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

[Chupacabra]

Im not one of the jimmer lunatics, but everytime he gets the ball i expect him to shoot. Almost evertime he gets a shot off i assume its going in. I think any spot on the floor is good shot for him. Even his defense looked ok tonight. About 90% of the time he was able to stay in front of paul, bledsoe and crawford. The ony thing the i hate seeing jimmer do is dribbling the ball up the floor and setting up the offense.

 

[Kingster]

I don't think the coach has anything to do with Cousin's behavior. It's been the refs, it's been other players, it's been an announcer, it's been the coach. Smart isn't the reason for the behavior. That's obvious.

 

[jcunny33]

Post game interview segment:

Smart:

Our guys did a good job out there trying to compete and play...

What happened with Cousins?

Just something that happened. Just... kind of an adjustment with the team. I'm gonna try and focus on the next game and not focus on what happened here.

When asked if DMC would play the next game, Smart said "I'm gonna focus on the night ... and then I'll move forward to the next day."

Jim Gray asked him about the first quarter incident and Smart said, "I don't think we need to get caught up too much on what happens on the court. Players get heated and say things. I say things as well. The situation involves conduct at the moment and we're trying to set a standard for all of our players and all of our guys who are here. And when guys don't fall in line with that we've got to move on and move forward."

Gray said, "Did that have something to do with it?"

Smart said, "No, not that." But he was sorta of nodding yes while he was saying no.

Questions then went to how the guys in the second half showed heart and effort...

Thanks for the info.

 

[VF21]

i knew Smart was going to avoid the Cousins topic. i guess we will find out later

Um, hello? He didn't avoid the topic. He said all that should be said. You do not air player problems with the media.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Post game interview segment:

Smart:

Our guys did a good job out there trying to compete and play...

What happened with Cousins?

Just something that happened. Just... kind of an adjustment with the team. I'm gonna try and focus on the next game and not focus on what happened here.

When asked if DMC would play the next game, Smart said "I'm gonna focus on the night ... and then I'll move forward to the next day."

Jim Gray asked him about the first quarter incident and Smart said, "I don't think we need to get caught up too much on what happens on the court. Players get heated and say things. I say things as well. The situation involves conduct at the moment and we're trying to set a standard for all of our players and all of our guys who are here. And when guys don't fall in line with that we've got to move on and move forward."

Gray said, "Did that have something to do with it?"

Smart said, "No, not that." But he was sorta of nodding yes while he was saying no.

Questions then went to how the guys in the second half showed heart and effort...

Hmm. I want to know what happened, obviously, but I've seen a ton of complaints on here about how the Kings throw their players under the bus whenever something like this happens by explaining every little detail of that players mistake. Smart is trying to take the high road here, it seems.

I say that with the knowledge that none of this really matters. The damage is done. This has been brewing. Smart will finish the year and then be 'let go'. On to the next one.

 

[VF21]

Im not one of the jimmer lunatics, but everytime he gets the ball i expect him to shoot. Almost evertime he gets a shot off i assume its going in. I think any spot on the floor is good shot for him. Even his defense looked ok tonight. About 90% of the time he was able to stay in front of paul, bledsoe and crawford. The ony thing the i hate seeing jimmer do is dribbling the ball up the floor and setting up the offense.

If I went back into the old threads, I think I could find almost exactly the same comment about a kid from Serbia. I think there is a place for Jimmer on the Kings going forward and if he continues to show the kind of improvement he's shown thus far this year I think there are going to be some pretty happy Kings fans.

 

[Glenn]

You know Glen when people have called out to fire the coach from Adelman to Westfall I always said, "sure, but for who?" But Smart is so chaotic, and the players are so under-performing I will take any warm body. I am just fine with letting English or Bobby finish the season. If we could bring in an upgrade sooner fine.

That is perpetuating the same old crap that has gone on for years. We need a veteran, successful coach and not one like the present one who is still learning how to coach.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I'm not even partly sure what's going to happen next with this team. Smh

 

[63royals]

That is perpetuating the same old crap that has gone on for years. We need a veteran, successful coach and not one like the present one who is still learning how to coach.

Yes that would definitely help but I don't think any coach fitting that description would want to come work for the Maloofs.

 

[The_Jamal]

and ur saying im the one with questionable basketball analysis?

Yep.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Apparently Grant said on a post game show of some sort that Cousins has apologized to the team.

