After the last two games, I would bench Cousins. I would make him sit next to Clfford Ray and watch. Cousins glided around the floor in a fog most of the last two games which is unacceptable. He needs to decide if he is going to play like a professional or take nights off. I agree with others that he may never earn the role of leader on this team or any other for that matter. But he needs to get up for competing every game.
Bench cousins
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Yes, if you want to completely lose him, bench him. Cuz is not playing well right now, but benching him and changing lineup again is not the solution. This team needs stability. Once we have stability (if we ever will) players will start to play better.
Right now I think Cuz needs confidence. I believe he lost it because he's thinking too much. He is afraid of fouling, and you can clearly see it. I can't blame him for this, it looks like the refs are always ready to blow the whistle on Cuz, even on things other bigs are allowed to do. Of course that's just my opinion, but looking at him during the games that's what I'm seeing. And that's why he tends to disappear during the games in this first part of the season.
Right now I think Cuz needs confidence. I believe he lost it because he's thinking too much. He is afraid of fouling, and you can clearly see it. I can't blame him for this, it looks like the refs are always ready to blow the whistle on Cuz, even on things other bigs are allowed to do. Of course that's just my opinion, but looking at him during the games that's what I'm seeing. And that's why he tends to disappear during the games in this first part of the season.
Cuz's problem this offseason was getting to comfortable making the 15-18 ft jump shot.
He was draining them in the preseason, now every single time he gets the ball its at that position and he holds the ball way too long, the offense gets stagnant, and the end result isnt a good one usually.
Seems like because of this he rarely gets in deep post position anymore and when he does he doesnt have the confidence down there anymore.
Maybe he was better when he was thicker?
He was draining them in the preseason, now every single time he gets the ball its at that position and he holds the ball way too long, the offense gets stagnant, and the end result isnt a good one usually.
Seems like because of this he rarely gets in deep post position anymore and when he does he doesnt have the confidence down there anymore.
Maybe he was better when he was thicker?
I do because thats not how you ref. Every call is to be made within the laws of the game without bias. So to say that you can understand a ref having a pre-conceived bias against a player is ridiculous.
Any ref doing that should be fired.
Obviously benching is Cousins is just stupid, but his "mental mistakes" as Smart likes to call it, hurt us BIG time down the stretch, he needs to find a way to stop the red mist falling because when things aren't falling for him he becomes a mess, one minute a stroke of genius, the next something a high schooler wouldn't even consider.
He's erratic, if he wants to be the franchise player, an all star, he needs to cut out these errors, simple as that really. But obviously there's more chance of Travis Outlaw being the next coach than Cousins getting benched.
Any ref doing that should be fired.
Obviously benching is Cousins is just stupid, but his "mental mistakes" as Smart likes to call it, hurt us BIG time down the stretch, he needs to find a way to stop the red mist falling because when things aren't falling for him he becomes a mess, one minute a stroke of genius, the next something a high schooler wouldn't even consider.
He's erratic, if he wants to be the franchise player, an all star, he needs to cut out these errors, simple as that really. But obviously there's more chance of Travis Outlaw being the next coach than Cousins getting benched.
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The theme here is a fair one. Of course he isn't going to be benched. But hurting his psyche may just help.
An interesting aside which this brings to mind - I was at the Lakers game and when we were a ways into the 4th quarter and Cousins was still on the bench and we continued to hold a lead, a thought popped into my head "please don't put Cousins back in, he'll screw it all up".
An interesting aside which this brings to mind - I was at the Lakers game and when we were a ways into the 4th quarter and Cousins was still on the bench and we continued to hold a lead, a thought popped into my head "please don't put Cousins back in, he'll screw it all up".
Bench Cuz? How about benching all the bench players who get too many minutes and cut into his involvement in the offense? We have a coach who has a propensity to play our chucking guards too many minutes, doesn't try making Cuz more of a focal point on offense while watching these guards/wings jack up one shot after another, and obviously with lack of involvement Cuz's effort suffers, and now the solution is to bench Cuz?
How about getting a coach who can use Cuz correctly? Lost in all this nonsense about Smart being great for Cuz is that Smart doesn't use him effectively most of the time. I'd also say the main reason Smart was extended is because he was supposed to be good for Cuz, but Cuz's impact has plummeted while Smart shows a real inability to get him the ball where he's most effective and has options moving/cutting off him.
