nbrans
All-Star
Ailene Voisin: Coach taking share of lumps
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:11 am PST Saturday, January 20, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Eric Musselman returned to the head-coaching ranks in a very difficult arena. Let's acknowledge that from the outset. He inherited a team in transition, signed on with a locker room of grumpy guys who, when even on their best collective behavior, merely rate as potential contenders for a ninth consecutive Western Conference playoff berth.
So you can't fire the guy, yet.
That would be cruel, unusual and premature punishment, especially for someone who is asked to win while preserving the shaky marriage of Mike Bibby and Ron Artest. The inevitable breakup of the two veterans figures to be messy, with the custody battle involving everything from the basketball to the dining room table.
No, Musselman deserves a reasonable grace period here. Informal polls and heated fan reaction notwithstanding, there are mitigating circumstances for the Kings' inglorious slump, and talent-wise, more gaps on the roster than potholes in the parking lot at Arco Arena.
The undersized power forwards fail to rebound. The center is shrinking by the season. The small forward and point guard share the ball only when absolutely necessary. The emerging young star is perplexed and often ignored in the offense (see feuding veterans). The lack of frontcourt length and athleticism is frightening, and almost as intimidating as the toxic mix of personalities.
Yet the Kings are certainly talented enough to convert free throws, execute something resembling an offense, reach for rebounds, raise a hand and contest shots on defense. They should be prevailing on their once formidable home court instead of performing sluggishly and succumbing to silly mistakes in overtime. They should at least pretend to earn their hefty salaries.
And as the man in charge, Musselman takes the heat. He also has yet to answer the question: Was he the best choice to succeed Rick Adelman and guide the franchise into the next era?
If Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie were an impulsive sort, he would be soliciting signatures for a recall as we speak.
Musselman's poll numbers are slipping fast. He was hired because of his youthful energy, enthusiasm and work ethic, because his former Golden State Warriors teams overachieved during his two seasons in Oakland, and because, well, because none of the defense-oriented superstars were available.
So far it isn't working. None of it. The offense, the defense. The relationships. Musselman, who signed a three-year deal, is 0-for-the-season in the front office and in the locker room.
"We've given him support from the beginning," said Petrie, "tried to comply with the things he wanted. We all felt going in that we could compete for a playoff spot. If we don't start winning soon . ... "
In other words, to figure into the team's short and long-term plans, Musselman, 41, better gain control of the situation soon. Even millionaires want returns on their investments. While Petrie and the Maloofs remain supportive, they hear rumblings that their young coach is intimidated by Bibby and Artest, that he refuses to define roles and demand compliance.
The end result is utter emotional stagnation, the players' revealing body language characterized by a set of permanently slumped shoulders. Furthermore, Musselman's own sideline demeanor is hardly inspirational; frowning, fretting, his hands often finding his face in frustration, his negative vibes appear to be spreading like a virus.
This is last winter with Adelman all over again, with one significant distinction: for a team to quit on a coach whose voice resonated for the better part of eight seasons is not only understandable, it's the NBA norm. The script gets old. The ears turn deaf. Owners routinely treat attention deficit disorder by firing coaches to avoid the widespread use of pharmaceuticals.
But a four-month tryout? Won't happen. Nor should it. Musselman deserves time to prove that he can command a huddle, that he gained from his experiences at Golden State without losing his nerve in the process, though this latest undertaking has been made more difficult by his own misjudgments.
Getting tagged with a DUI charge surely didn't elevate his stature as an authority figure within the locker room. Perhaps even more damaging is his failure to hire an elderly bench assistant to provide balance and perspective. A young Pat Riley had Bill Bertka. Phil Jackson had Tex Winter and Johnny Bach. Don Nelson had John Killilea. Gregg Popovich had Hank Egan. Avery Johnson has Del Harris ...
