[Game] Kings @ Clippers - 12/21/12

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

It is starting to progressively seem less and less like a ridiculous question: Smart doesn't seem to have done much better in maximizing Cousins' talents than Westphal did. At least Westphal knew what to do with one of our two best players...

Evans is having his best season since his rookie year this year. I don't want to give all the credit to Smart, but I love what I've seen from Evans when he's actually been able to stay on the court.

The fact is, neither guy can coach in the NBA. I'd still take Smart over Westphal, though.

 

[VF21]

I guess Cousins also spoke to the media out in L.A.

Apparently he handled the situation well? I'm guessing no one heard what he said ...

Can you relate what led you to this conclusion? I cannot imagine the Kings letting the LA media have access to Cousins after the game.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Can you relate what led you to this conclusion? I cannot imagine the Kings letting the LA media have access to Cousins after the game.

A lot of the Kings reporters have mentioned it on twitter. They were also surprised Cousins talked.

 

[LWP777]

A lot of the Kings reporters have mentioned it on twitter. They were also surprised Cousins talked.

What did he say?

 

[VF21]

A lot of the Kings reporters have mentioned it on twitter. They were also surprised Cousins talked.

Ah, thanks. Gives me something to research in the wee hours of the night.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

well i guess thats a good sign. i cant remember another Cuz incident where he actually owned up to it and came out and apologized.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Some Cousins quotes from Jason Jones.

http://sulia.com/channel/sacramento-kings/f/5d98c799-c60e-4c5a-9dfb-2c377688e9ab/?source=twitter

One thing I will say, he apologized to his teammates, not his coach. Cousins has made comments like this in the past. I think he left Smart out intentionally, but that is obviously an assumption.

 

[VF21]

Here's what Jason Jones posted on sulia.com

DeMarcus Cousins apologizes for what Smart calls "conduct detrimental to the team."

LOS ANGELES – Here are some quotes from the Kings locker room regarding DeMarcus Cousins being left in the locker room at halftime after a verbal altercation with head coach Keith Smart.

Smart on why Cousins didn’t play in the second half:

“It was conduct detrimental to the team and we left it at.”

Smart on if Cousins would play Sunday against Portland:

“I’m going to focus on tonight and then I’ll move forward to the next day.”

PCousins said he “was in the wrong” during halftime.

“What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room but I was wrong. But what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room.”

Cousins was then asked what he could do to avoid further situations where attention was on his actions off the court.

“Don’t talk back. That’s the thing. I shouldn’t have responded back. Should have accepted what was said and stayed quiet.”

Cousins said the situation was humbling.

“I messed up. I’m apologizing to all my teammates for it, for responding the way I did, and we’ll move on from it…I grow from all of my mistakes.”

 

[LWP777]

How does he "grow" from all his mistakes? Seems to me he just keeps making the same ones over and over.

 

[VF21]

How does he "grow" from all his mistakes? Seems to me he just keeps making the same ones over and over.

Maybe he started out the same size as IT?

 

[Npliam]

Maybe he started out the same size as IT?

I lol'd.

He was the same size as IT .....when he was 9.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Maybe he started out the same size as IT?

I lol'd

 

[GameBall]

Here's what Jason Jones posted on sulia.com

DeMarcus Cousins apologizes for what Smart calls "conduct detrimental to the team."

LOS ANGELES – Here are some quotes from the Kings locker room regarding DeMarcus Cousins being left in the locker room at halftime after a verbal altercation with head coach Keith Smart.

Smart on why Cousins didn’t play in the second half:

“It was conduct detrimental to the team and we left it at.”

Smart on if Cousins would play Sunday against Portland:

“I’m going to focus on tonight and then I’ll move forward to the next day.”

PCousins said he “was in the wrong” during halftime.

“What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room but I was wrong. But what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room.”

Cousins was then asked what he could do to avoid further situations where attention was on his actions off the court.

“Don’t talk back. That’s the thing. I shouldn’t have responded back. Should have accepted what was said and stayed quiet.”

Cousins said the situation was humbling.

“I messed up. I’m apologizing to all my teammates for it, for responding the way I did, and we’ll move on from it…I grow from all of my mistakes.”

Saying sorry doesn't cut it anymore. If this were the first or second incident I would say, okay it's cool, we move on. After a certain point saying sorry doesn't have any meaning, I'm sorry.

 

[LWP777]

Saying sorry doesn't cut it anymore. If this were the first or second incident I would say, okay it's cool, we move on. After a certain point saying sorry doesn't have any meaning, I'm sorry.

