Fire Paul Westphal

[Bricklayer]

Uh, this has been going since last year with Westfail giving Evans free reign. Both Hawes and Noc said the same thing. Now it's Cuz. See a trend yet?

Unlamented dudes with oversized egos can't deal?

And I would say clearly this does in fact cement Westphal if there was any doubt for the rest of the season. This offseason who knows. You obviously can't make a move in this environment without threatening to have the whole thing blow up, and you can't let a 20yr old hothead rookie pull off a Deron.

Cousins desperately needs a tusted confidante in his corner whispering in his ear, but I don't know if a personality like that will really trust anyone. Cisco apparently tries, we even brought in his old high scool coach, touted as a mentor figure, and this stuff still happens, Makes you wonder what he would be like without al that.

 

[captain bill]

Uh, this has been going since last year with Westfail giving Evans free reign. Both Hawes and Noc said the same thing. Now it's Cuz. See a trend yet?

I agree, I think Westphal needs to go. I just don't think he can be fired right now with this situation. I would be happy to see him go after this season, but I think firing him midseason would send the wrong message (and really throw this team into disarray).

 

[swisshh]

This falls on the FO for not getting a vet guard and for YET AGAIN anointing a young guy godmode before he's earned it.

 

[bajaden]

Unlamented dudes with oversized egos can't deal?

And I would say clearly this does in fact cement Westphal if there was any doubt for the rest of the season. This offseason who knows. You obviously can't make a move in this environment without threatening to have the whole thing blow up, and you can't let a 20yr old hothead rookie pull off a Deron.

Cousins desperately needs a tusted confidante in his corner whispering in his ear, but I don't know if a personality like that will really trust anyone. Cisco apparently tries, we even brought in his old high scool coach, touted as a mentor figure, and this stuff still happens, Makes you wonder what he would be like without al that.

I think if either you, or I were to criticize others for having oversized ego's, it would be like the pot calling the kettle black. I agree that Westphal is going nowhere this season. After the season, it wouldn't surprise me to see him gone. He's OK, but he leaves a lot to be desired. And I sincerely doubt he'll ever lead any team to a championship. On every team he has ever coached there has been chaos.

You mention Cisco, and its been reported that Cisco advised against leaving Cousins off the plane. He wanted the players to work it out themselves. You and I both know thats how its normally done on a team. In many cases, no one ever knows about these incidents. That's why they close the lockerroom to the press for a period of time after the game. To let the air clear, if necessary. But not this franchise. They seem to love airing their dirty laundry for all to see. It does make for good conversation around the water cooler.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think if either you, or I were to criticize others for having oversized ego's, it would be like the pot calling the kettle black.

There is nothing oversized about my ego -- I think I am brilliant, and I am right.


As an aside, chasing a teammate down the tunnel after a close loss and engaging in a scuffle with him in front of reporters is not exactly the team deciding to air its dirty laundry. Its you kissing your secretary, on camera, at the company's New Year's Eve party.

 

[bajaden]

There is nothing oversized about my ego -- I think I am brilliant, and I am right.


As an aside, chasing a teammate down the tunnel after a close loss and engaging in a scuffle with him in front of reporters is not exactly the team deciding to air its dirty laundry. Its you kissing your secretary, on camera, at the company's New Year's Eve party.

Ahhhh, you sound like General George Patton when he was talking about General Montgomery of the British army. He said something along the lines of, "We both have large ego's, the difference is, I know it".

 

[miltonap]

Too early?? NO. This guy's horrible, and I've had enough. I don't care who we're playing, the bulls/trailblazers/whoever. He obviously has no idea what he's doing and we're not gonna go anywhere with him as our coach.

Our offense is just terrible. All I see is a bunch of people standing around while the the guards take turns running isolation plays. Where are the screens? Where are the pick and rolls? Where is the damn ball movement. Simple plays that you see other teams run. Simple plays that you see high school teams run.

