Spears - "DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo have 'powerful' recent meeting with Kings coach George Karl"

[ForlornKing]

The main thing Rondo and Cousins told Karl was that his film sessions would be better with more constructive criticism and teaching. Rondo and Cousins said they also told Karl not to hesitate to use them as examples in film sessions.

“I told him to start with me. Whatever I can do to help the team,” Rondo told Yahoo Sports. “If you have to bully me or call me out, I can accept that. I’m a 10-year vet. I learned from [former Boston Celtics coach] Doc [Rivers] and the past guys that it has to start with the vets who have the most leeway on the team or the most responsibility.

“[Cousins and I] are both trying to change the culture, change the organization.”

Cousins told Yahoo Sports: “We’re just trying to correct every mistake we have. We want to be a winning team, and I feel it starts with myself on down to Rondo as well.”

Karl said Rondo and Cousins also asked that he be more selective about pushing the pace offensively. Karl said he would agree to slow the offense down under one condition.

“I said, ‘OK, I will slow it down if you do what I want.’ That’s not fighting each other. That’s mutually coming together,” Karl told Yahoo Sports. “If we have to compromise something, we will compromise something.”


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/demarc...g-with-kings-coach-george-karl-223318996.html





Some really really good stuff in this article. Thought it deserved its own thread.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Compromise - word of the day.

 

[Blob]

LOL Boogie on Rondo after this season:

“He ain’t going nowhere. I will kidnap him myself,” Cousins told Yahoo Sports.

 

[rainmaker]

Good article. I think Rondo's leadership is rubbing off on Cuz and it's a good step forward that there's open dialogue and compromises between coach and player. Now we just need those two to tell Karl to stop playing DC so much and to play WCS more.

Only question is, where were our renown Bee reporters on this?

I swear, everything good which comes out is from a national source. Oh that's right, Jason Jones is playing video games while sobbing over Kobe retiring and Voisin is hiding outside Peja's window hoping to catch a glimpse of that ripped torso.

 

[rainmaker]

“Cousins has never played with a vet that he respected,” Rondo told Yahoo Sports. “I think I’ve got his attention a little bit. I think he respects what I say.

“He will do his own thing. I’m not trying to be his daddy. But I want to be his big brother like K.G. was to me, showing me the ropes and helping me along the way. Everything that I’m telling him, K.G. told me. Experience is everything. If someone has it and is willing to share it, I was always trying to soak in as much knowledge as possible.”

“There is always a time and place,” Rondo told Yahoo Sports. “[Cousins] saying what he was saying in front of the team. … The concept of what he was saying may not have been wrong, it’s just the delivery. I’ve had a lot of blowups and I’ve learned from them. I told him, ‘You’re wrong on how you did it. Your [message] might be right, but that’s when you go in his office and talk to him.’"

Rondo isn't going anywhere unless we completely blow it. And as much as I don't like Karl, the Rondo/Karl relationship is the strongest argument for keeping him.

 

[gunks]

While I love that Cuz and Rondo have taken it upon themselves to right the ship, this article just reinforces what a lot of us have been worrying about...

....mainly that Karl is a washed up, lame duck coach, leeching Vivek's money, and bringing nothing to the table beyond the credentials of his bygone days.

They needed to ask him to critique and teach when reviewing game tape? Seriously?

They needed to ask him to slow the pace down, when almost all of us here have seen that it's a huge, blatant detriment to our success?

Jesus. Just make Rondo coach. Give Karl a Gameboy or something, he wouldn't be any more useless.


Edit: not to be a negative Nancy or anything. This is huge news, and hopefully a turning point for us. Cuz and Rondo are the man(s)!

 

[VF21]

I can't help but wonder if this is what George Karl has been waiting for all along - to have the two most influential veterans on the team come to him and have honest discussion of what they need from him, what he needs from them, etc. It makes sense - and it also goes a long way towards explaining why (all of a sudden) Karl seems more animated, more involved, and more intent.

Without DMC and Rondo on his side, Karl wasn't going to get anything done. With them coming to him, he knows he has them. Things may be about to get a lot more fun for Kings fans.

I LOVE THIS TEAM!

 

[VF21]

Now we just need those two to tell Karl to stop playing DC so much and to play WCS more.

I don't remember which game it was, but there were rumblings that it was Rondo who actually insisted on putting WCS in at the end of one of our games.