This almost always happens when you have too many chuckers, don't define roles and have a freelancing offense void of structure. The bigs suffer. That's nothing new in this game. So if Smart's one great asset was his ability to work with Cuz, and he's showing he can't even do that, then why is this clown still around? Simply benching him so the chuckers can chuck even more only causes more problems.
These players aren't robots. There's also the aspect that Cuz might be fed up with Smart's shtick as many of us are. It's been pointed out repeatedly what Smart does, how he refuses to define roles and sub patterns alters a players mental approach to games. If Cuz doesn't have much confidence in Smart and is sick of his game management, then of course effort will suffer. I know some want to ignore that and think players will just run through walls for coaches they don't respect and coaches who make repeated mistakes, but that's not reality. And Cuz is very intelligent. My guess is he's just getting fed up with all the s*** many of us are fed up with. He sees the mistakes.
How about getting a coach who can use Cuz correctly? Lost in all this nonsense about Smart being great for Cuz is that Smart doesn't use him effectively most of the time. I'd also say the main reason Smart was extended is because he was supposed to be good for Cuz, but Cuz's impact has plummeted while Smart shows a real inability to get him the ball where he's most effective and has options moving/cutting off him.
This almost always happens when you have too many chuckers, don't define roles and have a freelancing offense void of structure. The bigs suffer. That's nothing new in this game. So if Smart's one great asset was his ability to work with Cuz, and he's showing he can't even do that, then why is this clown still around? Simply benching him so the chuckers can chuck even more only causes more problems.
These players aren't robots. There's also the aspect that Cuz might be fed up with Smart's shtick as many of us are. It's been pointed out repeatedly what Smart does, how he refuses to define roles and sub patterns alters a players mental approach to games. If Cuz doesn't have much confidence in Smart and is sick of his game management, then of course effort will suffer. I know some want to ignore that and think players will just run through walls for coaches they don't respect and coaches who make repeated mistakes, but that's not reality. And Cuz is very intelligent. My guess is he's just getting fed up with all the s*** many of us are fed up with. He sees the mistakes.
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This is a very silly thread and just makes us fans look bad, not Cuz.
That said, I think Cuz may still be pouting from the suspension -- he never came back the same. He may or may not be quitting on Smart, which actually could help us in the long run. But either way his focus is there and then not there. He may feel picked on, singled out, forgotten about, I don't know.
That said, I think Cuz may still be pouting from the suspension -- he never came back the same. He may or may not be quitting on Smart, which actually could help us in the long run. But either way his focus is there and then not there. He may feel picked on, singled out, forgotten about, I don't know.
Cuz's biggest problem is our GM couldn't re-sign Samuel Dalembert when he needed to, didn't draft a more complimentary player instead of going sexy and creating a logjam of tweeners that aren't compatible, along with a distructive coach that has no clue, thus creating the losing and crappy attitude our team has now...THAT is what's wrong with Cuz right now, and I can't blame him.
Smart seems hell bent on making Cuz and Reke ineffective or at least limiting their benefit to the team. It seems personal as I cannot understand why a coach would not use his most effective players or at least, use them inappropriately. I don't need to list the examples. It's as if he is threatened by their skills or something of that nature.
Why can MT check himself into games? I've never heard of such a thing.
Also, I think Cuz is reacting to what he sees around him in the coach and the overall situation of being a King. It's a dead end. A guy with Boogie's desire to win will not put up with what is going on now too much longer. We can all see what Smart is doing to Cuz and Reke. A simple example is yesterday when the last two starters to be re-inserted into the game in the 4th quarter were Cuz and then Reke. Explain that!
Also, just as Reke is developing a decent jump shot and is surpassing his rookie form, Smart hasn't seemed to have noticed. Smart keeps him out of the 4th quarter because he said Utah would just wait for him at the rim. Smart seems to have no concept of what is happening with his player's development.
But, then is Smart the overall problem? Any fool can see he needs to be fired. There are only a few people who can fire him and they are sitting on their hands. I cannot understand how the Maloof's position is helped by losing large amounts of money which is what they are doing. Sure they can say the fans aren't supporting them but if the BOG knows basketball, they will see right through that. AND ..... as there is a fee to move, what will the Maloofs use for money? The attendance in itself must be losing them huge amounts.
