Smart and Cousins

[jalfa]

Smart said a major breakthrough with Cousins occurred shortly after he replaced Westphal. He went to Cousins' house, and the two spent three hours chatting.

They did so while watching a college basketball game on television and eating gumbo prepared by a member of Cousins' family. With Cousins a native of Mobile, Ala., and Smart a native of Baton Rouge, La., that's a favorite dish for both.

"The game is on TV and I'm talking to him about what he likes and what he didn't like," Smart said. "I got a chance to know him away from the arena, the practice facility, away from all that, and now his ego is down. ... I said, 'Cous, when I see that you're not running up and down the floor (hard enough), I'm going to take you out of the game. I'll put you back in, but I got to take you out. Is that fair?' He said, 'That's fair, coach.' He gave ownership to it.

"If you're going to fight with the officials… I said, 'If I see you doing that a lot, I've got to take you out of the game. Is that fair? I'm going to get you back in'… He said, 'That's cool.' … So he knows that when I have to be on him, I'm not personally attacking him. I'm doing it because of that conversation we had at his house."

http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/02/...n-tr/landing.html?blockID=670442&feedID=10140

there's a lot more to it. very much worth a read.

 

[Arkitect]

Great article and really highlights why Smart is a good fit for the team right now. The single most important piece of our future success is Cousins. Smart has done a great job working with DMC and he is flourishing under him. He hasn't had a single negative news story in almost 2 months now. In the long run, Cousins development emotionally and as a player is going to decide the fate of the team.

 

[Mass]

Great read! Thank you very much. Cousins is really special, I really believe him when he says that he wants to be here. I think he just needs clear rules, rules that he understands. I don't think he is a bad guy, not at all. Indeed, I think he is a great guy, and Smart is doing a great job with him. DMC is the centerpiece of this franchise. He will be the next Kings player in an all star game, and he will be the best C in the league, even better than Dwight. I'm serious, you can mark my word.

 

[Kingsguy881]

Excellent read and glad I get to keep rocking my Big Cuz back in black jersey! Smart is definitely telling him the right ish to keep him focused and motivated.

 

[The Hammer]

Best article on Cousins to date.

Say what you want about small ball, etc., but Smart has near mastery of player management skills.

I do wonder though how Reke feels about all this. Hope he feels just as looked after.

 

[Arkitect]

Best article on Cousins to date.

Say what you want about small ball, etc., but Smart has near mastery of player management skills.

I do wonder though how Reke feels about all this. Hope he feels just as looked after.

There was an article a few weeks ago that Smart was working one on one with Reke on jump shots and where to pass when he is driving. Evans has different needs than DMC and I think Smart is looking after him in a different way. Evans needs a teacher and DMC needs a mentor.

 

[rainmaker]

There was an article a few weeks ago that Smart was working one on one with Reke on jump shots and where to pass when he is driving. Evans has different needs than DMC and I think Smart is looking after him in a different way. Evans needs a teacher and DMC needs a mentor.

Reke needs a shot doctor and to ditch his brothers.

 

[The_Jamal]

Reke needs a shot doctor and to ditch his brothers.

Bingo. They're messing around with his image way too much and not letting him focus on basketball the right way.

 

[kennadog]

Reke needs a shot doctor and to ditch his brothers.

You know, his brothers did a great job in raising Tyreke in a very bad neighborhood. I can't point to why I think this, but a keep wondering if he hasn't progressed farther is because he listens more to his brothers than anyone else. At his point, I think the brothers need to back out gracefully and let professionals work with Tyreke on his basketball.

I also am not fond of the fact that he spends almost no time in Sacramento in the off-season. Seems like he spends a lot more time in LA, which makes him feel temporary in Sacramento to me. To be clear this is just my feelings, no facts.

I mean I believe in the power of family, because I've had a strong, close family from the start. However, my family is there to help when needed and asked, not to run my life.