Jason Jones weighs in on Kings situation

[VF21]

Some info we've already had, but Jones adds a little more substance to the "optional shootaround" comments:

A season that looked to be on the upswing last month has gone awry, leaving the players to wonder if they have the fortitude to turn things around.

“I hope that’s the case,” guard Rajon Rondo said after Monday night’s 120-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. “But with optional shootarounds, it’s tough. We’ve lost eight of nine. When three or four guys show up for shootaround (Monday) morning, how can you expect to win?”

Optional workouts are nothing new for the Kings under Karl. But with the team in a tailspin and its defense faltering, players questioned the logic behind making anything optional.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article59261098.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Im Still Ballin]

Karl entrusts freedom to the players. It requires responsibility and accountability.

 

[VF21]

Karl entrusts freedom to the players. It requires responsibility and accountability.

That's one interpretation. Another thought would be that you would want to make sure your players are all on the same page when you're in the middle of a mind-numbing series of losses.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

Are these players babies? They don't need someone to hold their hand. Sacramento is in serious need of professionalism off and on the court.

 

[ParniValjak]

Players not showing to the shootaround is an indication of how much they want their coach around.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Karl entrusts freedom to the players. It requires responsibility and accountability.

coach, your gettin canned quix. go plan your vacay soon

 

[mac]

Players not showing to the shootaround is an indication of how much they want their coach around.

It's also an indication of how hard they're trying to win regardless of the coach.

 

[Chubbs]

The article is by Jason J0nes, not Voison.

 

[Siranthony]

It's an interesting way to run things. But if players don't show up because they question why it's mandatory, that's all kinds of wrong.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

The article is by Jason J0nes, not Voison.

Fixed, thanks!

 

[Bricklayer]

Not a great sign. I guess the question would be how long has that gone on? Not the non-mandatory side, but guys checking out and deciding they were better off getting their rest.

Anyway, the fact George would leave that policy in place probably means he's coasting on home at this point. Come a point when you dig the spurs in when you are fading, not just sit back and be content to trot home.

 

[swisshh]

No mandatory on a back to back isn't uncommon. It's actually rather common.

Question is what the policy is on other shoot a rounds.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

While I understand the angst over Karl having non-mandatory shootarounds, I also think it's a bad sign that only 4 or so players would voluntarily show up -- especially when a vet like Rondo probably tried to get guys to attend. Just goes to show that they have checked out and/or didn't really care about winning in the 1st place.

 

[gilly420]

Pathetic. What a joke this franchise has become. It starts at the top with Vivek. Until someone in the organization holds Cousins accountable this will only continue to get worse.

 

[dude12]

George Karl has gotten exactly what he wanted which was his last paycheck. He's given half effort because that's all he's capable of giving. Any competent coach would put in the work to get this turned around. It's all over anyway, this guy is gone within hours or days or whatever. One of the worst coaching jobs in recent memory.

 

[whozit]

Pathetic. What a joke this franchise has become. It starts at the top with Vivek. Until someone in the organization holds Cousins accountable this will only continue to get worse.

As you said, it starts at the top. Remove Cousins, you still have the top. And around and around on the merry-go-round you go. Pathetic.

 

[Elektrik]

George Karl has gotten exactly what he wanted which was his last paycheck. He's given half effort because that's all he's capable of giving. Any competent coach would put in the work to get this turned around. It's all over anyway, this guy is gone within hours or days or whatever. One of the worst coaching jobs in recent memory.

Rolling over when times are tough just shows what is inheritly wrong with this team. Not sure a coaching change will fix this mentally weak group. Anyway at least the last of the Denver saboteurs will be gone. It will be unfortunately too little, too late. Should have been done a week ago.

 

[Amit149]

Caron Butler responded to Jones tweet about this:

1. Jason Jones ‏@mr_jasonjones 12h12 hours ago
   Rondo: "With optional shootarounds it’s tough. ... When 3 or 4 guys show up for shootaround this morning, how can you expect to win.?"
   
   

Caron ButlerVerified account‏@realtuffjuice
@mr_jasonjones that's not accurate bra...

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

Quincy Acy also tweeted about it being false.

 

[SacKings384]

So is the Rondo quote false? Or are they calling out Rondo for not speaking the truth?

 

[sdballer]

So is the Rondo quote false? Or are they calling out Rondo for not speaking the truth?

Curious about that as well

 

[Im Still Ballin]

It's like things can always get worse no matter the situation. It's inaccurate, but if Rondo's lying, then....

Sacramento Basketball!

 

[ForlornKing]

I think this may be more about Jason Jones twisting or taking out of context the Rondo quote, than Rondo giving false information.

 

[Amit149]

Quincy Acy also tweeted about it being false.

Here's his tweet about it:

Quincy AcyVerified account‏@QuincyAcy
Quincy Acy Retweeted Jake Fischer

This is false info buddy, recheck whoever your source is
Jake Fischer @JakeLFischer
Rajon Rondo, Omri Casspi and Seth Curry were the only three players to attend Kings shoot around this morning, according to a team source.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I think this may be more about Jason Jones twisting or taking out of context the Rondo quote, than Rondo giving false information.

He wasn't the only one who reported it. This is weird all the way around.

 

[pshn80]

The article in the Be this AM says league sources say it would be over this week for Karl. That's the important message.

 

[IfAt1st]

IMO, there is the high likelihood that Karl and the coaching staff do NOTHING at the shoot-arounds.

So why should players come, if there is no organized effort by the coaches to work on anything?
If the players are supposed to show up and work on their shot, they do that before the game and they can do that on their own at the practice facility, etc.
After the hundreds of thousands (millions?) of shots these guys have taken in their careers, does anyone realistically think that a few hundred more are going to improve them?

We've seen (on Vine, etc) what goes on at these shootarounds - the guys messing around with each other.
Why is anyone pointing to unstructured, free-time as something important that's being lost because the players aren't showing up?

Why isn't anyone savaging the coaching staff for wasting precious in-season time by not coaching or preparing the team for the next opponent, or working on instilling plays that actually work on offense or defense?