[Bmore_DCParticipant]

Yes they have a nice collection of young talent…but I really feel like there is something deeply wrong with this team. It doesnt seem like they enjoy playing together, they are full of selfish players, Cousin’s attitude seems to be infectious…

Individually they are talented but i just really dont understand the logic in having them all on the same team…John Salmons really doesnt fit in, Jimmer needs more playing time (imo), Jason Thompson is looking more and more lost out there, Tyreke Evans has not really elevated his game much and where are the shooters besides Jimmer and maybe Thornton?

Maybe im over-reacting but i just watched them play the Blazers close till a couple calls went Portland’s way and the Kings just collapsed…id like to see one of their practices…

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

They are super young and thats what happens to young teams.. 2 or 3 plays that could go either way dont go in their favor and they lose all control…

Some of their problems could be fixed by their coach but they will always have some struggles because they are young.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 Your right they all look like there playing one on one and couldnt care less about how good Jimmer is at shooting 

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 your right but when you watch other young teams like the T-Wolves, Thunder, Clippers, and others…it just seems like they are having fun and enjoy playing with eachother even if they lose…

i think teams need to scout personalities more and make sure you get the right combination of those players.

I heard last year that the Celtics use a psychiatrist while scouting players they may acquire through the draft or trades, and it seems to be working…

[BasketBalAllanParticipant]

You cannot judge a team off one game. The problem was that absolutely no one was making anything for the Kings from 4 minutes left in the 2nd quarter until the end of the game. Mix those shooting problems with questionable officiating and the young team of the Kings simply lost their confidence. If you saw the Lakers game, the Kings players looked like they liked playing together, the same thing with the preseason vs. the Warriors. Many players struggled tonight on both ends of the floor and it frustrated everyone on the team, and when that happens to a team this young you create problems (especially on the road).

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 I’m on the fence with Tyreke Evan, He is talented with the ball but dribbles a lot. He is also is just ok with everything.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 @basketbalallan…

you make some good points, although i watched their second pre-season game and got the same impression…i guess winning fixes everything tho huh? we’ll see with your team…one thing i will say is that they are very interesting and will be fun to watch if they can find a rotation and gain some team chemistry 

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

I dont think that Thornton is the right player to start..

Then you have to run plays to him, Evans, Salmons, and Cousins.. I think they need to start Jimmer and have him move along the arc ready to shoot and bring Thornton off the bench as a firecracker..

I also think they need to get Salmons more involved on offense.  Use Cousins/Evans in a pick and roll with Jimmer and Cousins doing it occasionally and have Salmons as a player who gets shots on set plays..

Just my opinion

[OhCanada-Participant]

The problem was Sacramentos gaurds were not managing the game properly, and Cousins was forcing the issue offensively. Some of the spots Thomas, Fredette, Evans, had set up Cousins with the ball were ridiculous, and Cousins is a black hole offensively.

On one play Cousins had great post position on Thomas and was rejected the pass inside from his teammate, later in the play Cousins recieved the ball at the three-point line, and the player gaurding him Kurt Thomas gave him space all the way from the free throw line. Cousins tried driving to the rim on Thomas and ended up charging right through him. Bad basketball.

Cousins showed some AMAZING low post moves throughout the hole game, and in most situations he was setup early in the clock, in a comfortable position. If Sacramento actually tried playing system basketball they would be nasty, very tough offensively. It seemed as though Cousins was frustrated with the gaurd play and thus forcing the issue as if saying fine this is where you give me the ball with 8 seconds left on the clock…ill shoot.

They also had horrible defence but thats another story…

[ayeee_10Participant]

 i feel that Coach Westphal has to take some blame for that game i mean he put in the starters (Salmons an exception since he was in foul trouble) back in to attempt a late comeback, but that didn’t work obviously. He kept Thomas in who overdribbled and the offense became stagnant and should have taken out DMC out when he was struggling on offense as well. Point is, no adjustment was made when needed.

[omphalosParticipant]

Am I the only one who thinks Phil Jackson and the triangle would be a perfect fit for this team? They have a versatile wing in Tyreke, a sharpshooting PG in Jimmer and a promising young big in Cousins who passes well and is highly skilled.

