via Android app
I wonder if this happens with other teams (asking to be traded) more often then we realize, but
most teams keep it under wraps.
Ba-Da Bing - January 1, 2012
How do you handle a consistently disruptive member of the team?
If you do have a guy that is consistently ‘being Demarcus’ (shortcut to describing the likely behavior that has been displayed), what is the best way to handle it?
I’m inclined to believe that Demarcus is being a tool to a pretty high level, so I’m not sure I can share the level of disapointment felt with PW in this situation.
normo - January 1, 2012
The players are not necessarily negative towards DMC.
Tyreke twice made comments tonight in his post-game comments about Cousins being an important part of the team. Demarcus is under contract longer than PW and I just don’t see Petrie giving DMC away for a future late first round pick or for a worthless high priced vet or two in the last year of their contract.
I think this is more about Westphal’s ego than anything. He is not that hungry to be an NBA coach to continue coaching the Kings past this year if it means getting yelled at by immature kids. He is one of the lower paid coaches in the league and is not financially dependent upon this job.
Keith Smart was brought in as an insurance policy by Petrie to avoid another Kenny Natt debacle in case things go south with Westphal.
Incidentally would people stop lamenting about the Kings losing a gutless KMart and calling KMart a franchise player. We essentially ended up getting Marcus Thornton for him (via Carl Landry) for KMart and I would make that trade (kMart for Marcus Thorton) in a heartbeat.
SacKingsfanforever - January 1, 2012
I'm not sure the last time that anyone around here called Kevin Martin a franchise player
I’m also not sure what he ever did to earn the label of gutless. And as of today, Marin is a better player than Marcus Thornton. Hopefully that will not be the case within the next year or two.
section214 - January 1, 2012
I don't think that's clear cut
IMO, Thornton is a better player than Martin already. And, while gutless is probably unnecessarily harsh, I can see where that’s coming from.
I guess this is not really the discussion point of the day though…
normo - January 1, 2012
Kevin Martin is not necessarily gutless but in a 7-game playoff series I would pick Marcus Thornton to go to war with.
Not saying you referred to KMart as a franchise guy but There have been some comments here in the last 2 days that the Kings mortgaged their future with KMart as the leader and handed over the team to Tyreke. Marcus who is the ultimate asset we acquired fort Kevin Martin is a gamer who at least places effort on the defensive end…Kevin Martin’s tenure here did not end particularly well. I hope Tyreke and Marcus grow together and give us continued scoring punch and energy like tonight.
SacKingsfanforever - January 1, 2012
+1
AkaP - January 1, 2012 via Android app
If you promised me a 7 game playoff series, I'd be fine with Duane Causwell
I think the Kings jumped the gun with Martin and sold low, but in the end it may work out…though it has taken a long time to get to an investment return. Landry wasn’t particularly a world mover while he was here (in part because the team didn’t play to his strengths). Prior to getting Thornton for Landry, the deal looked flat awful.
The general consensus around here seems to be that Martin is better suited to be Robin than Batman, though many of us (myself included) held out higher hopes for him.
section214 - January 1, 2012
Unfortunately this is exactly how I feel about Reke as well
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Well,
Evans has shown the ability to take and make the big shot. I don’t think it’s a Batman/Robin thing with him. I think that the Kings may be trying to pound a square peg into a round hole by attempting to make a facilitator out of him.
section214 - January 1, 2012
I would expect more than just being able to hit the big shot
I just think mentality wise, he is not ever going to be a leader, but will be the great 2nd guy.
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
If Cousins was legitimately being such a cancer and a detriment to the team
wouldn’t more players be coming out to criticize Cousins/defend Westphal?
I think there have been many more instances of players questioning Westphal than players questioning Cousins.
8thInningWeirdness - January 1, 2012
Never going to see young players stand up
For a coach AGAINST other players. Not gonna happen.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012
really? If a player was consistently being an ass for no reason, other players wouldn't say anything? Don't buy that for a second.
8thInningWeirdness - January 1, 2012
Have you ever heard of that happening before?
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
I think that as a player you just stay out of it no matter what
section214 - January 1, 2012
probably right
8thInningWeirdness - January 1, 2012
I think this is a great point.
If the team truly were all frustrated and DMC simply said what they were unwilling to, the effort displayed in tonight’s game just doesn’t make sense.
Variant - January 1, 2012
The outside world already knew this
NewEraKings - January 1, 2012
Well the inside world is more important.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
They already knew it too
I am sure this was no surprise and for many it wasn’t a question of if, but when. Probably a relief that it was done earlier rather than than later. Eventually we may say the same thing about Westphal.
NewEraKings - January 1, 2012
The outside world is who you're trying to trade with.
jveezy - January 1, 2012
paging Metta World Peace's psychiatrist...
who betta than kanyon? - January 1, 2012
At least Ron seems to be legitimately crazy, while DMC is just a young kid who is stubborn, has a problem with authority, and can’t keep his mouth shut. Westphal’s comments took this to a higher level, though.
youknowit100 - January 1, 2012
I dunno...changing your name to Metta World Peace AFTER you start seeing a shrink
says a lot about the shrink, and it doesn’t say anything good. ;)
PurpleLoco - January 1, 2012
Reke's Postgame
“Me and (Thornton) had a long talk in the locker room yesterday,” Evans said. “We just said … we got to find a way. A lot of people complain about the offense, it’s not the greatest offense, but it works when we run it. So we just got to keep playing hard like that. We got tough road games coming up and we got to go out there and play hard.”
“it’s not the greatest offense” chuckled at that part.
Kingstime - January 1, 2012
I heard that too...
Made me wonder why DMC wasn’t part of this conversation.
Variant - January 1, 2012
I know
Cause he went bat shit and got kicked out of the locker room after last nights game.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
What cracks me up is that the King's offense
Consists of mostly regular NBA sets which most teams run. It not like geniuses are going to run the Triangle or a Princeton, Pete Carril offense.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012
I agree
the offense isn’t bad, the execution of the offense is awful. You could easily blame this on Westphal though, I think it was Blob that made the comment that he doesn’t call any kind of play from the bench. To me it says that the players have freedom to run the offense how they see fit, but our players are too young to do it that way methinks.
I’d like to see calls for the actions or something like that until the players understand what they are looking for. It is a terrible offense when the players refuse to run it.
jstnblke41 - January 2, 2012
I'm in the same boat
I lean more towards your point of view regarding the offense.
kingsfan300 - January 2, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, damn.
That’s a shot at Westphal, no doubt about it.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
No
It wasn’t at all.
It was acknowledgement they, as players, weren’t putting forth the effort. Didn’t come off as a shot at Westy at all.
Variant - January 1, 2012
By offense I assume he means the plays.
No?
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
He said it's not the greatest offense, as in, the offense the coach put in place is not that great.
Might not be meant as a dig but it’s not a compliment.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
I just...
