Amick: Hear me now

[VF21]

Hear me now
John Salmons' locker room exit Wednesday night challenges the rules of Reggie Theus.
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:01 am PST Friday, November 16, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1

When Reggie Theus was hired as the Kings' coach in June, he promised discipline.

He harkened back to his playing days under notorious tyrant Jerry Sloan in Utah, and discussed how San Antonio's Gregg Popovich only knows the blunt approach.

He wasted no time laying down the rules – the Reggie Rules, as they're known – in an attempt to change the culture with a method he knew might not be popular.

"Nobody has complained so far," he said in early October. "Of course, we won't be able to tell how sincere (the players') trust is until a couple of grenades are launched. We'll find out then."

Then is now.

The John Salmons incident after Wednesday night's loss at Minnesota merely reflected the growing frustration inside the Kings' locker room, in part because of the team's slow start but also because of Theus' style...

The rest of the story...

 

[Bricklayer]

Oh, John sounds like he's really over it and moving on.

 

[tyrant]

what was your interpretation of this article? is everyone mad at theus? do they not admire his coaching attitude? i dont know whats going on

 

[Bricklayer]

what was your interpretation of this article? is everyone mad at theus? do they not admire his coaching attitude? i dont know whats going on

John basically says, no, I am not happy, but I have no choice but to accept it. There's no real mea culpa, no I'm sorry, I overreacted etc. etc. And of course none from Reggie either. So, I don't expect him to storm out of the locker room tommorow, but it sounds like its just going to sit back there and simmer. It hasn't gone away.

I'll tell you what -- I am actually looking at our completely meaningless game against another group of losing chemisry disasters in the Knicks as kind of important. Losing really raises the pressure on all these kinds of problems. And with the Pistons, next, then the Suns twice, then Portland, then the Spurs...you could get yourself in a terrible spiral here if you don't get these relatively easy games. Think we got problems now, wait till you see what they would look like at 2-12.

 

[tyrant]

what should the kings do to win tonight

 

[John Galt]

what should the kings do to win tonight

Get off to an early lead and pray for a game-ending earthquake.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

what should the kings do to win tonight

pay the refs

 

[BawLa]

Since Kevin Martin is not a natural leader, we really need someone to emerge and bring this team together. I wonder if the guys rally around Cisco?? Maybe Hawes could show us some skills in this area?

As long as John doesn't become the Plutonium to Ron Artest's Uranium, our team won't go nuclear...

 

[Jechtsphere]

what should the kings do to win tonight

We can win if we make shots, play defense but the most important ingredient to winning is REBOUNDING which most of our guys are scared of.

 

[Rockmeister]

I wonder if the guys rally around Cisco?? Maybe Hawes could show us some skills in this area?

You want a 19 yr rookie to show us some skills in leadership?????

 

[bloom]

I see how this works, the team should go out of its way to make John happy. Dude, just be grateful that you got the opportunity to start or get more minutes than you did before (while Ron was out). Don’t you have faith? Well, everything happens for a reason and there is a reason why you weren’t starting the other game.

Like I said before, there is no “I” in Team. And unfortunately I think some of these players don’t get the concept. The whole “I want to start” is getting really old. At least for me…I’m really hoping that Geoff can pull some trades (soon). I have a feeling that there will be trades but the sooner the better. I’m not hoping to get junk pieces just to get expiring contracts.

what should the kings do to win tonight

Besides paying the refs (nice answer KMart23). Make all your shots, start passing to open people, grab those rebounds, and stop allowing easy buckets.

Since Kevin Martin is not a natural leader, we really need someone to emerge and bring this team together. I wonder if the guys rally around Cisco?? Maybe Hawes could show us some skills in this area?

Cisco is probably an emerging leader. He’s vocal but I think he needs to become consistent in order for the rest of the team to listen to him. But we don’t have a true leader right now, we’ll see if Ron is going to take things in his hands. But leadership is a big problem, the team cant turn to someone. Everybody tries to come to the rescue.

 

[fnordius]

You want a 19 yr rookie to show us some skills in leadership?????

I remember games last year where Justin was the one yelling to his teammates, "C'mon, we can win this!" It would be great if we had some natural leaders on the team, but it often seems to boil down to whoever is willing to fill the vaccuum. I haven't seen any sign of it in Hawes, but maybe, Reggie willing, a little will again materialize from some unexpected corner.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I still think there's a lot of over-reaction to all this alleged Coach Reggie losing control of his team - ala Musselman last year or the Knicks right now.

Compared to the problems the Knicks and Isiah are experiencing it's chicken feed. Let's compare: Starbury is told he's lost his starting job is going to be benched (hmmm, sounds a bit like Salmons, but sooo different). The Knicks PG skips practice and then doesn't show up for the next game. The Knicks fine him a whopping $195,000 or 1/82 his base pay. While on unauthorized leave the idiotic Starbury threatens Isaiah with blackmail saying he has "dirt" on the Knicks head coach - presumably related to the sexual harassment suit the organization lost in court.

Reggie, hang in there my man because this is NOTHING compared to Musselman's travails and the Knicks latest bizarre soap opera.

 

[HndsmCelt]

what should the kings do to win tonight

Play a real weak opponent in Arco.

 

[BawLa]

You want a 19 yr rookie to show us some skills in leadership?????

If he is a leader, and people respect him, why not? Now I'm not saying it is easy for a 19 year old to gain the respect of his relatively older teammates, but there is one sure-fire way to do it, and that is to produce on the court.

And to go one step further, yes I do want him to be a leader. I want all of my teams' players to be leaders. If they aren't natural leaders, then so be it. But if they are, I don't want them holding it back. Especially when this team needs a leader to rally around.

Bibby has the skill, but isn't a natural leader. Martin has the skill, but he too isn't showing the signs that he wants to take the reigns. Artest, well, he has the skill to lead by example, but I don't know if he is stable enough to be a leader. Mikki has leadership abilities IMO, but he just isn't skilled enough. Salmons might have it in him...add him to my list. Cisco has the passion and the energy to be a leader, which is why I mentioned him. And how great would it be if we got more bang-for-our-buck out of Hawes?