 

[John Galt]

sniff... tear... damn I mean, wow - what a dream come true.

 

[Telemachus]

I like that they plan on having a weekly meeting. This should help keep things from festering.

 

[kingsboi]

This is encouraging news to say the least. At least from the perspective that having Rondo around and teaching Cousins how to fix his antics on the court and off the court in a positive way without making it seem like hes a team cancer. Having Rondo around is good for Boogie's morale in general because they both respect each other so much they are willing to go to war together. I don't like the fact that they had to personally go to Karl and suggest to slow the pace of the game down when it obviously wasn't in their personnel to do so.

 

[HighFlyingMonkey]

The most important notable is that it was Rondo and Cousins meeting with Karl. Not Casspi, not Butler, not any random fringe player. These are the two most influential players on the team. Because when the top dogs in the locker room start setting an example, that's when the culture of a franchise changes.

 

[Warhawk]

I read the thread title and was expecting something negative. Glad to see I was incorrect in that assumption!

 

[DeMoN]

I haven't been happier being a Kings fan since Cwebb was on the floor.

 

[lwc]

I hope this translates.

 

[Sluggah]

What a bunch of cancerous coach killers.

 

[SacramentoKings]

I can't help but wonder if this is what George Karl has been waiting for all along - to have the two most influential veterans on the team come to him and have honest discussion of what they need from him, what he needs from them, etc. It makes sense - and it also goes a long way towards explaining why (all of a sudden) Karl seems more animated, more involved, and more intent.

Without DMC and Rondo on his side, Karl wasn't going to get anything done. With them coming to him, he knows he has them. Things may be about to get a lot more fun for Kings fans.

I LOVE THIS TEAM!

If this is what he wanted he should have just asked. Because the only reason they went to him was because of how bad he's coached so far. Unless you're implying that Karl sabotaged the team and make the situation so bad that he knew they'd come knocking. Either way this is dumb and just another reason why Karl should be fired.

 

[gunks]

What a bunch of cancerous coach killers.

If we could only be so lucky.

 

[SacKings384]

I think Cousins wants to win so badly and he realizes the team finally has the talent to do it. So even though this season hasn't been the start they wanted, I think he is starting to get that feeling that he could finally be on a winning team. On one hand, it scares me. Cousins has his hopes up real high right now and he's got that hunger, I don't know how he'll react if he doesn't get fed. I think what happened when he went off on Karl is a small dose of the hell that would come if they win 28-32 games.

On the other hand, it's great to see Cousins maturing as a leader and getting that desire back. Perhaps this will get him to stop sulking on no calls, or even arguing with the refs. I think if the Kings win in the 40-48 range, Boogie will be happy and we'll probably get Rondo back. Let's hope Boog stays healthy all season.

 

[sono]

LOL Boogie on Rondo after this season:

I was about to skip the article, now I gotta read through it.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Good article. I think Rondo's leadership is rubbing off on Cuz and it's a good step forward that there's open dialogue and compromises between coach and player. Now we just need those two to tell Karl to stop playing DC so much and to play WCS more.

Only question is, where were our renown Bee reporters on this?

Don't worry, I'm sure that Jason Jones will have the full report, in about a week or so.

Oh wait, how long is the lakers' road trip, again?

 

[Livinthedream]

Interesting. The implications being that Cuz and the team had not bought into Karl's system. So now the team gets to reduce pace in turn for Cousins listening to what Karl wants.

Took about......20 games.

 

[Bricklayer]

I hope this translates.

Its a very good sign, but perhaps worth noting this happened just before the Milwaulkee game -- after our Charlotte meltdown. We won vs. the Bucks. Then came back and stunk it up vs. the Wolves. Then tried early, but got badly outclassed vs. the Warriors. Then started slow, but ground down the Mavs. So maybe a better long term sign, but short term it was kind of another team meeting thing when we hit another rough patch, and led to us stabilizing but hardly curb-stomping the league.

Now practical effects? Maybe.

Pace first 15 games: 100.1 (2nd)
Pace last 4 games: 94.6 (24th)

 

[sono]

I can't help but wonder if this is what George Karl has been waiting for all along - to have the two most influential veterans on the team come to him and have honest discussion of what they need from him, what he needs from them, etc. It makes sense - and it also goes a long way towards explaining why (all of a sudden) Karl seems more animated, more involved, and more intent.