I think it's ridiculous how many iso's we run. Pretty sure this guy doesn't even have a playbook. Most of the shots we do make seem to be off lapses in the other teams defense, not because we ran a good play. Nice motion offense man. The ball stalls somewhere ALL the time.

The times I have seen the ball move have been when our reserves are in. I see Fredette calling for screens, using them, penetrating, kicking it out. These are just fundamental basketball plays. I see Isiah Thomas, a 5'9" rookie at least attempting to set up his players. These are ROOKIES.

And for those people who are going to say, "Oh, we have a lot of new players, they need more time to adjust" GTFO. This is a repeat of last year. NOTHING is different. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt with the rotations since this is a relatively new team. Other than that, No offense, no chemistry, no ball movement. That has nothing to do with this year. This guy does not know how to utilize our player's strengths at all. And what's with this terrible transition defense?? Or defense in general. Slow on rotations, being lazy while defending the PnR. This guy needs to get in these player's faces which he obviously doesn't do.

Anyone who has common sense and actually watches these games will agree with me. We're not going anywhere with this guy as head coach.

 

[LakersStink]

Co-sign!

 

[Italics]

I've been saying this since the first preseason game. I am new to the Kings, and it didn't take long for me to realize what a selfish, me-me-me team this is.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Anyone who has common sense and actually watches these games will agree with me.

LOL, get over yourself.

 

[swisshh]

Westphal's greatest talent is making excuses. Some fans envy this talent and have picked up on it. So let's take a giant crap on these excuses.

1. We had no preseason!
-The problems evident on this team have been evident for the past two years. So he's effectively had two years and gone nowhere with the offense or dumb mistakes.
-Every other team has this same problem. Why do the Kings look like the highschool squad?

2. We're young!
-So are the Cavs and TWolves, but they have actual systems. They look like far less of a mess despite roster change and inexperience.

3.We got new players!
-That Blazers team that whooped the Kings arse had 3 new starters on offense from a year ago. They also lost one of their major players in Brandon Roy. They have a new PG.
-Also, see above note for #2.

4. Games are compacted!
-That Blazers team started an ancient frontcourt. We're the youngest starting five in the league, but end each game looking winded. Needs to be some accountability for conditioning.
-The Bulls team that looks fresher than us is starting out their season on a west coast trip. The Kings have been able to stay mostly at home.

 

[jayfly]

In a lot of cases it is not the coach's fault, if the players cant or wont execute the game plan it really hampers the coach's effectiveness. But in this case I might agree, it does not look like this team is being coached. I said the same thing last year. I just dont think Paul is effective as a teacher or a leader, nor are his in game adjustments very effective either.

 

[TehSwimGuy]

Signed. I've heard stories about his college coaching and NBA stints. I don't believe it's the players on the Kings, but the poorness of their coach.

Hell, fire him and make Bobby J head coach. At least he has experience from some of the best, and will work them a **** ton to get things right.

 

[Arkitect]

Well you can fire a coach, but you need to replace him with someone. Who is available that will be able to instill an offensive system in the lockout shortened season? We went through this before, and I think we are in the best coaching shape since Rick. I am not saying that Westphal can't improve. But I am saying to take a deep breathe, look around, and stop worrying so much about our coach. It could be much, much worse.

 

[gunks]

Ah, my favorite thread returns for the 11-12 season!

 

[SacTownKid]

Not yet. Tonight was a step up from him. He finally shortened that rotation and guys were at least trying to run an offense. Practice did some good.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Westphal's greatest talent is making excuses. Some fans envy this talent and have picked up on it. So let's take a giant crap on these excuses.

1. We had no preseason!
-The problems evident on this team have been evident for the past two years. So he's effectively had two years and gone nowhere with the offense or dumb mistakes.
-Every other team has this same problem. Why do the Kings look like the highschool squad?

2. We're young!
-So are the Cavs and TWolves, but they have actual systems. They look like far less of a mess despite roster change and inexperience.