If I were Boogie, I'd go nuts, too. If the Maloofs don't seems to care if they win or not, why should he?
Why can MT check himself into games? I've never heard of such a thing.
Also, I think Cuz is reacting to what he sees around him in the coach and the overall situation of being a King. It's a dead end. A guy with Boogie's desire to win will not put up with what is going on now too much longer. We can all see what Smart is doing to Cuz and Reke. A simple example is yesterday when the last two starters to be re-inserted into the game in the 4th quarter were Cuz and then Reke. Explain that!
Also, just as Reke is developing a decent jump shot and is surpassing his rookie form, Smart hasn't seemed to have noticed. Smart keeps him out of the 4th quarter because he said Utah would just wait for him at the rim. Smart seems to have no concept of what is happening with his player's development.
But, then is Smart the overall problem? Any fool can see he needs to be fired. There are only a few people who can fire him and they are sitting on their hands. I cannot understand how the Maloof's position is helped by losing large amounts of money which is what they are doing. Sure they can say the fans aren't supporting them but if the BOG knows basketball, they will see right through that. AND ..... as there is a fee to move, what will the Maloofs use for money? The attendance in itself must be losing them huge amounts.
If I were Boogie, I'd go nuts, too. If the Maloofs don't seems to care if they win or not, why should he?
This assumes that Maloofs think things through, have strong analytical minds and as such are strong planners. If their time as Kings owners has shown us anything, it is that they are completely the opposite. They are impulsive, emotional and irrational "boys" that live in their own word. Its all about attention and status. They never think things through and there is never logic and common sense applied to their thought processes. They believe that this is how they get out of town. They are banking on poor attendances and poor aura in Sacramento to get them out of here and they are doing everything in their power to get poor attendances and stinky aura between the fans and the team and in this case, within a team itself.
Kobe wouldn't make it out of the 1st quarter if this game was called fairly across the board. Nobody cries more than that d-bag, not even Jason Thompson. The NBA is full of cry babies and refs with double standards. Either let them all complain or T'em all up across the board.
Watch the reply, first T was pathetic, 2nd T did come until Cousins was walking away and bit his tongue. These refs will find anything to try and teach him a lesson.
I love how Grant flat out said the refs are out there to "control" the game. Give me a ****ing break. NBA officiating is the worst out of all the major sports.
Kobe is one of the all time greats so he is able to get away with it, like it or not. Cousins is a 3rd year kid who has ALWAYS complained about every call that goes against him from the moment he came into the league. At some point he has to realize the refs are going to treat him like that if he keeps complaining. Just shut up and play hard, earn respect and eventually 3 to 4 year from now you will get the "vet" calls, or "star" calls.
I don't condone what cuz did it was stupid and was basically baiting the official. But people accepting that some players are "targeted" and treated differently to others is just sad.
The refs are not there to act in a bias way, any official found to be ignoring blatant technicals or giving "soft" technicals to particular players should be FIRED. Simple as that.
The refs are not there to act in a bias way, any official found to be ignoring blatant technicals or giving "soft" technicals to particular players should be FIRED. Simple as that.
While I have every respect for your opinion, in this case I fear you are at an advantage being from the UK. I'm assuming you haven't watched a whole lot of NBA basketball over the years.
Should refs be more critical of certain players? Of course not. Does it happen in the NBA? Yep. Has for a long, long time. The officials have an almost impossible job. It's tough enough already without players getting in their faces and whining about every call or non-call. Once a player gets that rep, he is going to be given less latitude in situations where the best thing would be for him to simply suck it up, shut up and play.
I will not use the officials as a justification for Cousins' bad behavior, but I'm not gonna pretend it doesn't happen.
Should refs be more critical of certain players? Of course not. Does it happen in the NBA? Yep. Has for a long, long time. The officials have an almost impossible job. It's tough enough already without players getting in their faces and whining about every call or non-call. Once a player gets that rep, he is going to be given less latitude in situations where the best thing would be for him to simply suck it up, shut up and play.
I will not use the officials as a justification for Cousins' bad behavior, but I'm not gonna pretend it doesn't happen.