Obviously it would never happen, but I’d love to see what the Zen Master could do with this team of talented young players. Regardless, I want Westphal out.

[surveParticipant]

I didnt watch much of the Portland game, but against the Lakers, I didnt get the impression that they dont like playing together.  I thought the opposite, they looked like young buddies who were having fun out there.  That game they really played good defense and they were hustling like hell.

Hickson and Hayes bring a great hustle attitude to the team and its rubbing off.  

A couple of my personal feelings….Jason Thompson is a very talented player and he probably looks lost because his role is diminished, but tonight he came in and hit some good shots and immediately contributed.  I agree the coach has a lot to do with it in this instance.  

Also its no secret they dont have a guy that is a true PG…the rookies are learning.

Their fortunes will change when they properly define the roles…and Cousins starts to play smarter.

Thornton should come off the bench and back up Reke like Crawford did JJ in ATL.

All in all, I just think they are young and will get better when the coaching staff really puts it together…whether its Westphal or someone else.  Some players have to be moved as well.  I dont think Thompson fits in their plans, maybe move Salmons too. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

This is a really tough time for a coach to try to takeover, especially takeover a team like Sacramento. Im all for Westphal being replaced, but the timing has to be right. With the compacted schedule it will be extremely hard to create a new system, under new morales. Making the change now would be setting up the team, and the replacement coach up for failure. Although Westphal has never been able to settle down the egos that are DeMarcus Cousins, and Tyreke Evans.

[ayeee_10Participant]

 I could not agree more. I also think that the Kings could have benefited under Adelman’s system but it’s too late to pursue him. You see what he did last year w/ an undersized Rockets team, imagine what he can do w/ the Kings’ size. He would definitely make them work to the fullest of their ability, but since he’s not available who can the Kings turn to?

[omphalosParticipant]

I was thinking that with Mark Jackson back in the coaching box Van Gundy might decide to try his hand again. I think the Kings would respect him as a proven head coach and buy into his system.

Alternatively, I’d like them to take a run at Mike Woodson. He’s not the guy who’ll win you a championship, but he’ll get you to the playoffs and develop your young players, which is what this team needs. If Woodson can instil basic fundamentals then the sky is the limit for this Kings team.

[hoodwinkParticipant]

[hoodwinkParticipant]

 To respond to the initial post — I don’t know if you watched their home opener last night, but they sure looked like they were having fun together (see: http://www.nba.com/kings/media/KingsLakers_1024x768.jpg ).

This was one game, early on, on the road, from the youngest team in the league. Right now Portland is a much more experienced squad, and their length and athleticism on the wing went unmatched. And yes, the Kings did too much one-on-one in the second half, but for three out of four halves in this new season they’ve played well together.

Also, Thornton might be a good shooter? Thornton, without a doubt, is a very good shooter. And I’m not sure what you’re seeing so far this year about Cousins’ attitude as a teammate. He’s played a couple of decent games and improved noticeably on defense so far. The kid is 20, and I think he’s slowly heading the right path.

 

[omphalosParticipant]

@ayeee_10; I took the liberty of writing a blog post in response to your question about who should replace Westphal, thanks for giving me the idea;

http://itsahardwoodlife.blogspot.com/2011/12/king-is-dead-long-live-kings.html

No, this isn’t a post about the self-proclaimed King, rather about the Sacramento Kings, and their current situation. A win against the Lakers was nice, but in two games there has been little to no consistency with the number of shots taken by certain players, or the minutes played, or even who is running the point guard position. I know, it’s only two games, but it’s also been a couple of seasons under Paul Westphal and he has neither the respect of his players or seemingly the willingness to dub either Tyreke, Cousins or Thornton as the clear first option, rather choosing to let the players run wild so to speak, and preventing them gaining a rhythm. This wasn’t so much of a problem in Tyreke’s rookie year, where it was obvious that he was the man, but since the talented and more experienced Thornton has entered the fray the lines have become blurred. Cousins only complicates the problem further.

Those of you who watched the remarkable OKC-MIN game would have noticed the startling change from last season, Adelman had his players motivated and defending to the best of their ability. The people who watched the Wolves play the Bucks would have also seen how different they were without Adelman on the sidelines. The moral of the story being this; a bad record doesn’t indicate a bad team, sometimes it just comes down to bad coaching or a bad coaching fit, and everything I see in the Kings feels the same way. The sooner they do away with Westphal the better, and with the right coach they could actually take positive steps with all that talent, provided the players buy into the new coach’s philosophy.

