VF – I’m sorry but I have to respectfully disagree with you.
The coach can motivate you only so much. Shouldn’t the players be motivated enough? This is the same problem I heard about when Rick was coach (and people were saying that we should get rid of him). They blamed him because he couldn’t get his players up and excited – like he had to bring motivation to a team that was trying to make the playoffs and get out of the first round. A coach should defenetly push you because players need that sometimes. But to blame him entirely is not right.
If you extend the puzzle, however, you have to wonder WHY the players aren't motivated. What I suspect is a frustration over more of the same lack of real coaching that was whispered last year. If a young, enthusiastic player comes to the team all ready to make it in the league, he's motivated. If, however, he is not properly utilized, is not allowed to learn from his mistakes, etc. then said motivation quickly disappears.
This isn't about Rick Adelman. This is about Reggie Theus, who should know how to deal with young players, epsecially since we picked him from the college ranks.
I don’t think Reggie’s ego got in the way. He does have moments where he can’t seem to let go of his past, back in the day…But I think this (leaving the team to “figure things our”) should be a one time thing. I don’t expect him to leave anymore and I think that was a good message to his players – we should be playing hard for 48 straight minutes.
We don't know if this is a one-time thing, or even if it's the first time it's happened. I concluded it might well have been Reggie's ego getting in the way for good reason. Reggie Theus has always had a tremendous ego; it's part of what made him a good player. BUT it can also be a detriment when you have young kids who don't just blindly follow your lead. It can be frustrating and it can get very aggravating. To me it sounds like that's what happened... And Reggie pulled the plug on the whole scenario, turning it over to Kevin and Garcia to deal with.
I’m really glad to see Kevin, Cisco and Bobby gathering the players together and talking….Now all we have to do is improve the team concept.
I agree that having Martin, Garcia AND Bobby step up and call a player meeting was apparently productive. But look at it this way... We have a gazillion assistant coaches. They should be able to work with the players and get things done and Reggie should be coordinating all the efforts. If there's a disconnect now, how bad is it going to get by mid-season?
Theus is looking for the team to pick up his contract option. If they don't, the pressure on him (at least in his mind) to produce or else will only get worse. He has to find a way to get everyone on the same page... As you said, "improve the team concept"...
In that regard, we are in complete and total agreement.
