Kings fire Vance Walberg

[Dbeltz24]

15th would be a godsend right now

15th was when he coached the Lakers, 4 years ago when Kobe was still playing at an elite level. Also had Pau and Dwight as the big men down low.

So I take Brown's defensive stats with a grain of salt.

 

[VF21]

I know. Sorry. On my phone holding a crying newborn so it was the best I could do

No problem. I found a tweet so I just added it to your post.

 

[Iced Espresso]

I always wonder on something like that though -- ok:

1) don't fire Karl

2) fire Wahlberg

is that supposed to somehow automatically make Wahlberg's system go away? Wahlberg was with Karl for years in Denver, then came here and spent a year with him in Sacto. I'm sure Karl knows how to run it, and if he likes it, he would just keep on doing do. After you have already established you aren't going to fire him, what's the pressure you can apply?


P.S. I am also reminded of two things said earlier in the season:
1) back in preseason Vlade told Boogie not to mess with the 3pt stuff, to get down inside. This guy may have irked him all season long.
2) Cousins repeated statements that he was trying to be coachable. Trying to be coachable to me indicates you are doing stuff you wouldn't normally do on your own, but you're tying to be open minded and cooperative.

See post 24

 

[VF21]

There's no indication Mike Brown is coming to Sacramento, other than pure speculation. Personally, I'd love to see Doug Christie get a nod to prove they're serious about focusing on defense.

 

[VF21]

Take the buyout Karl.

Congratulations on finding the PERFECT image to go with your post.

 

[Dbeltz24]

Anybody know which assistant Thibs would like to hire?

 

[Iced Espresso]

Congratulations on finding the PERFECT image to go with your post.

I'm still chuckling about it.

But I'm serious too, I honestly believe that the added pressure and change may be an attempt for Karl to take a buyout.

 

[sdballer]

Divac said Karl didn't like the idea of firing Walberg but he will have ability to replace him. Divac said a defensive coach is possibility-

Walberg is just one move. Roster shakeup also a possibility

Jason jones

 

[sdballer]

Karl says he is "disappointed" "confused" by decision to fire Walberg, said Iske handles defense, Welch offense but blame should be on him

Jason Jones ‏@mr_jasonjones 5m5 minutes ago
Karl says he is "disappointed" "confused" by decision to fire Walberg, said Iske handles defense, Welch offense but blame should be on him

 

[King Baller]

Karl says he is "disappointed" "confused" by decision to fire Walberg, said Iske handles defense, Welch offense but blame should be on him

Where are you getting these nuggets?

 

[VF21]

Where are you getting these nuggets?

I'm adding info to his posts. He's sitting with a very new Kings fan in his arms and trying to share at the same time.

 

[Dbeltz24]

Where are you getting these nuggets?

Jason Jones twitter feed.

Karl also said Walberg is one of the top 10 coaches he has worked with and that Karl is taking this firing hard.

 

[VF21]

Aaron Bruski ‏@aaronbruski 26s27 seconds ago
The Kings should have told Karl to change his offense after 10 games. But this is actually a smart move to insure he’s serious about change

 

[Npliam]

Hmm.......strange move.

Did he a Cousins get along?

 

[VF21]

Jason Jones ‏@mr_jasonjones 12m12 minutes ago
Divac said Karl didn't like the idea of firing Walberg but he will have ability to replace him. Divac said a defensive coach is possibility

 

[kingsboi]

this reminds me of Hornacek in Phoenix all over again except the Kings will let Karl finish the season, unlike Jeff. Walberg didn't even last a year, that's hilarious. Regardless, one down...bout 3 or 4 more to go! Mike Brown as an assistant wouldn't be a bad idea, as long as he doesn't take over head coaching duties in the near or present future.

 

[VF21]

Hmm.......strange move.

Did he a Cousins get along?

Keep following. It's not a strange move, IMHO. It's an indication that Divac is seriously serious about Karl changing his focus to defense.

 

[VF21]

Sean Cunningham ‏@SeanCunningham 14m14 minutes ago
Vlade Divac said George Karl has say over hiring new assistant coach, bringing in defensive help to staff

 

[VF21]

 

[sdballer]

James ham

Vlade Divac expects to make a move by tomorrow. Expected to make a move today.

 

[jcwkings]

The dribble drive system is not some crazy offensive system. Its literally one of the most elementary offenses I have seen. Get the ball and drive straight to the rim for a layup or kick it out to closest open guy if defense converges. Its not even an offense its just a simple thing you learn in 7th grade gym class or freshman basketball team. Its literally an offense built for high school kids who have little talent instead of an NBA team with the best players in the world.

 

[Iced Espresso]

James ham

Vlade Divac expects to make a move by tomorrow. Expected to make a move today.

Coaching or player?

 

[jcwkings]

James ham

Vlade Divac expects to make a move by tomorrow. Expected to make a move today.

Wait does that read as he was expecting to make a move today but didn't? Or he is expecting to make a move tonight? I am at the point that I don't believe anything on Twitter on deadline week until trades go through.

 

[VF21]

Coaching or player?

James Ham ‏@James_Ham 4m4 minutes ago
George Karl was very disappointed with the firing of Walberg. Divac said they needed to mix things up - coaches and players.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Man, his brother Marky Mark is gonna be ticked.

 

[sdballer]

Coaching or player?

Didn't distinguish but I read it as players

 

[jcwkings]

My question is if Whalberg was behind the dribble drive offense who is behind the switch everything and give up threes defense? Fire that guy too.

 

[sdballer]

My question is if Whalberg was behind the dribble drive offense who is behind the switch everything and give up threes defense? Fire that guy too.

According to Karl, that's iske

 

[Blob]

Vlade Divac expects to make a move by tomorrow.

As my grandma used to say "now we are cooking with gas"

 

[ParniValjak]

Weird firing. Isn't he our main offensive assistant? Offense has been fine, it's the other side of the ball that needs work.

People look at the numbers and say offense has been fine but in a way offense has been at the root of our defensive problems as well. I have a few issues with the offense and have had it all season long.

1. Pace is way too extreme for team built for half court offense
2. When you play at that pace, there is no way you can defend at a high level with this roster. We are not the Warriors. Our roster is more like Memphis than it is Golden State
3. Cousins has been turned into a SG and taken away from where he is most effective. He is unguardable in the post but we use him on the perimeter a lot. End result, efficiency is down, rebounding is down and all the running up and down the court opens you up defensively.
4. Rudy Gay and Marco Bellineli amongst others have been misused offensively in this system. Rudy is still shooting good percentages but not used in spots that he is most effective in and don't even get me started on Bellineli.

This is a good first step. Mike Brown as an assistant defensive coach should be OK as long as he is not a long term solution as a head coach. This is Karl getting a slap on the wrist and basically being told this is how you are going to coach or it is not going to end well for you.

I wonder if Iske gets demoted from Associate head coach as well especially if Brown is hired.