Cousins Personality Problems; Per ESPN (Alliteration per me)

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rhythmless

Starter
http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-101112-14/testing-early-trade-winds

Worrisome murmurs this week emanating from Sacramento, where giving up 42 points to Michael Beasley and losing at home to a Wolves team that pretty much never wins on the road apparently aren't the Kings' biggest issues.

Word is that handling rookie forward DeMarcus Cousins is proving to be an even bigger job for coach Paul Westphal and his staff than expected, even after the Kings hired Cousins' high school coach (Otis Hughley) in hopes of keeping the 20-year-old -- freshly relegated to a bench role -- plugged in.

One source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Cousins was fined recently for clashing with members of Westphal's staff. I've also been advised that it's not one-and-done as far as such clashes go, which has created a level of tension that -- anticipated or not -- obviously isn't what the Kings need when they're already operating at such an experience deficit on top of their serious defensive frailties.

No one doubts the potential possessed by the Kings' precocious tag team of Cousins and Tyreke Evans. But as one veteran scout warned me during summer league in Las Vegas, when tales and hints of Cousins' volatility and immaturity spread quickly: "It's always risky to have two young divas on the same team."
Didn't take long for the Kings to find out.
 
rhythmless said:
http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-101112-14/testing-early-trade-winds

Worrisome murmurs this week emanating from Sacramento, where giving up 42 points to Michael Beasley and losing at home to a Wolves team that pretty much never wins on the road apparently aren't the Kings' biggest issues.

Word is that handling rookie forward DeMarcus Cousins is proving to be an even bigger job for coach Paul Westphal and his staff than expected, even after the Kings hired Cousins' high school coach (Otis Hughley) in hopes of keeping the 20-year-old -- freshly relegated to a bench role -- plugged in.

One source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Cousins was fined recently for clashing with members of Westphal's staff. I've also been advised that it's not one-and-done as far as such clashes go, which has created a level of tension that -- anticipated or not -- obviously isn't what the Kings need when they're already operating at such an experience deficit on top of their serious defensive frailties.

No one doubts the potential possessed by the Kings' precocious tag team of Cousins and Tyreke Evans. But as one veteran scout warned me during summer league in Las Vegas, when tales and hints of Cousins' volatility and immaturity spread quickly: "It's always risky to have two young divas on the same team."
Didn't take long for the Kings to find out.
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Of course the magic personality problems. I wonder who this "source close to the situation" was. Probably some janitor.
 
So I was only half listening, but it sounded like Grant Napear pretty much confirmed this report (without actually saying, yes this is true) just now on his radio show. If someone else was listening and wants to elaborate or correct me, please do.

Edit: Ok he did say it was true. "He was fined. It has been dealt with" but that he's not "over-concerned" about it.

Says he can't say that Cousin's did, but that he has a problem with authority figures, i.e. the coaching staff telling him what to do etc... Its not an issue with playing time.
 
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I think a lot of guys here are quick to discredit these reports, mainly because of wishful thinking. We all want to think that all the reports about Cousins were exaggerated, and they probably were, but the problem lies elsewhere and it's a real problem - we have ZERO leadership on this team, on and off the court, so when something happens and there are locker room problems, there really isn't anyone there to fix them.

Even if the problems with Cousins were exaggerated, it is still reasonable to assume that there might be incidents with him here and there, and if there's no one to draw a distinct line for him, then it's just going to snowball. Tyreke is very talented, but he hasn't proven he can be a leader and get the other guys to follow his lead. Beno and Cisco have more leadership traits, but they are no Kevin Garnett or Kobe, and PW is certainly no Phil Jackson or Popovich. This lack of leadership has to be addressed by the front office asap if we want to keep going in the right direction and not regress and look like the confused, chaotic team we are now.
 
Lets just play devils advocate and assume theres a problem.

Cousins came into the season talking about "i should have been number one pick, i want to be rookie of the year"

High ambitions which require hard work and a maturity.

If he's going to throw his toys out of the pram every time he gets a clip round the ear then he needs to wake up.
 
UK_King said:
Lets just play devils advocate and assume theres a problem.

Cousins came into the season talking about "i should have been number one pick, i want to be rookie of the year"

High ambitions which require hard work and a maturity.

If he's going to throw his toys out of the pram every time he gets a clip round the ear then he needs to wake up.
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That's the problem. The kid might be big, but he is only 19. He might not even know what sort of behavior is typical of a mature adult. That's why every good team has a strong leader, someone who knows what he is doing and everyone else knows that he knows what he is doing and are willing to follow his lead. You can't expect a 19 year old kid with immaturity problems to teach himself how to be mature.
 
Boy, I really hope this doesnt become a major problem. Cousins has all the makings of a good post player, and the Kings need a good post player in the worst possible way. He is just a young kid at 20 years old, and you would hope that he might grow out of throwing temper tantrums or whatever he is doing. I can only hope that they can keep this kid headed in the right direction, because if they wiff on this draft pick, the ownership of this team would be wise to start looking at the situation and asking some very serious questions about direction and effectiveness of the GM and Coach, and his staff. There is little room for error as the team is still very young and very prone to falling into bad habits. The only real cure for these things is winning. The Kings need to start winning in the worst possible way. I am very concerned about Landry especially, and how much his game has fallen off. And the fact that Donte Greene came into camp in horrible shape has not helped matters at all. The Kings really could use some good news right about now. Lets hope the team starts winning some games and the team starts coming together as a unit. I am really concerned about the mental condition of this team, and what the future holds if they do not start wining some games.
 
