[Grades] Grades v. Jazz 02/04/13

[Bballkingsrock]

Anybody who puts more than 10% blame is coaching is ridiculous.

This is all Cousins and he should be the only one to blame. Keith Smart is not on the floor telling these guys how to think. Cousins needs to learn to SHUT UP after every play. What good is going to do? Cousins needs to mature and it is NOT the coaching or organization to blame.

You think the Kings are the only team with a bad coach? There are a ton of bad coaches in the league and there are not too many head cases on those teams to the level Cousins is.

 

[Spike]

Yes and no.
He does need to mature, but only time will do that. A good vet mentor/coach should help, but that is absent on this roster.

 

[VF21]

Anybody who puts more than 10% blame is coaching is ridiculous.

This is all Cousins and he should be the only one to blame. Keith Smart is not on the floor telling these guys how to think. Cousins needs to learn to SHUT UP after every play. What good is going to do? Cousins needs to mature and it is NOT the coaching or organization to blame.

You think the Kings are the only team with a bad coach? There are a ton of bad coaches in the league and there are not too many head cases on those teams to the level Cousins is.

I don't know if you're talking to me, but I was agreeing with gunks' observation that a lot of our players whine. That's not just Cousins. That's indicative of a bigger problem.

 

[Bballkingsrock]

I don't know if you're talking to me, but I was agreeing with gunks' observation that a lot of our players whine. That's not just Cousins. That's indicative of a bigger problem.

Yes I was. I am pretty sure that every NBA player whines to the officials but none of the other Kings (other than JT sometimes) whine as viciously as Cousins.

Yes, our players whine, but JT has done that for most of career, Thomas knows his limits, Reke does it once in a while, and John just opens his eyes real big when he doesnt get a call.

Like I said, 10% can go on coaching and no veteran leaders but come on, we have coaches, we have Clifford Ray, and we have plenty of personnel that have tried to help him out. I do not agree with anyone that is saying more than 10% on coaching.

 

[VF21]

Yes I was. I am pretty sure that every NBA player whines to the officials but none of the other Kings (other than JT sometimes) whine as viciously as Cousins.

Yes, our players whine, but JT has done that for most of career, Thomas knows his limits, Reke does it once in a while, and John just opens his eyes real big when he doesnt get a call.

Like I said, 10% can go on coaching and no veteran leaders but come on, we have coaches, we have Clifford Ray, and we have plenty of personnel that have tried to help him out. I do not agree with anyone that is saying more than 10% on coaching.

We'll agree to disagree. If only 10% of the problem is coaching, what's the other 90%?

 

[Bballkingsrock]

We'll agree to disagree. If only 10% of the problem is coaching, what's the other 90%?

I would be interested to see your perspective.

The other 90% is Cousins for the reasons ive already mentioned. Continuous bad behavior, whining to refs and does not shut up, not growing up/maturing, not caring about teammates when they have good games and is throwing a fit to the media (referring to Thomas GW and not even giving a **** about it. just cared about being benched where he was getting owned on defense), not earning his title for team captain (idk how he got that), being a terrible example, 3rd year in the NBA and not learning anything......

Coaching and staff has done all they can. They don't play the game for him. Does this team need veterans? Yes. Do we need a better coach? Yes. Does Smart need to do more to Cousins? Not really. They already suspended him and they can not do that much longer because that will not fly in NBA.

Cousins needs to grow up plain and simple. He is not a kid. You can blame his parents but his parents are not the coaches. He is a 22 year old millionaire and he is ruining this team. I really just want people to stop blaming the coaching/staff. They have done all they can. Cousins needs to learn, plain and simple.

 

[VF21]

Again, you're focusing on Cousins. I'm looking at the actions of other players not named Demarcus Cousins and seeing that there's a problem there, too. I won't disagree that Cousins needs to grow up and he needs to suck it up, shut up and play. BUT he also needs consistency around him, and that's sorely lacking. And that, my friend, is a matter of inadequate coaching. You see frustration on the face of almost every player, due in large part to the lack of defined roles, logical substitutions, a set rotation, etc. You know, all the things you take for granted when they're working.

Look solely at Smart's coaching style. Can you honestly say he'd have a job with any other team in the league? I can't...and I was okay with him for quite a while. He said all the right things and he seemed to be a "player's coach." Unfortunately, that hasn't turned out well. He's a nice guy, but he just doesn't have what it takes to be a successful head coach in the NBA.