Without DMC and Rondo on his side, Karl wasn't going to get anything done. With them coming to him, he knows he has them. Things may be about to get a lot more fun for Kings fans.

I LOVE THIS TEAM!

I wish Karl took the initiative and called first, keeping the upper hand. Anyhow, I'm happy Rondo is becoming Boogie's mentor, the same way Garnett was to Rondo. I was expecting their ego would clash, glad I was wrong.

 

[Bricklayer]

I wish Karl took the initiative and called first, keeping the upper hand. Anyhow, I'm happy Rondo is becoming Boogie's mentor, the same way Garnett was to Rondo. I was expecting their ego would clash, glad I was wrong.

Actually I think it was important that Karl NOT keep the upper hand.

In this situation Karl is just a tool. An instrument with knowledge of the game but potentially faulty implementation. We have our star, we have someone that star accepts as a mentor. Its the players that are going to turn the culture here. We need Karl to be on their page, not them on his. If he's actually willing to do that (and btw a young George Karl would have said **** you, hopped up on the table, and pissed in their drinks to mark his territory) so many of the predicted ways that this crumbles become much less likely.

 

[The_Jamal]

If this is what he wanted he should have just asked. Because the only reason they went to him was because of how bad he's coached so far. Unless you're implying that Karl sabotaged the team and make the situation so bad that he knew they'd come knocking. Either way this is dumb and just another reason why Karl should be fired.

You actually could not be more wrong if you tried.

This is the kind of dialogue we've been waiting for from our star guys for awhile. It's Rondo and Cousins accepting leadership and airing out some issues they have like adults rather than the nonsense we've been subjected to with Kings basketball the last 10 years. It's about getting on the same page and leading from the top down rather than random blow ups that divide the locker room and the team.

 

[gunks]

LOL Boogie on Rondo after this season:

The media was quick to lambast Vlade and The Kings based on the assumption that "fiery"personalities like Rondo and Cuz couldn't possibly coexist.

Here we are, early in a season that has been anything but smooth sailing, and the relationship between Cuz and Rondo is nothing short of a Bromance.

Every time one talks about the other, they get all starry eyed. It's adorable.

 

[Glenn]

You actually could not be more wrong if you tried.

This is the kind of dialogue we've been waiting for from our star guys for awhile. It's Rondo and Cousins accepting leadership and airing out some issues they have like adults rather than the nonsense we've been subjected to with Kings basketball the last 10 years. It's about getting on the same page and leading from the top down rather than random blow ups that divide the locker room and the team.

I agree. I also think this is the very reason Karl should not be fired. He knows he is coaching a team not suited to his coaching so he needs input. He apparently is a man of his word and there is no ego involved. He will do what is necessary to win and at this point it is 1) to get along with the two leaders and 2) to insert a style of play that he is unfamiliar with. This is very good news. What I really like about Karl is that he is not full of BS. Neither is Boogie or Rajon. Karl has a lot to teach as to how to last a season without living or dying on every play, a talent Boogie unfortunately has. He can teach Boogie a lot and keep him on an even keel. The rest of the league does not want Boogie on an even keel.

 

[sono]

Actually I think it was important that Karl NOT keep the upper hand.

In this situation Karl is just a tool. An instrument with knowledge of the game but potentially faulty implementation. We have our star, we have someone that star accepts as a mentor. Its the players that are going to turn the culture here. We need Karl to be on their page, not them on his. If he's actually willing to do that (and btw a young George Karl would have said **** you, hopped up on the table, and pissed in their drinks to mark his territory) so many of the predicted ways that this crumbles become much less likely.

My thought was he should have approached them not with his proposal, instead listened to their opinion and find a happy medium, displaying his willingness to adjust the game plan from his side and keeping the initiative, since his preaching wasn't obviously working.

Utilizing him as a tool, I'm not so sure. He's not Keith Smart, Eric Musselman or Reggie Theus or sort of, who might turn into scarecrow in the current Kings' situation. I'm positive he's still got plenty tricks up his sleeve to leave his footprints all over, if he's willing to listen and adjust.

 

[Sac.1989]

This had to happen one way or another. Glad it has now we need to embrace it as a team and build on it.

That starts with Karl buying into it and not just having it as a facade