3.We got new players!
-That Blazers team that whooped the Kings arse had 3 new starters on offense from a year ago. They also lost one of their major players in Brandon Roy. They have a new PG.
-Also, see above note for #2.

4. Games are compacted!
-That Blazers team started an ancient frontcourt. We're the youngest starting five in the league, but end each game looking winded. Needs to be some accountability for conditioning.
-The Bulls team that looks fresher than us is starting out their season on a west coast trip. The Kings have been able to stay mostly at home.

Sorry but that's just BS. He did mention that the Bulls won 62 games and that the Kings are young but he also said that those things aren't an excuse and that he wasn't happy with the team tonight.

 

[JB_kings]

Westphal doesn't do too well when he has many choices on the bench. He's a bit too quick to try and play the game of match up with the other team. Pick 7 or 8 of the best guys and send the rest on vacation. He just takes way too long to lock in on who should play. This leaves a fix list of about a thousand things. If he has less choices, the fix-it list shrinks considerably. Shorten the combinations of guys on the floor and it's going to speed up the learning process. Players should play 35 minutes and that oddly enough is about 7 guys. It doesn't matter if this season is more compressed. These guys can play 35 a game 4 times a week with no problem.

Here I'll even help him get started... send Salmons far far away. He plays decent defense, but he's best at the position with young depth already. Petrie missed the call on his ability to play the SF position. And the next one he can send packing is JT. No explanation needed there.

 

[Section 101]

Well you can fire a coach, but you need to replace him with someone. Who is available that will be able to instill an offensive system in the lockout shortened season? We went through this before, and I think we are in the best coaching shape since Rick. I am not saying that Westphal can't improve. But I am saying to take a deep breathe, look around, and stop worrying so much about our coach. It could be much, much worse.

At this point it would be smart to promote Smart. Rarely do coaches outside the organization take over mid season.

 

[jayzfelon]

Plus 100000000000 I'm tired of the same excuse. Even if I was guarding the kings who hasn't played in a while can probably read our offense. Its so easy to defend at least run a simple pick and roll every once I. A while. Hickaon and LBJ were successful at running this. I don't see why we can't do hickson and our 3 guards or cousins and our 3 guards.

 

[LakersStink]

Taken from a blog called "Kingstalkingpoints":

Fundamentally, Kings are awful

Lets see. The Kings can't make free throws. They get beaten in transition way too easily. They have no idea how to run a break. The offensive sets are non-existent.

Can you say "fundamentally pathetic?" I can.

This is not about talent. Fundamentals are instilled with discipline by a good coach. They are something you can rely on when things get tough.

Right now, the Kings rely on one-on-one play and three-point shooting when times get tough. Sometimes that works, mostly it doesn't.

Does anyone notice in the Kings' front office? Anyone?

_________________

Carl Landry quote from when he was here: "The basketball IQ on this team is not very good,” Landry said, “and that (knowledge) takes time. If you look at J.T. (Thompson), he’s had three or four coaches in his four years, coaches that probably weren’t that good. Everybody in this league can play. But it’s about spacing, having the right guys on the floor, running the right play. Move the ball. Set back screens, down screens, and play together. Our shooting percentage is so low because everything is one-on-one.”

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I co-sign this petition. I've seen enough of him, we need to make a move before the players lose all their confidence for the year! Its clear were not a playoff team this year. But I do expect growth, and since Westphal has joined this team there hasnt been growth at all. Its just a rollercoaster, improve on something one night, then miserably fail at it for two months.

You can see it, the players are playing for themselves, they are not a unit. I'd rather see a crappy team unit, then a bunch of players trying to play for themselves. We dont even have a CRAPPY TEAM UNIT. Its individual play.

Westphal makes so many excuses in the media, but never takes the blame on himself admitting he has to do his job better, or work harder. I honestly think the team is keeping him around becuse he sugercoats things in the media.

