Will Keith Smart be fired before the end of the season?
- Thread starter t-rex
- Start date
No. One way or another this team will be sold this year. But until that time everything will be in limbo, meaning I expect no moves at the trading deadline and no coaching changes.
That said, at the END of the season, I think it's all but guaranteed that Smart will be fired. I'd say 100% chance if the team is sold to Seattle and maybe an 80-85% chance if sold to an owner(s) who will keep them in Sacramento.
In fact, as much as I personally think he needs to go, I'd be ecstatic to see Keith Smart on the bench to start next season because it would mean that we still had our Sacramento Kings.
That said, at the END of the season, I think it's all but guaranteed that Smart will be fired. I'd say 100% chance if the team is sold to Seattle and maybe an 80-85% chance if sold to an owner(s) who will keep them in Sacramento.
In fact, as much as I personally think he needs to go, I'd be ecstatic to see Keith Smart on the bench to start next season because it would mean that we still had our Sacramento Kings.
gunks
Hall of Famer
This. But I think his firing is a done deal no matter who buys the team. Only broke coke jokes like the Magoofs would hire a dungis like Smart, after hiring a dungis like Westphail, after Natt, after Theus, after Muss....
RichieInRocklin
G-League
I agree with you, funky, that pending the sale of the team, no changes will be made. However, whether they go to Seattle or stay in Sacto, they will have a new coach and a new general manager. Sharp and Petrie will be looking for new jobs or retire. I don't see any trades made either, until the team is sold, so the new owners will be drafting around the 7th spot.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I had just posted this in another thread, but since I think its more revelant to this thread, I'm reposting it here:
Read an article in the Bee today. (yes, I found a way to read the Bee) Basicly an interview with Smart. The more this man opens his mouth, the more idiotic he sounds. Here's a quote from the article:
"I would love to get to a point where (the rotation is) ironclad and I don't change it at all," Smart said. "But that doesn't happen because you get to a point where nothing is happening on the floor, and I need some kind of energy or something on the floor, and thus you get another guy."
I heard him say similiar things last year, and at the begining of this season, and about a week or so ago, he talked about shortening his rotation. Hasn't happened, and when he appears to be trying, he doen't have the conviction of his decisions. Were over halfway through the season, and he still doesn't know what his rotations are. Here's another quote:
"Your just trying to find some kind of chemistry". Really? And how, preytell, do you allow chemistry to develop? For starters, you pick five players and you let them play together for an extended period of time, and, you don't bail on them when they're not playing well. You stick with them, and you let them find their way as a unit, barring injuries of course. You guide them. You give them a game plan, and you make them stick to whatever that plan is, but you give time to develop that chemistry. You don't find chemistry as lightning in a bottle. Yes, you might find a certain group on a particular night that happens to jell, and all their shots are falling. But thats not chemistry, thats just plain dumb luck.
Another Quote: "I'd love to come in and say you two guys are out tonight and won't play. But then they might come in wearing pajamas. So you've got to keep all the guys ready to play." Thats just another way of saying, I really don't know what my rotation is, or who might play tonight, so I'm not saying anything to anyone. This isn't on the players, its on Smart and his lack of ability to decide much of anything. He says he wants to push the ball up the court, but recently when asked about all the turnovers, he said they were playing too fast, and needed to slow down to make good decisions. Well, which is it? Do you think its possible that the players are just a little confused about whats expected of them.
Of all the players on the team, which players have showed improvement this season? Cousins? Maybe, but its hard to say. He's put very good numbers recently if you exclude the last couple of games, but then he put as good or even better numbers on occasion last season. Jimmer? Maybe, his ballhandling is better, but is he being groomed as a future PG, or as a midget SG? Where exactly is his future, and if its at the PG position, then why isn't he being played there. You don't learn to play the PG position by standing on the right or left wing spreading the floor. He's taken Tyreke Evans, once a dynamic player, and turned him into an average support player. He's turned Marcus Thornton into a mere shell of the player we signed two years ago. He's handed the PG position to Thomas, who plays more like a SG than a PG, and a lot of that is at the expense of Evans. I blame Smart more than I do Thomas. I truely believe that if Smart asked Thomas to concentrate on being a playmaker more than being a shooter, he'd do that.
There's no disclipine on this team, and most of the time, its everyman for himself. One on one, dribble dribble dribble, and throw up shots. When you do have someone that wants to pass the ball, everyone else just stands around and watches him. Almost as though he's some sort of dinosour. How many times have you seen Cousins in the high post with the ball, and no one is moving. They just stand and watch him. That doesn't leave him many options folks! Hey Smart, if you want Cuz to make better decisions with the ball, then you might want to give him some options to work with!!!