So let’s take a look at the candidates in no particular order;

1. Mike Woodson
To me, Woodson was hard done by when he was unceremoniously booted from the Atlanta Hawks for having them hovering around the 50-win mark for the last few seasons of his tenure. How dare he take a team of talented youngsters and teach them how to play as a team! The state of the Hawks when Woodson took over bear similarities to this young Kings team. They were very talented but inconsistent and saw a gradual improvement under Woodson’s care. A consistent approach from a coach who stresses fundamentals and good defensive play like Woodson would do wonders for the Kings. It also doesn’t hurt that he has a knack for relating to younger players and was well respected by his team during his tenure in Atlanta. A massive shift in power is taking place in the Western Conference, with powerhouses like the Spurs, Lakers and Mavericks seemingly taking backward steps. In two to three years the transition from young to old will be complete, and if the right coach doesn’t develop these players the Kings will miss out and be forced to start rebuilding all over again. Now, to quote Chris Rock "He won’t get you to the promised land, but he’ll get you to the playoffs, which is good enough". Like Doug Collins paved the way for Phil Jackson in Chicago, so too will Woodson prepare his young charges for a championship run by instilling them with good fundamentals and hard work.

2. Jeff Van Gundy
A coach who knows a thing or two about winning games in a lockout shortened season, as evidenced by his run to the Finals with the 98-99 Knicks, Jeff has expressed an interest in coaching again, and with his protege Mark Jackson finally given a shot at a head coaching position, it might be time for the mentor to do the same. Van Gundy brings a great pedigree and a thorough understanding of how the game of basketball should be played, which is something a number of Kings players have struggled with in the past. While I confess I’m not too familiar with Van Gundy’s system, you can’t argue with results, and his teams have always been competitive, which is what the fans in Sacramento need.

3. Brian Shaw
Shaw served his time as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson and was the man many expected to take over from the Zen Master when he retired. However, Dr Buss decided to go in another direction and the Lakers were left with Grimac- I mean Mike Brown. While Shaw is unproven as a head coach, he’s a young ex-player who knows the triangle intimately, and when you look at the Kings roster, they have all the pieces there to be very successful with that system. You have the star SG in Tyreke Evans, whose passing ability will come to the fore and help him emulate his predecessors Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as focal points of the triangle. There is rookie Jimmer Fredette who is a sharp-shooter in the mould of Steve Kerr with more moves, and Marcus Thornton is a similarly gifted combo guard. Finally, the requisite big man in DeMarcus Cousins whose skill-set and brute force would allow him to combine some of the best attributes of previous post players to run the triangle in Shaq and Gasol, although obviously Shaq is inimitable. However, the biggest case for this system is that they lack a true point guard and the triangle removes the need for one whilst providing the young Kings with more structure in both spacing and movement off the ball. For these reasons and more, Shaw would be an upgrade over Westphal.

4. Phil Jackson
I know, I know, he’s retired. We’ve heard that before though, and look at the results – two more rings. As nice as it would be for Shaw to be given a chance to work the magic of the triangle, no coach has ever implemented it as successfully as the thoroughly unique Phil Jackson. While the system is important, with young players sporting attitudes which can be deemed questionable at the very least, Jackson’s ability to get player to buy into his philosophy using his Zen Master voodoo is what truly sets him apart from any coach before or since he came along. However, this is a wildly unrealistic hire given Jackson’s age and retired status, but if he ever changes his mind, a damn near perfect roster for his needs will be waiting for him.

So there you have it, the list of coaches I think would be best suited to replace the underachieving Westphal in Sactown. While they all have their faults – although some have nothing to do with ability – each one would be an improvement over the current King. The ideal situation, if we are talking absolute best case scenario would be for Woodson to prepare this team for a few years and have a rejuvenated Jackson/Winter combo take the reigns. Whatever the case, the Sacramento Kings are in dire need of a revolution, and Westphal’s should be the first head to roll.

