Artestify
Prospect
Bumbling play, grumbling players and crumbling chemistry lead to one question
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, April 15, 2007
He will come prepared, having crunched the numbers and rehearsed the logic and perfected the pitch just as he did 11 months ago in those Las Vegas interviews that were as dazzling as Sin City itself.
But this time, Eric Musselman will be campaigning to save his job rather than win it.
The Kings' coach is in danger of being fired after this season, though team management has yet to confer on the matter, and Musselman has ensured that he will weigh in on the process.
Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said Musselman has asked to meet with the team's owners immediately after the season. And after impressing them in his two May 2006 meetings with two 100-plus-page books that included everything from practice regimens to Kings player files and strategy, Musselman apparently will return to the same tactic in an attempt to state his case.
"He's got a book he wants to show us, I guess," Gavin Maloof said. "He's analytical, so I'm sure we'll see a lot of stats."
But the book on Musselman's first Kings season was more of a mystery, and his inability to follow through on the original script might result in his dismissal after one season despite his three-year contract worth more than $7 million.
With three games left, the Kings are relevant in the postseason picture only because of their remaining opponents. Their loss to Golden State on Friday began a final stretch during which they face each team vying for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference -- this after the Maloofs and basketball president Geoff Petrie had every expectation entering the season that they would be among the postseason lot.
"We knew we had a good team," Gavin Maloof said. "Could we repeat what we did last year? Well, we thought so. We at least thought we could make it in the playoffs. And then when we didn't, that was disappointing.
"I think maybe a new coach, a new system, you have to take it all into account. To (Musselman's) credit, he's worked hard. But for whatever reason, it just didn't jell this year."
The reasons go beyond Musselman. Three players seen as the team's original core battled injuries, and only Ron Artest was able to recover from early struggles, while Mike Bibby and Brad Miller had down seasons. Artest, though, countered his positive contributions with off-the-court problems.
"You know, he had a pretty daunting path," Gavin Maloof said of Musselman. "There were a lot of distractions this year. ... He's still our coach. We haven't said he's not our coach."
The past and present of their coach collided again Friday when Golden State entered Arco Arena. The man who fired Musselman -- Warriors general manager Chris Mullin -- was in the building, with Golden State pushing to break a 12-season playoff drought that included Musselman's stint (2002-04).
But just as the Warriors' victory at Arco marked the drastic change in fortune for the two organizations, some observers say little changed about Musselman from his days in Oakland. Locker room relationships again were an issue, with nearly the entire team privately complaining about the coach's style, their playing time and roles, and a general lack of identity or direction from early this season.
Only his players know what impact Musselman's October arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence had on his standing with the team. But their front-and-center support -- that image of his team standing behind him during a public apology -- was a picture of unity that never again would be so universal.
At the time, Petrie said the mistake was a "self-inflicted wound, but it need not to be -- nor should it be -- a mortal one." It didn't appear to be so in the month that followed, as the Kings surged to an 8-5 record and survived the eight-game loss of Miller after he suffered a partially torn foot tendon three games in. They played defense just as Musselman had preached coming in, and players were effusive about their harmonious relationship with him.
But gripes soon began. After a Nov. 28 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, emerging star Kevin Martin expressed frustration and confusion after he was benched because of an off-night shooting. That scene would be repeated often.
Three nights later, the much talked-about relationship between Musselman and Artest suffered the first of many blows when Artest fumed that he didn't have enough shots in a loss to Dallas, vaguely challenging the organization to "decide which way it wants to go." Numerous players, younger ones and experienced veterans, expressed unhappiness, even more as the Kings lost nine of their next 11 games and never hit .500 again.
"Things would go well and we'd be playing a certain way and guys would solidify roles," Miller said, "and then it seemed like we'd get away from that, and it was hard to tell why it happened or how it happened. A lot of times, guys would struggle with little things, wanting to play more or wanting to play less.
"You really want to try to keep everybody happy, but everybody's not going to be happy, and that's just a fact. Championship teams have guys that are unhappy. You can't please everybody. You can't aim to please everybody. You've got to (do) what's best for the team and will work best."
Miller, among others, struggled to identify what was expected of him.
"I've always tried to be real confident in my coach, always (had) an understanding of, What do you want? What do we need as a team?" he said. "But sometimes there was more emphasis on, Do we want me to shoot it more? Do you want me to pass? And that goes in terms of everybody."
The problem has not disappeared and might not, as sources close to the team said several players might request to be traded if Musselman returns.
And like the coach himself, many players might be on their way out anyway in what seems destined to be a busy offseason. Kings who will become free agents include Corliss Williamson, Justin Williams, Ronnie Price and Vitaly Potapenko, and Martin seems likely to be offered a long-term contract extension that seems certain after his breakout season.
Just as Musselman will meet with the Maloofs, the owners are expected to meet with Petrie soon after the season to ponder looming choices.
"There's going to be change," Gavin Maloof said. "It's impossible to say that there isn't going to be change. We're always looking to improve our team, and there will be change.
"We just don't know if it'll be big change, little change, but there will be change. That's just the way business happens."