This team is a mess, and all the opposing teams know it. Just frustrate them a little bit, and they all become one on one players. Who can put a stop to that? Smart can, but he just sits there with his thumb up his you know what, and watches and shakes his head. Its becomiing almost unbearable to watch. There, I've ranted! Now I feel better. A good lunch, a couple of adult beverages, and I might be up to watching the next debacle of a game.
Read an article in the Bee today. (yes, I found a way to read the Bee) Basicly an interview with Smart. The more this man opens his mouth, the more idiotic he sounds. Here's a quote from the article:
"I would love to get to a point where (the rotation is) ironclad and I don't change it at all," Smart said. "But that doesn't happen because you get to a point where nothing is happening on the floor, and I need some kind of energy or something on the floor, and thus you get another guy."
I heard him say similiar things last year, and at the begining of this season, and about a week or so ago, he talked about shortening his rotation. Hasn't happened, and when he appears to be trying, he doen't have the conviction of his decisions. Were over halfway through the season, and he still doesn't know what his rotations are. Here's another quote:
"Your just trying to find some kind of chemistry". Really? And how, preytell, do you allow chemistry to develop? For starters, you pick five players and you let them play together for an extended period of time, and, you don't bail on them when they're not playing well. You stick with them, and you let them find their way as a unit, barring injuries of course. You guide them. You give them a game plan, and you make them stick to whatever that plan is, but you give time to develop that chemistry. You don't find chemistry as lightning in a bottle. Yes, you might find a certain group on a particular night that happens to jell, and all their shots are falling. But thats not chemistry, thats just plain dumb luck.
Another Quote: "I'd love to come in and say you two guys are out tonight and won't play. But then they might come in wearing pajamas. So you've got to keep all the guys ready to play." Thats just another way of saying, I really don't know what my rotation is, or who might play tonight, so I'm not saying anything to anyone. This isn't on the players, its on Smart and his lack of ability to decide much of anything. He says he wants to push the ball up the court, but recently when asked about all the turnovers, he said they were playing too fast, and needed to slow down to make good decisions. Well, which is it? Do you think its possible that the players are just a little confused about whats expected of them.
Of all the players on the team, which players have showed improvement this season? Cousins? Maybe, but its hard to say. He's put very good numbers recently if you exclude the last couple of games, but then he put as good or even better numbers on occasion last season. Jimmer? Maybe, his ballhandling is better, but is he being groomed as a future PG, or as a midget SG? Where exactly is his future, and if its at the PG position, then why isn't he being played there. You don't learn to play the PG position by standing on the right or left wing spreading the floor. He's taken Tyreke Evans, once a dynamic player, and turned him into an average support player. He's turned Marcus Thornton into a mere shell of the player we signed two years ago. He's handed the PG position to Thomas, who plays more like a SG than a PG, and a lot of that is at the expense of Evans. I blame Smart more than I do Thomas. I truely believe that if Smart asked Thomas to concentrate on being a playmaker more than being a shooter, he'd do that.
There's no disclipine on this team, and most of the time, its everyman for himself. One on one, dribble dribble dribble, and throw up shots. When you do have someone that wants to pass the ball, everyone else just stands around and watches him. Almost as though he's some sort of dinosour. How many times have you seen Cousins in the high post with the ball, and no one is moving. They just stand and watch him. That doesn't leave him many options folks! Hey Smart, if you want Cuz to make better decisions with the ball, then you might want to give him some options to work with!!!
This team is a mess, and all the opposing teams know it. Just frustrate them a little bit, and they all become one on one players. Who can put a stop to that? Smart can, but he just sits there with his thumb up his you know what, and watches and shakes his head. Its becomiing almost unbearable to watch. There, I've ranted! Now I feel better. A good lunch, a couple of adult beverages, and I might be up to watching the next debacle of a game.
TyFreak Evans
Bench
I agree with most. With the current situation at hand, not a chance on earth he goes before the end of the season. The new ownership, however (whether it be in Sacramento or in Seattle), will perform a major overhaul, with the front office, with the coaching staff, and with the roster...
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Baja, you've come over to the dark side.
This is almost word for word what I said many times before yet I couldn't convince you of Smart's faults. Feels good to get it out, doesn't it?
Baja, you've come over to the dark side.
...Feels good to get it out, doesn't it?
Am I the only one who hears this in James Earl Jones' voice?
ParniValjak
All-Star
With the pending sale it's pretty much a NO!
