Earth to Reggie... SHUT THE HELL UP!

[sactownfan]

I listened to Reggies talk with the media about the season. (http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/) I was a little bothered about his thinking, that Artest is the only guy we could count on to get pts. when we gotta have them. Funny that sometimes i feel like the ball should be in anyone elses hands during crunch time.

Anyway sure enough it angers Martin duh! (http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/872031.html) so after all this talk about ending the season the right way. I guess it doesn't get any better than pissing off your actual franchise player and star! ! ! !

What doesnt Reggie get about talking to the Media yet? look at Larry Brown, Thomas, any other fool coach that talks crap about his best players in the media! how often does that actually inspire them to be better players vs just make things worse.

Well great way to end it indeed... i was just starting to think Reggie is getting it and is gonna be ok going forward... and to think this was all over Artest ! ! ! a player thats in no way (cross your fingers) the future of this team. So dumb. Kevin has been nothing but a stand up, classy, tactful team player... Reggie needs to return the favor and pull it together. Maybe this crap will work for Hawes to push him... but Martin has paid his dues and more than proved himself in clutch situations... Spurs vs Kings?

Reggie think about what your gonna say before you say it!

 

[Bricklayer]

Okay...

1) I kinda agree with Reggie on his initial point -- Kevin can score, but can he consistently create for himself or others at the end of games?

2) That said I agree with the OP -- Reggie is in love with his own voice/publicty and really really needs to shut up. First he insults Beno. Then Kevin. And its been going on all year. Think he can coach, but can see him running himself right out of a job just by turning the team against him over time. And of course the media aids and abets because they are in love with a coach who will play the blabbermouth after having to dig for scraps during the Adelman years, and to a lesser degree trust noone Muss years.

3) Kevin is developing an ego. Listening to his own press I think. Great players need confidence. But when you've reached the "someday we'll realize how great I am" level...

 

[Rug King]

When you'd like to trade a guy like Artest with all his bad press, you have to build him up as much as possible. While I don't really want the ball in Ron's hands at the end of the game, I can see why Reggie would say this to the press.

As far as Kevin, I think Reggie is on the money with that statement. Kevin is a very good 2 guard and could be our best player but his taking control of the game hasn't been something I've a lot of.

 

[diggining]

Whether the statement is true or not, I find it very hard to believe that going public with it instead of (at least first going with) a private meeting is the way to go.

 

[Kingster]

I agree. Reggie needs a muzzle. What an idiot. He's showing stupidity or coaching inexperience or both. I'm so pissed right now I'd like for Theus to be a throw-in to whatever team we can trade Artest. Of course, Martin is going to be miffed by Theus's crush on Artest, the head case, and his statement that they have nobody but Artest to throw the ball to at the end of games. I'd be miffed too if I were him. And it's not like Theus said, "Nobody is better than Artest at the end of games." He just makes a blanket statement that infers it is Artest or nothing.

I have no problem with anything Martin said. He needs to boost himself after Theus's statement. If the coach doesn't believe in you, you darn better believe in yourself. If he doesn't have that confidence about himself, he's going to be Theus's self-fullfilling prophecy and be our next Peja.

Theus just lost a LOT of points in my book.

 

[Jerichoholic]

This is getting ridiculous, I know Theus is a rookie coach but he needs to start realizing that handling players and reporters is just as important if not more so than the X's and O's of coaching.

This was evident when Theus and Martin were having problems midseason causing Martin and the Kings to be playing their worst level of the year. Once they settled their differences Martin started playing at an all-star level and the Kings won games.

Now after publicly insulting Martin (that may not have been the intention but that's how he took it, which is the important thing) we don't know where they stand. And we need these guys to be on the same page entering next year.

Combine this with the Beno thing, as we were approaching the offseason and therefore Beno's free agency Theus basically called him soft, which Beno hates (Remember, that may not have been the intention but that's how he took it, which is the important thing). He may not stay as a result.

Hey, I'm all for keeping Artest happy if he is going to stay but not at the expense of our players and especially our key players.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Brian Shaw wouldn't have said stuff like this. Just saying.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

Brian Shaw wouldn't have said stuff like this. Just saying.

Not sure if Brian Shaw would have even led us into the 36-40 win bracket.

 

[Heuge]

Not sure if Brian Shaw would have even led us into the 36-40 win bracket.

Yay, we get the 13th pick...