I've been watching Basketball since high school, I'm now 28. But i appreciate that being an 'international fan' gives you less credibility as you're unable to attend games. But trust me i love the sport, have since i started playing when i was 13 years old and will take that passion to the grave, albeit, sadly from across the pond.
I'm fully aware of the way the NBA has been reffed over the years, and continues to be reffed, but i still think my point holds true, it's sad that people have come to accept what is basically rule breaking, thats really my only point. And i agree with you about Cuz, i honestly don't see the advantage of "testing" refs, you come to know how certain refs call games, and can gauge it immediately in play.
I'm fully aware of the way the NBA has been reffed over the years, and continues to be reffed, but i still think my point holds true, it's sad that people have come to accept what is basically rule breaking, thats really my only point. And i agree with you about Cuz, i honestly don't see the advantage of "testing" refs, you come to know how certain refs call games, and can gauge it immediately in play.
My personal observation from the last two good games we had, LA and Utah game that we won, We have done better while Cuz playing time having been cut/limited. I believe (IMPO) that Cousins would have been blown up in to something terrible already if not Keith Smart. He's our best player but he is also hurting/not helping the team/organization in many ways. Can't bench/blow him. Can't win/play him. Why not try some psychiatric help for Cuz. I mean fakers tried that on Ron Ron and look how calm & focused he has looked since. They can do wonders to your mind. He is & has been THAT close of being one of the greatest. Poor kid needs a little bit of psychiatric help/counseling to master his own emotions. He will blossom in to something special.
Smart doesn't need to bench Cousins. Cousins benches Cousins. It is extremely far-fetched to believe that Cousins mental fragility is in any way related to Smart or the rest of the coaching staff. This guy would give a combo of Jung and Freud a headache. Cousins needs to just muzzle himself and stop his contant compaining. Heck, he comes into the game with that "They don't give me no respect" scowl. It's like it's plastered to his face. Bottom line: He's not taking responsibility for his own actions; he's blaming it on others. Until he stops with that BS then his act is going to continue.
Let me start by saying I went back and rewatched the game. I replayed every call on cousins in the game, and I came to the conclusion that Cousins had every right to be upset. Personally, I don't think he actually fouled anyone in the entire game. But it is what it is. I'd really like the ref to explain to me how batting the ball out of Kanters hands is a technical foul. Did the whistle blow a splitsecond before he batted the ball? Yes, but I mean it all happened in a split second, and it certainly wasn't as though Cousins was trying to do anything other than play defense.
So to be honest, if I were on the court and it happened to me, I certainly would have asked the ref for an explaination. Now whether he said something inappropiate as he walked away or not, I have no idea. But if you go back and rewatch that whole sequence, there was no foul on Cousins part at all. I realize its easy for us armchair quarterbacks to sit in the comfort of our homes and dictate what Cousins should or should not do. And, were probably correct. He needs to learn to just walk away, and let Smart or the team captain ask for the explaination.
So I have no problem with anyone being critical of Cousins actions, but I think the Ref's actions need to be criticized as well. I think its difficult for any player, not just Cousins to know how a particular ref team is going to call the game. It varies from night to night. Some let the players play, and others blow the whistle to see if it still works from 2 minutes ago. The ref's are susposed to call the game equally for every player, but we all know they don't. They have their favorites, and they have their whipping boys. Cousins has a huge target on his back. Some of it is his own doing, and some of it is undeserved. But whether its undeserved or not, he needs to adjust, and develop thick skin.
The idea of benching him is so stupid that I won't even address it. The team needs him on the floor. He needs to be a 30 plus minute a game player, and its up to him to accomplish that. He says he wants to be great! Well part of being great is being professional, both on and off the court. Doesn't mean you can't be intense when playing, but it does mean you give respect to everyone else on the court, includinig the ref's. If you want to be respected, you have to remember its a two way street. I still think he'll get there. Because he'll never be great until he does.
So to be honest, if I were on the court and it happened to me, I certainly would have asked the ref for an explaination. Now whether he said something inappropiate as he walked away or not, I have no idea. But if you go back and rewatch that whole sequence, there was no foul on Cousins part at all. I realize its easy for us armchair quarterbacks to sit in the comfort of our homes and dictate what Cousins should or should not do. And, were probably correct. He needs to learn to just walk away, and let Smart or the team captain ask for the explaination.
