CurseOfTheSalmons
Starter
Hahaaha. Good laugh. Thanks.
Furillo: Time for Kings to get rid of Cousins
- Thread starter VF21
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KingsFanSince85
All-Star
Allow me to front and center that, because I can guarantee you people will try to ignore it if it doesn't support their argument.
This is DeMarcus Cousisn making the Kings worse and holding back his teammates:
"This can't possibly be correct. Boogie shoots the ball too much when he's on the floor. No way his teammates are better when he plays. He's selfish and brings down team morale. BTW, what's the Kings record when Cuz doesn't play? Wait, nevermind. That doesn't help my argument...."<now trolling the internet for something negative to post>
-- Every Boogie Naysayer
Yeah? So what's the Kings record when he does play?
gunks
Hall of Famer
If we trade Cuz, wherever he ends up will be my "A" team.
I think Vlade is too smart to ship him out. But then again, who knows how long Vlade will be here?
They really should change the name of the team to "Burning Dumsters" or "Fiascos".
The Sacramento Fiascos..... I like the sound of that.
I think Vlade is too smart to ship him out. But then again, who knows how long Vlade will be here?
They really should change the name of the team to "Burning Dumsters" or "Fiascos".
The Sacramento Fiascos..... I like the sound of that.
Sac.1989
Starter
The culture is not toxic. The team culture is fine. At no point has anyone in the locker room come out and shared frustration at a lack of togetherness. None what so ever. You can't blame cousins for WCS throwing barbs at Karl, it's clear as day he has lost the locker room through his own doing.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
So the Culture is not lacking, but the locker room is "lost?" I can tell you that if the locker room is "lost," the Culture is definitely lacking. Culture doesn't just include the togetherness of players off the court. There is the willingness to sacrifice on the court for the common goal of winning, being respectful to each other on the court, respectfulness of the coach and his approach, the synergy of goals of the coach and management and ownership. This team is as far away from having a healthy winning culture as the moon is from the earth.
It's not who they lose it's who we get. And, by the way, I'll be sitting there and I am not a clueless fan. It's not sufficient to protect what we have, our critical issue is what we add.
I have no idea what the "culture" of the Kings is as I have no access to the locker room or the front office. I'm not even sure what culture actually means in real terms.
As far as players respecting each other I always like to see it but it isn't a requirement for a winning team. Kobe has five rings and didn't seem to respect too many teammates beyond Pau Gasol. For that matter LeBron James has appeared outright defiant and disrespectful towards Spoelstra and Blatt.
I DO think the Kings need to get everyone on the same page. I would hope Vivek's goal would be to support his basketball people and otherwise stay out of the decision making process on the basketball side while stewarding over the Kings business side.
But Vlade and Karl haven't been on the same page from the start and there were always signs of that regardless of how each tried to gloss over those things.
And the players aren't in the same page as Karl and I don't blame them. Karl has not tried to adapt to his roster at all and his schemes don't fit his personnel. I can't even figure out what they are trying to do on the defensive end. I'm sure some of that is the players not executing but I can't see what the strategy even is.
Clearly if the front office isn't in sync with the coach and the players aren't in sync with the coach then the coach needs to go.
It's why I think the Malone firing was terrible. Not because Malone is such a fantastic coach, but because he and the players were on the same page. They bought in and we're playing hard for him. Not just Cousins, but Gay, McLemore, Collison etc. IT has mentioned how much he liked and respected Malone and that they still communicate regularly. Somehow I doubt IT is texting D'Alessandro.
In that instance the disconnect was between the coach and the front office and maybe the owner too.
And maybe Cousins does need to go too if he can't be a part of the solution.
Or maybe the solution is to get a coach that is in sync with Vlade and with the players. Who earns their respect by having schemes that maximize their strengths and minimizes their weaknesses. And who doesn't throw them under the bus to the media.
Maybe then the Kings could actually win more games than they lose and the "culture" will all of a sudden be much improved.
I like your thoughts particularly if all we need is a new coach to right the ship. I'm not at all sure that's the case. We need a new team leader whether we lose Cuz or not. Cuz not only needs a coach ne looks up to, he needs a fellow player he looks up to. I thought it might be Rondo but that really hasn't filled Cuz's or rather the team's needs fr n court leadership. If we can't get the right new coach and a Pau Gasol type then out with Cuz.
Glenn
Hall of Famer
I think this team with no player changes could be significantly better with the appropriate coach assuming all coaches aren't boycotting us. Of course a decent SG would help and perhaps some other creative trades could boost us.
Not sure if Cuz needs a player to look up to. He has had a choice of several this year. He needs more of a father figure. Winning might help a lot, also.
I thought we signed Butler to play that role. I hope someday to learn why we signed him although perhaps Vlade had an idea not shared by Karl.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I can't find fault with anything you said. My preference is to go forward with Cousins and a new coach. Here's the question. Who? No matter who, how do we know if he'll get along with Cousins? We need someone that can coach the team with creativity and adaptability. But we also need both the new coach and Cousins to be on the same page, and stay on the same page. Obviously there aren't any guarantee's. Remember Cousins got along great with Keith Smart, and then he didn't. We don't know for sure how his relationship with Malone would have played out long term. I believe it would have been fine, but, once again, we don't know.
When is Cousins available for an extension? My greatest fear is that we have another bad year next year, and then were dealing with a player that's in the last year of his contract. If he won't sign an extension at that point, I think we'll be in trouble, and every team in the league will know that. Something to think about...
Glenn
Hall of Famer
I really hope it's not that difficult but I get it. I wonder if we could borrow Malone to find a coach. I'm sure that's not legal.
