The usually sharp Ken Berger of CBS Sports:
In walked Keith Smart, a good coach with intelligent ideas who is being fed to the wolves in Sacramento. Smart could coach this team, could rein in all this talent and get it pointed in the right direction -- if only the talent weren't so belligerent. Cousins has been quiet lately, has temporarily cut it out with the constant bickering to the refs and disrespectful on-court demeanor. He's also showed signs of coming around on the court, as he did Wednesday night with a 21-point, 19-rebound performance in a 98-91 victory over the Raptors. But that's one night; Cousins' reputation has been built over many. Is it only a matter of time before he turns on this coach too?
"He hasn't had any problems for me so far, so what I want to focus on is where he's at right now and not what has happened or what I may have heard," Smart said. "He has a clean sheet of paper for me. I'm going to coach him as if he's brand new to me. I won't look back and say, 'He did this.' I'm going to focus on right now."
Smart is well-intentioned and knows what kind of coaching Cousins requires. But how could Smart possibly have the clout to coach Cousins that way -- with tough love, erring way on the tough side -- when his predecessor was so haphazardly tossed overboard in an obvious organizational genuflection to Cousins?
Oh, where to start ... ?
It speaks for itself: DeMarcus Cousins is playing out of his mind on the court, fulfilling all of the promise that every observer saw in him at Kentucky. And the only national column you see talking about DeMarcus Cousins minimizes his on-court performance to emphasize his flaws, treats Paul Westphal like a martyr and trashes the franchise all in one fell swoop.
When Geoff Petrie allowed Westphal to send out that ridiculous statement trashing DeMarcus, he laid down the brickwork for columns like the one Berger just published, pieces that ignore accomplishments to tear down a 21-year-old cornerpiece of the franchise.
Let's be straight: some writers were going to rip Cousins no matter what. We saw it happen to Webber for years. But the January 1 cannonfire from Westphal was wholly unnecessary and destructive, and without that volley from a flailing, gallows-bound coach, Berger doesn't write this column. How can the Kings PR staff stick up for Cousins now, given that the franchise itself has exacerbated the mess? How can Petrie or Wayne Cooper call Berger with a straight face and correct the record on Cousins' behavior after letting Westphal set it ablaze?
This is an incredibly strong example of why it was an incredibly bad idea to let that statement go out. Well done, y'all.
5 recs | 85 comments
t's time to clear the decks
Smart can stay for now. As for those above him? Grab your life vests and get in the life rafts gentlemen. Your on your own.
outrider - January 12, 2012
You're on your own
outrider - January 12, 2012
Pretty much
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
bit of an aside
and yes I know it’s only been three games under Smart (and two of them were the Bucks and Raptors) but kind of curious is DMC’s shot selection keeps how it is because holy crap he is going all in down low compared to before.
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
What?
raiderking21 - January 12, 2012
world salad!
kind of curious whether DMC’s shot selection will keep up how it has been the last three games because holy crap he is going all in down low in the post compared to before.
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
Much better
And yes, that will be something to look at in later games
raiderking21 - January 12, 2012
lead_pipe - January 12, 2012
towndunce - January 12, 2012
Okay reading the actual article
Not going to lie, thought it was kind of funny.
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
Wonder if the Wolves
Would want our “problem” player versus their “non-problem” they drafted a spot before Cousins.
Wesley Johnson 5 points 1 asst 2 rebounds on 34% shooting. If can’t play with Ricky or for Coach Adelman, can’t play anywhere. My favorite stat on Wes Johnson is in 200 minutes he has shot 2 free throws. Wes avoids contact like Salmons avoids smiling. How does a player that athletic, supposed slasher, fast break finisher, not ever draw a foul? O yea, he’s also two years older than Cousins.
bench_blob - January 12, 2012
Over at Canis Hoopus they have a pretty good article up on Wesley right now
A Pattern of Behavior: Wesley Johnson
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
Ha Ha
Comments: Wesley Johnson stinks, time to cut bait.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
Glad we got Cousins
Wall is the only player that may be better, but he is looking pretty bad on the shitty Wiz. Turner and Johnson are role/bench players. In my mind, Cousins and Wall will be elite, Monroe will be between above average and near allstar, and everyone else is not very good.
SharkKings49 - January 12, 2012
I think Turner is going to bust out.
Maybe just came in a year early.
TrojanCBB - January 12, 2012
Maybe. Remember, Turner is older.
I think Cousins and Wall were the top picks and Cousins may very well be the better of the two.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
Can you tell Wall that?
My 3rd round pick is performing like a 9th round pick.
caseycheesecake - January 13, 2012
great observation
Cousins has the most talent and fire of all of the 2010 class. I love the kid. He reminds me of a big Charles Barkley. Future HOF
big-cuz fan - January 13, 2012
/yakety sax
otis29 - January 12, 2012
Not one of Berger's best pieces and a prime example of why memes are so inadequate and lead to some incredibly lazy reporting?commentary
Add that to last season’s “lowly Kings”. Crap, even Bill Simmons used it.