So, I'll agree that Cousins needs to grow up but I'll continue to maintain that it would be much easier on him, the team AND us if there was a strong hand to lead not only him but the rest of the team. Solid coaching practices could solve a lot of problems. Unfortunately, we're stuck with a coach who has admitted he doesn't want to hurt players' feelings and who will turn to the small ball philosophy he learned at the feet of Don Nelson any time the going gets tough. That doesn't bode well for the Kings or Demarcus Cousins.

 

[Bballkingsrock]

Again, you're focusing on Cousins. I'm looking at the actions of other players not named Demarcus Cousins and seeing that there's a problem there, too. I won't disagree that Cousins needs to grow up and he needs to suck it up, shut up and play. BUT he also needs consistency around him, and that's sorely lacking. And that, my friend, is a matter of inadequate coaching. You see frustration on the face of almost every player, due in large part to the lack of defined roles, logical substitutions, a set rotation, etc. You know, all the things you take for granted when they're working.

Look solely at Smart's coaching style. Can you honestly say he'd have a job with any other team in the league? I can't...and I was okay with him for quite a while. He said all the right things and he seemed to be a "player's coach." Unfortunately, that hasn't turned out well. He's a nice guy, but he just doesn't have what it takes to be a successful head coach in the NBA.

So, I'll agree that Cousins needs to grow up but I'll continue to maintain that it would be much easier on him, the team AND us if there was a strong hand to lead not only him but the rest of the team. Solid coaching practices could solve a lot of problems. Unfortunately, we're stuck with a coach who has admitted he doesn't want to hurt players' feelings and who will turn to the small ball philosophy he learned at the feet of Don Nelson any time the going gets tough. That doesn't bode well for the Kings or Demarcus Cousins.

I understand your perspective but there are many other bad teams and there are many other players that do not agree with their playing time (probably most NBA bench players). They do not do anything remotely close to Cousins actions in the last 3 years. And about coaching, we (Kings fans) will not be happy with a Kings coach until he shows results and starts winning. Yes Keith Smart should be fired and he has not done a great job with minutes for players but Cousins should not act like this.

Would you be okay if you were watching a losing high school bball team and one of the kids was yelling after every play at the refs, disrupting chemistry etc, because he was not getting enough minutes he deserves and not having a defined role? This is a professional league and he should deal with it and understand the situation with this organization. he just has to deal with the coach for the rest of the season and whether in Sactown, or Seattle, there will be a new coach.

 

[Larry89]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zu1BSViDtlk#!

 

[LWP777]

I would be interested to see your perspective.

The other 90% is Cousins for the reasons ive already mentioned. Continuous bad behavior, whining to refs and does not shut up, not growing up/maturing, not caring about teammates when they have good games and is throwing a fit to the media (referring to Thomas GW and not even giving a **** about it. just cared about being benched where he was getting owned on defense), not earning his title for team captain (idk how he got that), being a terrible example, 3rd year in the NBA and not learning anything......

Coaching and staff has done all they can. They don't play the game for him. Does this team need veterans? Yes. Do we need a better coach? Yes. Does Smart need to do more to Cousins? Not really. They already suspended him and they can not do that much longer because that will not fly in NBA.

Cousins needs to grow up plain and simple. He is not a kid. You can blame his parents but his parents are not the coaches. He is a 22 year old millionaire and he is ruining this team. I really just want people to stop blaming the coaching/staff. They have done all they can. Cousins needs to learn, plain and simple.

I couldn't have said it better myself! Been preaching this around here for months. Most just want to continue on with the excuses!

 

[Npliam]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zu1BSViDtlk#!

What an awesome game......

 

[kingsnation]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zu1BSViDtlk#!

Sad but sorta awesome.

 

[kennadog]

A lot of our guys whine. Wasnt there a player from another team quoted as saying that they game plan for our players whining and then get fast breaks off it?

It all goes back to coaching. Permissive/weak parents have obnoxious kids. Permissive/weak coaches have obnoxious players.

If only life were really that simplistic.

 

[Kingster]

Yes and no.
He does need to mature, but only time will do that. A good vet mentor/coach should help, but that is absent on this roster.