… don’t think it had anything to do with Westphal. Actually heard him make those comments pre-game so maybe he worded things differently if you’re saying he said this postgame.
Definitely didn’t come off to me as a slight against the coaching staff of PW specifically, more as a “we need to step it up” kinda thing.
Variant - January 1, 2012
Correction...
I think I heard this in the post-game interview with Jerry/Grant. Getting confused. :-)
Variant - January 1, 2012
Tyreke should suspend himself.
chenp22 - January 1, 2012
Is that in the blueprint?
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Yeah - slightly humorous, but
If Reke were more eloquent, he wouldn’t have left that ambiguity – is he saying that “it’s not the greatest offense”, or " A lot of people complain … it’s not the greatest offense"? I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think he was consciously dissing Westphal.
Biscuit - January 1, 2012
It's a generational difference
While I agree a GOOD coach should be able to handle and work around immaturity in players, but I think it’s a bit sad that we’ve come to accept the fact that today’s NBA stars are allowed to have attitude and complete disregard for any form of professionalism. I think it comes with the gig. You’re a role model and being watched by millions. The NBA (and just about every other professional sports organization) has lost it’s most influential factor: class.
feelgood - January 1, 2012
I don't think the NBAs ever been about class
Its always been about showmanship, the immature attitudes of players caught on somewhere along the way. The NBAs always marketed their stars above all else though, when you do that you have to live with their personality flaws as well.
jstnblke41 - January 2, 2012
Get rid of both..
Westy isn’t coaching.. DMC is a clown.. Give Keith Smart a shot at head coach and trade Cousins to Minny.. He can cool his off his temper in the -3 degree cold for all I care. Punching Donte.. Getting kicked out of multiple practices.. I love the guys game, but he’s not helping this team.
Sincere P. - January 1, 2012 via mobile
You do realize
That the only reason he dropped to the 5th pick was for this very reason?
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
I'm very aware.. I watched the draft too.
Hey I just bought a Cousins jersey last year.. Worn it once! But if they could get a good trade together for him… I think I could understand the team for doing it.. Then get rid of PW. This team just has to much drama going on with it!
Sincere P. - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Nothing that's happened so far couldn't be made better by Geoff Petrie and Chuck Hayes taking a boatload of chicken and waffles over to DeMarcu's house and chewing the fat...so to speak
Westphal needs to go and go soon. It may be that Petrie is weak as well and isn’t up to solving this messed up mess of a mess. MichaelMack summed the issue up well on another thread which I would block qoute now that I know how to but it’s kind of long.
In another post I suggested the the FO should be approaching the dubs ownership group about talking to Michael Malone about the head coach position. While I’m sure Keith Smart could easily coach the team for the rest of the season I don’t see him as an ideal permenant replacement for Westphal.
Cuz’s comments sound more like one half of a domestic dispute than a real request for a trade and Westphal’s inability to deal with DeMarcus’s immature attack on his authority indicates to me that this whole thing really illuminates Westphal’s shortcomings than DMC’s. I’m not against gifting Cuz with a little discipline but the public nature of this crap weakens the team in many ways and again Sacramento becomes synonomous with idiocy.
Westphal simply needs to go and he needs to go now. After they finish up their chicken and waffles Petrie and Hayes should take Cuz back to the practice facility to work it all off. At their first break Petrie should call Westphal to chill out and hang out, Geoff will coach the team on the road trip and talk with Westphal when the team returns to Sac.
The fact that Petrie hasn’t reacted quickly to get this to simmer down and take it private may well indicate that both GM and coach need to go and a fresh view needed in the executive suites capable of dealing with today’s NBA.
Bluejohn - January 1, 2012
Great take.
I totally agree.
DMC is an angry kid.
PW is a buffoon.
The fact that Petrie seems so absent in this event causes me the most distress. His absence may be the final sign that this team is leveraging its way out of town.
Hoops Mike - January 1, 2012
It's been leveraging its way out of town for years.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
His absence may be the final sign that this team is leveraging its way out of town?
I don’t see any connection at all, and Petrie is meeting with Cousins tomorrow.
bench_blob - January 1, 2012
Cousins is a baby!!!!....
I cant stand DMC’s antics on the court- mostly just the crying for the ball… It’s ridiculous when other players have to worry about his mental state. Plus he’s a total black hole. In my opinion the 1 on 1 “my turn” basketball last year started with him then spread like the plauge to reke and others…. They played carefree tonight but I don’t really want to trade him at the moment as he has tremendous upside.. !!! Seems like PW wanted to get back at Cousins for slingin mud his way after the NY game so he slung a little back himself.
Get Jimmered - January 1, 2012
Cousins has the maturity of a 21-year-old
If he doesn’t start acting like a 22-year-old by next year, I say we trade him.
Biscuit - January 1, 2012
not going to lie
chuckled.
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
I get the joke! and its funny..
But I don’t give a big fat F—- that he’s young anymore- just because your young in not an excuse to act like a fool.. All the time! He needs to get his head out of his ass and grow the F—- up already!
Sincere P. - January 1, 2012 via mobile
But he doesn't act like a fool all the time.
More than most in the NBA. More than can be or should be accepted but not all the time.
I doubt he’s a terrible teammate. I doubt he’s a real cancer.
If he was trouble off the court in terms of his behavior, I might buy into all this negativity regarding Cousins, but ALL of his issues stem from dealing with how things go off the court and the fact that he is ultra competitive. I have followed him closely and really feel like he is a great kid who gets very emotional and needs find a better way to deal with this kind of thing.
I also think he needs to be with a coach that can help him do that and one that he trusts. That is not Westphal by any stretch of the imagination. That’s my problem with this whole press release and the media tongue lashing that followed. How can you trust a guy that just threw you under the buss? How can the relationship ever be repaired?
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
*all of his issues stem from how things go *on the court
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
I disagree, he's acts like a fool... but not all the time.
I think he has made some pretty big strides in his behavior on the court. He doesn’t argue with the refs or complain nearly as much as he did at the start of last year and considering he fouled out in almost every game he played in this year, I am honestly surprised he didn’t blow a gasket yet.
With that being said, the only issues we heard about since the Donte Green fight was the " trade demand " after the Knicks game. And from the fan’s comments, it seems like many of us wanted to release a little frustration on Westfail. With that being said, he should not have picked a fight with the coach.
ridingthebench - January 1, 2012
Okay if u guys want to argue that "he doesn't act like a fool ALL the time."
That’s fine I will give u that.. But it’s still more then I care to watch on TV.. Read about.. Or hear about. Its just not good for the team or him. Or anybody for that matter.