----------------
Juicy.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, April 15, 2007
He will come prepared, having crunched the numbers and rehearsed the logic and perfected the pitch just as he did 11 months ago in those Las Vegas interviews that were as dazzling as Sin City itself.
But this time, Eric Musselman will be campaigning to save his job rather than win it.
The Kings' coach is in danger of being fired after this season, though team management has yet to confer on the matter, and Musselman has ensured that he will weigh in on the process.
Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said Musselman has asked to meet with the team's owners immediately after the season. And after impressing them in his two May 2006 meetings with two 100-plus-page books that included everything from practice regimens to Kings player files and strategy, Musselman apparently will return to the same tactic in an attempt to state his case.
"He's got a book he wants to show us, I guess," Gavin Maloof said. "He's analytical, so I'm sure we'll see a lot of stats."
But the book on Musselman's first Kings season was more of a mystery, and his inability to follow through on the original script might result in his dismissal after one season despite his three-year contract worth more than $7 million.
With three games left, the Kings are relevant in the postseason picture only because of their remaining opponents. Their loss to Golden State on Friday began a final stretch during which they face each team vying for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference -- this after the Maloofs and basketball president Geoff Petrie had every expectation entering the season that they would be among the postseason lot.
"We knew we had a good team," Gavin Maloof said. "Could we repeat what we did last year? Well, we thought so. We at least thought we could make it in the playoffs. And then when we didn't, that was disappointing.
"I think maybe a new coach, a new system, you have to take it all into account. To (Musselman's) credit, he's worked hard. But for whatever reason, it just didn't jell this year."
The reasons go beyond Musselman. Three players seen as the team's original core battled injuries, and only Ron Artest was able to recover from early struggles, while Mike Bibby and Brad Miller had down seasons. Artest, though, countered his positive contributions with off-the-court problems.
"You know, he had a pretty daunting path," Gavin Maloof said of Musselman. "There were a lot of distractions this year. ... He's still our coach. We haven't said he's not our coach."
The past and present of their coach collided again Friday when Golden State entered Arco Arena. The man who fired Musselman -- Warriors general manager Chris Mullin -- was in the building, with Golden State pushing to break a 12-season playoff drought that included Musselman's stint (2002-04).
But just as the Warriors' victory at Arco marked the drastic change in fortune for the two organizations, some observers say little changed about Musselman from his days in Oakland. Locker room relationships again were an issue, with nearly the entire team privately complaining about the coach's style, their playing time and roles, and a general lack of identity or direction from early this season.
Only his players know what impact Musselman's October arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence had on his standing with the team. But their front-and-center support -- that image of his team standing behind him during a public apology -- was a picture of unity that never again would be so universal.
At the time, Petrie said the mistake was a "self-inflicted wound, but it need not to be -- nor should it be -- a mortal one." It didn't appear to be so in the month that followed, as the Kings surged to an 8-5 record and survived the eight-game loss of Miller after he suffered a partially torn foot tendon three games in. They played defense just as Musselman had preached coming in, and players were effusive about their harmonious relationship with him.
But gripes soon began. After a Nov. 28 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, emerging star Kevin Martin expressed frustration and confusion after he was benched because of an off-night shooting. That scene would be repeated often.
Three nights later, the much talked-about relationship between Musselman and Artest suffered the first of many blows when Artest fumed that he didn't have enough shots in a loss to Dallas, vaguely challenging the organization to "decide which way it wants to go." Numerous players, younger ones and experienced veterans, expressed unhappiness, even more as the Kings lost nine of their next 11 games and never hit .500 again.
"Things would go well and we'd be playing a certain way and guys would solidify roles," Miller said, "and then it seemed like we'd get away from that, and it was hard to tell why it happened or how it happened. A lot of times, guys would struggle with little things, wanting to play more or wanting to play less.
"You really want to try to keep everybody happy, but everybody's not going to be happy, and that's just a fact. Championship teams have guys that are unhappy. You can't please everybody. You can't aim to please everybody. You've got to (do) what's best for the team and will work best."
Miller, among others, struggled to identify what was expected of him.
"I've always tried to be real confident in my coach, always (had) an understanding of, What do you want? What do we need as a team?" he said. "But sometimes there was more emphasis on, Do we want me to shoot it more? Do you want me to pass? And that goes in terms of everybody."
The problem has not disappeared and might not, as sources close to the team said several players might request to be traded if Musselman returns.
And like the coach himself, many players might be on their way out anyway in what seems destined to be a busy offseason. Kings who will become free agents include Corliss Williamson, Justin Williams, Ronnie Price and Vitaly Potapenko, and Martin seems likely to be offered a long-term contract extension that seems certain after his breakout season.
Just as Musselman will meet with the Maloofs, the owners are expected to meet with Petrie soon after the season to ponder looming choices.
"There's going to be change," Gavin Maloof said. "It's impossible to say that there isn't going to be change. We're always looking to improve our team, and there will be change.
"We just don't know if it'll be big change, little change, but there will be change. That's just the way business happens."
----------------
Juicy.
Last edited by a moderator:
