Theus to be Kings' head coach
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When I think of Reggie I picture him in those baby blue uniforms with the tight shorts. Anyway, I hope he does well! Here's a little nugget from his acting career:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0857696/
Maybe Reggie "The Messiah" can save the Kings! This line from his mini-bio I gotta say is pushing things: "Is considered the most underrated guard in NBA history."
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0857696/
Maybe Reggie "The Messiah" can save the Kings! This line from his mini-bio I gotta say is pushing things: "Is considered the most underrated guard in NBA history."
Actually, I think you are rather wrong on several counts heres.
Calling Theus selfish is hardly my invention, it was practically monogrammed on his socks during his career long before the internet. Everywhere he went, that was Reggie's rep, oft discussed, universally known.
And players absolutely know the history of the game...the history that was on TV. You think these basketballalholics weren't watching in the 90s? When they say they don't know the hsitory, its the actual history, the semi-legendary times back in the 60's or whatnot which oddly seem to leave little impact on dim minds.
And in case any of the players somehow did not know, they would hear. From every player, every coach, every announcer, fans, friends. And the coaches that were alternatives can namedrop like mad, show off their rings, and say with complete conviction "listen guys, I know what it takes to win, I've been around winners, I've see it happen, I've played with so and so and coached with so and so, and I busted my butt and that's why I have these". Reggie...Reggie is other. He can probably show off his knowledge of nightspots or how to play the high stakes poker the young and dumb seem to favor. But he hasn't won, hasn't sacrificed, and can speak with little conviction on those topics. Nor was he the sort of megastar that might be able to try to get by on awe alone (that rarely works anyway). It takes away from much of the ex-player advantaqe that coaches have. Reggie will entertain for a while in a shallow sort of way. But once the players dig deeper, will there be anything there? The entire "follow me because I know how to win in this league" angle is kinda shortcircuited for Reggie.
Look around the league, at the ex-players who are coaches. And the good ones almost invariably were scrappy roleplayers who won and could say "I've been there, listen to me and you will too". Not wannabe stars on losing franchises, or pretty boys, or big number for bad team types. Phil Jackson, and Pat Riley, and Avery Johnson and Jerry Sloan and Rick Adelman and Nate McMillan etc. etc. Its no more the absolute kiss of death than any other single trait, but it is another way in which this hire does not look promising. Just like during his playing days, Reggie looks better on paper to a neophyte, but that's not what normally wins. There is a do as I say, not do as I did element to this. If you ask me today who will make the better NBA coach one day, Derek Fisher or Cat Mobley (who reminds me of Reggie in some ways), the answer is unquestionably Fisher.
We'll see -- this is all just handicapping, and there is always a way for this to work out. But in the handicapping world Reggie was the wrong TYPE of player to benefit fully from the "former player" bonus. And he hasn't patched that up with any NBA experience in the long years since he retired.
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Not true, but yes discussed - meaning debated. Not universally known or as they say nowadays, urban legend, or so much internet nonsense. Theus was not a ball hog nor selfish on the court. He is one of only 7 players in NBA history to have scored at least 19,000 points while having over 6,000 assists. Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Magic Johnson make up 4 along with Theus and at this late hour I forgot who the other 3 are.
Well... Came on and wrote a nasty response to this hire then thought better of it and deleted it and waited a bit before replying on my thoughts.
- Clearly the least experienced and most flashy candidate out there.
- Not the type of guy who can lead a veteran team and doubtful the type of guy who will be able to reach veterans at all, given his experiences in the NBA are inferior to pretty much all NBA players who haven't spent their entire careers in Atlanta.
- However, I do think this can be a good hire IF we go young. Not halfway young though... it has to be all the friggen way. I don't even think you can afford a veteran leader on this team, you have to just go all kids and hope Reggie's enthusiasm turns them into the type of team that works their butts off every minute of every game (also hope they don't get their hands on any tape of Reggie playing or he may have a hard time getting them to buy into being non selfish players). Any kind of vet is just going to wind up rolling his eyes at a guy who has a couple years coaching in college and was a perennial loser as a player (Someone cited wins over UNR as a strength earlier...at first I thought it was a joke and smiled, when I realized it was in all seriousness I realized things weren't fantastic). Any vet eye rolling immediately kills Theus's credibility with the kids.
- Essentially you've tied your hands on personnell decisions. Which actually makes me happy because I think it's time to blow the whole thing up and start fresh. Hopefully this will help move us in that direction.
- Clearly the least experienced and most flashy candidate out there.