Clifford Ray is a mentor/coach. From everything I've heard he's a pretty good one.

 

[bajaden]

Hard to believe, but Jason Thompson's whining is starting to bug me more than the Cousin's meltdowns. I guess it's because Thompson was never the "problem child" and is quite a bit older than Cousins. You expect more. I really used to like Jason Thompson because of his work ethic and his hustle, but now it looks like he's just a spoiled immature brat who consistently puts his need to whine to the refs over the needs of the team. It's as if he thinks that his whining gives him some faux status in the league, when in reality it just makes him look like a mediocre crier. And it's the last thing that Cousins needs to see on the court from his "role model" vet.

I have no idea what your talking about..

 

[Hadlowe]

Clifford Ray is a mentor/coach. From everything I've heard he's a pretty good one.

No disrespect to Mr. Ray. There is a vast difference between a shot/mechanics coach, someone whose primary job is teaching mechanics and fundamentals, and a player-mentor.

While the comparison between Tim Duncan and Cousins is a bit apples/oranges (Duncan largely had his head on straight prior to entering the league) Duncan to this day credits the mentorship of David Robinson for speeding his transition into an all-star player. That type of on-court leadership is a boon to naturally grounded guys like Duncan and almost mandatory for an all-world talent/headcase like Cousins.

Unfortunately, high-skill, good-character big men are as rare as a Duncan or a Robinson in this league. Off the top of my head, I would probably only pick Pau Gasol as a natural mentor character for Cousins skillset, with the caveat that their games are duplicative instead of complementary.

 

[bajaden]

No disrespect to Mr. Ray. There is a vast difference between a shot/mechanics coach, someone whose primary job is teaching mechanics and fundamentals, and a player-mentor.

While the comparison between Tim Duncan and Cousins is a bit apples/oranges (Duncan largely had his head on straight prior to entering the league) Duncan to this day credits the mentorship of David Robinson for speeding his transition into an all-star player. That type of on-court leadership is a boon to naturally grounded guys like Duncan and almost mandatory for an all-world talent/headcase like Cousins.

Unfortunately, high-skill, good-character big men are as rare as a Duncan or a Robinson in this league. Off the top of my head, I would probably only pick Pau Gasol as a natural mentor character for Cousins skillset, with the caveat that their games are duplicative instead of complementary.

I might add, that Duncan was a four year player at Wake Forest as well. So he was a lot more mature upon entering the NBA.

 

[Kingster]

I have no idea what your talking about..

You haven't seen the Jason Thompson whine fest after every call?

 

[chief bromden]

You haven't seen the Jason Thompson whine fest after every call?

I have. It gets tiring to watch because he actually commits the foul, and looks to be in disbelief. It appears that his clumsiness is at a level where he doesn't even realize what his body is doing, which would explain a lot of play. He puts his head down after a lot of plays now, and I think he has been beaten down by all the losing over the past few years. On the other hand, when he complains that he gets fouled and receives no call, it appears that he is correct a lot of the time. The refs just don't call the game consistent - they will call him for an over-the-back, but the other team won't be called... drives to the hoop are auto-called for the other team, but not for the Kings.. etc etc. Just a fact of being a bad team in the NBA. I would have thought he would tire of the voicing his opinion on calls/non-calls, but maybe it is more entertaining to engage in a verbal battle, so to speak, after realizing that another loss is on the way.

 

[bajaden]

You haven't seen the Jason Thompson whine fest after every call?

Look, just about every player in the NBA whines about being called for a foul. Especially the the more well known ones. Duncan whines, Kobe whines, Garnett whines, etc. Yeah, not everyone, but it happens a lot. We tend to only notice what our own players do wrong, but not the other players in the league. My god, Barkley always complained to the officials, as did Larry Bird. Do I wish JT didn't? Of course I do, but to be honest, as long as he's not getting a technical, and he's getting back on defense, I don't give a damm! I mean JT just had his best game in a couple of weeks, and were talking about him complaining to the ref.

A couple of weeks ago, Cousins got called for a delay of game tech for throwing the ball to the official after a made basket. Several people made an issue of it, and wanted to roast Cuz at the stake. The next game I counted how many times either team threw the ball to the official after a made basket and no technical was called. 22 times!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, 22 times in the game, and its possible that I missed a few, and no technical. But Cousins is a terrible person because he got a technical for something that happens not once or twice in a game, but all the time in the game.