Musselman's staff by contrast is surprisingly young, with T.R. Dunn the oldest at 51. Nonetheless, in light of the schedule and the blown opportunities, they all better grow up soon.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/110954.html
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:11 am PST Saturday, January 20, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Eric Musselman returned to the head-coaching ranks in a very difficult arena. Let's acknowledge that from the outset. He inherited a team in transition, signed on with a locker room of grumpy guys who, when even on their best collective behavior, merely rate as potential contenders for a ninth consecutive Western Conference playoff berth.
So you can't fire the guy, yet.
That would be cruel, unusual and premature punishment, especially for someone who is asked to win while preserving the shaky marriage of Mike Bibby and Ron Artest. The inevitable breakup of the two veterans figures to be messy, with the custody battle involving everything from the basketball to the dining room table.
No, Musselman deserves a reasonable grace period here. Informal polls and heated fan reaction notwithstanding, there are mitigating circumstances for the Kings' inglorious slump, and talent-wise, more gaps on the roster than potholes in the parking lot at Arco Arena.
The undersized power forwards fail to rebound. The center is shrinking by the season. The small forward and point guard share the ball only when absolutely necessary. The emerging young star is perplexed and often ignored in the offense (see feuding veterans). The lack of frontcourt length and athleticism is frightening, and almost as intimidating as the toxic mix of personalities.
Yet the Kings are certainly talented enough to convert free throws, execute something resembling an offense, reach for rebounds, raise a hand and contest shots on defense. They should be prevailing on their once formidable home court instead of performing sluggishly and succumbing to silly mistakes in overtime. They should at least pretend to earn their hefty salaries.
And as the man in charge, Musselman takes the heat. He also has yet to answer the question: Was he the best choice to succeed Rick Adelman and guide the franchise into the next era?
If Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie were an impulsive sort, he would be soliciting signatures for a recall as we speak.
Musselman's poll numbers are slipping fast. He was hired because of his youthful energy, enthusiasm and work ethic, because his former Golden State Warriors teams overachieved during his two seasons in Oakland, and because, well, because none of the defense-oriented superstars were available.
So far it isn't working. None of it. The offense, the defense. The relationships. Musselman, who signed a three-year deal, is 0-for-the-season in the front office and in the locker room.
"We've given him support from the beginning," said Petrie, "tried to comply with the things he wanted. We all felt going in that we could compete for a playoff spot. If we don't start winning soon . ... "
In other words, to figure into the team's short and long-term plans, Musselman, 41, better gain control of the situation soon. Even millionaires want returns on their investments. While Petrie and the Maloofs remain supportive, they hear rumblings that their young coach is intimidated by Bibby and Artest, that he refuses to define roles and demand compliance.
The end result is utter emotional stagnation, the players' revealing body language characterized by a set of permanently slumped shoulders. Furthermore, Musselman's own sideline demeanor is hardly inspirational; frowning, fretting, his hands often finding his face in frustration, his negative vibes appear to be spreading like a virus.
This is last winter with Adelman all over again, with one significant distinction: for a team to quit on a coach whose voice resonated for the better part of eight seasons is not only understandable, it's the NBA norm. The script gets old. The ears turn deaf. Owners routinely treat attention deficit disorder by firing coaches to avoid the widespread use of pharmaceuticals.
But a four-month tryout? Won't happen. Nor should it. Musselman deserves time to prove that he can command a huddle, that he gained from his experiences at Golden State without losing his nerve in the process, though this latest undertaking has been made more difficult by his own misjudgments.
Getting tagged with a DUI charge surely didn't elevate his stature as an authority figure within the locker room. Perhaps even more damaging is his failure to hire an elderly bench assistant to provide balance and perspective. A young Pat Riley had Bill Bertka. Phil Jackson had Tex Winter and Johnny Bach. Don Nelson had John Killilea. Gregg Popovich had Hank Egan. Avery Johnson has Del Harris ...
Musselman's staff by contrast is surprisingly young, with T.R. Dunn the oldest at 51. Nonetheless, in light of the schedule and the blown opportunities, they all better grow up soon.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/110954.html
Last edited:
the Maloofs
