Reggie Theus Speaks!!!!

[Purple Reign]

You can read the whole take on Sam's Blog http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/

But here are some interesting parts:

On being replaced by Kenny Natt on Dec. 14 with the Kings off to a 6-18 start during his second season

"Obviously, with the record, and the way things were done, it wasn't my coaching. The team we had wasn't healthy. The thing I don't understand is that Geoff (Petrie) said I wouldn't be evaluated until the team was healthy. How do you justify that? That was tough. I don't think I got a fair shot. But watching the team disintegrate was even tougher. Watching it go into the toilet ... watching the personalities lose confidence, regress ... that was tough. I thought Beno (Udrih), who was struggling, got worse

 

[Entity]

Can't say that isn't true.

 

[N0M0R3]

You can read the whole take on Sam's Blog http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/

But here are some interesting parts:

WERD the front office needed to show that they were still trying to create a better product on the court when they fired him even thought he kept starting the recently WAIVED Mikki FREAKING M0R3 over Jason....he was never Geoff's pick, kept playing the Vets, ect. They were definitely butting heads and we cant have that on a rebuilding team.

 

[SacKings384]

I don't know how much of our current record is attributable to the idea that Theus wasn't at fault. Yes, we haven't gotten any better. But we also have Kenny Natt as coach... Being better than Kenny Natt is like bragging about graduating from pre-school.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

Like he said, Reggie was told he would be judge with a full healthy team. Can't blame him for sounding a bit angry.

 

[beb0p]

Spencer (Hawes), who had been playing pretty well, went totally downhill.

I think Theus is right on this one. Spencer was in a slump after Theus left and only recently showed some life.

We should have kept Theus even though Natt is doing a great job at landing that high lottery pick.

 

[VF21]

Sorry, but I think Theus would have been better served just to keep his mouth shut. Unfortunately, that was part of his problem while he was here and nothing has changed.

He doesn't think he got a fair shot? He's telling one side of the story but there's more out there that will most likely never be known.

I'm done being impressed with Reggie Theus and I actually feel a bit sad about it. He was my first favorite Kings player but I've lost any and all respect I once had for him.

There are things for Kings fans to look forward to. There are things to talk about regarding the possible future of the team. Reggie Theus isn't a part of that.

Sour grapes just don't look good on a resume. You don't see other fired coaches whining about not getting a "fair shot."

Hey Reggie? Suck it up, shut up and look to the future. For whatever reasons - and I'm absolutely postivie there are some that were never made public - you're no longer the coach of the Sacramento Kings. Learn from your mistakes and move on and quit looking like a spoiled little kid who didn't get his way.

 

[6th]

Sorry, but I think Theus would have been better served just to keep his mouth shut. Unfortunately, that was part of his problem while he was here and nothing has changed.

He doesn't think he got a fair shot? He's telling one side of the story but there's more out there that will most likely never be known.

I'm done being impressed with Reggie Theus and I actually feel a bit sad about it. He was my first favorite Kings player but I've lost any and all respect I once had for him.

As for Amick and his "reporting," it's beginning to look as though he's just going to try and find any and all negative or derogatory stuff he can put his hands on to toss into the Bee. I'd like to say I'm surprised but it would be a total and complete lie.

There are things for Kings fans to look forward to. There are things to talk about regarding the possible future of the team. Reggie Theus isn't a part of that.

Sour grapes just don't look good on a resume. You don't see other fired coaches whining about not getting a "fair shot."

Hey Reggie? Suck it up, shut up and look to the future. For whatever reasons - and I'm absolutely postivie there are some that were never made public - you're no longer the coach of the Sacramento Kings. Learn from your mistakes and move on and quit looking like a spoiled little kid who didn't get his way.

Yep! That about sums it up for me. You are not doing yourself any favors, Reggie.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

As for Amick and his "reporting," it's beginning to look as though he's just going to try and find any and all negative or derogatory stuff he can put his hands on to toss into the Bee. I'd like to say I'm surprised but it would be a total and complete lie.

For accuracy, I should point out that the OP was mistaken - this was on the general Kings blog at the Bee, and the story was written by Voisin, not Amick.

 

[VF21]

In acknowledgment of the above, I stand corrected... If this is something Voisin wrote, then it's par for the course in a way. I'm still disappointed, but not as surprised as she always was soft on Theus IMHO.

I'll edit my comments above to reflect the correction. Thanks, Capt. I didn't get my Bee this morning and rarely check the website...

 

[CruzDude]

I think Theus is right on this one. Spencer was in a slump after Theus left and only recently showed some life.