- Not the type of guy who can lead a veteran team and doubtful the type of guy who will be able to reach veterans at all, given his experiences in the NBA are inferior to pretty much all NBA players who haven't spent their entire careers in Atlanta.
- However, I do think this can be a good hire IF we go young. Not halfway young though... it has to be all the friggen way. I don't even think you can afford a veteran leader on this team, you have to just go all kids and hope Reggie's enthusiasm turns them into the type of team that works their butts off every minute of every game (also hope they don't get their hands on any tape of Reggie playing or he may have a hard time getting them to buy into being non selfish players). Any kind of vet is just going to wind up rolling his eyes at a guy who has a couple years coaching in college and was a perennial loser as a player (Someone cited wins over UNR as a strength earlier...at first I thought it was a joke and smiled, when I realized it was in all seriousness I realized things weren't fantastic). Any vet eye rolling immediately kills Theus's credibility with the kids.
- Essentially you've tied your hands on personnell decisions. Which actually makes me happy because I think it's time to blow the whole thing up and start fresh. Hopefully this will help move us in that direction.
You hire a college coach, you damn well better rebuild, go young, and get him some guys who will actually look at him as some wise old head, as opposed to guys who have done more than he ever did as a pro.
The problem is we don't know what identity he wants to give the team, and if even the Maloofs are admitting that we are in rebuilding mode now, then we may very well have a team that looks completely different by the time the season starts. Personally, I'm nervous about this decision, but what the hell? All I want to see is some progress (not necessarily a better record) and some decent basketball.
Let me say something here. The team you are talking about was a team made out of fresh young players, which makes it easier to mold the team to play a certain style. However, if you think that Reggie will make the team a hard fighting team, then I think it is not possible with the current group of veterans. You will never see Bibby play defence the way a good defender defends.
If my hunch is correct..look for some major team altering trades this offseason.
Anyone on KingsFans could've been hired as coach and I would've been fine with it. Now that Theus is the man, I can't help but get a little bit excited. I'm certain that was what the front office was going for. Hopefully show business has taught him something about retribution; beat Ronny Jeremy's squad. If he only wins two games, those two better be it. Maybe we should start petitioning the NBA to schedule us for Christmas day. I mean, they surely cannot want the Spurs and Cavs again.. right?
I don't think so, actually...but thats just my opinion. Reggie is sort of a 'new breed' of NBA coach, in that he's had success in the NBA as a player, in college as a coach, and has a great pedigree in the coaches he's played/coached for. I'm trying to think of the last NBA coach to have great success as a college player, NBA player, NCAA coach, and then get hired as a coach in the NBA.
To be honest, that wasn't exactly my opinion. I was just explaining why the "selfish" label was relevant.
The biggest issue with Theus is that there hasn't really been anybody successful as an NBA head coach while following his path. Of course that doesn't mean he can't be successful, but it means it is less likely. The thing that sets him apart from college coaches making the jump is his NBA playing experience, so that's better than being exactly like the others that failed.
I like Theus and am certainly rooting for him to do well. I'm not going to pretend that I think this is obviously a great move, though. Of the candidates available I do think he might have one of the highest potentials. We'll just have to cross our fingers that he heads that direction rather than being another Kings head coaching disappointment.
The biggest issue with Theus is that there hasn't really been anybody successful as an NBA head coach while following his path. Of course that doesn't mean he can't be successful, but it means it is less likely. The thing that sets him apart from college coaches making the jump is his NBA playing experience, so that's better than being exactly like the others that failed.
I like Theus and am certainly rooting for him to do well. I'm not going to pretend that I think this is obviously a great move, though. Of the candidates available I do think he might have one of the highest potentials. We'll just have to cross our fingers that he heads that direction rather than being another Kings head coaching disappointment.
That is a damn good point. I'm sure Stephon Marbury will be glad to hear he's no longer selfish given that he sits at 16000+pts and 6200+ assists right now.
Reggie's selfishness by the way was nowhere near cancerous like Starbury's, but it was far more extensive than just being a ballhog. He was also a lousy defender, would not help on defense or the glass, would not hit the floor, and in general if it involved potentially breaking a nail or damaging the ole looks, he wasn't interested. He was self preoccupied and self governing. He was Reggie, and the perception was that he just coasted along on his talent doing the things that Reggie wanted to do and collecting a check (and/or clothes and/or compansions). He is not a bad guy (so far as I know, there is an oily aspect there), and was not a bad guy back then. But with a smile instead of a snarl he was still about self. He cannot speak of giving up your body, or giving up your stats, or taking one for the team or grinding out a win or anything else along those lines, because he did not (willingly at least). He may, like a Reef or Bibby, be able to talk about toughing out injuries. Otherwise...