I thought that DMC’s biggest achievement last night was his refusal to go ballistic when he was getting roughly manhandled and fouls weren’t being called. The refs were calling this like a playoff game and letting the players play and DMC never went off. Good on ya Boog!
Although JT hasn’t been getting much burn lately, take a look at his foul rate meaning he has hardly been fouling at all. For the first 2 1/2 seasons it looked like he was never going to learn to play without committing 5 or 6 fouls. I mention this as a reminder that it takes a while but these guys can get over the rookie mistakes they develop in the big leagues.
The one thing we can say about Cousins is he is a very sharp young man who learned a ton in his first season. Hopefully the positive and impressive results he’s been getting may be enough to keep him playing in the low post.
Bluejohn - January 12, 2012
Yep.
Loved the way Cousins kept getting up and just walking to the free throw line.
blknblu - January 12, 2012
He even stuck his hand up claiming the foul once!
I think that was the first time I’d ever seen that. His on-court demeanor has drastically changed so far this year.
Aykis16 - January 12, 2012
Especially improved since Smart.
fryingpan136 - January 12, 2012
Mmm,
Berger.
section214 - January 12, 2012
Another fine job by Petrie!
Sactown_Loyalty19 - January 12, 2012
At least he fired the right guy
section214 - January 12, 2012
Let's see. The future value of Cousins versus the future value of Westphal.
No brainer.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
Not talking about that in particular...just how he handled letting PW release that statement.
Sactown_Loyalty19 - January 12, 2012
Agree Petrie could have handled the release better.
I wonder if he choose to stay out of it and allow Westphal to take the fall, knowing he had Smart tucked up his sleeve.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
He didn't need another excuse to fire him.
Few would have complained had he been fired without that release.
VenomySnicket - January 12, 2012
That Princeton education he loves to boast about sure is coming in handy!
Sactown_Loyalty19 - January 12, 2012
Don't believe the hype
convoy - January 12, 2012
Reporters: "Hurry up! Everybody dog pile on Cousins!"
CowbellKings - January 12, 2012
Turned on ESPN this morning hoping to see them at least give Cousins a little credit
And if I hadn’t watched the game myself, I wouldn’t have the slightest idea the Kings even played last night. I’m shocked they even showed the score on the ticker.
HeuristicLineup - January 12, 2012
Cousins was on the top plays on ESPN. Number 6 I think?
Robby1987 - January 12, 2012
for his T or the play that led up to it?
Brannigan's Law - January 12, 2012
They didn't show squat on NBA TV either
Dirkula - January 13, 2012
You know what's going to stop articles like this?
It’s not Kings PR, or Keith Smart or Peaches NaPear.
What’s going to stop articles like this is DeMarcus behaving and performing.
Carl - January 12, 2012
It won't stop it, they will still bash him for any little mistake he makes
Even Lebron keeps getting bashed every time he misses a shot in the 4th. What he can do is just dominate and make them look like idiots for doubting him. Make an allstart team, take us to the playoffs, win playoff games. He will get bashed the during the whole process, but winning proves that they are just haters.
SharkKings49 - January 12, 2012
I don't think you have to be a "hater" to question DeMarcus
He’s had some stretches of good behavior before. Don’t forget, we’re only a few weeks removed from him “allegedly” demanding a trade and having his own teammates question his behavior.
otis29 - January 12, 2012
Cousins understands that people will continue to point out his past behaviors...
As people seem to bring up things all the time. Yet, Cousins hasn’t attacked a fan, hasn’t driven drunk, hasn’t left guns in the locker room, or any number of other transgressions. Other than the physical confrontation he had with Donte, most of his behavior has been power struggles with his coaches. He apologized to Donte. Most of the coaches, other than Westphal, have nothing but praise for Cousins. Yet, some people continue to criticize him, rather than praise him for his talents.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
He hasn't killed anybody
Or tortured animals, committed any terrorist attacks or knocked over a line of baby strollers at Disneyland either. He must be a saint.
About 99% of NBA players haven’t had the number of issues that DeMarcus has in his short tenure in the NBA.
He’s been a petulant child, and he’s dealing with the consequences. I don’t feel the slightest bit bad for him.
But I’m glad he’s playing better!
otis29 - January 12, 2012
A petulant child, so what?
How about the progress he has made? People seem to spend more time talking about his missteps than giving him credit for his positive steps. He dropped weight, came back in much better physical condition, he deals with the refs so much better than he did last season, he has grown so much as a player this season. He is our player. He is in Sacramento, with a great future ahead of him. If he doesn’t get the backing of his own home fans, why would he want to remain here?