Brad Miller was the starter and Hawes was off the bench during and after Theus left. Hawe's play after that was not major difference but once Hawes started he showed marked improvement "except" in still getting too many ticky tacky fouls, many of which he will learn not to do. Theus played the vets way too much as his huge ego wanted wins not player development. Funny but one game after Brad, Mikki and Salmons are gone we get 48 minutes of effort and fun out of the "kids" and a win on the road. Never got those things with the "vets" in there most of the time. OK, it is only one game, but it seemed a first for me this year!

Rebuilding means you have to put your ego in a locker somewhere and leave it there for a year or two. Natt is a real pro/NBA coach. Theus was not. Natt has a great pedigree, Theus had none. Finley went with Theus. Nobody seems to wonder why. Ego and supporting Theus too much and his ego and not concentrating on developing the kids. Thats IMHO.....

GP getting rid of cap space also got rid of the 3 vets who were taking time away from development of the younger guys. Rebuilding is a really, really tough time for a coach. But a coach has to focus his effort for the greater good of the team, the bosses and ultimately to us fans.

I hope Natt gets promoted to "The" coach for next year then we all can take things (rebuilding and congealing into a team) one year at a time.

 

[vikinginferno]

If Natt is still coach next year I won't be too unhappy as long as we have good assistants who will be able to develop players well. It will also be less expensive than getting someone else to come in.

 

[VF21]

We already have an almost unbelievable upgrade in the assistant coaching ranks. Pete "Coachie" Carril signed on almost immedaiately after Reggie Theus, his ego and jealousy departed.

 

[Kingster]

I didn't want Theus to be coach from the start. But that said, the team obviously played better with him than under Natt. It was a bad move by Kings management. They should have stuck it out until the end of the contract. But no, they made the impulsive move and as a result THEY look very bad doing it. Theus is telling the truth as he knows it. I have no problem with that.

And another thing, I'm sick of the rumor factory at the Kings organization. Absolutely sick of it. They fire the guy, then whisper a few things to Napear, who in turn acts like a freaking rumor mongering teenage girl by putting out inuendo and rumor about Theus. They never did say what in particular the egregious thing(s) that Theus's assistant did. NEVER. They just whisper innuendos about certain players not like somethig or other. As if that's news. Cowards.

 

[VF21]

Oh so Grant is a rumor-monger but the Bee speaks the truth?

Bullbleep...

The fact the Kings organization chose not to specifically state why Theus was fired might mean they're showing more class than the whiny coach who can't wait to cry to Ailene Voisin about it not being fair. Wah, wah, wah...

I seriously doubt if Theus' departure was a hasty decision or one made lightly. We talk on message boards; the Maloofs are paying cold hard cash to people no longer in their employ for reasons they choose not to make public.

You think the Maloofs look bad for firing Theus? I think the organization looks better with Petrie obviously back in control as he should be and Coachie sitting back on the bench.

And was the team playing better the goal? Or was the goal supposed to be to work to get a decent draft pick. Right up until the end, Theus FOUGHT with his bosses about the direction they wanted him to take. And he took it to the media, apparently thinking public pressure might apply.

Reggie Theus was my first favorite King. I was ecstatic about the idea of him being the coach. Unfortunately, the EGO he brought with him just wasn't what the team or the fans or even the other players needed.

One thing to think about? Maybe some of those rumors and innuendos were more than just idle speculation...

 

[Kingster]

Oh so Grant is a rumor-monger but the Bee speaks the truth?

Bullbleep...

The fact the Kings organization chose not to specifically state why Theus was fired might mean they're showing more class than the whiny coach who can't wait to cry to Ailene Voisin about it not being fair. Wah, wah, wah...

I seriously doubt if Theus' departure was a hasty decision or one made lightly. We talk on message boards; the Maloofs are paying cold hard cash to people no longer in their employ for reasons they choose not to make public.

You think the Maloofs look bad for firing Theus? I think the organization looks better with Petrie obviously back in control as he should be and Coachie sitting back on the bench.

And was the team playing better the goal? Or was the goal supposed to be to work to get a decent draft pick. Right up until the end, Theus FOUGHT with his bosses about the direction they wanted him to take. And he took it to the media, apparently thinking public pressure might apply.

Reggie Theus was my first favorite King. I was ecstatic about the idea of him being the coach. Unfortunately, the EGO he brought with him just wasn't what the team or the fans or even the other players needed.

One thing to think about? Maybe some of those rumors and innuendos were more than just idle speculation...

