Marty Mac's World: Let's face it: Musselman should go after season

[coolhandluke]

Marty Mac's World: Let's face it: Musselman should go after season

By Martin McNeal - Bee Columnist

Last Updated 5:06 am PST Thursday, March 1, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C2

Just heard Tuesday night that George Clinton, who gained worldwide fame as the leader of the soul/rock/funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic, is headed to town next week.

Clinton often riffs about how not to "fake the funk or your nose will grow." For all non-original funkateers or those unfamiliar with Pinocchio, tell the truth and don't be fake, or your nose will grow.

Speaking of Kings coach Eric Musselman, I thought about his surprising postgame comments Monday after Sacramento had lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Kings had been outrebounded 55-40. Certainly, that's a ridiculous beating on the boards -- even if the Kings were playing their fourth game in five nights. But getting outrebounded is not exactly a new problem for the Kings.

The Kings had been outrebounded in 26 of their last 30 games, including their past eight, before Wednesday. And Musselman spoke of needing to do a better job teaching rebounding. Getting rebounds, though, is not on him but his players.

However, while the Kings were getting beaten on the boards by quicker, more athletic big men, it seems rookie Justin Williams should have heard his name called.

Uh, yeah. And if memory serves me correctly, it was not the first time the coach has made that comment this season.

Musselman's performance regarding a number of losses in close games was criticized in Sunday's New York Times by Kings co-owner Joe Maloof. And remember, it was the Maloofs who went all ga-ga over Musselman's PowerPoint presentation and preparedness during the interview process after they decided not to retain Rick Adelman. They fell for the okey-doke.

In the Times article, Maloof spoke about Musselman being inexperienced. Well, he has goo-gobs more experience coaching in the NBA than the Maloofs do hiring a basketball coach. They may have hit a home run when they hired Monarchs coach John Whisenant, but not this time.

So the timing of Musselman's comments seemed a bit measured. It was as if he wanted the world -- and particularly the Maloofs -- to know he was taking the blame for the loss. And it's a comment like this that makes me feel this guy just can't tell the truth. He always seems to have an agenda. Indeed, there was conversation inside the Kings organization about the timing of and the reasons for that postgame approach.

I believe players, for the most part, usually win and lose games, but it's time the Kings begin to look for a new coach. I'm already on record as believing Musselman is a faker. And yes, that's one reason I believe it'll be time for him to go at the end of the season. Players spend more time with a coach during the season than they do with their own families, and they quickly establish feelings about the man running the show.

At least six players have told me they lost their belief in Musselman months ago. That's because being a fake is like being a snitch. In these days and times, you just don't go out that way.

Musselman should not be blamed as the sole reason for the Kings stinking it up this season. Their record might reflect their talent. As the coach, though, he does get the responsibility for how things go, good or bad. Hence, he has no need to "take the blame" for a loss.

Someone spoke the other day about Musselman's rotation. Nah, dude. Rotation is not the proper word. The man substitutes. Rotation implies something consistent. The man has not shown a real feel for the game. During summer-league and exhibition games, his team displayed changing defenses up and down the court. For some reason, only recently has he gone that route with any consistency.

You have a small squad, but don't trap or press. Pro teams do not like to be pressed. And what's going to happen if the pressure doesn't work? Teams will get wide-open layups and/or dunks.

Oh, yeah, my bad. That is what they have been getting.

I'm still in favor of Musselman getting a chance to finish out the season because work ethic is not the problem. Nor is there a question of whether he wants to win. Like his team, he just doesn't seem to have the talent to get it done.

Link

 

[Packt]

3, 2, 1.. Too late Jack Bauer, the bomb just exploded.

 

[CruzDude]

Makes a bit of sense but as Marty says give him the whole season and see how he does in the last 25 games. Making the playoffs is not entirely under Kings control. The 5 teams immediately above them have to cooperate and at least 4 of them have to loose 3 or 4 more games than do the Kings. So coaching with a small, non-athletic roster will show if he can get them to the next level (making the playoffs). It will also show if he can establish a "rotation" that works better.

