Westphal
- Thread starter DirtyAcres
- Start date
And I feel like Geoff Petrie has really been unappreciated in this whole process. He made the HUGE risk in taking Tyreke over Rubio, and many Kings fans were calling for his head.
And the trade, Artest for Greene + Pick, leading to Casspi. Another great trade and draft pick. He knows what he is doing... we need to have a little faith...
And the trade, Artest for Greene + Pick, leading to Casspi. Another great trade and draft pick. He knows what he is doing... we need to have a little faith...
K
I love PW. In the interview after the game, the reporter asked Westphal what he told Tyreke in the huddle before the last play and PW said "I told him to go out there and steal the ball and he did. Worked perfectly" and chuckled. I love his demeanor, his dry sense of humor, and how he coaches. Awesome.
And that's just another indication that the Westphal choice was Petrie's. If you look at the two selections after Adelman, they were snake oil salesmen who wowed the Maloofs with bright lights and shiny objects. Natt doesn't count since he was merely a placeholder. Westphal, on the other hand, isn't flashy, he doesn't have to use smoke and mirrors. He's the real deal...and he totally fits with the image of a Kings coach leading a Petrie-built team.
Finally a real coach. Finally AN IDENTITY for the team. (Effort, aggressive play, and passion)
I particularly like PWs comment caught on "wired" on the ESPN broadcast towards the end of last nights the game. "I dont care what you guys do out there just STAY AGGRESSIVE" or something to that effect. Mark Jackson even made a comment on it, saying most coachs in that situation would say basically the opposite, something like "okay guys slow it down, play smart" and hinting at Ty to take it in strong like he loves to do. (sorry all not verbatim)
This means that PW recognizes the teams strength and that they are not seasoned yet, but still have the ability to win games if directed the right way.
All this reinforces the direction the team is going, but does raise 2 concerns for me: Hawes and Martin. We have yet to see how Martin will fare. Hawes clearly needs to grow some hair on his you-know-whats.
I particularly like PWs comment caught on "wired" on the ESPN broadcast towards the end of last nights the game. "I dont care what you guys do out there just STAY AGGRESSIVE" or something to that effect. Mark Jackson even made a comment on it, saying most coachs in that situation would say basically the opposite, something like "okay guys slow it down, play smart" and hinting at Ty to take it in strong like he loves to do. (sorry all not verbatim)
This means that PW recognizes the teams strength and that they are not seasoned yet, but still have the ability to win games if directed the right way.
All this reinforces the direction the team is going, but does raise 2 concerns for me: Hawes and Martin. We have yet to see how Martin will fare. Hawes clearly needs to grow some hair on his you-know-whats.
Considering that he is approaching the over-under for the entire season victories; And the fact he has 2 rookies going to 20+points almost every night, and his overall control and command over his troops is something we haven't seen since adelman; i would have to say Westphal is working out like a good relationship should. Developing slowly, firm but reasonable with his players, and maintains an aura of confidence and composure. He might not be the best coach in the NBA, but he sure is acting like it.
Yeah, I heard that too when I watched the game the second time on ESPN. I believe it was Marc Jackson that said, after Casspi took his man off the dribble and scored with his left hand." Wow, this kid can go to his left too. This kid is really good". I'm paraphrasing, but it was something like that.
The other great line from the ESPN announcers that was not directly about PW, but reflected well both on him and the team was in the first quarter when one of them said something to the effect of:
"You can see the difference here between one team that is playing like they trust each other and the other team who look like a bunch of individuals trying to go 1 on 1."
Great line and very true.
"You can see the difference here between one team that is playing like they trust each other and the other team who look like a bunch of individuals trying to go 1 on 1."
Great line and very true.
Gotta give a lot of love to PW.
I haven't really watched the Kings for a long time, and the only frame of reference for me is Omri, but I think what PW is getting out of him is nothing short of amazing.
A lot of guys watching him now say he looks like a completely different player. In maccabi he used to do a lot of the things he does for the Kings, like the constant off-ball movement an the hustle, but what we didn't see him do very often is make plays.
The two things he added to his game over the summer are the improved 3pt shooting and that smooth upfake-dribble-midrange swish he seems to do pretty often.
But the occasional flashy plays he makes aren't entirely new - he used to do those in the U20 team. And to me that's the most telling thing about Westphal, that he can instill the kind of confidence in a rookie that when playing against the toughest competition of his life he would go back to doing things he only ever felt comfortable doing on a team that got no coverage and on which he was the big star and playing against inferior competition.
No wonder these guys play their hearts out for him.
I haven't really watched the Kings for a long time, and the only frame of reference for me is Omri, but I think what PW is getting out of him is nothing short of amazing.
