Dont Blame MUSS !

[punkrockjock]

Ok I keep reading all these threads bout Muss and how hes really screwing up big time, so I thought bout it and this is what i think.

This team has been getting worse and worse every year for a while now. they are all older and slower. that is key players...... Miller (who never had much physicaly to begin with) Bibby, Sar, Corliss.

The 2 best players in my mind are Martin and Artest (Bibby is look'n much better but a couple of more good games will put him here)
So 1 of the 2 best players is a ticking time bomb. tic,tic,tic,tic,

They got no front court. Wow this is the hardest to believe and watch. The game last night would have been way over before it began if Bynum had more confidence, and the Lakers were down K.Brown and Mimm. Just look at how many Bigs they got? or just all around size. Radmonivic is 6'10, Cook, Walton, Bynum, Rodney T., Mimm, K. Brown ? what can we do with just Miller and SAR ?

the younger guys on our team are not the Okafor type that step right in and help. Garcia might need another 2 years to get anything done. Douby is look'n better. but not going to really help

one more thing has anyone else noticed that Bibby has lost the ability to drive to the basket? hes always blocked or fouled when he drives to the hoop. hes a pro at getting the foul. but man he is very far from being a Earl B. , A. Miller, TJ Ford, Tony Parker or i guess any great PG that can burn people. anyway i remember a time when bibby could do it. but i think its gone.

ok so getting back to the point...
I Feel like this is totally on GP to turn this thing around. I think Muss is going to be alright when he has Basketball players that can play basketball. and Defenders that can Defend. One of the things i like is how he allows everyone to show what they got and he uses his bench vs. the Rick A. play the starters into the ground and burry guys on the bench plus forget that Corliss can play

sometimes i feel like Muss has all these great plays that could actualy work but the lack of athleticism and skill are ruining everything. and were stuck with this screwed up no rhythm offense. keep in mind are glaring weaknesses are way to easy to exploit. I feel for Muss.

who knows but im not going to blame this guy till he has talent and a REAL CENTER AND REAL POWER FOWARD AND A POINT GUARD THAT ISNT A SHOOTING GUARD.

 

[piksi]

Are You related to him ?

 

[Jechtsphere]

He's not blamed for our record or the players lack of *take your pick*

People don't like him because of these odd, dumb, off the wall decisions he makes...but he does get bashed a little too much around here.

 

[Sluggah]

he was outcoached by charles barkley on national tv.

can i blame him just a little?

 

[6th]

Oh, I think I will. Because I can.

 

[Packt]

Petrie was the one who hired Muss, so I guess it's only fair to blame Petrie.

But your PG who plays like a SG is partly a Muss thing. Bibby has been more of a scorer than a playmaker the past few years, but he's always played off-ball. Now he's more on-the-ball, dribbling, shoot. Muss helped Arenas to stardom and from the stuff Bibby said after Muss was hired, you have to wonder if that is what they were going for.

It also seemed like Artest had some grievances with the system, and that is a Muss thing. Add in the odd substituting patterns and the small ball against Phoenix that failed so spectacularly and it's been a disappointing start for Muss.

 

[AriesMar27]

muss has the worst sub rotations that i have ever seen... why was corliss guarding bynum in the 4th? why didnt reef get any minutes? had reefd been in the game in ot we could have won... that last shot that corliss shot was horrible because he couldnt finish it... reef could've dunked it.... and that would have been that....

but i guess that it isnt muss' fault that bibby and martin missed those damn freethrows...

 

[sackingsgirl]

I think Muss is going to be a really great coach!!

I personaly like muss. I like that he didn't give up lastnight when it looked like it was Over. I love his rotations. He dosent let his players get so tired that they are useless later in games or at the end of the season. I also really like that he rewards his players for there hard work in practice. This team is improving and i believe they will make a run!!! Great Job Last Night Muss!!

 

[Widowmaker2k]

This team is improving and i believe they will make a run!!! Great Job Last Night Muss!!

A run at what exactly? Mediocrity? Muss is an inexperienced NBA coach, and we don't know the full nature cards he's being dealt. (What's going on in practice, how the players are interacting off the court, who works hard and who doesn't, etc.) But, the fact is this team doesn't seem to click on the court. We don't run very many set plays, we inexplicably freeze Kevin Martin out of the offense for long periods of time, we insert players for extremely short periods where they have no chance to produce, and he benches players who are producing for reasons that are not immediately apparent. He's confusing the hell out of the fans, which would be okay if we were winning, but we're not, and as a result many people are calling for his head.

 

[6th]

He's confusing the hell out of the fans, which would be okay if we were winning, but we're not, and as a result many people are calling for his head.

Off with his head!!

 

[kennadog]

Let's see....Muss would be a great coach if he only had real talent and atheleticism at the 4 and 5 and a better point guard than MB. Well, who wouldn't look a lot better as a coach if they have that? A team like that would win with a merely good coach, likely. To me a great coach creates the best team possible out of the talent he's given.

 

[fnordius]

Petrie was the one who hired Muss, so I guess it's only fair to blame Petrie.

2 June 2006, AP story:

"I know we're going to be the best-prepared team in the league now," owner Joe Maloof told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday night. "We just like him a lot. We're really comfortable with the guy. Our whole family feels that way."

3 June 2006, AP:

Maloofs feel kinship with Musselman

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Eric Musselman has spent most of his life methodically preparing for this job, yet he still has the enthusiasm and energy of a kid. That's exactly how owners Joe and Gavin Maloof see themselves, and that's one big reason why they hired Musselman to coach the Sacramento Kings.
The Maloof brothers introduced Musselman on Saturday as the 20th coach in franchise history, but the first they've hired since buying the team. After interviewing just three serious candidates, the Maloofs chose the 41-year-old coach for his second NBA head job following two seasons with Golden State from 2002-04.
"I hope it will be a relationship between coach and owner that you don't see much in the league," Musselman said at Arco Arena. "After meeting Joe and Gavin, I wanted to work for them really bad. I can't imagine a whole lot better situation for a coach than this."
After deciding to replace Rick Adelman this summer, the brothers went looking for a coach with a defensive background and an outgoing personality -- and with nearly everything Musselman said in their two lengthy interviews, the coach fit their vision.
The entire Maloof family felt a kinship with Musselman -- particularly the four brothers who extended their father's business empire when George Maloof died. Musselman is the son of Bill Musselman, the late NBA coach who raised his family with game film on the television instead of cartoons in the mornings.
"That was like our family," Joe Maloof said. "We talked all business at the table. His father died at a young age, just like our father. We were young guys when we took over our dad's business. We believe in youth. We believe young guys can get things done."

3 June 2006, AP:

Musselman spoke Thursday with the entire Maloof clan -- including Colleen Maloof, mother of the four sons who preside over the family's extensive business empire -- and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.

Seems to me that Petrie's role was pretty minor. I'm perfectly ready to blame GP for our roster issues, but hiring Muss looks like a Maloof decision to me.

 

[Vlade4GM]

when are people going to get it through their heads that this team IS NOT SALVAGEABLE!!!! we have to rebuild or we're just going to be mediocre for the next 5 years. i really hope that petrie realizes this, if not we're screwed.

 

[SACKINGS4EVER]

Let's face it, those missed freethrows lost the game for us, not muss, especially the ones missed by bibby and martin..they...ch..chh.choked..good grief!

 

[Widowmaker2k]

Off with his head!!

Hey, you have to admit, it would be effective!
...Unless of course it works like Futurama...then he'd just be stored in a dusty wing of some head museum for sports.

 

[punkrockjock]

Again seriously the point is...... although Muss is kinda wacky this team doesnt stand a chance, never had a chance. say what you will about his sub'n players and such but for real with out a REAL CENTER and a REAL POWER FORWARD.

im not saying we need a Shaq and Duncan type set up. but i would settle for an Ethan Thomas and David West set up any day over what we are roll'n wit... miller is not a true center (hes a spot up jump shooter) and SAR is well. good but not very young or quick. KT is 6'6 ???? Corliss ????? wow this is a freak'n joke. we will continue watching layup drills till we address the lack of size and speed.

And no we dont need a better PG than bibby but some one that can drive to the hole and colapse the defense... almost any one defender can stay with bibby when hes dribbling. alot of the time when bibby drives and passes out guys are still being guarded. minus Miller way out side because other teams centers dont always go way out to his range.

 

[4cwebb]

...why was corliss guarding bynum in the 4th? why didnt reef get any minutes? had reefd been in the game in ot we could have won... that last shot that corliss shot was horrible because he couldnt finish it... reef could've dunked it.... and that would have been that....

I won't disagree with your point about Muss' substitution patterns, but Corliss was just about the only defender who had any success against Bynum in the second half, and he did a great job mixing up his defense against Bynum to keep Bynum guessing, resulting in at least one turnover in the 4th quarter. And I can't think of any big hoops which Bynum got as a result of Corliss guarding him...

I also don't see Reef dunking that ball over Brian Cook...Corliss had a good look at the basket by using his body to screen Cook away, but it's not as if Corliss had a wide open lane to the goal. Reef may have dunked that ball in his younger days, but I haven't seen much of that explosiveness as of late.

 

[DaMan]

The reason we stink could be blamed on everybody, from the owner to the coach. To me not one person gets more blame then the other.

 

[tyrant]

why not blame muss? its his off the wall decisions that cost us the game against the lakers. the final play of regulation? bibby's positioning on that play? garcia hailing 2 horribly missed 3 pointers in the final minutes of a close game? that has "coach" written all over it.

 

[jcassio]

Muss is not responsible for the Kings' roster, but it is his job to 'coach' the best possible performances out of the players he's been given. Has he done that? Duh.

While Muss is sometimes unfairly bashed on this board, let's not call him a 'rookie' coach, please! He's got 2 years under his belt as an NBA head coach. He hits the ground running. No excuses there, OK?

IMO...
The Maloofs are responsible for hiring Muss. Grade: D
GP is responsible for the current Kings roster. Grade: D
Muss is responsible for maximizing the talent he's been given. Grade: D
The players are responsible for playing hard and smart every night. Grade:

 

[Entity]

he was outcoached by charles barkley on national tv.

can i blame him just a little?

How?? All Barkley kept saying was we were to small. Thats not Muss's fault that is GP's fault you can't coach and play what you don't have. GP put together this front line of short soft PF/C and Muss gets the blame and because Charles said what we have been saying for 2 years he all of a sudden "out coached Muss on national TV"

 

[bench_blob]

Mussleman clearly doesn't know what he is doing; and his assistant coaches are just as bad; the assistant coaches are just along for the ride; dumbfounded and stupified when things go wrong.

Adeleman was far from perfect but had voices of wisdom and experience in his ear during time-outs too; like Coachie telling him what match-ups to exploit; where a back door play could be successful. That coaching staff would know where to go on the court to exploit an opponent' weakness. They knew all about offensive spacing, and they knew every player in the league inside and out.

Example: Adleman would have exposed a neophyte like Bynum every minute he was on the court, and would have made Phil Jackson adjust. That's called coaching.

Instead, what do we have? We have Muss doing logarithemic statistical analysis of the box score.

 

[Entity]

Mussleman clearly doesn't know what he is doing; and his assistant coaches are just as bad; the assistant coaches are just along for the ride; dumbfounded and stupified when things go wrong.

Adeleman was far from perfect but had voices of wisdom and experience in his ear during time-outs too; like Coachie telling him what match-ups to exploit; where a back door play could be successful. That coaching staff would know where to go on the court to exploit an opponent' weakness. They knew all about offensive spacing, and they knew every player in the league inside and out.

Example: Adleman would have exposed a neophyte like Bynum every minute he was on the court, and would have made Phil Jackson adjust. That's called coaching.

Instead, what do we have? We have Muss doing logarithemic statistical analysis of the box score.

Yeah we could have just thrown our 7 foot athletic big man at them and they wouldn't have known what hit them. What is that guys name again?

 

[LilMissDiva]

You know, I really hate this statement and sentiments being given to Muss. Every coach has been inexperienced at one point.

I don't know why there is so much negativity about him. The team has the record of just about the talent vs. other teams has. The team is doing just as good as they can with what they have.

Muss is doing really well, I think for an inexperienced coach.

So many backseat drivers in this world. If anyone truly believes they call better plays than he does then why don't you try and give the Maloofs a call and ask for an interview?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Also, sorry folks but, NEWSFLASH: Adelman is not the coach anymore. Comparing Muss to him is simply not fair. It's not like Adelman helped to bring a Championship to Sacramento or something. Heh, in fact, he didn't even bring us a WESTERN CONFERENCE Championship even. Oh, but in that case it comes down to the players huh? They didn't make the plays... Well, we can't all have it both ways.