Frankly I just don't get it! The only answer I can come up with, is that some of you, for whatever reason, don't like certain players on our team, and can't wait to jump on any mistake they might make, even if it doesn't reflect on the game. I have players on the team I don't particularly care for. Not because of who they are as a person, but because of the type of game they play. There are certain types of basketball that I don't like. However, I don't allow my dislike for that player to affect what I may write about them. I don't have an agenda, and some of you out there do. We only hear from you on a particular subject, when it fits your agenda. Otherwise, you have nothing to say on the subject. I think perhaps you need to step back and take a look in the mirror.

Now if you want to have a team full of angels that never complain and just go with the party line, feel free to ***** as much as you like. But I'd like to point out that our very beloved Chris Webber, was known to do his share of complaining to the ref's. The difference was his chrismatic smile. By the way, does anyone remember when Webb got kicked out of a game in the first 5 minutes with 2 techincals, one as he was walkiing away from the ref? Come on folks, lighten up a little. This is just a freaking game!

 

[sqwalk]

To be honest, it didn't surprise me that Cousins received that technical. When he tossed the ball back to the Ref it had a lot of extra zip on it (although it was a good clean catch by the Ref. lol) and if I remember correctly Cousins was 'frustrated Cousins' during that period probably because of the lack of calls.

Anyway, I do remember thinking after the toss, oops, I hope he doesn't get t'd up, and sure enough it happened. Do I think he deserved it? No, not really, but the pass did look a little deliberate like Cousins was tossing a little message back to the Ref in frustration. Unfortunately, with his reputation as a 'hot head' I'm afraid anything out of the ordinary is going to potentially get him t'd up.

 

[Kingster]

Look, just about every player in the NBA whines about being called for a foul. Especially the the more well known ones. Duncan whines, Kobe whines, Garnett whines, etc. Yeah, not everyone, but it happens a lot. We tend to only notice what our own players do wrong, but not the other players in the league. My god, Barkley always complained to the officials, as did Larry Bird. Do I wish JT didn't? Of course I do, but to be honest, as long as he's not getting a technical, and he's getting back on defense, I don't give a damm! I mean JT just had his best game in a couple of weeks, and were talking about him complaining to the ref.

A couple of weeks ago, Cousins got called for a delay of game tech for throwing the ball to the official after a made basket. Several people made an issue of it, and wanted to roast Cuz at the stake. The next game I counted how many times either team threw the ball to the official after a made basket and no technical was called. 22 times!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, 22 times in the game, and its possible that I missed a few, and no technical. But Cousins is a terrible person because he got a technical for something that happens not once or twice in a game, but all the time in the game.

Frankly I just don't get it! The only answer I can come up with, is that some of you, for whatever reason, don't like certain players on our team, and can't wait to jump on any mistake they might make, even if it doesn't reflect on the game. I have players on the team I don't particularly care for. Not because of who they are as a person, but because of the type of game they play. There are certain types of basketball that I don't like. However, I don't allow my dislike for that player to affect what I may write about them. I don't have an agenda, and some of you out there do. We only hear from you on a particular subject, when it fits your agenda. Otherwise, you have nothing to say on the subject. I think perhaps you need to step back and take a look in the mirror.

Now if you want to have a team full of angels that never complain and just go with the party line, feel free to ***** as much as you like. But I'd like to point out that our very beloved Chris Webber, was known to do his share of complaining to the ref's. The difference was his chrismatic smile. By the way, does anyone remember when Webb got kicked out of a game in the first 5 minutes with 2 techincals, one as he was walkiing away from the ref? Come on folks, lighten up a little. This is just a freaking game!

I'll tell you my agenda - I'm totally sick of the incessant whining/complaining to the refs that I see in NBA games . Because I watch more Kings games by far than other teams, I especially have an agenda against the whiners on our team. I'm not at all interested in seeing the histrionics of Thompson or Cousins on the court, especially when those histrionics interfere with them playing the game. The fact that we're talking about Thompson's whining when he plays the first good game in three weeks says more about Thompson than it does about me (or others) - he's made more of an impression with his whining than he has with his play.