Sincere P. - January 1, 2012 via mobile
boogiecousins demarcus cousins
Dnt listen to everything u hear …smh glad to knw who the real fans are tho …thanks
deadenddude - January 1, 2012
DMC just tweeted...
demarcus cousins @boogiecousins
Dnt listen to everything u hear …smh glad to knw who the real fans are tho …thanks
10:02 PM – 1 Jan 12 via TweetCaster for iOS · Details
SacTownMike - January 1, 2012
Terrific.
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
Excellent
Won’t be seeing you play at Memphis. /fml
bignerd - January 1, 2012
Don't be so sure.
Petrie still needs to talk with him.
Still some time to catch that flight.
Everyone should sleep on it.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
99% chance Petrie is already on board with Westphal. You think he’d let his coach suspend his top pick without consent? The Maloofs were already quoted as agreeing with the coach.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
The Maloofs are idiots
carlsbadace - January 1, 2012
Agree
If only Westphal could suspend them
bignerd - January 1, 2012
post this anytime, anywhere
lchristmas - January 1, 2012 via mobile
The Malindas are idiots
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Malindiots?
otis29 - January 2, 2012
I'm not saying Petrie wasn't on PW's side
I’m saying a nice talk between Cousins and I guy I think he might have some respect for about the whole situation would be beneficial to all parties involved.
And again, things might look different in the morning.
Just trying to stay positive.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
I'm betting he plays
And as far as sports tweets go, I’m fine with that tweet. With the world of 24/7 news things will consistently get blown out of proportion
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
am I a real fan boogie?
I needz to know
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
Dont be a baller hater yo
lchristmas - January 1, 2012 via mobile
What is "smh"?
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
shaking my head
bignerd - January 1, 2012
Ah, thank you.
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
Samurais make hamburgers
Aykis16 - January 2, 2012
saving my hide
elfboy_ - January 2, 2012
Sarunas Marciulionis' Hibachi
Mike Garza - January 2, 2012
I'm a real fan
I’m rooting for him to grow the eff up.
section214 - January 1, 2012
I'm a real fan
and I want the coach fired. I am uncertain he deserved to be suspended. I am disappointed with this season so far.
mayfieldcol - January 1, 2012
Yeah. I am waiting for Westphal to grow up, too.
Slam_Dunk - January 2, 2012
Im a real Kings fan
And “boogie” cousins is a giant child. Smh, lol, etc.
Westphal should also be fired, but I’ve thought that for a year
lchristmas - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Here's an interesting question if Cousins doesn't work out here, and Whitside ends up playing like he has been, and Omri plays like he has been....
….. what does this do to Geoff’s reputation as a player evaluator?
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
eh Whiteside and Omri weren't exactly top lottery picks
you might be on to something but my gut check reaction to hearing those team names is meh
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
I'd agree on Omri, but remember by all accounts they were for a time very interested in taking Whiteside at 5
in an alternate reality where Kahn picks DC who knows what happens?
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
Ya, you cant fire a GM for botching a 2nd round pick
Wonderchild - January 2, 2012
Isaiah Thomas has been an absolute steal
At 60.
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
That much is beyond dispute.
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
Westphal is handling this correctly
Just because this is “nice guy” PW, he can’t fight back. I guarantee it that if Jerry Sloan was our coach it would be scorched earth right now and 99% of King’s fans would be cheering his no BS approach.
I have NO problem with PW not taking criticism from DMC. DMC isn’t a zit on the ass of PW’s NBA career. Not only do I hope PW doesn’t back down, I hope he steps it up a notch and doesn’t let DMC make the road trip.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
I don't have a problem with Westphal criticism on Cousins
But keep it in the locker room… This PR crap isn’t good for anyone
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Agree with you, HL
Westphal is the coach, expected to wear the “big boy” pants. He is the one with the power, expected to take the high road, expected to deal with his players with reasoned maturity and respect.
But what does he do? He misuses his power to go to the media and issue a damning press release on one of his players. This is highly unprofessional behavior unbecoming of a person in his position as an NBA Head Coach. The person who is acting with immaturity in all this is Coach Paul Westphal.
I am also concerned that Geoff Petrie gave his approval for Westphal’s statement to be released.
Slam_Dunk - January 2, 2012
Ok, but lets assume that PW's "tip of the iceberg" comment is true
And he has said this 5 times before….20 times….100+ times. How long can PW put up with his Negative Nancy comments before he has to try another tactic. He is trying to get DMC to grow up. Its not gonna happen overnight…or in 1 season and 4 games. Its gonna be a give and take process probably going on over his entire rookie contract.
Wonderchild - January 2, 2012
Sloan
I’d be very happy to see firsthand what would happen if Sloan was our coach.
I know we’d play defense and have a working offensive system. Somehow I think DMC would be down with a system that has a measure of discipline for him to actually follow.
EGKF - January 1, 2012
I think it's this kind of crap
that convinced Sloan to retire.
section214 - January 1, 2012
Definitely
dampania - January 1, 2012
He quit rather than have a PR battle with D-Will
VenomySnicket - January 1, 2012
Both sides have said that their fights were overplaid by the media
there was a lot going on in Utah to cause problems. The owner died recently and the son has been sending that franchise down the tubes. The DWill/Sloan drama was only a small slice of the pie of why Sloan retired.
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Actually, Sloan probably
Would have beat the sh** out of Cousins in front of the entire team.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
twice
and that’s before he starts cursing
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
Which to me
Would have been more appropriate than what Westphal did.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
I would bet Demarcus gets more then one DNPCD if Sloan were the head guy
jstnblke41 - January 2, 2012
I'm not sure Jerry Sloan would've been playing the role of martyr in the media. He's the kind of guy that handles things face to face.
Also Sloan was/is a hall of fame worthy coach. I’m not sure that your relation of Paul’s coaching career is terribly accurate, remember this is his first coaching job in a decade.
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
Agree
PW tends to be passive aggressive and comes across as whiny whereas Sloan would be emotionless in the presser and completely tear Cousins apart and make the reporter who asked the question piss his pants.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Absolutely
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
You are COMPLETELY wrong.
If it was Sloan, he never would have talked to the press about a conflict with a player.
Sloan kept locker room stuff private.
Hoops Mike - January 1, 2012
I think that's what he was alluding to
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Am I the only one
that has kind of resorted to just laughing at this point?
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
We need an adult.
carlsbadace - January 1, 2012
I am not your man
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
The Return of Coachie....
Bring Yoda back. lol
AkaP - January 1, 2012 via Android app
I think the spin that Westphal is only doing this to transfer heat is a bit laughable. Its a worthy discussion but odd conclusion.
bignerd - January 1, 2012
...when I am not crying and punching myself in the testes.
Jim Les - January 1, 2012
Have u looked in the mirror lately Jimmy?
You are starting to look like friggin Mike Fratello.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Ew.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
The grey gives me credibility.
The ladies love it too.
Jim Les - January 2, 2012
New Poster New Perspective
Hey guys. Long time lurker first time poster. It’s taken a while for me to post because I prefer having longer conversations about sports opposed to short comments … I feel like its hard to get my point across sometimes in shorter concise posts, but I digress ..