I see what you did there.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

Its funny nobody gets on lwp777 for bashing demarcus. He goes out of his way to openly bash cousins a hell of a lot more than i ever have with jimmer

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Its funny nobody gets on lwp777 for bashing demarcus. He goes out of his way to openly bash cousins a hell of a lot more than i ever have with jimmer

I have certainly gotten on lwp777 for bashing DeMarcus, more than once, and I don't believe I'm the only one.

 

[Glenn]

Not a big fan of Keith Smart but kuddos for him for not taking Cuz's crap. This might be the turning point for this team this season. If only we can get Reke to be healthy and for Big Cuz to stop acting like a baby.

You might be right. It's all in the way this is handled and so far Smart has not tried to make a fool of Cuz like Westphal did. Perhaps it will be settled for the moment. Something was coming to a head for several weeks.

Whatta year. #1) The owners want to go elsewhere and pretend to themselves that if they get to move, the team will get better. They don't quite understand that where ever the team is, the major problem, them, will always be with them. #2) The GM wants to be retired or already has checked out because of #1 and his age, #3) the coaches continue to be "coaches in training" or never as good as their press clippings might indicate. We will continue to hire such because of #1 and #2.

#4 and #5) The two best players, both of which could be the cornerstone of a decent rebuild and as a pair, almost guaranteed to be the dual cornerstones if they were physically available or willing to play on a consistent basis.

I'm getting tired of this. Now all that I can hope for is a Niner Super Bowl win. That would make #1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 less painful.

 

[Glenn]

Saying sorry doesn't cut it anymore. If this were the first or second incident I would say, okay it's cool, we move on. After a certain point saying sorry doesn't have any meaning, I'm sorry.

It depends on whether the people who were effected, the coach and, as bystanders, his team mates accept his apology. None of us was effected.





Or is it "affected?"

 

[Bricklayer]

“I messed up. I’m apologizing to all my teammates for it, for responding the way I did, and we’ll move on from it…I grow from all of my mistakes.”

Good. The key being whether he routinely does, and whether they accept.

 

[panda]

wow. that was umm..

i enjoyed the game, even if it was a loss. walton had me laughing quite a bit with his criticisms, jimmer had 3 steals and cousins yelled at smart. did honeycutt ever get in? seemed like a good game to give him a few miniutes.

 

[Agent23]

You might be right. It's all in the way this is handled and so far Smart has not tried to make a fool of Cuz like Westphal did. Perhaps it will be settled for the moment. Something was coming to a head for several weeks.

Whatta year. #1) The owners want to go elsewhere and pretend to themselves that if they get to move, the team will get better. They don't quite understand that where ever the team is, the major problem, them, will always be with them. #2) The GM wants to be retired or already has checked out because of #1 and his age, #3) the coaches continue to be "coaches in training" or never as good as their press clippings might indicate. We will continue to hire such because of #1 and #2.

#4 and #5) The two best players, both of which could be the cornerstone of a decent rebuild and as a pair, almost guaranteed to be the dual cornerstones if they were physically available or willing to play on a consistent basis.

I'm getting tired of this. Now all that I can hope for is a Niner Super Bowl win. That would make #1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 less painful.

Oh man, if the Niners get #6 this year, I will be worry free for awhile in regards to sports.

 

[LWP777]

Its funny nobody gets on lwp777 for bashing demarcus. He goes out of his way to openly bash cousins a hell of a lot more than i ever have with jimmer

Lol. I get bashed all the time! Funny thing is, nobody is really bashing me now. It's because they now know I've been right all along!!

 

[Chupacabra]

im still convinced Walton as a coach would have this team playing leaps and bounds better. and his post game conferences would be rather amusing

Im into it!

 

[ppine]

The Kings played better without Cousins in the second half. They were in it, but had trouble with makeable shots and turns. Evans was on the bench. Not bad considering that the Clippers were at home on the 11 game? hot streak.

 

[Chupacabra]

You lost me after the first line.

lol Hey ive been HIGHLY critical of Jimmer in the past. Ive even sided with trading him before. What we're seeing right now is how Jimmer plays on a bad team. I got pumped up when I saw Jimmer challenge chris paul on that inbounds pass last night that ended up with Jimmer stealing the ball. That tells me that this guy hasnt mailed it in. I would be really interested in seeing a Cousins/Thompson/Salmons/Evans/Fredette lineup in which the main ball handling duties are given to Evans and Salmons with Jimmer spotting up and curling off of screens. All Jimmer has to do is stay in front of his man and be aggressive about getting his shot off and he can be a VERY effective player.