I wouldn't worry about this too much. He's very young but very determined to be the best he can be and help our team to wins. Is he frustrated? Sure. Who wouldn't be? This is a learning experience for him too. It's a done deal, over with and it's time to move on. Hopefully he takes it out on the Suns tonight. Go Kings!
 
His veteran scout (notice the qualifier "veteran", which indicates what you're about to hear is pure BS) called Tyreke Evans a diva. LOL!

I hope Cousins is mad at Westphal, because I certainly am.
 
Asaf said:
That's the problem. The kid might be big, but he is only 19. He might not even know what sort of behavior is typical of a mature adult. That's why every good team has a strong leader, someone who knows what he is doing and everyone else knows that he knows what he is doing and are willing to follow his lead. You can't expect a 19 year old kid with immaturity problems to teach himself how to be mature.
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I'd sort of be with you if he was 15 but he is 20 now i believe.

I was in the England youth team for ten pin bowling and i'll admit when i was 15/16 i had a real attitude problem with people coaching me; i would just ignore all advice and act like a punk when things went wrong.

by the time i was 20 i was well well well past that; course thats just me and everyones different but there comes a time where you think "hang on are all these arguments and spats because of me?"

I'm just musing on this but its the NBA surely he must realise this is an opportunity to grow and not just walk into a team and post 20 and 10 every night.
 
UK_King said:
I'd sort of be with you if he was 15 but he is 20 now i believe.

I was in the England youth team for ten pin bowling and i'll admit when i was 15/16 i had a real attitude problem with people coaching me; i would just ignore all advice and act like a punk when things went wrong.

by the time i was 20 i was well well well past that; course thats just me and everyones different but there comes a time where you think "hang on are all these arguments and spats because of me?"

I'm just musing on this but its the NBA surely he must realise this is an opportunity to grow and not just walk into a team and post 20 and 10 every night.
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I don't know about you, but I don't know many 19-20 year olds who don't think they know better than anybody else, and certainly I know no one at that age who would actually think that something is their fault.
 
Asaf said:
I don't know about you, but I don't know many 19-20 year olds who don't think they know better than anybody else, and certainly I know no one at that age who would actually think that something is their fault.
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Either you don't know many 19-20 year olds at all or it's simply unfortunate that those you do know are that immature.
 
Well, the fact that Napier substantiated this report isn't exactly a positive development. They didn't hire a baby-sitter for the guy because he's 20 going on 40. He's immature. This looks like a bump in the road. You just hope that it doesn't spin out of control, especially if and when this team goes on a losing streak when even "mature" players have a tendancy to act up. I'd hope that Garcia would have a talk with the young man.
 
Kingster said:
They didn't hire a baby-sitter for the guy because he's 20 going on 40. He's immature. This looks like a bump in the road. You just hope that it doesn't spin out of control, especially if and when this team goes on a losing streak when even "mature" players have a tendancy to act up. I'd hope that Garcia would have a talk with the young man.
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This. Until he pulls a Ron-Ron, I can live with a little immaturity now and again. Hell, Webb wasn't exactly Mr. Mature in his early days either.
 
This Evans = diva stuff is a joke. As far as cousins goes...probably expected. We just need to deal and move on. Not too worried yet...growing pains.
 
Attitude

Thank god someone has an attitude. I sure would with the way they have been playing. DMC was the only one who seemed to care during the lakers game. Hell Cisco was even hugging Odom during halftime and before the game. Give me 90's ball back. DMC is what we need.
 
This man has a reason to be upset. He and Tyreke are the only good players on this team and for him to not be starting is ridiculous. Coach Westphal is the one with the problem.
 
I know some of you are not crazy about Amick, but I think he is right on the money with this one, and it gives me some room for optimism in what he said about Cousins - that he refuses to ignore the elephant in the room. Too many elephants were ignored last season, both here on this board, but more importantly on the team. If Cousins needs to act out a little bit to get everyone to take their heads out of their derrieres, then let him act out. He is doing this team a huge favor.
 
DMC Drama Queen - not quite. And hopefully not ever. Recall Artest. There's so many incidents with him, and much more serious than this little Boogie spat with an assistant - it's laughable to compare. Ron-Ron just showing up for practice whenever he felt like it. Or showing up with only a towel as attire. Arguing with a Kings assistant in game. Numerous suspensions. Countless bizarre incidents on the court, off the court, reported and unreported. DeMarcus is just turning 20-years-of-age with a lot ahead of him as a professional and developing young man - this a little bump in the road. Ever since Artest turned 30-years-of-age (he's now 31) he seems to have really cleaned up his act - finally a mature vet - relatively speaking.
 
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