I love him as a player and am very happy he is playing for Sacramento.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
That's the problem...he's not far removed from his missteps
My point isn’t that I don’t think DeMarcus can be a really good player in this league, it’s that I don’t feel bad for him for his reputation, and I don’t blame the national media for focusing on his shortcomings.
And I sure as heck don’t trust him not to torpedo Keith Smart when he gets pissed at him, or demand a trade when the team has to discipline him in the future.
If there’s too much smoke there, it’s because DeMarcus is always lighting himself on fire.
otis29 - January 12, 2012
I am willing to wait to see what happens, before casting judgment.
Smart will be responsible for player discipline. Hopefully, he will be better at dealing with DeMarcus than resorting to embarrassing and humiliating him in the national media. If DMC were your son, how would you feel about how people treat him?
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
My kid wouldn't act like that, suffice to say
But if he were my son, I’d make sure he understands that there are repercussions to your actions. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to still do that when he’s a 21 year-old.
otis29 - January 12, 2012
I agree. There need to be consequences.
He’s 21, but emotionally, I think he is younger.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
I think we can agree on that
otis29 - January 12, 2012
But maturing quickly under Smart.
fryingpan136 - January 12, 2012
I'm with you
When Ron Ron was here I was constantly worrying about 50 game suspensions. With DMC I never worry about more than 1. Big difference.
Plus DMC shows indications of growing and I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
ElRonToro - January 12, 2012
Agree. Big difference between Metta and DMC.
Additionally, I think Ron Ron found acceptance in this community, which helped him to grow.
I am hoping that Smart will develop a trusting bond with DMC. So far, so good.
Slam_Dunk - January 12, 2012
HATERS!!!!
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
Hater has to be
the most overused word for descriptive sports parlance. ;)
nohops - January 12, 2012
BALLER
otis29 - January 12, 2012
Maybe
nohops - January 12, 2012
no
I vote for “beast”
MichaelMack - January 13, 2012
I think "EPIC"
has taken over the world. And i’m sad.
caseycheesecake - January 13, 2012
Epic is Awesome, no Amazing
If the team just gave 110% that would solve everything.
Slam_Dunk - January 13, 2012
Our win percentage would LITERALLY explode!
Literally.
caseycheesecake - January 13, 2012
hater
Shizzo - January 12, 2012
Yeah, because that's worked for Tebow...
VenomySnicket - January 12, 2012
I don't expect much from national media.
Honestly they don’t have much of a reason to cover us, so they don’t. We’re not relevant from a competitive standpoint, and we’re not a large market, so we’re just not going to get the national media attention required for any thorough journalism from anyone outside of Amick, who came from here and has the same sources from his time at the Bee. It’s lazy and unfair, but honestly it’s just media businesses focusing their attention on the areas that will make them the most money and phoning in the ones that don’t just to keep them semi-satisfied, just like you’d expect any other business to do.
While I certainly can’t blame them, I don’t have to trust them either. That’s just the way it’s going to be until we get back into playoff contention.
jveezy - January 12, 2012
They will cover us if/when Jimmer start hitting his shots
I’m surprised they haven’t bashed Jimmer yet like they bashed a certain mile high quarterback throughout the year. I thought the media would bash him the first sign of him struggling.
SharkKings49 - January 12, 2012
They can't bash their product.
Why would they bash him? That will just make it so if he ever becomes good they can’t market him as much
HeuristicLineup - January 12, 2012
yeah because ESPN commentators never go out of the way to bash their product
never seen it ever
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
pretty sure I haven't seen Jimmer playing football or kneeling to God after plays
just sayin, not the same thing as Tebow (although will never understand why people care about Tebow love or hate either way to be honest, well other than Broncos fans and his family)
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
I'm glad Jimmer doesn't do that
So far my worries about Jimmer were false. I was most confident in his jumper, but so far that seems like where he is struggling
SharkKings49 - January 12, 2012
Horrible article. Complete hatchet job.
And yeah, that Westphal statement never should have gone out, but blaming Petrie for articles like this is asinine. These kinds of articles come through in the good, the bad, and the ugly, and nothing the FO does ever changes that.
Scirocco - January 12, 2012
Good learning experience for Cousins
when Cousins has as much baggage as he does and feuds with his coach who has relatively little, he’s not going to get the benefit of the doubt in the national media. The several incidents involving him since he’s arrived in the NBA (getting kicked out of practice, punching Donte, etc.) don’t help his case much in that regard either. He’s got a clean slate with Smart, let’s hope he keeps it clean.
who betta than kanyon? - January 12, 2012
We should thank PW and Berger for making Cuz harder to trade if his recent play is any
indication of his future.
fryingpan136 - January 12, 2012
Ha, that's one way to look at it.
