Bruski: Can George Karl change?

VF21

VF21

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https://www.hoop-ball.com/nba-news-...ge-karl-change-the-answer-might-surprise-you/

Interesting take from one of the few national media who actually follows Kings games. :)
So if we’re talking about this season, and stubborn George isn’t changing anytime soon, how could anybody really expect things to get better on the court or off the court?

That is, unless of course, he actually does change.

Here are a few nuggets from Karl on KHTK 1140 with team play-by-play man Grant Napear, wherein the topic of defensive change was broached (surprisingly he starts by talking about offense, 8 min. mark):
Click to expand...

NOTE: There's an embedded link in the third paragraph of the quote that takes you to the Napear show being discussed.
 
"They have a roster suited to play through DeMarcus Cousins in the post, but Karl’s system demands that they be the fastest paced team in the league."

We all know this already, but just to see some national writer mention that still gets me. How stubborn can a person be to insist on using his own system on players that he obviously knows aren't suited for?
 
I highly doubt that Karl will change. Too much ego there for him to change.

On the system issues on both sides of the ball, Bruski has been calling them out 10 games in while majority were giving it time for things to settle.
 
well whats in it for him though ?

He's an egotistical maniac obsessed with his 'system' and peddling it by all means.

He knows his time is coming to an end - he knows he'll get paid. Can he overcome his stubbornness and adapt to get us to the playoffs - im not too sure. I have faith in this team and how it is constructed. I have no faith in Karl. He should have been gone in the summer. Wasnt going to happen but the cracks were there and this season is a write off due to his stubbornness and inability to adapt.
 
Love the article. Right on point.

I think it comes down to how much love Karl has with the game in general compare to the love of his system. Everyone can change under different circumstances. If he loves the game and understands the situation and hierarchy, he will make the change. because if he is fired, I doubt anyone would give him another chance.
 
I'd love to see Karl slow things down, give Boogie a lot more touches at the elbow and especially in the blocks but the thing I want most is for him to fix this absolutely garbage defensive scheme.

The problem is that I think he's much more capable and willing to make adjustments on the offensive end.
 
VF21 said:
Aaron Bruski ‏@aaronbruski 6m6 minutes ago
@vladefan21 for him to even broach the idea of slowing the pace is a massive deal IMO. If it works, everybody says why not sooner?
Click to expand...

Bruski does make a valid point, but only if you're willing to buy into the assumption that George Karl is, in fact, seriously considering slowing the pace. As I replied to him, I'll believe it when I actually see it.
 
The question should be, will Karl change, not can he. Of course he can! Funky touched on the problem. It's our defense. We can argue all day long about how best to use Cousins, but we don't have that big a problem on offense. Cuz is still getting his touches averaging 20.5 shots a game. They might not all be coming from where you want, but I think some of that is Cousins choosing. He apparently has the green light to shoot the three, and he does. Defensively were a mess. I do think slowing down the pace of the game offensively will help us a little on the defensive side. A perimeter lock down defender would help as well. As far as Karl changing, who the hell knows?
 
bajaden said:
The question should be, will Karl change, not can he. Of course he can! Funky touched on the problem. It's our defense. We can argue all day long about how best to use Cousins, but we don't have that big a problem on offense. Cuz is still getting his touches averaging 20.5 shots a game. They might not all be coming from where you want, but I think some of that is Cousins choosing. He apparently has the green light to shoot the three, and he does. Defensively were a mess. I do think slowing down the pace of the game offensively will help us a little on the defensive side. A perimeter lock down defender would help as well. As far as Karl changing, who the hell knows?
Click to expand...

Well defense is mostly about effort. Some of our defense problem come from our offense running too much and draining our players out of energy to properly play D.
 
Double-K said:
Well defense is mostly about effort. Some of our defense problem come from our offense running too much and draining our players out of energy to properly play D.
Click to expand...

Yes, defense is very dependent on effort and the pace of the game is definitely not helping the players have the energy to defend at a high level, but to me Karl's scheme is a much bigger part of the problem. It puts players in terrible positions, allows players into the lane easily instead of forcing them to the side towards help, switches on pick and rolls giving up both the pop (a bad strategy in today's NBA) and creates mismatches.

And the reality is that few coaches spend equal time on both ends of the floor.

Malone spent a LOT of practice time coaching defense. Thibodeau spent a LOT of practice time coaching defense. Adelman spent very little practice time on the defensive end. Either strategy is fine if it gets results.

Karl pays lip service to defense and then immediately talks about the offensive end. And if he does that in interviews and the little bit of training camp video I saw then I have to imagine that's how practices go. So if you have a broken defensive strategy and you don't put in the time to adjust/fix that strategy then the players giving more effort is only going to get you so far.

That said, I agree with what BJax said a couple weeks ago - I just don't see any players that seem bothered by the other team lighting up the scoreboard like a pinball machine.

So I put more of the onus on Karl to fix things, but outside of Cauley-Stein, Acy and Curry I just don't see focus on the defensive end from the players either.
 
For me it's not a matter of whether or not George Karl can change. I think he wants to change because he wants to be successful and he will make some small changes. The question for me is if he can change enough to make a difference. Under his leadership we have become the worst defensive team in the league. That's more than just scheme, it's more than just players, it's more than just a lack of effort or focus from the coaching stuff. It's all of the above.

To turn this around from embarrassingly bad to competent is going to take a concerted effort from all involved -- the coaches, the players, the owner, the front office -- and I just don't see George Karl as the right personality to lead that charge. He's not that type of coach, and never has been. The players take their cues from him and the implied message is that it's okay to coast on defense as long as you're putting up points. He says it himself in the interview --

Do you want to play the defensive players and slow down the pace and play at a slower rate in which will have an effect on your efficiency offensively? Or do you want to stay where you are right now and figure out the defense and be a pretty good offensive team when things are going right?”
Click to expand...

He seems to answer his own question. He'd rather keep the offense where it is and tweak the defense just enough to win games. I sincerely believe this is what he thinks needs to happen to win. And that's why we'll never be a good defensive team as long as he's the head coach. Can we win enough games without playing defense to make the playoffs? Probably. Eventually. Some roster changes need to happen though. Can we ever win enough playoff games to be a contender without playing defense? No. And whoever it was that decided George Karl needs to stick around and whatever there reasons were -- I hope they're paying close attention because they've just committed us to a losing game plan that will cost us our franchise player if it goes on long enough.
 
change? come on now. We are at the mid way point in the season and his philosophy and principles haven't worked now and they won't work ever in this day and age of basketball. You put up with him for these remaining games and kick him to the curb as soon as that last horn sounds off on the last day of the regular season.
 
George might be tired of losing too. I would not put it past him to be saying exactly what he is thinking... and really slow the pace - and really use practice time on a defensive adjustment. Can't wait for the game Friday.
 
Doubtful....

The doof should have known to slow the pace in the first place. Rondo may be Nash like with his passing, but Cuz sure as hell isn't prime Amare.
 
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