Limited training camp will hurt Kings

[Sac.1989]

IF we define roles in training camp and hit the group with a sustainable rotation then we'll be fine. If were tinkering with lineups into the season then its going to hurt us.

 

[Bricklayer]

IF we define roles in training camp and hit the group with a sustainable rotation then we'll be fine. If were tinkering with lineups into the season then its going to hurt us.

Just in case none of us had considered the nightmare that Westphal's normal month of training camp and month and a half of the season of tinkering would translate to him not being done tinkering until March in the abbreviated season, you had to bring it up. Gee thanks.

 

[bajaden]

Just in case none of us had considered the nightmare that Westphal's normal month of training camp and month and a half of the season of tinkering would translate to him not being done tinkering until March in the abbreviated season, you had to bring it up. Gee thanks.

Yeah, ditto that!! Westphal = You supply the coffin and I'll supply the last nail!

 

[SCKingsfan]

Yeah, ditto that!! Westphal = You supply the coffin and I'll supply the last nail!

I think it's obvious that if we don't see some real development from Evans and Cousins, and a true step forward for the team this year, he won't be around. But I wonder how bad it would have to get to see him go before the end of the shortened season. And with owners having so much on their plate already (arena, finances), makes me think that a delay until season's end would be most likely, unless there's a nasty mutiny.

 

[bajaden]

I think it's obvious that if we don't see some real development from Evans and Cousins, and a true step forward for the team this year, he won't be around. But I wonder how bad it would have to get to see him go before the end of the shortened season. And with owners having so much on their plate already (arena, finances), makes me think that a delay until season's end would be most likely, unless there's a nasty mutiny.

I think he's here for the season, unless he's let go near the end of the season and replaced with a temp. Well see! While I don't wish him any ill will, I'll be surprised if doesn't blow it. He's had the same problem everywhere he's coached. He just can't resist tinkering. I found it interesting that he had a couple of public run in's with Cousins last season. But in his one year with Calapari, who is a get in your face and scream type of coach, that never happened. I'm not saying there wern't any incidents, but if there were, they remained in house. In one of Cousins interviews this offseason, he said that times he felt like he wasn't wanted, or that management didn't have his back. You can credit some of that to immaturity, but also some of that to mismanaging a player like Cousins.

I don't think Cousins minds getting disciplined, he was certainly disciplined by Calapari, but I think he believes he was being singled out as the whipping boy at times last season. Whether thats the case or not, its his perception, and you have to resolve that if you want a happy center with a lot of talent. Its called communication. I'm on the outside looking in, so I could be wrong. All I know, is that its not easy managing young guys with big ego's. And if your not up to it, then you better find a different kind of work.

 

[SCKingsfan]

I don't think Cousins minds getting disciplined, he was certainly disciplined by Calapari, but I think he believes he was being singled out as the whipping boy at times last season. Whether thats the case or not, its his perception, and you have to resolve that if you want a happy center with a lot of talent. Its called communication. I'm on the outside looking in, so I could be wrong. All I know, is that its not easy managing young guys with big ego's. And if your not up to it, then you better find a different kind of work.

It's easier to take discipline when you are vying for a national championship in a proven program than when you're a big fish on a low status team trying to win a handful of games. Not to excuse Cousins at all, but it puts his (immature) behavior in perspective. Agree with you completely on the last part - Westphal has yet to show he's that guy when it comes to productively managing egos. And unless we pick up some additional strong veteran leadership, the load is going to continue to fall almost entirely on him, and I have no particular confidence in his ability there.

 

[Telemachus]

It's easier to take discipline when you are vying for a national championship in a proven program than when you're a big fish on a low status team trying to win a handful of games. Not to excuse Cousins at all, but it puts his (immature) behavior in perspective. Agree with you completely on the last part - Westphal has yet to show he's that guy when it comes to productively managing egos. And unless we pick up some additional strong veteran leadership, the load is going to continue to fall almost entirely on him, and I have no particular confidence in his ability there.

I think Cousin's biggest problem isn't the discipline, but in wanting to understand the "Why?" This is something that Calipari understood, but I'm not so sure that Westphal did.

 

[rainmaker]

I think Cousin's biggest problem isn't the discipline, but in wanting to understand the "Why?" This is something that Calipari understood, but I'm not so sure that Westphal did.

His problem, among others, is Westy hammering him, both publicly and privately, while letting Tyreke do whatever he wants.

 

[est.1999]

F Westfail.

 

[Kingsguy881]

F Westfail.

Right in his ear!!

 

[Kingster]

I think he's here for the season, unless he's let go near the end of the season and replaced with a temp. Well see! While I don't wish him any ill will, I'll be surprised if doesn't blow it. He's had the same problem everywhere he's coached. He just can't resist tinkering. I found it interesting that he had a couple of public run in's with Cousins last season. But in his one year with Calapari, who is a get in your face and scream type of coach, that never happened. I'm not saying there wern't any incidents, but if there were, they remained in house. In one of Cousins interviews this offseason, he said that times he felt like he wasn't wanted, or that management didn't have his back. You can credit some of that to immaturity, but also some of that to mismanaging a player like Cousins.

I don't think Cousins minds getting disciplined, he was certainly disciplined by Calapari, but I think he believes he was being singled out as the whipping boy at times last season. Whether thats the case or not, its his perception, and you have to resolve that if you want a happy center with a lot of talent. Its called communication. I'm on the outside looking in, so I could be wrong. All I know, is that its not easy managing young guys with big ego's. And if your not up to it, then you better find a different kind of work.

I don't envy anyone who has to manage a 15-year old multi-millionare with a guaranteed contract.

 

[bajaden]

I don't envy anyone who has to manage a 15-year old multi-millionare with a guaranteed contract.

Its no easy job, and thats the reason most coaches like veterans. But it is what it is, and if you want a winner, you have to figure out a way to mold all the pieces together. All a GM can do is hand the coach talented players. Its part of being a coach. By the way, speaking of Westphal, he's about to be on with Grant on his show.

 

[Kingster]

Dedication

It's going to be interesting to see what kind of shape the players are in. Last year it was a debacle: Dalembert, Greene, Cousins, and Tyreke all showed up out of shape. With a shortened season, it is imperative that everyone shows up in great shape. A month of regular-season ball in which the players are trying to get into shape would kill the season before it barely got started.

 

[Bricklayer]

It's going to be interesting to see what kind of shape the players are in. Last year it was a debacle: Dalembert, Greene, Cousins, and Tyreke all showed up out of shape. With a shortened season, it is imperative that everyone shows up in great shape. A month of regular-season ball in which the players are trying to get into shape would kill the season before it barely got started.

Oh, there will be a ton of guys out of shape around the league if the last lockout is any indication. Won't just be us.

 

[kennadog]

Dalembert did not show up so much out of shape last year. The big problem was he showed up hurt, because he tried to do too much training in a shorter time period, due to his relief work in Haiti. It took a long time to fully heal (hamstring or something?).

 

[Kingster]

Oh, there will be a ton of guys out of shape around the league if the last lockout is any indication. Won't just be us.

Then at the least we should hope that our guys our in better shape than the competition.

 

[Gliesian]

I haven't followed the Kings much in the past months, but it seems to me that the team has barely practiced together... Can someone tell me about how much the players have worked on gelling?

 

[rainmaker]

I haven't followed the Kings much in the past months, but it seems to me that the team has barely practiced together... Can someone tell me about how much the players have worked on gelling?

Not sure if anyone worked on a sponsorship with these guys.