So I have no problem with anyone being critical of Cousins actions, but I think the Ref's actions need to be criticized as well. I think its difficult for any player, not just Cousins to know how a particular ref team is going to call the game. It varies from night to night. Some let the players play, and others blow the whistle to see if it still works from 2 minutes ago. The ref's are susposed to call the game equally for every player, but we all know they don't. They have their favorites, and they have their whipping boys. Cousins has a huge target on his back. Some of it is his own doing, and some of it is undeserved. But whether its undeserved or not, he needs to adjust, and develop thick skin.
The idea of benching him is so stupid that I won't even address it. The team needs him on the floor. He needs to be a 30 plus minute a game player, and its up to him to accomplish that. He says he wants to be great! Well part of being great is being professional, both on and off the court. Doesn't mean you can't be intense when playing, but it does mean you give respect to everyone else on the court, includinig the ref's. If you want to be respected, you have to remember its a two way street. I still think he'll get there. Because he'll never be great until he does.
I too thought the first T on slapping the ball was a very, very bad call. But based on his expressions and body language as he said/stopped himself saying that last bit to the official before turning away I predicted that he was gonna get a 2nd T.
Body language plays a huge part in communication - and Cuz always displays terrible, terrible body language. There was a play in Utah where Salmons or someone got to the line, and Cuz was still scowling and shaking his head as Salmons was shooting the FTs. It's kinda like ... what's the problem now, you already got the foul called, your team is shooting free throws!
Body language plays a huge part in communication - and Cuz always displays terrible, terrible body language. There was a play in Utah where Salmons or someone got to the line, and Cuz was still scowling and shaking his head as Salmons was shooting the FTs. It's kinda like ... what's the problem now, you already got the foul called, your team is shooting free throws!
If you allow continuation, Cuz is allowed to slap down. No different than blocking a shot after a foul is called so the offensive player doesn't get an and 1.
After how Kobe talked to officials last week, JT's tech was also bogus. JT gets a tech for saying,"damn, man", yet CP3 or Kobe don't for saying "how the f*** didn't you see that". You can't have different standards for every player. I'd of course prefer both to just shut up and play, but at the same time I see worse around the league every day which isn't t'd up.
After how Kobe talked to officials last week, JT's tech was also bogus. JT gets a tech for saying,"damn, man", yet CP3 or Kobe don't for saying "how the f*** didn't you see that". You can't have different standards for every player. I'd of course prefer both to just shut up and play, but at the same time I see worse around the league every day which isn't t'd up.
After Cousins was ejected last night, the Kings increased their lead and came away with a victory. I am sure that was not lost on Cousins. He needs to learn not to react to officiating. The refs don't get every call right. It is part of the game. Cousins got the first T for lowering his shoulder. We don't what he said for the second T.
I am glad everyone is paying attention to my suggestion. I am talking about one game. Sometimes it has a positive impact on a player that is coasting and thinks he is the francise. It also helps to watch a whole game sometimes to see what the team is doing especially when you have someone like Clifford Ray to converse with. You can be outraged all you want. The idea still has some merit. A team that has only won 25 % of its games has nothing to lose by trying something new.
I am glad everyone is paying attention to my suggestion. I am talking about one game. Sometimes it has a positive impact on a player that is coasting and thinks he is the francise. It also helps to watch a whole game sometimes to see what the team is doing especially when you have someone like Clifford Ray to converse with. You can be outraged all you want. The idea still has some merit. A team that has only won 25 % of its games has nothing to lose by trying something new.
actually no, its basically never useful to bench a putative franchise player. Players at that level have options. Once you humiliate them, in particular a guy like Cousins always hypersensitive to criticism, you've lost them forever. I know you'd lose me, and I'd take great joy at coming back into your building, kicking the crap out of you, telling the press why I was kicking the crap out of you, and taking a dump in your courtside seat on the way out of the building. Players at that level you work with, not against. The onyl lesson you can teach them is that they don't need you anymore.
and btw no Cousins didn't get a T for lowering his shoulder. The first one might have been for slapping at the ball. The second for talking to the ref.