A lot of guys watching him now say he looks like a completely different player. In maccabi he used to do a lot of the things he does for the Kings, like the constant off-ball movement an the hustle, but what we didn't see him do very often is make plays.
The two things he added to his game over the summer are the improved 3pt shooting and that smooth upfake-dribble-midrange swish he seems to do pretty often.
But the occasional flashy plays he makes aren't entirely new - he used to do those in the U20 team. And to me that's the most telling thing about Westphal, that he can instill the kind of confidence in a rookie that when playing against the toughest competition of his life he would go back to doing things he only ever felt comfortable doing on a team that got no coverage and on which he was the big star and playing against inferior competition.
No wonder these guys play their hearts out for him.
Westphal was signed because he applied for the job and took next to nothing in money. He was desperate. I would like to think Petrie knew this was a great deal but the fact PW was ignored all the years of Theus, Natt, and Musselman makes me think he would not otherwise have been considered.
Man, did that work for us.
As to the instructions at the end of the game: it's the perfect thing to say to a young team that has demonstrated it cannot finish quarters if given time to think. Keep them moving and playing intuitive basketball. In the years to come you can have the luxury of allowing them to think. Maybe you will give the same instructions but will always have the option of slowing things down.
Man, did that work for us.
As to the instructions at the end of the game: it's the perfect thing to say to a young team that has demonstrated it cannot finish quarters if given time to think. Keep them moving and playing intuitive basketball. In the years to come you can have the luxury of allowing them to think. Maybe you will give the same instructions but will always have the option of slowing things down.
Great coaching. He doesn't want his players to play afraid. Even with Greene, he leaves him there when he does something stupid because he knows Greene can only be very good if he is allowed to play aggressively (and make mistakes). He pressed the right button with Hawes. That at least means there is a button to press. So I would expect Westphal will be pressing that button more often.
The fact that the team is doing well without Martin, is going to give Westphal more political cover for however he wants to use him. He's going to expect Martin to "buy in". And I think Martin will.
The fact that the team is doing well without Martin, is going to give Westphal more political cover for however he wants to use him. He's going to expect Martin to "buy in". And I think Martin will.
Great coaching. He doesn't want his players to play afraid. Even with Greene, he leaves him there when he does something stupid because he knows Greene can only be very good if he is allowed to play aggressively (and make mistakes). He pressed the right button with Hawes. That at least means there is a button to press. So I would expect Westphal will be pressing that button more often. The fact that the team is doing well without Martin, is going to give Westphal more political cover for however he wants to use him. He's going to expect Martin to "buy in". And I think Martin will.
The fact that the team is doing well without Martin, is going to give Westphal more political cover for however he wants to use him. He's going to expect Martin to "buy in". And I think Martin will.
martin isn't going to have much choice in the matter, because this team has overachieved in his absence, and budding stars have risen up in his place...
if he becomes a chemistry issue, westphal is likely going to have more than enough clout to determine the extent of martin's role on the team, provided the kings don't collapse between now and then...
This still puzzles me. WHY are people even under the assumption that Martin isn't going to be a team player? Have you not seen how enthusiastically he's rooting for his teammates from the front row of the bench? Have you missed the numerous discussions between Martin and Evans?
The idea that Martin needs to step aside for "budding stars" just boggles my mind. Martin is a part of the future of this franchise IMHO. If he and Evans can click on the court, our backcourt is going to be close to unstoppable since the two complement each other's skills.
Our logjam is at the 3. If anything, Nocioni is probably going to be the one who has to accept a lesser role.
The idea that Martin needs to step aside for "budding stars" just boggles my mind. Martin is a part of the future of this franchise IMHO. If he and Evans can click on the court, our backcourt is going to be close to unstoppable since the two complement each other's skills.
Our logjam is at the 3. If anything, Nocioni is probably going to be the one who has to accept a lesser role.
Don't be facetious. Whether Martin is willing to accept a change in his role is not the question here, the question is can he adjust his game in order to fit in with the current scheme.
Evans is ineffective off the ball, and Martin's job so far has involved him creating off the dribble. Can he be effective off the ball? it would take a serious adjustment. And having a scheme where Tyreke dribbles out the clock on some possessions, and Martin dribbles it out on others is not a winning proposition.
I'm not questioning Martin's character, but being asked to change your style of play mid-season five years into your pro career is a tall order, and anyone who thinks it'll just go over without a hitch is delusional.
Evans is ineffective off the ball, and Martin's job so far has involved him creating off the dribble. Can he be effective off the ball? it would take a serious adjustment. And having a scheme where Tyreke dribbles out the clock on some possessions, and Martin dribbles it out on others is not a winning proposition.
I'm not questioning Martin's character, but being asked to change your style of play mid-season five years into your pro career is a tall order, and anyone who thinks it'll just go over without a hitch is delusional.