I think, like Westphal said, they had to release something. If the game starts and Cousins isn’t there reporters are going to start digging. It wouldn’t take long to find out what was going on. At least this way the Kings could control the message by being the first to announce anything.
In response to the idea that ‘players don’t get suspended for asking to be traded’ I would say that I highly doubt most trade demands happen like this one did. Westphal said Cuz wanted out before the season even started (in an argument) and again after the Knicks game (in an argument). With a guy like Dwight Howard .. I’m sure he did it the right way. I mean, there is no ‘right’ way because the Idea of asking to be traded is a pretty shit thought no matter how to ask it. But I’m sure Howard went to his agent and had his agent tell the team. I highly doubt Howard went after the coach, got into a fight with him, and told him to ‘trade me’ face to face. A normal NBA player just wouldn’t do that.
And to the idea that this is killing his trade value .. That isn’t the point here at all. The Kings aren’t going to trade him. That was never the point of going public. They WANT to teach him a lesson. A lesson I don’t think he will learn this way, but that had to be the idea going in. We have so much control over Cousins future that trading him right now never made sense.
The Kings could not keep this one in the locker room. Not after Cousin clear smart ass comments last night.
I’m not saying Westphal isn’t at fault here. Hell, I never wanted this guy as our coach in the first place. I thought he should have been fired last season .. but here we are. My point is, Westphal has some blame here, but goddamn .. Cousins needs some of the blame to. How come every other player can control themselves in the locker room and to the media and Cousins can’t? He needs to stop acting like he is more important than everyone else.
Xypteras - January 1, 2012
I think you have some sound points here.
rec’d
Ichiban - January 1, 2012
Hello New Poster
Glad to hear from your point of view
wallywagon11 - January 1, 2012
Jeez you're pretty smart, you should post more.
I don’t agree with everything, but there are some great points here, particularly paragraph 4. Cousins is locked up tight, he’s not going anywhere unless the Kings get a knock you’re socks off deal (which won’t happen).
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
Yes, that was a great point
The kings, for a change, hold all of the cards here. There isn’t going to be a DMC fire sale
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Yeah it's pretty funny
I’ve read a few comments on the Hornets site suggesting trading one or more 2nd round picks for DC. All I can think is they got this guy on the hook for the rest of his rookie deal, and then he’s a rfa after that, he ain’t going anywhere.
ResetSmith - January 1, 2012
Damn! Nice first post.
Agree 99.2%. Well said.
EJ08 - January 1, 2012 via mobile
Post more often
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
And you post less often
I kid – I’m a kidder, you know.
LUTHER HEAD!
section214 - January 1, 2012
Pump fake!
prowseinthehouse - January 1, 2012
Yeah,
still steaming over the pump fake…
section214 - January 1, 2012
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Damn it Biggs... you wouldnt last a week on the creek!!
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
Good call.
VenomySnicket - January 1, 2012
We all know Cousins is immature.
But embarrassing Cousins publicly will NOT get through to this guy. It was the wrong way of going about things and clearly PW doesn’t know how to handle DMC. Sure, DMC deserves some blame, but what good does it do to comment on it publicly? Suspension? Sure. From what I gather Cousins said " If I am such a cancer then Trade me then". That in my eyes is not a trade demand. That is like when a child tells his parents he hates them after getting yelled at but doesn’t really mean it. The front office of the Kings is a joke.
ridingthebench - January 1, 2012
BUT!
I do agree that DMC can’t be spouting off stupid comments like that to the coach and some action should be taken.
ridingthebench - January 1, 2012
Yes.
Great post.
Hoops Mike - January 1, 2012
If he said that
wouldn’t that mean that PW was calling him a cancer?
chenp22 - January 2, 2012
You can write a Fanshot any day.
gives you the space and format you need to clearly and fully articulate your thoughts.
rec’d
Shizzo - January 1, 2012
/Fanpost lol
DTG13 - January 2, 2012 via Android app
The whole idea that you can teach a player a lesson
by punishing them is ludicrous. It’s basic Psych 101 that usually does not work – especially for accomplishing the long term goal of getting Cousins to buy into the system.
This has turned into an amateur hour power struggle in which both parties are likely to lose.
thelettere - January 1, 2012
Good post
Welcome to StR.
Aykis16 - January 2, 2012
In conclusion, PW's mistakes??
Jimmered. - January 1, 2012
Get rid of this clown
I’ve had enough of this nonsense
thelettere - January 1, 2012
The only question is: Which clown?
NewEraKings - January 1, 2012
New Year, New Kings Brasses
What a wonderful year to start it, DMC v. PW: Last Man Standing. I don’t know why all these negatives keep attaching this young core of players just trying to play and have fun on the court. Is this the Kings Curse??? I love DMC, this guy has lot’s of potential and he could be might as well our Center of the Future, hope he and PW better fix this early before it could turn out much worst. Geoff got some advice from ya, sort this two people out, let them reach out to each other. DMC, please grow up man and just do what you do best, crash the boards and score. PW, its your last year of your contract, i know what your doin is for the best of the organization, but your the father here, act like one. This are young players needing direction and guidance, show them what they should do. We can’t trade a talent like DMC has. Geoff better find a new coach, a “players coach”…Why not Larry, Jerry or someone much better than PW.
broken_360 - January 1, 2012
All DeMarcus needs to do is apologize to PW and maybe present him with a little make up gift
section214 - January 1, 2012
2. Put your Jimmer in the box.
kwill - January 1, 2012
Your as immature as Cousins!
Just kidding. I lol’d at this.
kingsforaday - January 1, 2012
DANG IT
You’re.
kingsforaday - January 1, 2012
wow.
TrojanCBB - January 1, 2012
I'd hit it
otis29 - January 2, 2012
Holy shit.
Did everybody forget that the winningest coach in NBA history pulled the same thing and wrote a book about the immaturity of one of the greatest players in NBA history?
And it kinda worked.
Caljin - January 1, 2012
Point well made
ElRonToro - January 1, 2012
Not really.
The lakers won when Jackson came back because Bynum developed and Memphis handed them Gasol. Before that, Kobe was demanding a trade.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
Westphal is no Phil Jackson
And Phil is more media savvy on his worst day than PW will ever be in his lifetime. If PW is reading Phil’s book he’d best stop, it’s messing with his head.
nerdninja - January 1, 2012
And DeMarcus is no Shaquille O'Neal
Aykis16 - January 2, 2012
Well I am not certain DMC does not know that.
MichaelMack - January 2, 2012
I don't know if anyone else has posted this....
But what about DMC’s side of the story? All we have gotten is PW’s side. I’d be curious of what the players thoughts are on this. Of course we probably will never know. For some reason it seems DMC gets the overreation of everyone. He does stupid crap, but honestly it seems the backlash on him for his antics is over the top.
nerdninja - January 1, 2012
About all we got...