The Kings are classles. Like you said, "they chose not to specifically state why", but then of course they do the girlish behind the back stuff that would make a mean junior high delinquent proud. If they want to be classy, they should come out and fire the guy and just say they have a different philosophy on coaching, and that it hasn't worked. Period.
But no, they had to make Theus the bad guy. Now why did they have to do that? They had to do it because they made a bad decision in hiring him to begin with! Theus isn't the bad guy here. The Maloofs are. They are the guys that hired him. They are the guys that hired somebody with no NBA coaching experience. They are the guy looking for a salesman instead of coach. But no, they can't take responsibility for their inept decision making. They have to make Theus the fall guy. They all should be ashamed of themselves, but no, that won't happen. Because in order to be ashamed you have to have shame to begin with.

 

[VF21]

The Kings are classles. Like you said, "they chose not to specifically state why", but then of course they do the girlish behind the back stuff that would make a mean junior high delinquent proud. If they want to be classy, they should come out and fire the guy and just say they have a different philosophy on coaching, and that it hasn't worked. Period.
But no, they had to make Theus the bad guy. Now why did they have to do that? They had to do it because they made a bad decision in hiring him to begin with! Theus isn't the bad guy here. The Maloofs are. They are the guys that hired him. They are the guys that hired somebody with no NBA coaching experience. They are the guy looking for a salesman instead of coach. But no, they can't take responsibility for their inept decision making. They have to make Theus the fall guy. They all should be ashamed of themselves, but no, that won't happen. Because in order to be ashamed you have to have shame to begin with.

I suppose you mean "classless" in your first sentence, right?

As far as the rest goes, you're certainly entitled to your opinion. But I think the class shows with who is whining in the press and who isn't. If you're okay with Reggie Theus crying to Ailene Voisin, no problem. Any respect I had left for him, however,was destroyed by that CLASSLESS act.

You're maintaining that Theus was totally innocent of any wrongdoing. I'm sorry but that's simply not the case. Revisionist history is fun, but only if you're far enough removed from the truth that it's possible to fool the people who were around for the period of time you're trying to change.

I won't argue this further but to act as though Reggie Theus is the innocent victim in all this is incredibly naive...

Theus is part of the past. The mere fact that Voisin would act the toady for his little "poor pitiful me" routine is disturbing but not unexpected. I've moved on - and Theus should, too. But hey - if the only way he can get his name in the press nowadays is to cry on voisin's shoulder, more power to him.

 

[Oscar]

Bad form, Reg. No class - you don't start blaming others and try to let yourself off the hook. As a coach in the NBA you have to take responsibility for your team. It didn't work out - time to move on with your life and stop playing the blame game.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Theus isn't the bad guy here. The Maloofs are.

I completely agree. The Maloof's (and I have no problem w/ satirical MaGoof's) had a coach with 700 NBA victories, yet apparently (we never get many answers at all from them) got bored with his quiet reserve, not smoozing enough with Joe/Gavin/community or something. Then they made one of the dumbest moves in Sacramento Kings history by swallowing a useless power point presentation by some jokester who proceeded to get a downtown DUI and keep right on driving his entire team into the ditch.

Then enter Reggie Theus with all his national star power. A Sacramento Kings icon and rightly called King of Kings as he came full circle. I'm not going to recap that journey, from Rick Patio assistant, surprisingly impressive NMSU head coach, and miraculously getting injured riddled Kings out of said ditch in his first year. His second year he was still dealing with a host of bad luck, a suspension, more injuries, etc. Yet, the players all said they liked and respected him - unless that's somehow a big manufactured lie. He wanted and did run a fairly tight ship, but relented as things came together for more easy going ways. The only thing ever confirmed about his stupid firing out of mouths of Kings management was - IT'S QUOTED BELOW DOG IN MY POST!

Reggie Theus deserved better and at least a chance to finish his second year, but so did Rick Adelman deserve a helluva lot better. Who can forget the classless Maloof's refusing to acknowledge Rick when he returned to Arco the first time as Houston Rockets head coach. Who saw that affront and immediately went over to him to shake his hand - Head Coach Reggie Theus.

If the Maloof's have proved one thing, it's that they know ZERO, ABSOLUTE ZERO, about running a professional basketball organization and should completely stay out of that process. The best leaders/owners get their GM to recommend a few select options and then discuss some top ones, but tilt toward their professional GM's call. In the case of Maloof's, the track record in such matters is so horrible they should divorce themselves permanently from any part of it. I think they've have done many good things in the local community, tried desperately to get a new arena for Sac, but have clearly produced significant warts which the carnage has now been around for a half decade for everyone to witness in it's current NBA 12-45 horrendous debacle. Yes, there's slivers of hope (assuming Kings don't soon move), but only if Maloof's stay out, way-way out of the basketball picture and let Geoff Petrie do his thing - HIS WAY.

 

[VF21]

That's all well and good - and still doesn't excuse Theus whining to Voisin. You're looking at this from inside, as an acquaintance of Theus... we're speaking from the outside as fans. It's not personal with us as we don't know Reggie Theus the man ... obviously.