Also, regarding your bolded paragraph, it's not relevant whether the player is great, good, average, or putrid. If the guy is a whiner, he's a whiner. It is fallacious logic that if somebody else does it, then it's ok for for everybody else to do it. We can all go out and act borishly or immorally or discourteously because of the individuals out there that act that way. And sometimes there are brilliant highly successful individuals that act that way. It doesn't make it right. That logic doesn't work for me. And the excuse that everybody does it also doesn't agree with the facts - everybody in the NBA isn't a whiner. Tyreke isn't. IT isn't. Salmons isn't, Jimmer isn't. And those are just the guys on the Kings team. Also, it is not entertaining to watch Thompson mouth off. It is doubly not entertaining to watch him play mediocre ball AND mouth off.

And by the way, the same thing holds for Cousins. Calling a ref, "an F'ing girl" is not what I want from a Kings player. They both need to clean up their acts. They are an embarrasment.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

The fact that we're talking about Thompson's whining when he plays the first good game in three weeks says more about Thompson than it does about me (or others) - he's made more of an impression with his whining than he has with his play.

The thing is, Thompson wasn't whining last game, certainly not any more than any average NBA player. In general he was too busy causing turnovers or making shots to worry about the officiating.

We are only talking about Thompson's whining because you arbitrarily brought it up, not because he was actually doing it, so maybe it says more about you than it says about Thompson.

 

[bajaden]

I'll tell you my agenda - I'm totally sick of the incessant whining/complaining to the refs that I see in NBA games . Because I watch more Kings games by far than other teams, I especially have an agenda against the whiners on our team. I'm not at all interested in seeing the histrionics of Thompson or Cousins on the court, especially when those histrionics interfere with them playing the game. The fact that we're talking about Thompson's whining when he plays the first good game in three weeks says more about Thompson than it does about me (or others) - he's made more of an impression with his whining than he has with his play.

Also, regarding your bolded paragraph, it's not relevant whether the player is great, good, average, or putrid. If the guy is a whiner, he's a whiner. It is fallacious logic that if somebody else does it, then it's ok for for everybody else to do it. We can all go out and act borishly or immorally or discourteously because of the individuals out there that act that way. And sometimes there are brilliant highly successful individuals that act that way. It doesn't make it right. That logic doesn't work for me. And the excuse that everybody does it also doesn't agree with the facts - everybody in the NBA isn't a whiner. Tyreke isn't. IT isn't. Salmons isn't, Jimmer isn't. And those are just the guys on the Kings team. Also, it is not entertaining to watch Thompson mouth off. It is doubly not entertaining to watch him play mediocre ball AND mouth off.

And by the way, the same thing holds for Cousins. Calling a ref, "an F'ing girl" is not what I want from a Kings player. They both need to clean up their acts. They are an embarrasment.

Funny, all I noticed was a basketball game. I guess that says more about you than it does me. It must be tough going through all that pain and agony every game, having to endure the imperfections of certain players. It amazes me what people find important to ***** about. But hey, enjoy!

 

[mac]

Funny, all I noticed was a basketball game. I guess that says more about you than it does me. It must be tough going through all that pain and agony every game, having to endure the imperfections of certain players. It amazes me what people find important to ***** about. But hey, enjoy!

One thing with JT is you can always hear him cuss. That's my only issue - because he must be saying it pretty loud for it to be picked up on the broadcast. You don't even hear Cousins cuss that much on the broadcast. He also has rather annoying body language whenever he's complaining, where he displays the body language of a child throwing a temper, as opposed to simply mouthing off to the ref. But that's that and like you said, lots of other players whine as well so I'm not really bothered.

 

[Glenn]

Funny, all I noticed was a basketball game. I guess that says more about you than it does me. It must be tough going through all that pain and agony every game, having to endure the imperfections of certain players. It amazes me what people find important to ***** about. But hey, enjoy!

Ooooooh, baja. Sarcasm is perceived. I'm with you but might state it differently. I'll go on with my upper note. Cuz has been a physical handful and then reduced that to getting techs for his facial mannerisms (absurd) and now he has controlled his facial mannerisms. He has MATURED to the point of trying to talk calmly to the referees. Now he needs to know when to stop. Next stop on the maturity express is to understand that referees will not change their mind on their last call but you may influence the future. Just know when to stop. The referees will someday be giving you the "stars" calls. The NBA wants its stars in the games as long as possible and that's why Duncan and Kobe can get away with a lot. Cuz physically is close to the skill level of these two and will get these "respectful" calls someday if he continues on this growth pattern. It will not come quickly but when the day comes that the refs are on his side, look out.