@boogiecousins Dnt listen to everything u hear …smh glad to knw who the real fans are tho …thanks
HeuristicLineup - January 1, 2012
Petrie reports that DMC is not on the trading block and the Kings are not entertaining trade offers.
NBA Gametime reported tonight that Geoff Petrie says this is all about sending Demarcus a message and teaching him a message… Demarcus may not. E smart enough to realize he has no leverage here and that … childish comments give you a league wide reputation of being childish…
SacKingsfanforever - January 1, 2012
Sorry... Petrie said this is a out Sending Demarcus a message and teaching Him a lesson...
SacKingsfanforever - January 1, 2012
FWIW
I was at the Chicago game, sitting close to the King’s bench, and I saw an exchange that caught my attention.
Westphal pulled DeMarcus in the first quarter. Not sure why because he hadn’t fouled anyone, which is typically why he gets the hook, and it was early, so it was weird timing.
Anyhow, DeMarcus was incredulous at being pulled, and mouthed the words “Why?” when PW motioned him to the bench. When he left the court, PW stood up to give him a high five and DeMarcus walked right past him, and completely ignored his hand. I could tell PW was pissed Boogie left him hanging.
I felt a little sick to my stomach when I saw it, and thought “that can’t be good”. I could tell things weren’t good between the two, but I had no idea things were this bad.
R-Man - January 1, 2012
Thanks for this.
thelettere - January 1, 2012
Yeah, PW needs to let him know why.
What the hell are you saying to him otherwise.
Even if it’s something little, at least explain it the kid.
Jimmy Martin - January 1, 2012
most coaches don't take time to go have a convo during the game
Thats what they usually rely on their assistance for. Then they use halftime to address specific issues with players.
Kazper - January 2, 2012
You can give the guy something.
Especially since he asked.
It may only take 2 seconds to explain and might not get to the heart of the matter, but communication is important.
Jimmy Martin - January 2, 2012
You are correct with that, but I don't know the whole situation.
Maybe they had an altercation before the game, and maybe PW gave him specific things to do and he didn’t do them. So he told his assistance to deal with it. Thats obviously just one possibility, and none of us really know the reasoning behind it.
But I have a hard time passing judgement on either based on that. I have seen to many NBA player upset they get pulled and don’t say a word to their coach and vice versa.
Kazper - January 2, 2012
No Question
Happens all the time.
It’s just somewhat interesting in this case considering the events that have transpired since.
Jimmy Martin - January 2, 2012
Yeah... i would like to know more about the behind the scenes
I just read an article from JA adande that he referenced some of the issues cousins ran into last year iwth coaches, trainers, and other players
Kazper - January 2, 2012
Most coaches.
However, we aren’t talking about any other player here.
If I recall correctly, Poppovich pulled out Manu that one time because he got lost in the play. He then addressed to him why he is mad.
DTG13 - January 2, 2012 via Android app
He's done this before
Last year against the bucks.
Caljin - January 1, 2012
Fire PW
option 1: let all these brasses and ego’s be brushed aside. Why cant we just go out and play have fun, right?
option 2: Fire PW, it is his last year right???Take Smart as the next Head Coach.
option 3: Aren’t yo sick and tired of giving this good, supportive, loving people of Sacramento enough problems to ponder? This people supported you all along, fought for you, stick with you through it all, then this is what you give them in return, pissed DMC and troubled PW. What the F*** is wrong, can’t you put all your egos aside and pay this people some love by playing your hearts out and giving them W’s.
broken_360 - January 1, 2012
is option 3 an option?
prowseinthehouse - January 2, 2012
option 1: let all these brasses and ego’s be brushed aside. Why cant we just go out and play have fun, right?
option 2: Fire PW, it is his last year right?Take Smart as the next Head Coach.
option 3: ???
option 4: Profit
chenp22 - January 2, 2012
All kidding aside , this comment is pretty funny.
chenp22 - January 2, 2012
As a Raider fan and Kings fan...
This year started off effing great.
The start to the century was nice, featuring deep runs form the Raiders, A’s and Kings. And now… This….
nobodyinparticular - January 2, 2012
PW: "Why'd you take a shot in the key? You should pass to Outlaw for a 3 every time!" DMC: "Fine, then trade me."
ahgraham - January 2, 2012
We're getting a little carried away...
Before I get violently attacked for saying this let me make a few concessions:
1. Paul Westphal was wrong in making this release. It was a bad move for him and a bad move for the team
2. We have not seen marked improvement the past two years.
Now I’m not going to argue against a coaching change at this junction (although I think we should give him at least 15 games), but all you people out there calling PW a bad coach don’t know what you’re saying. Westphal IS a good coach, just not a good coach for a team full of young immature players. Look at his veteran Pheonix and Seattle teams, and he was fantastic.
If you think we are going to get Brown, Sloan, Calipari or any other renowned coach to come to this (sadly) dysfunctional mess, you are sorely mistaken. Hello Coach Keith Smart? Might as well say hello Coach Kenny Natt if we want to concede this season so early.
Lets calm down, and come back to reality. Happy New Years Kings fans!
TheKahn - January 2, 2012 via mobile
He was not fantastic in either of those cities
He had plenty of established veteran talent in Phoenix, inheriting a team that won 53 games and then added Charles Barkley to it, and in Seattle he did such a “fantastic” job he lasted 147 games, and then went nine years before he was an NBA Head Coach again. While his record is solid, it is a huge stretch to call him “fantastic”.
MichaelMack - January 2, 2012
B-Jax for coach. You know he's likable and knows the game but has no problem schooling the rookies!
ahgraham - January 2, 2012
Damn that is hella wierd the Kings are removing DeMarcus' image from there front page.
The headline for the Knicks game went from DeMarcus unable to fuel Kings past Knicks to Donte unable to fuel Kings past Knicks. o_O
Vinson916 - January 2, 2012
Whoa.
PurpleLoco - January 2, 2012
My take
First off, I have to say that I do not like how Coach Westphal and the organization are handling this publicly. I know it’s meant to be a lesson, but I think it could have been handled better and more behind closed doors.
That being said, I have no doubt in my mind that there has been a lot more going on behind the scenes with DeMarcus when Coach Westphal claimed that this latest outburst was just the tip of the iceberg. DeMarcus is a hotheaded 21 year old who has spent his entire life thinking he is the best player out there. The fact of the matter is that right now, DeMarcus is not the best player out there.
DeMarcus has some complaints about how the offense is run. This is an offense that has DeMarcus Cousins as its biggest contributor, as shown by his team leading Usage Rate for both years he’s been with the team.
The Kings absolutely cannot fire Paul Westphal because of this, because it will look like they are catering to DeMarcus, and frankly, DeMarcus hasn’t done enough in this league to deserve catering to.