 

[Kingster]

So the timing of Musselman's comments seemed a bit measured. It was as if he wanted the world -- and particularly the Maloofs -- to know he was taking the blame for the loss. And it's a comment like this that makes me feel this guy just can't tell the truth. He always seems to have an agenda. Indeed, there was conversation inside the Kings organization about the timing of and the reasons for that postgame approach.

I believe players, for the most part, usually win and lose games, but it's time the Kings begin to look for a new coach. I'm already on record as believing Musselman is a faker. And yes, that's one reason I believe it'll be time for him to go at the end of the season. Players spend more time with a coach during the season than they do with their own families, and they quickly establish feelings about the man running the show.

At least six players have told me they lost their belief in Musselman months ago. That's because being a fake is like being a snitch. In these days and times, you just don't go out that way.Link

Dear Marty,

As I've told you repeatedly, I promise to return your calls! And you are encouraged to give me a call whenever and on whatever you want to talk about. And yes, I will answer it immediately!

Sincerely,

Eric Musselman

 

[fnordius]

The press are always the last ones on the bandwagon, aren't they?

 

[Miles and Miles]

Why wait? Fire him now bring in a new coach and let them get a feel for the team now so they don't go into next season blind.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Like his team, he just doesn't seem to have the talent to get it done.

what a shocker

 

[nbrans]

It's become so fashionable to bag on Musselman that it's almost passe. I'd much rather bag on the Maloofs, the guys who fire hugely successful coaches, veto good trades because they think they know basketball, and then hang the coach that THEY WANTED out to dry.

 

[Miles and Miles]

You can't fire the owners and I wouldn't if you could. As long as they keep the team in town and keep spending money to TRY and make the team good.

 

[rhythmless]

musselmans TRYING as well. i agree with nbrans, the head coach gets a lot of flak, some deserved, some not. but thats the job description of a head coach in the nba.

he just doesnt seem to have a grasp of players the way a HEAD coach should. i think musselman would make an awesome asst coach, the way he analyzes data and so forth. if you paired him with a basketball philosopher guru (say coachie), and some others, i think its a killer combo. seems that his micromanaging is hurting his time actually feeling out the game. however, micromanaging is exactly what an asst coach should be doing...

 

[Spike]

I'd much rather bag on the Maloofs, the guys who fire hugely successful coaches, veto good trades because they think they know basketball, and then hang the coach that THEY WANTED out to dry.

QFT. Or as the kids say, "word."

 

[Rockmeister]

At least six players have told me they lost their belief in Musselman months ago. That's because being a fake is like being a snitch. In these days and times, you just don't go out that way.

That is bad when players feel that way about their coach. Hopefully, Musselman will not be here next season.

 

[chelle]

At least six players have told me they lost their belief in Musselman months ago. That's because being a fake is like being a snitch. In these days and times, you just don't go out that way.

This was the part that concerns me the most. NEVER a good sign.

 

[BigSong]

most of what McNeal is saying is true, its just his school yard delivery that makes him seem like such a turd. Also i don't see how blaming the Maloofs gets you anywhere. I think they knew they were taking a chance, and so maybe they failed. Its not like coaches have never worked out before. And its not like there was some obvious coach to be had, save for keeping Adelman. But they just didnt get along and that wasn't going to change.

 

[VF21]

It's become so fashionable to bag on Musselman that it's almost passe. I'd much rather bag on the Maloofs, the guys who fire hugely successful coaches, veto good trades because they think they know basketball, and then hang the coach that THEY WANTED out to dry.

Erm, not really. The Maloofs WANTED John Whisenant. It was only at Petrie's insistence that they considered other candidates and were eventually won over by Musselman's interviewing capabilities. Of course, Whisenant didn't help himself any when he proclaimed himself one of the Maloofs in an interview.