Speaking only for myself, Reggie Theus is his own worst enemy. He tried to use the press as a bargaining chip and it blew up in his face. Now he needs to let it go. Talking to anyone from or about Sacramento is only going to hurt him in future endeavors IMHO.

I'm sure there were a myriad of reasons why the Maloofs finally lost faith with Theus. we aren't privilege to all of them, nor should we be. The point it it was the Maloof's decision to make and they made it. Theus was well compensated for his time here. For him to whine to the Bee was beneath him and just tarnishes his image.

Just my two cents, of course...

 

[kennadog]

I have to agree that the whining to Voison is just childish. Poor little Reggie. I think one of Reggie's problems was not keeping his mouth shut when he was here and apparently he still hasn't learned the wisdom of keeping one's mouth shut. I think another problem is Reggie's ego makes him blame others. It can't ever be him who needs to learn and adjust.

Maybe it was time for Adelman to go, but god I miss him. A person who earned the trust of his players by keeping team/player issues where they belong....behind closed doors.

 

[beb0p]

I hope Natt gets promoted to "The" coach for next year then we all can take things (rebuilding and congealing into a team) one year at a time.

What??~!

Natt and "Kings head coach" should never be in the same sentence unless the word "fired" is somewhere in there too.

It's time we get a *real* head coach next season. Not some drunken hyper guy who screams all the time. Not some Hollywood pretty boy. Not some career assistant coach. I mean a real coach with head coaching experience who knows what the heck he's doing.

 

[gunks]

As much as I hate Natt as a longterm coach...I think trying to get a big name coach in here next season may be one season to soon.

Let Natt tard us into getting another high pick in what should be (considering how bad this one is) a better draft. Hawes, JT, and Donte will be 1 year more developed. Kevin will still be chugging along at 20+ ppg. And whoever we pick up this year will show us what they got.


I say we give our roster a bit more of the "Portland" treatment, then see who we can get in here to lead the show.



As far as Reggie, he speaks the truth. He was actually playing the kids. And getting some heart out of the players. Something Natt has been unable to do. Natt was really limiting the minutes of the youngsters too, if it wasnt for Petrie making the trades he did I doubt Hawes would be getting more then 23mpg, and Greene...DNPs. The Reggie firing was a mistake.

HOWEVER...Reggie was a bit of a d-bag at times, so I can see how he might have pissed off his bosses. Oh well.

 

[Prince_XY]

The guy was already fired. Let him talk as much as he wants. Let him vent. IMO, ( judging on what actually has happened after Theus was fired ), I think it is fair to say Theus is right on his assessment.

The team, and especially the development of the "kids" was a lot better under coach Theus. We've hoped that coach Natt will somehow give more playing time to our developing "kids", but what happened?

Playing time and/or develoment of the "kids" got worse with Natt. And coach Theus is right - the team became a "joke" under coach Natt.

Also, it is unfair when some of us keep on putting the blame on the Maloofs, when in fact Petrie is supposedly the GM running the show.

Did we ever have any confirmation that the Maloofs were the real ones who messed-up this team? Did Petrie really ever said he was just a "puppet GM" by the Maloofs?

No.


.

 

[jalfa]

I say we give our roster a bit more of the "Portland" treatment, then see who we can get in here to lead the show.

Slightly offtopic: Well, the Portland treatment would include getting an excellent coach very soon. I thought that was the most underrated move of the Blazers' front office, snatching MacMillan away from Seattle after that one good year they had. The ex-Sonics' record since then and the Blazers getting it together so soon speaks volumes about what difference a good coach makes. The only thing that scares me is that there don't seem to be many coaches of this calibre around, only those who have proven again and again that they can't really win at this level (Cheeks, Jordan, Saunders).

Apologies again for the off-topic. As for the topic at hand: I wasn't very happy about Theus being fire at the time. Of course there may have been issues that weren't for the public to see, but as I can't judge on that, I had to go with the job that he did with the team and there, he did rather well. He had a bad team overachieving and an even worse team right on par with what was expected of it. He also did develop the youngsters, something that (almost) came to a screeching halt, once Kenny Natt took over. However, nowadays I'm fine with Natt. He plays the kid (Donté mostly excepted) and wins as few games as possible (whether intentional or not) and that's all I ask of a coach for this season.

 

[beb0p]

I say we give our roster a bit more of the "Portland" treatment, then see who we can get in here to lead the show.

jalfa is right. The Portland treatment calls for us getting a good coach asap.

And even if you don't want to follow Portland's model, we need a good coach because we'll have five young players next season and we absolutely cannot afford a mediocre coach like Natt turning the kids into mediocre players.