The Kings should also absolutely not trade DeMarcus Cousins because of this, because he is hotheaded, young, and still really cheap. We would also get lowballed by every team who’d be interested in all likelihood. There is also the fact that if by the end of the year, the team hasn’t improved, with or without DeMarcus, Paul Westphal will not remain the coach.
The fault lies with both parties here, and I’m not sure Paul Westphal deserves more blame than DeMarcus. This is a situation born of DeMarcus’s passion and immaturity, and he does need to grow up.
Aykis16 - January 2, 2012
The passion I love
Immaturity, not so much.
Jimmy Martin - January 2, 2012
Hopefully for Demarcus and the team
This is nothing more than
Jimmy Martin - January 2, 2012
Kirk was a cancer in that family
carlsbadace - January 2, 2012
TRADE HIM
And divorce Alan Thicke.
Jimmy Martin - January 2, 2012
Why do I want to punch six of these people in the face?
Jim Les - January 2, 2012
I know right?
Wipe that smile right off of that little girl’s face.
Jimmy Martin - January 2, 2012
7
Cyg - January 2, 2012
and he only wants to punch 6 of them in the face.
He never said where he wanted to punch the other one in.
elfboy_ - January 2, 2012
Other issues with Cousins and the team
This whole Westphal/Cousins dispute makes no sense to me as officially described.
Looked at Cousin’s stats and found some negatives. In 27 minutes per game for four games he averaged 5.0 fouls per game, slightly higher than chuck Hayes’ 4.5 fouls per game in 29 minutes. Cousins field goal percentage was 32% and he had the second highest attempts per game, 13.2. This is devastatingly low for a big man. Reason enough to greatly reduce his time until he shows better shot selection. Given Cousin’s skills, he may be ignoring advice on what shots to take. His turnover per game rate tied for first (2.8). On the positive side, his rebounds per game (11.2) nd blocks per game (1.5) are the highest on the team for four games, and his steals per game (1.) was second.
Other team members must be angry at Cousins for taking so many shots he doesn’t make. The average field goal percentage for the other three big men who had taken more than ten shots was 52%. The team would be better of Cousins would only take shots he can make about 50% of the time (or 40% of the time if they are taken at a distance). Still, the Kings lop-sided losses in games two, three and four are due to more than Cousins.
Still, I don’t like the way Westphal has handled this. If Westphal does not do close to 50% this year, I say let him go. However, the first ten games have only one opponent with a loosing record last year. If the Kings win 4 orf the first ten, that is on schedule to win 50% over the season.
Cosins is not now trade-able. His upside if he begins to play team offense is too high. His present value while shooting 32% is too low.
Carlji - January 2, 2012
good stats. It definately makes sense.
Kazper - January 2, 2012
Not gonna second-guess PW on this move
I stand behind the coach. This kind of statement by a sophmore is completely uncalled for. Really easy to speculate what might be going on underneath the ice, but it is speculation purely, I assure you. Seriously, if Phil Jackson did this no one would think twice about it. There was probably lots of shit going on before it was decided that DeMarcus had to be flogged publicly. The last thing this team needs is another young megalomaniac.
If you have a crappy coach, you stick by your crappy coach, its called professionalism.
DeMarcus opitimizes what is wrong with the youth of the NBA today – no respect, I tell ya!
convoy - January 2, 2012
What determines when and if you stick by one of your players?
And how much respect do you show them?
Jim Les - January 2, 2012
The biggest difference with Phil isn't how it was handled, its who he had on his team
Phil always had a Jordan or Kobe or Shaq. If a rookie/soph decided to mouth off like this phil would barely have to do anything because the veteran all stars would handle this noobie. Thats what the kings are really missing right now.
Kazper - January 2, 2012
I beg to differ
Its the principle of professionalism here we are talking about. Principles before personalities
convoy - January 2, 2012
Don't get me wrong I don't approve of when Phil does it either
But I was just saying he gets away with it because Phil usually calls out stars who know how to handle it. and he lets his veterans deal with the younger guys. If that makes sense.
Kazper - January 2, 2012
Yes, it makes sense
I’m just saying that perhaps some other serious shit happened with DeMarcus that we don’t know about. There may be a justifiable reason for Westphals action.
We need some more veterans on our team. DMC thinks he is the leader of this team, and perhaps the other players on the Kings just think he is a punk ass bully, but act nice in front of him so that they don’t get dealt with.
convoy - January 2, 2012
Phil might bust a guy's balls or zing him in an interview
But he wouldn’t release a statement like the one we saw here.
otis29 - January 2, 2012
It is inversely proportional to the ammount of respect the player shows a coach
convoy - January 2, 2012
Well,
do you think that Westphal’s reaction was inversely proportional to Cuz having a heated argument with him…internally? Or would you say that PW escalated the issue by making a formal, collected, public statement about Cousin’s history of behavior?
I’d argue that Westphal upped the ante.
Jim Les - January 2, 2012
No doubt Westphal needed to throw down a good hand
His back is against the wall and something had to give. Westphal sucks and needs to be fired, yes. His apparent “soft” coaching style has been ridiculed a lot, especially of late. After watching the video of the news conference, it is definately a statement.
But being disrespected to that extent by someone who just started legally drinking is a slap in the face of the entire organization.
We have two clearly distinct mutually exclusive problems (Westphal sucks, Cousins is a punk). Even though Westphal sucks, players (especially ones still wet behind the ears) should respect him, IMO.
convoy - January 2, 2012
Without Westphal's statement...
we never hear about this, and it is no slap in the face of the organization. I agree that Cuz likely needs to learn some respect. I do not agree that it needs to be played out in front of us. Plenty of other way to instill respect. This just loses some.
Jim Les - January 2, 2012
Maybe they have been trying behind doors for who knows how long
Maybe they needed cousins to get a slap in the face publically too in hopes it makes it start to listen.
Kazper - January 2, 2012
Indeed you are correct
Perhaps Westphal has not the ability to instill the respect of his players. He’s grasping for ways to keep authority. His “I’ll show him” tactics are probably based out of denial of his lackluster coaching abilities. In his mind, he may have been trying to teach a lesson to the entire Kings team about respect and discipline. He needs to exert more real-time discipline on-the-fly when coaching. A public debacle like this probably shows a decline in his confidence. Obviously, he did not fully consider the public consequences of his actions.
Too bad Westphal isn’t a better coach with a bigger set of balls, we probably wouldn’t have had this problem.
convoy - January 2, 2012
It's puzzling
If they’re resigned to moving him why all this publicity? It’s killing his trade value. Is Westphal trying to force Petrie’s hand?
wayno - January 2, 2012
Maybe they don't want to move on but this is their hail mary to make him listen?
Just an idea but mabye they are taking their last resort to trying to make him change?