But if the question was whether he will get fired by the new ownership group I think its a certain YES!
But if the question was whether he will get fired by the new ownership group I think its a certain YES!
L
LWP777
Guest
One could only hope. Only hope...
Saw this quote from Ball Don't Lie in a blog post about Smart's successor in Oakland and why he's become a potential COY candidate through his actions.
"Coaches are supposed to be the adult in this situation, the one that says “no.” We all know players want to play through anything, but that cliché (however true) doesn’t excuse letting a player get everything he wants. Players also want to shoot every time they touch the ball and no coach would allow that, so why give in to these guys when they wrongly refuse to admit fallibility and attempt to help their team by playing through injury? It’s one thing for the player not to know that he shouldn’t be trying to play through an injury. It’s something completely different – and wrong -- for the sober-minded coach to look the other way as well."
Just hardens the fact that there is no discipline on this team and every player essentially has a green light to do whatever they feel. It's no wonder our play devolves into selfish me-first basketball and the movement stops. I can't even count how many times are ball setup when in the half court is player A setting up at the elbow for isolation while player C on the top of the key makes weak cut down the middle. Players D and E stand in opposite corner watching the ball while player B who initiated the post to player A gets close to the half court line as a bail out once player A either gets trapped or picks up their dribble. Our offense efficiency is close to the bottom because we only start to pass out to other teammates when there's all of 5 seconds on the shot clock, forcing the players to hoist a terrible jumper. So frustrating to watch.
"Coaches are supposed to be the adult in this situation, the one that says “no.” We all know players want to play through anything, but that cliché (however true) doesn’t excuse letting a player get everything he wants. Players also want to shoot every time they touch the ball and no coach would allow that, so why give in to these guys when they wrongly refuse to admit fallibility and attempt to help their team by playing through injury? It’s one thing for the player not to know that he shouldn’t be trying to play through an injury. It’s something completely different – and wrong -- for the sober-minded coach to look the other way as well."
Just hardens the fact that there is no discipline on this team and every player essentially has a green light to do whatever they feel. It's no wonder our play devolves into selfish me-first basketball and the movement stops. I can't even count how many times are ball setup when in the half court is player A setting up at the elbow for isolation while player C on the top of the key makes weak cut down the middle. Players D and E stand in opposite corner watching the ball while player B who initiated the post to player A gets close to the half court line as a bail out once player A either gets trapped or picks up their dribble. Our offense efficiency is close to the bottom because we only start to pass out to other teammates when there's all of 5 seconds on the shot clock, forcing the players to hoist a terrible jumper. So frustrating to watch.
macadocious
Starter
I wish we had the ability to "like" a post, because I would love this one. I love this post so much I want to take it out behind the dumpster and get it pregnant.
What a terrible image you've conjured up.
t-rex
Bench
Dear Maloofs/Petrie-
One last request before your exodus. In case the unthinkable happens and this team ends up in Seattle, please fire Keith Smart immediately and move Bobby Jackson to interim coach. That way we can enjoy the rest of the season and Bobby can remind us all of what it means to be a Sacramento Kings fan. Kind of tired of wacky rotations, unmotivated players, and press conferences full of excuses for the players. I believe in Bobby Jackson. The team would be fun to watch to say the least.
One last request before your exodus. In case the unthinkable happens and this team ends up in Seattle, please fire Keith Smart immediately and move Bobby Jackson to interim coach. That way we can enjoy the rest of the season and Bobby can remind us all of what it means to be a Sacramento Kings fan. Kind of tired of wacky rotations, unmotivated players, and press conferences full of excuses for the players. I believe in Bobby Jackson. The team would be fun to watch to say the least.
[conspiracy]
Well, if the Maloofs really want to give the middle finger to Sacramento, wouldn't keeping an incompetent coach in the hopes of running any real talent that Sacramento has had out of town be the way to do it?
[/conspiracy]
In reality though, I guess they just want their money and want to get out. They don't care, or else they'd have canned his behind a while ago.
Well, if the Maloofs really want to give the middle finger to Sacramento, wouldn't keeping an incompetent coach in the hopes of running any real talent that Sacramento has had out of town be the way to do it?
[/conspiracy]
In reality though, I guess they just want their money and want to get out. They don't care, or else they'd have canned his behind a while ago.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Baja, you've come over to the dark side.
This is almost word for word what I said many times before yet I couldn't convince you of Smart's faults. Feels good to get it out, doesn't it?