And clearly when I was talking about acheivement I meant achievement for anybody but himself. In 2002 Mike Bibby came within 1 FT of winning a championship and played in 16 playoff games that year. Meanwhile in his 13 year career Reggie played in a grand total of 17 playoff games and won a single (1) playoff series. He has no ability to tell anybody that you do things this way, we'll win, I guarantee it. (Well...maybe to Reef. )
Now you are just making stuff up. Hell, they could have hired me and I would ahve been a "new breed" of NBA coach too. Doesn't mean that that would have been a remotely good idea.
I again will note that there is maybe a 75/25 split on this issue, and that it would be roughly 100/0 if Reggie has played for the Sonics rather the Kings. Thsi is NOT about "new breeds" or being best qualified or anything else. Its about PR.
Corrected for accuracy.
(nothing against Rudy T (although I do think he is overrated and got lucky MJ decided to go play stickball for a while). Just a note that Hakeem isn't here, in his prime, waiting to take off.
Reggie's selfishness by the way was nowhere near cancerous like Starbury's, but it was far more extensive than just being a ballhog. He was also a lousy defender, would not help on defense or the glass, would not hit the floor, and in general if it involved potentially breaking a nail or damaging the ole looks, he wasn't interested. He was self preoccupied and self governing. He was Reggie, and the perception was that he just coasted along on his talent doing the things that Reggie wanted to do and collecting a check (and/or clothes and/or compansions). He is not a bad guy (so far as I know, there is an oily aspect there), and was not a bad guy back then. But with a smile instead of a snarl he was still about self. He cannot speak of giving up your body, or giving up your stats, or taking one for the team or grinding out a win or anything else along those lines, because he did not (willingly at least). He may, like a Reef or Bibby, be able to talk about toughing out injuries. Otherwise...
And clearly when I was talking about acheivement I meant achievement for anybody but himself. In 2002 Mike Bibby came within 1 FT of winning a championship and played in 16 playoff games that year. Meanwhile in his 13 year career Reggie played in a grand total of 17 playoff games and won a single (1) playoff series. He has no ability to tell anybody that you do things this way, we'll win, I guarantee it. (Well...maybe to Reef.
) Now you are just making stuff up. Hell, they could have hired me and I would ahve been a "new breed" of NBA coach too. Doesn't mean that that would have been a remotely good idea.
I again will note that there is maybe a 75/25 split on this issue, and that it would be roughly 100/0 if Reggie has played for the Sonics rather the Kings. Thsi is NOT about "new breeds" or being best qualified or anything else. Its about PR.
Corrected for accuracy.
(nothing against Rudy T (although I do think he is overrated and got lucky MJ decided to go play stickball for a while). Just a note that Hakeem isn't here, in his prime, waiting to take off.
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Just heard Colin Cowherd speaking briefly with Andy Katz about Reggie Theus. Katz spoke to Theus last night about the Kings job and here are the main points Katz explain to Cowherd on the air:
- Rick Pitino gave a great recommendation to the Maloofs for Theus and helped him get the job
- Theus feels he is an NBA guy who's just been in the college ranks
- Theus wants to be in the NBA
- Theus has no problem with Artest and is looking forward to coaching and working with him
- Theus wants to sit down with Bibby and Artest (not sure if together or separately) right away.
As an aside point, Katz reported that Larry Brown was never really in consideration for the job and was not granted any sort of interview. He mentioned Petrie's point that Brown wasn't a good fit for Sacramento.
- Rick Pitino gave a great recommendation to the Maloofs for Theus and helped him get the job
- Theus feels he is an NBA guy who's just been in the college ranks
- Theus wants to be in the NBA
- Theus has no problem with Artest and is looking forward to coaching and working with him
- Theus wants to sit down with Bibby and Artest (not sure if together or separately) right away.
As an aside point, Katz reported that Larry Brown was never really in consideration for the job and was not granted any sort of interview. He mentioned Petrie's point that Brown wasn't a good fit for Sacramento.
You are right. That was unquestionably one of the least insightful posts of the year because as a long-time, loyal, season-ticket-holding, Kings fan, Brickie actually cares. Many do not. Brickie has arguably been the board's most articulate and informed poster for many years.
There. Less harsh, and perhaps more informative.
There. Less harsh, and perhaps more informative.