Kazper - January 2, 2012
Bad karma
This is not the way Westphal should handle the situation. What I see in the couple years is players go publicly demand to be traded. This is just the other way around(up to now, DMC hasn’t say anything…..yet)
I have no idea why a COACH starts disrupting the team……it’s really a bad bad decision to release this kind of statement.
Felix Charlie Chan - January 2, 2012
We all realize that the Kings will keep Westphal because the roster isn’t a >.500 roster in the first place, and why spend money on a coach (Westphal is the least paid in the league) when it won’t have a major impact on attendance and cash flow anyway, right?
Cyg - January 2, 2012
they're already paying Kieth Samrt
letting him take over wouldn’t cost them anymore, unless they had to give him a raise or something.
deadenddude - January 2, 2012
My overlong take
I’m not usually a blame the coach guy. I think all too often in the NBA, and in sports in general, coaches are blamed for team shortcomings when they shouldn’t be for the simple reason that they’re (coaches) an easy target. It’s easier to scapegoat the coach than it is to admit that the players are underachieving, the team was plagued by injury, the management is incompetent, maybe the team didn’t meet expectations because they just simply weren’t as good as advertised, etc.
Rick Adleman is a great example. He was unfairly fired (in my opinion) in Sacramento and Houston. In both cities he was fired in spite of getting teams to the playoffs who had lost star players to injury.
Now with that said, I think there are times when the coach REALLY is largely to blame and I think that may be the case with Paul Westphal. It took me a long time to reach this conclusion. It’s against my nature to blame a coach but the evidence in this case is becoming too much to ignore.
Obviously there’s the dismal record over the last two seasons, but it goes much deeper than wins and losses.
In his tenure, not one single player has improved under Westphal and in fact, many have instead regressed.
Players that come here from other teams inexplicably regress and begin shooting career low field goal percentages once the get here.
He’s (Westphal) had numerous clashes with his players and in the case of Spencer Hawes and Omri Casspi may have been directly responsible for them being traded.
Both current and former players have commented on the lack of structure, no one knows what their supposed to do, what their role is, etc.
When that type of chaos prevails regardless of the lineup you have to start wondering if Westphal’s the problem, because he’s been the one constant.
Players are shipped out for not working but it isn’t working with the players who remain, either. How many players do you get rid of (this is really directed at the Kings management) before you start asking yourself…maybe it’s not the players that are the problem.
Yes Westphal won in phoenix, but I’m starting to wonder if he only won because Barkley and KJ were good enough to win in spite of Westphal at the helm.
One thing is for certain, this Kings team isn’t good enough or experienced enough to win without the right coach. A team like this needs a coach that make them better not coach that’s just going to throw them out there and let the chips fall where they may. Whether Westphal is a good coach or not, he’s clearly not the right coach for THIS team.
If the DMC issue was an isolated thing I’d be inclined to side with Westphal but as I’ve noted, DMC is hardly the only player Westphal has had issues with. Remember the Westphal/Hawes fued? LOL
Having said that, DMC DOES need to learn how to handle his frustration better, but in no way to I think he’s the problem with this team.
deadenddude - January 2, 2012
Okay, now it's time to panic.
Kfan in Korea - January 2, 2012
Don't panic, its 2 a.m. !!!
Let’s go shoot 400 free throws and everything will be ok.
convoy - January 2, 2012
No, it's 7 pm.
It’s time to panic.
Kfan in Korea - January 2, 2012
But I just checked the scores and the Griz lost to the Bulls by 40
so, it could be worse.
Kfan in Korea - January 2, 2012
I hate 2012
Oh how I long for the lost innocence of 2011 when we were nothing but a shitty team.
Kfan in Korea - January 2, 2012
See my post above
As a Kings fan and a Raiders fan, I saw my football team self-combust to miss the playoffs and I am watching my basketball team fall apart before my very eyes.
I am beginning to wonder if 2008-09 was actually the lowest of the lows for the Kings.
nobodyinparticular - January 2, 2012
I was mostly joking.
I haven’t watched football for the past 7 years or so. The Raiders used to suck, do they still suck? Is Al Davis still alive? They should hire Art Shell. Maybe we should hire Art Shell.
Kfan in Korea - January 2, 2012
Actually Al Davis passed away this season in October
And the Raiders were playing for a playoff spot. All they had to do was win and they’re in.
nobodyinparticular - January 2, 2012
This just smacks of narcissism...
As many of us have, I have been around narcissistic people of varying degrees my entire life. These narcissists have ranged from mild cases of narcissism gently manipulating you to change your plans to fit their needs to extreme narcissism in which the person would never admit to punching you in the face “No, your face ran into my hand. But it’s okay, I won’t press charges this time.”
Having said that, Paul Westphal’s posturing (because that’s what this is considering the public nature of his house keeping) is very strongly narcissistic in nature. It seems that what Coach is doing, is distancing himself from the failures of this team—specifically of the 2nd year big man. This haymaker that Westphal just threw is one punch in a fight to establish his plan as right, his authority as unquestionable. And Demarcus Cousins is the first casualty.
After the embarrassing loss to the Knicks (preceded by poor showings against both the Blazers and Bulls), much of the team was discussing the lack of offensive gameplan and frustration with the plan set down by “Coach”, that main culprits expressing this frustration being the two young stars of the team.
When a situation like this is going down, a narcissist begins to look outside himself for the problem. “My plan is perfect, I just don’t have the right pieces. Oh, I have two blue-chippers on my team who are among the most talented at their position? Well then my players aren’t playing the way they should play in my system.” It only makes sense for Westphal to take the blame to his players. If he publicly labeled it a lack of talent on the court, it would be tantamount to calling out Geoff Petrie. And well, when your supervisor gets yelled at for lack of production, does he blame his boss? Or does he come in and ream into his subordinates?
But really, it makes sense for Westphal to be narcissistic to a certain degree. First as a player, and then as a coach, it is absolutely necessary for the job. As a player, you have to have the confidence in yourself to go out and make those plays. Any play you doubt is a play you will fail. And as a coach you have to be narcissistic in order to establish that authority. But this has gone too far.
Westphal has failed now with 3 young players—Kevin Martin, Spencer Hawes and now Demarcus Cousins. These are talented players Westphal was unable to get to work in his system. At some point, one has to look at Westphal’s leadership ability—his ability to communicate and effectively coach a young player to reach inside and realize his potential. Instead, he has clashed which each one of these players and other veterans as well.
But… Westphal fired the first salvo. If he fires the first shot, will you take your eye off the one constant in this entire situation?
Don’t get me wrong, Demarcus Cousins was wrong to sit slouched in his chair and gripe about “We gotta do what coach tell us to do” repeatedly? Absolutely. Was Cousins in the wrong when he blew up at his coach multiple times—in practice, on the sideline, in the locker room? Of course.