 

[Bricklayer]

Im not one of the jimmer lunatics, but everytime he gets the ball i expect him to shoot.

You lost me after the first line.

 

[LWP777]

I don't think the coach has anything to do with Cousin's behavior. It's been the refs, it's been other players, it's been an announcer, it's been the coach. Smart isn't the reason for the behavior. That's obvious.

Thank you. I'm glad some respected posters here are starting to get this.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

Yep.

good thing it means nothing coming from a guy who things Jimmers defense looks "great at times"
and thats not a knockto Jimmer. thats just not his game

 

[LWP777]

If I went back into the old threads, I think I could find almost exactly the same comment about a kid from Serbia. I think there is a place for Jimmer on the Kings going forward and if he continues to show the kind of improvement he's shown thus far this year I think there are going to be some pretty happy Kings fans.

I agree! It's very exciting watching Jimmer mature before our eyes! He's becoming a legitimate weapon.

 

[Npliam]

good thing it means nothing coming from a guy who things Jimmers defense looks "great at times"
and thats not a knockto Jimmer. thats just not his game

Some people are too smart for their own good. You aren't one of them.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

Some people are too smart for their own good. You aren't one of them.

really? for appreciating Jimmer for what he is (a very very dangerous offensive weapon who is progressing nicely) rather than hallucinating that he is playing "great" defense?

 

[Agent23]

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.

 

[VF21]

really? for appreciating Jimmer for what he is (a very very dangerous offensive weapon who is progressing nicely) rather than hallucinating that he is playing "great" defense?

OMG. You are truly priceless. I may actually miss you.

You've ridiculed Jimmer fans for a long time, insinuating that their guy would never amount to anything and now you're trying to find a seat on the bandwagon? You truly are a piece of work.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

good thing it means nothing coming from a guy who things Jimmers defense looks "great at times"
and thats not a knockto Jimmer. thats just not his game

Some people are too smart for their own good. You aren't one of them.

Dial it back, every body! This poster-to-poster sniping needs to stop!

 

[Kingster]

Apparently Grant said on a post game show of some sort that Cousins has apologized to the team.

This is getting to be sad. It's sad because Cousins just can't seem to help himself from doing these things. And he knows he shouldn't do it and he's guilty about doing it and that's why he apologizes after the game. But then he still does it again. That's not a good feeling when you just can't control your own behavior, repeatedly.

 

[The_Jamal]

good thing it means nothing coming from a guy who things Jimmers defense looks "great at times"
and thats not a knockto Jimmer. thats just not his game

Do you understand what "great at times" insinuates? Jimmer on several occasions has made some great defensive plays. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. The other times, he's approaching the passable mark of not letting his opponent use him as an open door like he was last season. Essentially, his defense has been good enough to allow his offense to be a big impact.

 

[Npliam]

Dial it back, every body! This poster-to-poster sniping needs to stop!

Fair enough...my bad.

 

[Npliam]

This is getting to be sad. It's sad because Cousins just can't seem to help himself from doing these things. And he knows he shouldn't do it and he's guilty about doing it and that's why he apologizes after the game. But then he still does it again. That's not a good feeling when you just can't control your own behavior, repeatedly.

He is 22. Some of that is to be expected.

 

[mac]

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.

Then why did we fire Westphal?

 

[HndsmCelt]

That is perpetuating the same old crap that has gone on for years. We need a veteran, successful coach and not one like the present one who is still learning how to coach.

Well sure that would be the wise thing o do unless of course the owners are so broke there is not enough money to hire a coach with any kind of resume. Im just sick of watching a group of young men who should be improving, and turning in to a up and coming squad, loose game after game, and look pretty sad in the process.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

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 ...

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Then why did we fire Westphal?

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...

 

[HereWeBoogie]

You've ridiculed Jimmer fans for a long time, insinuating that their guy would never amount to anything and now you're trying to find a seat on the bandwagon?

i have never said he would amount to nothing. i have always thought he could be a valuable bench guy to come in and score in bunches. not a franchise PG like some here like to think

 

[Kingster]

He is 22. Some of that is to be expected.

I don't think it is. This is more like an anger-management issue of young adolescent. Yes, the fact that he is 22 offers some hope that he can eventually figure it out. But I don't expect 22 year olds to act like Cousins. Far from it. The guy needs some therapy.