Why is all the blame put on Muss??

[GoGoGadget]

Do I think a different coach (let's say, hypothetically, for the sake of example, oh, I dunno... Rick Adelman?) could have done a better job with this team than Muss has? Absolutely.

Do I think it would have been better enough to be worth all the fuss? Not really.

Team's just put together poorly. A few of the names have changed, but the make up remains the same as it has for the past few seasons. Muss has, for reasons stated several times over the past few months, 100% failed at getting this team to perform at their highest level, and should certainly shoulder some of the blame for that, but the biggest issues/problems with this team occurred during assembly.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

I would argue that it was just an energy surge that a lot of teams experience after the trade. And the team was better: you had Bonzi and actually relatively productive Miller.

i have to disagree. the prior coach had alot to do with maximizing the players skills. he brought out the best in the players and tried to mask their deficiencies. the current coach.. ick, i don't know what he's trying to do when hes on the floor......

 

[GoGoGadget]

I would argue that it was just an energy surge that a lot of teams experience after the trade. And the team was better: you had Bonzi and actually relatively productive Miller.

Can't completely take the coach out of the equation to suit your argument.

Post-trade energy surges last a few games, they don't typically last consistently through the end of the season. The good that happened with acquiring Artest was because of Ron's talents, but also Rick's ego management. He made everyone happy, he made everyone enthusiastic. Doubt very sincerely we'll be seeing any comments from Ron Artest offering the chip in his salary to keep Muss around.

While I was sad to see Bonzi go, and think he brought something very special to the make up of last year's team, in the context of this particular discussion I think that he and Kevin are a wash.

As for a productive Miller, I most definitely think that has something to do with the coaching change. Brad Miller, Mike Bibby and the rest of our struggling players have legitimate flaws in their game, but have managed to be very productive players for years -- you don't just wake up one morning and suck. Certainly not en masse. There's something missing. Whether it's in-game coaching decisions, or motivation, or preparation, or inspiring respect, there's something that Musselman could be doing to get more out of what is still a pretty talented roster... he just ain't.

 

[whozit]

I didn't mean that the Maloofs should get involved in the decisions, but Petrie can't do anything if the Maloofs don't sign the needed checks.

Not only do they have to sign the checks, but sign off on the deals presented them. I could be reading the tea leaves totally wrong but where they are given credit for the Artest deal, I feel they have also been pretty dogmatic in other decisions that have not been exactly beneficial to the team.

 

[Mozart]

Having said that, however, I have to point out that the lack of direction from the bench as far as coaching goes is getting more and more obvious and more and more painful to watch. Musselman in in over his head - and sinking fast.

Good observations, 21; I am in agreement there.


Whoa, what happened to my joint joke in another thread? One can't joke about joints in this joint?

 

[fnordius]

Not only do they have to sign the checks, but sign off on the deals presented them. I could be reading the tea leaves totally wrong but where they are given credit for the Artest deal, I feel they have also been pretty dogmatic in other decisions that have not been exactly beneficial to the team.

Unless Adelman publishes a tell-all autobiography or something that that, I doubt that we'll ever know for sure -- but I tend to agree. Some of the cost-cutting attempts that have happened over the last 3.5 years have hurt the team without saving much (if any) money, and have what I think of as an un-Petrie look about them, so I am supposing that he felt forced. That, or he has really lost his touch with personnel matters. Like you, I'm tending to blame the Maloofs, but I'm just guessing.

 

[vfettke]

If Muss had Mavs -they would be .500

If Muss had Lakers (I wish) - they would be like Celtics

exactly...

if Avery Johnson had the Kings we'd have a winning record

everything a team does starts with the coach. its a snowball effect that starts at Musselman and ends at a lottery pick

 

[Gary]

Rick Barry? Hell, I would even take back Jerry Reynolds as coach. At least he has a personality.

Muss reminds me of a turtle.

 

[Warhawk]

Rick Barry? Hell, I would even take back Jerry Reynolds as coach. At least he has a personality.

Muss reminds me of a turtle.

Why did you have to go and stick that image in my head???? Every time I see him now it's going to be: "turtle".

 

[Miles and Miles]

What was our record for the rest of the year after Artest arrived on the scene last year? What would that be for an entire year? I am not trying to make a point I seriously don't know.

 

[OHSacFan]

Can anyone tell me who controls this team while they are on the floor? Are these plays that Muss makes up in crunch time situations? I find it hard to believe he calls a timeout and says " hey guys if you get into the lane with the ball throw it up with your back to the basket and the rest of us will pray it goes in". OR..... is he calling solid plays and they are just not being carried out? Which ever is the case it comes back to the man in the suit!!! If he is calling these plays he is an idiot, and if he is not getting the types of offensive sets he is calling for it is his fault for not benching the ones that are not willing to play within the context of his offense. (To much one on one play late in these defeats) Teamwork got you to a possible win late in the 4th, so, why would you think for one second that anything other than teamwork will help you win. I could stomache 30 straight defeats at the buzzer as long as the shots down the stretch looked like there was a plan behind them. This schoolyard bull**** is bull****. Do bad possessions cost games? As long as I have been alive they have. Pick the five best players in the in the NBA put them in arco arena and give them any coach of your choice. If they play selfish basketball 6 times out of 10 they are going to get selfish results at this level. You've seen the commercial, " IT TAKES 5". If they feel like they are to great to listen, make wholesale changes.

 

[PoundForPound]

maaaaaaaaaaan we need john whisenant