But as a leader, I expect the leaders under me to find a way to make it work with their employees. I brought them on for a reason (Yes, that’s narcissistic too. It takes one to know one, right?). When I see a consistent lack of ability to get the expected production out of one’s staff, I will start to think about having a conversation with this leader about if it might be the right time for them to move on.
The bottom line is that I have absolutely no confidence in Paul Westphal to bring the best out of these young players. In this case, we aren’t even talking about on the court production as Demarcus Cousins was averaging a double-double so far this young season in limited minutes. My lack of confidence is in the ability of Westphal to help these young men grow up and become men on the court and off the court.
If an entire team of players have a lack of confidence on the coach and his game plan and management of the team, maybe it’s time to start looking at the coach. That’s the funny thing about narcissists though, the only time they aren’t looking at themselves is when something goes wrong.
nobodyinparticular - January 2, 2012
Sometimes it doesn't work.
Cousins reminds me of a young Zach Randolph. A Bully, drug dealer friends and an attitude problem on your team.
That was Zach’s reputation for years. If it wasn’t for Zach looking at a drug case and having a very good lawyer who got him out of it.. He may have never grew up.
These type of players go through 3-4 teams before they get it. Some never do.
This won’t be the first time and this won’t be the last you hear of a coach having enough of Cousins.
I understand you guys have problems with WP but everyone can’t be lying.
Sharksbreath - January 2, 2012
I don't like your comparison of Cousins with bullies and drug dealing friends.
Slam_Dunk - January 2, 2012
I'm not saying Cousins doesn't have any problems
My point is that Demarcus Cousins isn’t the only one Westphal has been unable to maintain. You could just about make an entire team of players who had/have significant issues with Coach Westphal. Think about it. Kevin Martin, Omri Casspi, Ime Udoka, Demarcus Cousins, Spencer Hawes, Samuel Dalembert, heck, even the current starting PG in Tyreke Evans has significant problems with the coach.
When Coach has driven off THAT many young players, you have to look at the singular constant there—Paul Westphal.
nobodyinparticular - January 2, 2012
Ime and Dalembert weren't really young.
PurpleLoco - January 2, 2012
Well done, TZ.
I fear Westphal is trying to turn DMC into a scapegoat to turn attention away from himself. Your commentary is spot-on exposing Westphal’s words and actions. Very unprofessional on Coach Westphal’s part and hurtful and damaging to Cousins.
Slam_Dunk - January 2, 2012
Damaging to the organization
DMC’s making his own bed here though.
otis29 - January 2, 2012
I'm not saying that Cousins may not have some blame here.
But, at this point, I only have one side of the story, Westphal’s which he has chosen to go public with. I saw the interview Cousins gave with the “do what Coach say” statements.
I am sure by now, you have read the defense written by Exhibit G posted on the front page. I am pretty much in line with his view of Cousins probable behavior.
He is a young guy, very emotional, who may have said some things in the heat of the moment that he doesn’t necessarily mean. Haven’t we all. If true, he needs to mature. Part of the role of a coach is to be a mentor and help his player through these tough times. Going viral with the exchange does no good and could do further damage, imo.
Slam_Dunk - January 2, 2012
I don't disagree
But I don’t feel bad for DeMarcus either. My guess is this is all true and there’s probably a lot more we aren’t privy to. That doesn’t excuse the team’s actions, though.
otis29 - January 2, 2012
Living on the East Coast, I can tell you objectively the news stories on this make the Kings appear like a joke. How this was handled so poorly by the Kings organization is beyond me and given the importance of this season toward building momentum towards our arena – I am truly disheartened.
I have not been a Westphal fan from the get go and was well aware of the terrible job he did at Pepperdine before coming here. If he can’t coach and put together a cohesive mid-major basketball program, how can he succeed at the NBA level. His teams at Pepperdine got worse each year and he showed inability to deal with young players. With the Kings he has been over his head from Year 1 and simply a terrible match for a young team. DMC is a kid with a ton to learn that needs to be dealt with but how Westphal has handled this should look no further than his recent tenure at Pepperdine in players giving up on the guy.
VirginiaKingsFan - January 2, 2012
New Poster. Mr. Petrie, I'm not saying you won't get your hair mussed...
But something needs to be done about Westphal. I will examine this as objectively as I can. There was a major reason that no other team would pick up Westphal in the 2009 season. He has a history of these player clashes – Seattle with Gary Payton, Pepperdine as an example.
We brought in DMC knowing that he is a hothead, and that it would take some great coaching for him to mature. So management thought it would be a great idea to find the lowest payroll coach in the NBA, and somehow he would work magic?
By no means am I defending Cousins. He is immature, yes. He needs to learn maturity. But he won’t learn that from a coach that is so passive aggressive that he throws players under the bus by way of the media.
Also, by shifting the blame to Cousins, Westphal manages to hang onto his job for a couple more weeks, making it impossible to fire him without making it seem like we acquiesced to Cousins’ demands. I bring that up because Evans came out with a pretty strong worded complaint against Westphal, or at least his offense, as well, but somehow it slipped by.
And also, I is not amused by the pettiness of the organization at the moment. Removing Cousins from the Kings website, and pregame video, flying the Kings flag at half mast during the game? I’m surprised Cousins wasn’t redacted from the pregame flyers.
Protip: If the office spends as much time figuring out what should be released to the public as they try to act like chlidren, maybe this mess would be more easily mitigated.
Anyways, thanks for hearing me out, I’ve watched this forum for a long time, and am glad to finally step into it and join the discussion of the Kings!
HarveySpecter - January 2, 2012
Solid take
Though I am now stuck with the vision of Eric Musselman coaching in Germany and being called “Herr Muss.”
Welcome aboard!
section214 - January 2, 2012
hes not removed from the website. why do people keep saying that?
TrojanCBB - January 2, 2012
Because
He is. Not from the roster, but from the highlights. Also, one suggested from the three Kings players near the ticket sales sign.
But he was most definitely removed from the pre-game video before the game.
HarveySpecter - January 2, 2012
i did hear about that. but he was on the website when i looked at it earlier.
when i highlighted the team tab his mug was right there.
TrojanCBB - January 2, 2012
Huh.
Mine has Tyreke and Marcus in that spot.
PurpleLoco - January 2, 2012
If it is true that he was removed and I'm not saying that it is not true...
What does that mean? Would they remove him from the preview and website for just one game if they intended to bring him back? Were they just trying to scare him? Or, were they thinking of removing him from the team, but changed their minds due to fan backlash?
Slam_Dunk - January 2, 2012
I wish I knew, but
I guess we’ll have to wait and see if he’s back in the video for the next home game, and if he is back on the preview and site, then it was probably a childish attempt at “punishment”. It was too quick between the announcement and the game for it to be fan backlash about taking it down. I don’t think many people noticed until the preview and after the game.
HarveySpecter - January 2, 2012
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