There are a bunch of other options I would be wayyyy happier with.. Sam Mitchell (2007 Coach of the year), Keith Smart (Our Assistant), Don Nelson (Screw it, bring him in), Jeff Van Gundy (annoying and ugly but still better).. these are just off the top of my mind.

We need to give life back to these players, start making some progress. PW has been in this organization far too long. Why the hell did we let go of Rick Adelman.

 

[Kings Faithful]

Something is wrong when your still trying to find a lineup that works in the final 2 minutes of a game. I love how he whips out the 3 guard lineup like some sort of end game dagger.

 

[swisshh]

Keith Smart will be the coach before the season ends.

But to give Westphal one excuse that works, the roster is a damned mess. Half of the fault falls upon management for assembling a non-functioning roster.

 

[TehSwimGuy]

I co-sign this petition. I've seen enough of him, we need to make a move before the players lose all their confidence for the year! Its clear were not a playoff team this year. But I do expect growth, and since Westphal has joined this team there hasnt been growth at all. Its just a rollercoaster, improve on something one night, then miserably fail at it for two months.

You can see it, the players are playing for themselves, they are not a unit. I'd rather see a crappy team unit, then a bunch of players trying to play for themselves. We dont even have a CRAPPY TEAM UNIT. Its individual play.

Westphal makes so many excuses in the media, but never takes the blame on himself admitting he has to do his job better, or work harder. I honestly think the team is keeping him around becuse he sugercoats things in the media.

There are a bunch of other options I would be wayyyy happier with.. Sam Mitchell (2007 Coach of the year), Keith Smart (Our Assistant), Don Nelson (Screw it, bring him in), Jeff Van Gundy (annoying and ugly but still better).. these are just off the top of my mind.

We need to give life back to these players, start making some progress. PW has been in this organization far too long. Why the hell did we let go of Rick Adelman.

That's what I've been asking all these years. In my opinion, it should be known as the "Rick Adelman curse". Treated him like **** in his last year, and after he left I don't think we've been above .500 since.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

Keith Smart will be the coach before the season ends.

why wait tho?why not just do it now. we all kno PWs going to be gone sooner or later.

 

[TheWileyVet]

I'm bumping this mofo

 

[Arkitect]

Keith Smart has never coached a team that made it to the playoffs. He has been fired each of the last 2 season. How is that an improvement? Making a coaching change right now is simply not going to make this team any better, and has a pretty good chance of making them worse. Young teams need stability. Thankfully, the front office seems to be more level headed than the fans and realize this so you all might as well get used to Paul Westphal as coach because he is not going anywhere until next summer. If the didn't get fired last year, he is not going to get fired this year.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Never been a huge fan of Westphal but have to agree with Arkitect here. Firing him now serves no purpose.

 

[bajaden]

I'm not about to defend Westphal. He was angry tonight after the game. Probably because he knows he's running out of rope. He talked about going forward together as a team. I assume he meant playing together as a team. Thats all well and good, but he has to live with the monsters he created. He gave carte blanche to Tyreke for two years, and now suddenly expects him to do a mid course correction in a couple of weeks. Look, I didn't expect to win this game tonight. But the truth is, it was there for the taking if we just would have had any kind of execution at all on both ends of the court. Does anyone know how to pass the ball on a fast break? I won't even get into freethrows.

I'm not a fan of Westphal's, I've seen nothing in the 2 plus years he's been here that change my mind. There's talent on this team, and its the coaches job to use that talent. There was a lot of frustration on the players faces tonight. Cousins threw in the towel at about the 5 minute mark. Fredette was driving into the lane, and no one, and I mean no one was cutting to the basket. He was visibly frustrated. And yes, he shouldn't pick up his dribble under the basket with three players towering over him. But I'll excuse him more than the other players that were just standing around watching. All this team needs is a good coach. Actually, its really hard to make a judgement on how good this team might be with Westphal at the helm.

By the way, Derrick Rose is freaking amazing. I swear to god, there were times I thought he could fly. What a great player!