 

[upinsmoke]

I agree with theus. Martin while a good player is not even the kings best player he simply does not bring enough to the table YET. To say kevin has paid his dues is false he is still paying his dues. Martins pay day was not for his on court accomplishments but for his POTENTIAL which he has. I would like to see more out of Kevin period. Reggie knows what he is talking about he has been around the game for a long time, he can see what Artest brings to the team and what the youngsters could when their time comes.

 

[sactownfan]

I agree with theus. Martin while a good player is not even the kings best player he simply does not bring enough to the table YET. To say kevin has paid his dues is false he is still paying his dues. Martins pay day was not for his on court accomplishments but for his POTENTIAL which he has. I would like to see more out of Kevin period. Reggie knows what he is talking about he has been around the game for a long time, he can see what Artest brings to the team and what the youngsters could when their time comes.

I think we can all agree that we wouldn't have a problem with either Artest or Martin taking the must make shots. In fact like i said Artest has too many times been in this situation and ended up not passing when he should have and forcing a horrible shot. At least if its not there for Martin you know he will pass it. Yes Artest is the better all around player but the drama is only over offense and taking the big shot.

 

[DocHolliday]

I agree with theus. Martin while a good player is not even the kings best player he simply does not bring enough to the table YET. To say kevin has paid his dues is false he is still paying his dues. Martins pay day was not for his on court accomplishments but for his POTENTIAL which he has. I would like to see more out of Kevin period. Reggie knows what he is talking about he has been around the game for a long time, he can see what Artest brings to the team and what the youngsters could when their time comes.

If I was Kevin I would be getting pretty tired of hearing about my "Potential" right about now. He was the 6th highest scorer in the league. That's not potential, that means he's achieving. Is he a perfect player yet, no there are a few if any flawless players. Can he still develop, sure. You should be developing until you retire. But, Kevin is achieving in the here and now.

 

[upinsmoke]

Theus has put the ball in Kevins hands late in games this year. However Thus has seen martin all but disappear in the fourth while facing the more stingy defensive teams in the league and thats what theus is saying Martin needs to up his game.

 

[Heuge]

Late in games, it isnt even close. I would much rather have Kevin with the ball then Ron.

 

[PurpleHaze]

On yesterdays SportsLine at KHTK Grant Napear said that Reggie Theus would be on the radio show today. It's from 4-7pm but he didn't say what time coach will be on the air. Maybe things will get cleared up a bit...?

 

[creAtivetfh]

Yay, we get the 13th pick...

12th pick

and I kinda like it. Maybe its a ploy to get his best player to finally grow some balls. He has all the ability in the world, the only thing he lacks is that killer instinct. If it takes his coach calling him out for him to get that, then i'm all for it.

Think about a pissed off Kevin Martin just trying to destroy teams. Sounds good to me.

 

[fnordius]

Think about a pissed off Kevin Martin just trying to destroy teams. Sounds good to me.

Sure. Unless it's our team that's getting destroyed.

 

[hrdboild]

This is getting ridiculous, I know Theus is a rookie coach but he needs to start realizing that handling players and reporters is just as important if not more so than the X's and O's of coaching.

This was evident when Theus and Martin were having problems midseason causing Martin and the Kings to be playing their worst level of the year. Once they settled their differences Martin started playing at an all-star level and the Kings won games.

Now after publicly insulting Martin (that may not have been the intention but that's how he took it, which is the important thing) we don't know where they stand. And we need these guys to be on the same page entering next year.

Combine this with the Beno thing, as we were approaching the offseason and therefore Beno's free agency Theus basically called him soft, which Beno hates (Remember, that may not have been the intention but that's how he took it, which is the important thing). He may not stay as a result.

Hey, I'm all for keeping Artest happy if he is going to stay but not at the expense of our players and especially our key players.

Okay, so if a player shies away from contact and he's a free agent it's not okay to call him soft because he might not like us anymore? I think there is a point that Reggie could sometimes make his comments with a little more tact, sure. Choosing what to keep internal and what to make public is an important part of the whole coaching psychology business that guys like Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich are really good at. But I don't agree that it's wrong to tell guys where they can improve. So what if Beno hates being called soft anyway? So what if Martin thinks he's "the man"? They've got to prove it by practicing hard and playing hard over the summer and next season. It's on them to prove everyone else wrong. Beno has been injured, whether he likes that reputation or not. It's not like anyone is making that up. I think as a coach you have to risk alienating your players by telling them what they need to hear. That's the only way the players are ever going to respect you.

 

[VF21]

I agree with the OP. Martin is part of our future and yet he's consistently been belittled, overlooked, etc. by our coach. Martin has handled this stuff incredibly well IMHO, but he deserves better than this.