 

[nbrans]

It's getting really, really insufferable on this message board. People keep bashing Musselman, bashing Petrie, bashing the players...

This is a team in transition. If you expected more out of this team than what you're seeing then it's YOUR fault for getting your hopes up. We're less than two years into a rebuilding project, and it takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Every time the team loses I think "Whew, one step closer to a better draft pick." Try it sometime.

 

[Vlade4GM]

we should be talking about what the kings should be doing about this, not who's to blame. solutions not whining.

 

[GoGoGadget]

we should be talking about what the kings should be doing about this, not who's to blame. solutions not whining.

The only thing that people should be doing is expressing their opinion -- that's what a message board is for.

I agree with nbrans that there are some elements of this message board that have become almost insufferable recently.

First among them, in my opinion, is the sudden popularity of ranting and raving about what is an appropriate response to watching your team lose. Some people are going to go overly optimistic and pray to eek into that eighth spot. Some people are going to do the opposite and start looking toward the draft. Some people are going to get overly critical and blame certain players, or the coach, or whomever. It happens.

However, I don't see the value in trying to stop someone from expressing their feelings in whatever manner they choose. If you disagree with what someone has suggested, why not argue the actual points made instead of railing against the fact that someone chose to make them?

Whining about whining is still whining.

 

[Bricklayer]

Muss is doing really well, I think for an inexperienced coach.

Actually, no he's not, and that's rather disappointing given that I considered him an acceptable hire at the time. Of course, acceptable yes, but far from a sure thing. You know what? Not everybody out there is a good NBA coach. Very few are actually. And this was always the risk of being knee jerk with Adelman. There was much MUCH more room to go down rather than up when replacing a 700 win coach. And oh boy have we. You can lose while looking like you have a clue. But Muss is already sowing the seeds of his own failure.

So many backseat drivers in this world. If anyone truly believes they call better plays than he does then why don't you try and give the Maloofs a call and ask for an interview?

Been thinking about it. And I have never held myself out as a coach.

 

[G_M]

Don't disagree with the bashing issue. However, I would like a little more clarity on the nature of the rebuilding project. Because at this point(and it is still early) I don't really understand the direction....

 

[HndsmCelt]

It's getting really, really insufferable on this message board. People keep bashing Musselman, bashing Petrie, bashing the players...

This is a team in transition. If you expected more out of this team than what you're seeing then it's YOUR fault for getting your hopes up. We're less than two years into a rebuilding project, and it takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Every time the team loses I think "Whew, one step closer to a better draft pick." Try it sometime.

Teams in trasniton are going somewhere and have direction what is this team "transitioning" into?

It's reasonable to criticize Petrie and the Maloofs, they have been at the helm of a 4-5 year tallent drain taking a TOP team to lotto or near lotto level. Some bad luck but LOTS of bad decisions. Worse yet they are NOT holding on to ageing tallent with expiring contracts and have done NOTHING to be there just the oppisit, they keep trading away expiring or near expiring papper for more top heavy paper.

In an understandable but ultimatly pathitic series of "shor term" fixes the management has managed to cobble togheter 7th-8th seed teams that are little more than fodder for real contenders but keep the team out of the lotto for the kind of young tallent that WILL make this team a contender in the future.

As for Muss I give him some slack beceause A. All he has to work with are the players miss-managemnt gives him and B. beceause it IS sensable to experiment which means lots of mistakes in the process... BUT so far Muss has made MANY bone head moves in terms of bizare line ups and substutions that do make me question his judgement. But the people calling for Muss's head compleetly miss the point. Changing coaches now is like hireing a new captian for the Titanic AFTER it hit the Iceburg. More to the point lets say we do fire Muss, who in the heck do we replace him with Brown? Beg Adelman to comeback and offer him an obnoxious contract to make it really really hard to say no? The truth is there ARE no quality proven coaches on the market OTHER than Rick so any one else the mismanagement brings in will be another crap shoot like Muss was in the first palce.

Honestly folks calling this team a transition team is just as dis ingenious as calling New York a transition team... For the Kings to become a premier team they need to aquire tallent. They do NOT have the cap space to buy it. That leaves trades or the draft and 12th picks will not push this team to the next leval. As for trades sure Im game but I don't see the kind of trade that will bring a franchise type player to Sac in the crds mainly beceause we lack the requisit tallent to trade FOR him.