The Kings are paying Musselman a lot of money to do a job. He simply isn't meeting their expectations. And he certainly hasn't met mine. It happens.

I'm going to express my concerns and frustrations about Musselman just as I would about a car I had purchased that just doesn't fit my needs.

 

[Padrino]

most of what McNeal is saying is true, its just his school yard delivery that makes him seem like such a turd. Also i don't see how blaming the Maloofs gets you anywhere. I think they knew they were taking a chance, and so maybe they failed. Its not like coaches have never worked out before. And its not like there was some obvious coach to be had, save for keeping Adelman. But they just didnt get along and that wasn't going to change.

well...often its not about what you say, but how you say it. you're right, most of what mcneal said is true of musselman's personality and technique. its been on display all season. that said, its common knowledge, and its bad form for marty to give musselman a twice-over with that "school yard delivery" of his "that makes him seem like such a turd." because it does. marty literally seems like the kid on the playground with a wounded ego, a personal grudge, and a means to exact some kind of "revenge." its rather annoying, especially in a "professional" publication like the sacramento bee. if i want the schoolyard banter, i read chico state's on-campus publication 'the orion.' marty should know better than that by now. he comes off sounding like a douchebag here, and one who doesn't really know how to write. granted, its "marty mac's world," but still, he could come off less begrudgingly with his opinions and also present a few of those things called "facts."

 

[rhythmless]

remember adelmans message... you cant play defense when you dont have the right personel. maloofs didnt believe him, but look where the kings are now.

seeing this season, its more and more apparent that adelman was not just a good coach, he was a great coach. able to change game plans on the fly in light of the artest trade, and his players were ALWAYS behind him

 

[Krunker]

were eventually won over by Musselman's interviewing capabilities.

Another piece of evidence that PowerPoint is Evil:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

 

[nbrans]

seeing this season, its more and more apparent that adelman was not just a good coach, he was a great coach. able to change game plans on the fly in light of the artest trade, and his players were ALWAYS behind him

I'm a big Adelman fan, but I don't know if this is actually true. Before the Artest trade last year the players really looked like they had quit (remember that home Portland game??), there were rumors that the players (Bibby) were tuning him out, and Rick looked and sounded like someone who had pretty much given up. The Artest trade sparked a turnaround, but things were pretty dire before then. Except for Bonzi and SAR, the effort really wasn't there at all on a nightly basis, and no one looked like they cared.

On the whole I would take Adelman over Musselman 100 times out of 100, and maybe this is just a residual Artest effect, but the Kings come to play every single night. Or pretty close to it. I dislike Musselman's rotations, I don't like his decisions, I don't like his constipated look, I wouldn't mind seeing him go. I'd much rather have Adelman. But if there is one thing Musselman deserves at least partial credit for it's the fact that the Kings come to play and play hard every night.

 

[Jerryaki]

remember adelmans message... you cant play defense when you dont have the right personel. maloofs didnt believe him, but look where the kings are now.

it's a little crappy of me to find any positives in this current season, but...i'm kind of glad that this is a rude awakening for the maloofs. it was not all rick's fault that we didn't play defense.

 

[Oscar]

Another piece of evidence that PowerPoint is Evil:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

Lighten up, Tufte. You're a Yale professor, for Christ sakes - don't you have anything better to do than to write satire on a business program? Power Point is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. Content is the key. If your slide show has substance, it will reflect substance. What's that term - GIGO? Garbage in - garbage out.

P.S. I'd love to do a Power Point presentation on the % of retired professors who write useless articles because they have nothing better to do with their lives. Just kidding.

 

[quick dog]

I seem to ask myself a lot of rhetorical questions about the Kings these days. Like, why is the coach responsible for players dogging it, not rebounding, of missing seemingly easy shots? I have a new one. Rebounding is the issue du jour.

Does anyone else remember how early-on in the season the Kings actually out-rebounded some good rebounding teams? Rare by current standards, but it happened. If a team, the same team, can rebound in some games, then not rebound properly again, what does that say about the current Kings? To me, it says that the Kings tried to rebound early-on, but have slid back to old bad habits. I submit that the Kings are fully capable of rebounding, but choose not to do so on a regular basis for reasons not apparent to fans.