Aykis16 - January 12, 2012
If only PW hadn't issued that press release, no one would have ever known that DMC had demanded a trade...
…or been called out by teammates.
At least not until the very next day when Jason Jones and Wojo published articles on the subject.
Whoops. Your argument is invalid.
Holmdel - January 12, 2012
lol
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
There is one small distinction though
The press release from PW and the Kings makes it awful hard for the Kings PR staff to stick up for Cousins. Now if just the Jason Jones and Wojo articles came out instead the dynamics there might be different.
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
All they need to do is publish this
PLAYER NAME, TEAM NAME GP PTS PPG REB RPG AST APG Total Avg
1 Dwight Howard , ORL 10 180 18.0 144 14.4 22 2.2 346 34.6
2 Andrew Bynum , LAL 8 137 17.1 111 13.9 6 .8 254 31.8
3 Al Jefferson , UTA 9 168 18.7 82 9.1 13 1.4 263 29.2
4 Andrew Bogut , MIL 5 71 14.2 51 10.2 14 2.8 136 27.2
5 DeMarcus Cousins , SAC 10 155 15.5 110 11.0 6 .6 271 27.1
6 Marc Gasol , MEM 9 120 13.3 97 10.8 21 2.3 238 26.4
7 Greg Monroe , DET 10 148 14.8 85 8.5 29 2.9 262 26.2
8 Roy Hibbert , IND 10 141 14.1 99 9.9 15 1.5 255 25.5
9 Spencer Hawes , PHI 9 100 11.1 82 9.1 26 2.9 208 23.1
10 Boris Diaw , CHA 10 102 10.2 72 7.2 50 5.0 224 22.4
In 26 freaking minutes a game
ElRonToro - January 12, 2012
I'd like to see those assist numbers go up
and he still has challenges finishing at the rim. He didn’t in the Toronto game, but that’s not a true test because they have no interior defense.
Oh, yeah, let’s improve the shot selection, eliminate the charges where he lowers his shoulder and cut out the ticky-tack fouls.
Still a work in progress as is our team, but it can be fun to watch on a lot of nights when he and his teammates “get it.”
NewEraKings - January 13, 2012
Most of you are probably a lot younger than me and don't remember that temperamental
centers were de riguer in he NBA for a while. And actually in college, too. In fact, two UCLA centers come to mind: Kareem Abdul Jabar and Bill Walton. They were the posterchildren for oversized crybabies back in the 60s and 70s. Both constantly cried to the refs both in college and the NBA. But if memory serves me, Walton was worse in the NBA. Of course, as they gained experience, maturity and their pubescent brains caught up with their hyperpituitaried bodies, they mellowed. Same thing with Cousins. Remember, men mature later than women. The male athlete peaks later than the female athlete as well because the male brain takes longer to complete all the neuronal connections. In tall men it takes even longer because the brain cannot possibly develop completely while trying to manage the overgrown body that requires more connections. That’s why these players tend to be more volatile, petulant, or whatever you want to call it.
Plus Cousins is a lot younger than Jabbar and Walton were when they entered the pros.
Natomaser - January 12, 2012
Pretty sure
that pot also helped to mellow Walton.
richie88 - January 12, 2012
saw this posted on Twitter .
KingsFromNY - January 12, 2012
was far from happy.
KingsFromNY - January 12, 2012
I know alot of people may say Im crazy but
DMC reminds me a lot of Moses Malone. I know he has a ways to go but I see them being very comparable.Dominate reboundere minus the crazy athletisism. If he were to work very hard on his game over the next couple years . I think he could be the best center in the league. He’s a once every 8-10 year center talent.I believe he is the best center prospect to come out since Duncan. I know TIM plays pf but he plays center in reality.I’ve been very high on Cuz the entire way. I can’t believe some people wanted to trade him and keep Westphall LOL
WE NEED A DEFENSIVE MINDED CENTER - January 12, 2012
Interesting comparison, for sure
otis29 - January 13, 2012
You didn't happen to call Grant's show the other day
Did you?
HeuristicLineup - January 13, 2012
My favorite Cousins play last night
Easy to say any of the dunks or hookups with IT, but I loved seeing him diving on the floor and fighting for that one ball and getting the tie-up. I think the light bulbs are starting to flash for DMC, and that should spell good things for the Kings going forward.
The thing that cracks me up about Westphal besides his petulance is he grew that cheesy beard. That basically said to me that he didn’t give a shit.
NewEraKings - January 12, 2012
Outstanding article Ziller!
Nice to see those that dig for the truth have a voice to share it with those interested!
Smart’s best coaching to Cousins will be in getting him to understand that, in time, it will be his actions as opposed to his clippings that define his career. I don’t know DeMarcus, but it’s clear to me he’s no dummy. I sure hope he figures it out.
Crowny - January 13, 2012
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