He has to be educated to this. He already is sucking up to refs and I think there is a shift in their attitude. He needs to be persistent and this last ejection is just a part of the learning curve. It wasn't a big deal.

BTW, did the team punish him or did they think an ejection was adequate I haven't heard.

 

[bajaden]

One thing with JT is you can always hear him cuss. That's my only issue - because he must be saying it pretty loud for it to be picked up on the broadcast. You don't even hear Cousins cuss that much on the broadcast. He also has rather annoying body language whenever he's complaining, where he displays the body language of a child throwing a temper, as opposed to simply mouthing off to the ref. But that's that and like you said, lots of other players whine as well so I'm not really bothered.

One other thing. I have no way of proving this, because I'm not there to hear what he says, but I believe there are times that his reaction is more about frustration with himself for commiting the foul, than the ref for calling the foul. There was one instance where a player slid to the basket behind JT's back for a dunk. JT saw him at the last minute and tried to block the dunk, when in fact he had no chance. And of couse the ref called a foul. JT immediately slammed his hand against the the padded backboard support and yelled out an obscenity.

In that instance, I don't believe he was angry with the ref, but with himself for commiting a stupid foul, because he had just picked up his first foul minutes sooner, and he knew he would be coming out of the game. These guys are human beings with emotions. Do we expect them to be robots, void of all feelings when they step on the court? What makes basketball so different from football, where passions run high all time? Do people think that basketball players come from a different factory than football players? I'm not comparing the two sports. Different games with different rules. But both played by human beings with the same kind of emotions.

We sit in our favorite chair with an adult beverage in our hand and pontificate how someone should or should not react. We have freedom of speech, and the right to say what we believe, but if you haven't been there, then you don't know. And by you, I'm speaking in general. The old saying goes something like, "People who live in glass houses, should beware of throwing stones".

 

[bajaden]

Ooooooh, baja. Sarcasm is perceived. I'm with you but might state it differently. I'll go on with my upper note. Cuz has been a physical handful and then reduced that to getting techs for his facial mannerisms (absurd) and now he has controlled his facial mannerisms. He has MATURED to the point of trying to talk calmly to the referees. Now he needs to know when to stop. Next stop on the maturity express is to understand that referees will not change their mind on their last call but you may influence the future. Just know when to stop. The referees will someday be giving you the "stars" calls. The NBA wants its stars in the games as long as possible and that's why Duncan and Kobe can get away with a lot. Cuz physically is close to the skill level of these two and will get these "respectful" calls someday if he continues on this growth pattern. It will not come quickly but when the day comes that the refs are on his side, look out.

He has to be educated to this. He already is sucking up to refs and I think there is a shift in their attitude. He needs to be persistent and this last ejection is just a part of the learning curve. It wasn't a big deal.

BTW, did the team punish him or did they think an ejection was adequate I haven't heard.

I agree with you. He has made and effort, and I believe that if the team were playing better and winning more, you'd see a happier more restrained Cousins. But with all the turmoil both on and off the court, its a poor atmostphere for reformation. As for the ref's changing a call, well, lots of luck with that one. I think just about any player in the league knows that the call isn't going to be reversed. But I think a lot of the players think they can lobby the ref's for future calls. Probably works to some extent for players like Durant and Kobe. Not going to work very well for Cousins.

 

[rainmaker]

I'll tell you my agenda - I'm totally sick of the incessant whining/complaining to the refs that I see in NBA games . Because I watch more Kings games by far than other teams,

Maybe that's your issue. You let something ruffle your feathers which is incredibly common around the league. Well, getting ejected at halftime isn't common but "whining" is. Sounds like the NBA isn't for you. Or the NFL. Or baseball. Or soccer.

I suggest tennis. They don't whine as much. Some cuties too.

 

[mac]

Maybe that's your issue. You let something ruffle your feathers which is incredibly common around the league. Well, getting ejected at halftime isn't common but "whining" is. Sounds like the NBA isn't for you. Or the NFL. Or baseball. Or soccer.

I suggest tennis. They don't whine as much. Some cuties too.

I recommend 9 ball pool