Martin, even missing 20 games, was the 6th leading scorer in the whole freaking NBA. Prove he's the man? He's already exceeded so many people's expectations it's unbelievable. If Reggie Theus is having problems with Martin, he needs to tell him so - but not by publicly dissing him while singing the praises of Ron Artest. Theus is NOT gonna garner any respect from the players if he keeps mouthing off like this to the media. You can take that to the bank...

 

[vfettke]

Martin, even missing 20 games, was the 7th leading scorer in the whole freaking NBA.

Actually... he was the 6th leading scorer. On top of that I have to mention what was posted on StR and linked to by Amick about Kevin's scoring ability:

How many players have ever averaged at least 9 FTAs per game and shot at least 40% from three (taking at least 1 three per game)? One. Kevin Martin, this season.
How many players have ever averaged at least 8 FTAs per game and shot at least 40% from three (taking at least 1 three per game)? Two. Kevin Martin and Michael Jordan.

So it really bothers me that Theus would say some of the stuff he says. Artest is the only one he thinks should have the ball in crunch time? Artest just demands it more and usually hoists up a horrible shot or turns it over. Meanwhile, Martin can score it from outside or take it to the hole, which either results in points or free throws.

 

[VF21]

Actually... he was the 6th leading scorer.

Oops. Thanks. That was a typo - which I've now fixed.

 

[BMiller52]

Actually... he was the 6th leading scorer. On top of that I have to mention what was posted on StR and linked to by Amick about Kevin's scoring ability:



So it really bothers me that Theus would say some of the stuff he says. Artest is the only one he thinks should have the ball in crunch time? Artest just demands it more and usually hoists up a horrible shot or turns it over. Meanwhile, Martin can score it from outside or take it to the hole, which either results in points or free throws.

I'm guessing Theus is the one calling plays for Artest to hoist up those horrible shots...

 

[VF21]

Artest isn't breaking any of Reggie Theus' records. Take it for what you will...

 

[Vlade4GM]

Not sure if Brian Shaw would have even led us into the 36-40 win bracket.

Oh no, what a tragedy that would have been

 

[upinsmoke]

5:35 radio interview with Theus.

 

[acisking]

while I agree that Theus made a mistake by basically admitting that he has no confidence in Martib, I think Brick makes a good point that Martin seems to be growing quite an ego. Self-praise is always a bad sign.

 

[upinsmoke]

"I would never disrespect Kevin"

Reggie said he ment Ron is the only player that he can throw to the ball to and draw double teams and thats all he ment.

Reggie Theus interview

 

[VF21]

while I agree that Theus made a mistake by basically admitting that he has no confidence in Martib, I think Brick makes a good point that Martin seems to be growing quite an ego. Self-praise is always a bad sign.

Totally erroneous perception. Martin is finally standing up for himself a bit. How is he supposed to react? He's got a right to receive credit for his accomplishments. And he has a right to expect at least some credit from his coach. I'm sorry if this offends anyone but I really think Theus feels threatened because Martin is capable of breaking virtually every Kings record Theus set. And no, I don't have anything to base that on but gut instinct...

Reggie said he ment Ron is the only player that he can throw to the ball to and draw double teams and thats all he ment.

Theus backpedaling is ludicrous and a more than a little smarmy, IMHO. And it's just going to get worse. Artest is the only one who draws double teams? Erm, WHAT?!?!?!? Theus is no stranger to the media. He could have said that if he meant that.

Reggie needs to STFU. Now...

 

[kupman]

This is all much to do nothing IMHO. I totally get what Theus was trying to say. I am sure that Kmart is a big enough boy to take these comments for what the are worth and the spirit in which they were meant.

As far as Martin developing an ego, well, he has always had a healthy ego. He showed signs of it as soon as he was drafted. I am sure he has had healthy ego since at least the age of 13. He has also evidenced two different sides of himself....one a humble citizen and the other as a strong NBA player with an ego to match..it's no big deal....I am fine with all of it.

 

[chelle]

I do not like this at all. I have lost respect for Theus. Heaven help us if Ron is our best anything. I am disappointed in both what Reggie said and how he said it. If a player like Ron gets more respect from the coach than a player like Martin, we are in trouble. Just to be clear, when I say a player like Ron, I am referring to his behavior and play while in Sacto - not before. Theus is the coach. I do believe that everything rises and falls with leadership. He is the leader. In my opinion, he is not showing very good leadership qualities right now. I am disappointed.