The major item of fact that gives me a little sense of hope is that Cousins has yet to have a coach who had a career as a head coach after he left the Kings except Malone. Probably Cuz is difficult to get along with but it sure seems like the coaches have had a major lack of coaching skills.
I can hope.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I think this team with no player changes could be significantly better with the appropriate coach assuming all coaches aren't boycotting us. Of course a decent SG would help and perhaps some other creative trades could boost us.
Not sure if Cuz needs a player to look up to. He has had a choice of several this year. He needs more of a father figure. Winning might help a lot, also.
I suspect Vlade had a lot of ideas not shared by Karl. However, if we hire the greatest coach in the world, this team, while better, will never compete for a championship without some changes. But, tiny steps, tiny steps....
Glenn
Hall of Famer
I think we would all settle for baby steps especially if it meant no coaching change after the season. We may very well win 30 (a baby step) but that's no success in my book and I am sure you agree. What an awful season! It's my worst based on my projection and the awful result. I will say this over and over as it bugs the crud out of me.
We're running out of years, mi amigo.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
If you don't know what Culture is, then how do you propose that winning is going to improve it? How can you acquire something of which you have no idea of what it is?
I can tell you one thing for certain - you just don't go out and acquire players of talent who have questionable character and then decide you're going to establish a winning Culture after the fact. You better have an idea of those intangibles that make for a winning player and a winning team, aka Culture, prior to your personnel decisions; otherwise you're doomed.
My point is that culture is one of those nebulous terms that people love to throw around. Sometimes players get along and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they respect their coach and sometimes they don't. Winning doesn't guarantee good relationships but it definitely makes it more likely.
The Spurs didn't have their "culture" until they won. Neither did the Warriors. In fact, in 2012 the fans booed the owner over the move that turned them into a powerhouse, the GM that made that trade (and drafted Curry & Thompson) was fired and their next coach alienated seemingly everyone in the front office and many of his assistants while his team under achieved. But suddenly last year the Warriors had an amazing "culture".
That's the disconnect. Teams don't create a winning "culture" and then start winning games. Teams start winning games and suddenly the coach is much smarter, the locker room much happier, the front office more shrewd and the team much more fun to watch and marketable.
To paraphrase Red from "The Shawshank Redemption" culture is just a made up word.
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I don't think a new coach is all the team needs. But it's a big part of things. I don't think a Rondo/Gay/Cousins core is ideal. I don't think the team can win getting nearly zero contribution from the SG spot. I think the Kings need more defense (both more defensive minded players and more effort from guys like Rondo) and more shooting. The Kings could do with one of those role players that just gets under opponents skin. Barnes, Dellavadova, Steven Adams type guys. And the Kings need Cousins to have a lower usage rate, higher efficiency and fewer turnovers.
And to control his emotions better. But I really believe that him being used properly and the team winning would go a very long way towards fixing that.
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Gliesian
Bench
Just to play devil's advocate, WCS is perfect for Karl's fast pace. Might be a fun team to watch... kinda jazzy? I honestly wonder if Vivek forced Karl to play fast, b/c Karl should have known better. I pretty much blame Vivek for everything bad that's happened, especially his utilization of the 1984 robot fleet that can see through thin clothing.
Both from being a high school student and from spending seven years teaching high school I know that the fastest way to lose your classroom is for them to realize that you don't know what you are talking about. As a teacher I had a very solid knowledge of physics, came prepared in terms of my lesson plans and in a few cases when I was asked a question I didn't know the answer to I would tell them so and try and find an answer before the next class. I knew my stuff, explained it well (from what students told me) and didn't BS them.
Which is a long winded way of explaining how I view Cousins and coaches. He just wants someone who knows his stuff and doesn't BS him. Smart probably did connect on a personal level but Cousins saw what we fans did - Smart wasn't a very good head coach. Neither was Westphal. Or Natt. Or Corbin. Or (at this stage) Karl. There's a reason none of those guys have had another head coaching gig.
Malone wasn't Red Auerbach but he knew his stuff and didn't BS Cousins. That's really all the next coach needs to do. I don't think it's that complicated or is about placating Boogie or stroking his ego.
As for his contract, DeMarcus is signed for two seasons after this one. If he's not traded this offseason (and personally I hope he isn't) then NEXT season is the make or break year. If the Kings haven't started moving in a very positive direction then I think the team has to consider moving him before they lose their bargaining position. Then again, another year like this and is fully expect Cousins to demand a trade anyway.
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Big Cuz 15
All-Star
all planned man. we're bringing back that 7'5 indian dude to replace cuz. we're going to take over india soon w/ the new g1 center. they know cricket but not basketball.
KingsFanSince85
All-Star
Markedly better than when he doesn't. So what's your point?
Sac.1989
Starter
unity builds cohesion which in turn builds culture.
you cant have a winning and successful culture without the two pre requisites and my point is we have unity, respect and cohesion in the locker room among the players. Their angst and issues are the coaching, coaching style and how they are managed and to this point we, the fans can see the simple, fundamental issues they are have concerns with. Its simple. We can very well have a winning culture, we halfway there with Malone.
You know my point.
Chubbs
Starter
If your point is they're bad with him, and bad without him, then you're describing every King of the last 10 years.
King Baller
All-Star
Funky nailed it for me. I agree with this word for word.
The Kings need a Players Coach who will be on the Players side. Two or three Players like Barnes, Dellavedova and Adams. Actually WCS and KK may be like those guys with different Coaching.
Certainly defensive specialists who can hit their shots are needed on the Kings. Currently who on the Kings falls into that category?
I like the team Vlade assembled but two pieces are missing. Missing are the Players Wesley Matthews and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute used to be before injuries.
George Karl is as much a "player's coach" as you can get.
Sarcasm right?