Well, I was never a big fan of Smarts hiring in the first place. But I try to be fair, and give anyone a chance. I was willing to give him around 25 games after a full training camp to get his act together, and he's not close to doing that. So judgement day arrived for me, and he got an F. Man, I've got to be careful, I'm getting too caught up in this grading business. The thing I was most upset about was the Maloofs giving him another year extension without him having proved himself. Just plain stupid! But I can't blame Smart for that.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Speaking of Smart, here are a few quotes from today about last nights game. I would appreciate it if someone could tell me what the hell he's saying! He's replying to a question of why he went with the second unit so long in the second quarter.
It was still relatively early. So I didn't think it would get away from us like it did. We started off slow in the first quarter so I needed the starters to be able to close the gap a little bit so we didn't go into the second quarter being down so much. So I couldn't take those guys out because we had to play catch up in that first quarter. We didn't want to go into the second quarter being down 10. So I had to play those guys and try to get out of the quarter and then obviously our second unit played well, they have played well in the past. And obviously tonight was not one of those nights. And their bench did a great job and put the game in a comfortable place for them."
Somewhere inside that stream of nonsense, there's probably a decent thought roaming around. Well, maybe not!
It was still relatively early. So I didn't think it would get away from us like it did. We started off slow in the first quarter so I needed the starters to be able to close the gap a little bit so we didn't go into the second quarter being down so much. So I couldn't take those guys out because we had to play catch up in that first quarter. We didn't want to go into the second quarter being down 10. So I had to play those guys and try to get out of the quarter and then obviously our second unit played well, they have played well in the past. And obviously tonight was not one of those nights. And their bench did a great job and put the game in a comfortable place for them."
Somewhere inside that stream of nonsense, there's probably a decent thought roaming around. Well, maybe not!
King Baller
All-Star
Sure I can provide a translation for that: Smart is desperate and does not know what the hell he is doing. The players have figured this out and they are tuning out the coach.
KB
L
LWP777
Guest
He's trying to say that he had to extend his starters in the 1st quarter because they were in danger of getting down big early. This forced him to play his 2nd unit extensively in the 2nd quarter, which he had confidence in because they've been playing really well of late. But obviously, that didn't work out....
L
LWP777
Guest
Look, I'm not a Smart fan and want him gone too but there is only so much he can do. The fact of the matter is our roster is weak. After DMC and Reke we really have 2nd and 3rd rate NBA players. I mean, seriously, think about it. We START John Salmons, Isaiah Thomas and Jason Thompson. We have MT, Jimmer, Brooks, Hayes, Cisco, TRob (who I'm really starting to like), etc. coming off the bench. The team is lousy. He can't play his starters 45 minutes a game. The 2nd unit has to get out there at some point and that's when we usually get really exposed.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Close the gap? Started off slow? It's was 8-2 early then our starters got right back in it and played well through the first.
Second unit played well? It was the second unit which caused the double digit deficit in the 2nd. So he plays the starters so we don't don't get down 10 points, which they didn't in the 1st but instead did their job, then we do go down double digits, and instead of acknowledging it was the bench which killed us and let Bos go on a run, he says the bench played well? But I thought he also said he kept the starters in so we don't give up a lead, yet doesn't realize subbing them all out and playing the bench gave Bos a huge lead? He couldn't take the starters out in the 1st because we had to play catchup, yet he pulled all of them in the 2nd and kept them out while Boston's lead ballooned, so they can just play catchup in the 2nd? So he needs all his starters with two mins left in the 1st because the game might get out of reach, yet three mins later with 10 mins left in the 2nd, he doesn't need any of them because we're in such a comfortable situation?
Keith, keep one of Reke/Cuz on the floor. It's not as difficult as you think.
I need to stop reading this guys quotes. Sooner or later I'll wake up the following morning and forget how to tie my shoes. Smart is effecting my IQ.
Last edited:
macadocious
Starter
I think that quote has just proven that he thinks his guy are not conditioned enough to play extended minutes. I can only think of a handful of times this year anyone has exceeded 40 minutes.
I think Tyreke can go 40 but I don't think Boogie can at least not effectively.
One would think playing more minutes on a regular basis would have a positive impact on conditioning.
HereWeBoogie
Hall of Famer
just wanted to comment and say that im watching Golden State play on TNT right now. and watching Mark Jacksons sub patters im saying to myself, WOW i wish we had a coach like that. even with 3 early fouls he brought Klay Thompson back in the game with 9 mins left in the half. and David lee hasnt been out of the game yet
Similar threads
- Locked
- ClutchPoints | Sacramento Kings News
- Personnel moves
- NBC Sports Bay Area & California
- Kings News Links