I would not be a bit surprised if some of the Kings are dogging-it to get Musselman fired. Hell hath no furry like a spoiled, multi-millionaire, athlete scorned. Why do some of them hate Musselman? Probably because he is short and never played professional basketball. If you recall, enlightened fans were speculating that Rick Adelman had "lost the team" before he was issued his walking papers. It aint the coaches folks.

 

[Bricklayer]

You know, the Muss to be fired etc. line of thought is of course very clear and quite possibly accurate. Maybe even hopefully accurate although I almost shudder to think what might be brought in next.

That said, I do not really like this article, the implications of kind of a continuing hatchet job by Marty on Muss ala Poison on Rick, a columnist openly calling for a coach's head and throwing in innuendo ("faker" and whatnot). I may agree substantially with most of it, but its still just icky.

 

[kupman]

Who is doing better at their respective jobs at this point......Muss or Marty?

 

[Warhawk]

Who is doing better at their respective jobs at this point......Muss or Marty?

Well, both are better than AV and Breton....






And that ain't saying much.

 

[GoGoGadget]

You know, the Muss to be fired etc. line of thought is of course very clear and quite possibly accurate. Maybe even hopefully accurate although I almost shudder to think what might be brought in next.

That said, I do not really like this article, the implications of kind of a continuing hatchet job by Marty on Muss ala Poison on Rick, a columnist openly calling for a coach's head and throwing in innuendo ("faker" and whatnot). I may agree substantially with most of it, but its still just icky.

Gotta agree with this.

Almost getting to where it just looks like Marty's whining over the cell phone incident, which unfortunately negates the fact that he's otherwise got a point.

 

[Wuster]

You know, the Muss to be fired etc. line of thought is of course very clear and quite possibly accurate. Maybe even hopefully accurate although I almost shudder to think what might be brought in next.

That said, I do not really like this article, the implications of kind of a continuing hatchet job by Marty on Muss ala Poison on Rick, a columnist openly calling for a coach's head and throwing in innuendo ("faker" and whatnot). I may agree substantially with most of it, but its still just icky.

He's in the business, at the end of the day, of selling papers - even if he throws in some Jerry Springer tactics. Ya, this is icky, speculative, subjective... even the bit about the 6 players I call into question. Just mushy stuff, not very solid. And I also basically agree with where he's going with this. I'd have preferred something more elegantly and convincingly written. Actually, come to think of it... I'd have preferred to see something written by Kreidler.

 

[fnordius]

I'm a big Adelman fan, but I don't know if this is actually true. Before the Artest trade last year the players really looked like they had quit (remember that home Portland game??), there were rumors that the players (Bibby) were tuning him out...

I saw a little of that from time to time... Bibby acting like he didn't like the way RA was dealing with one thing or another. It's a big part of human nature to take things for granted until they're gone. I bet Bibby'd be a much better listener now.

 

[VF21]

Marty MacNeal was adequate as a beat writer covering the Kings. But, as is all too often the case, he is now IMHO a victim of the Peter Principle.

At least six players have told me they lost their belief in Musselman months ago. That's because being a fake is like being a snitch. In these days and times, you just don't go out that way.

A good writer can make his point without his fangs dripping venom. And comments like the one above aren't going to help anyone.

Hey, Marty? Being a snitch is like being a fake...

 

[fansinceday1]

I need to throw some water on the adelman love fest.

I still havent forgiven RA for forcing Webber back onto a team that was playing championship basketball. Peja was having an all-star season and was even being mentioned as an MVP candidate. Webber comes back and the wheels fall off. Peja is NEVER the same and now we are where we are today.

Every coach has his flaws. Muss just needs the horses to compete in this league and he just doesnt have them right now. If Muss is fired I say we bring back Dick Motta.