[HitsterParticipant]

The team are 1-1 but we have to look at Coach Westphal’s record since he took over and it is only just over 50 wins across two seasons and more importantly the team don’t look cohesive yet. Results are maybe less important than spirit and progression and if these are not shown then maybe a change is needed. Geoff Petrie has run the front office for over 15 years so knows the team inside out and has drafted decent talet to try and rebuild so a change there would not seem logical. That then takes us to the coaching staff and if Coach Westphal is replaced then I’d agree with Omphalo’s top suggestion of Mike Woodson as he took Atlanta from being a perenial lottery team to a perenial play off team getting 45 to 50 wins.

I’d like to see Brian Shaw get a head role soon and a team like the Kings would be a better first step than taking on a huge job like the Lakers. Shaw wold not need to uproot totally to move to the Kings, he has spent years learning from Phil Jackson, knows how to manage egos and superstars so would be my next choice if they did not want a proven Head Coach. Also whilst Phil Jackson wold be unlikely to want to return to the bench full time, someone like Brian Shaw would have his number and could turn to him for advice or Phil might be prepared to act as a consultant or even maybe take a short term Front Office role. Petrie runs the FO so maybe Phil as an advisor on the draft could be an idea, having Phil cast his eye over the 2012 draft and help the Kings extract the right player with another likely lottery pick could pay dividends.

 

[surveParticipant]

Westphal is an offensive coach.  Although they did make strides to shore up their defense with Hayes…the fact is, Westphal favors offensive minded players.  They have a team full of players with either score first mentalities or scoring is the best thing they do.

Reke, Thornton,  Thompson, Jimmer, Isaiah, Greene, Garcia….

granted, Reke can do other things, so he gets a pass but the other guys cant play defense.  but they only have a few other well rounded players or glue type players, like Salmons and Hickson.  If Westphal goes, I agree with OhCanada, the timing has to be right, because they will need to move some of those players to fit the system of the new coach.

I would move Thompson, because he has some value I think due to he is only 25 and extremely skilled.  Greene is another guy who could find a home due to his youth and talent.

I would try and build around the core of Reke, Thornton, Hickson, Hayes, and Cousins.  Obviously trying to find a pure PG to fit in the starting lineup and move Thornton to the bench.  Jimmer is a good player, but like I said, I always question if he is the right fit with Reke and the other score first players on the team.  They will light up the scoreboard but will it carry over to the win column?  The need a guy like Wilson Chandler IMO.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 first off…this team isnt the youngest in the league…

actually its got quite a few veterens…thats really my problem. the kings are a lot more talented than what is being showed…they have no chemistry and the roster makes no sense IMO…i think a coaching change is in order and Jeff Van Gundy would be perfect…

They need some sort of disciplinarian…

[JoeWolf1]

 Ship Jason Thompson, get another veteran who can contribute, what is he doing for them now that Hickson is in the mix?  They have a young 7 footer, in him, who has showed some progress, but instead they signed a 6’6” guy to play center instead of him.  Thats not a knock on Hayes, but I think it says something about Thompson’s role with the team going forward.

[Jlv2011]

condensed season with a short training camp and young roster.  Plus they lost against a stringent Portland defense.  Stop overexaggerating, people’s expectations of this team are too high. 

[surveParticipant]

 it says that they dont want Thompson and they have given up on him.  the kid is a good scorer and excellent offensive rebounder….someone can use him.

I am wit Bmore, the roster doesnt make much sense…they have way to many offensive minded guards.  Hayes is a great defender but still that move doesnt sit well with me.  A 6-6 Center on a team full of scorers with offensive minded coach.  I would rather them be a worse defensive team with Thompson and Cousins in the lineup.  You may not have great D, but the philosophy is not of D anyway.  Thompson and Cousins can get you 6 orpg and about 30ppg between them, to me that means more.

 

[KayjayParticipant]

Something wrong with the Kings. 3 games into the season and I see the same low basketball IQ. I have to go through another season of this crap. Westpaul is trash. 

[Future_Scout]

tyreke is going to have to play much more efficient

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 this isnt one of those "i told you so" posts….but i told you so…haha jpjp

Cousins wants out and apparently he or Westphal is the problem…my guess is Cousins but apparently Westphal has had a lot of problems with players in the past…

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Cousins has a good reason to complain (in a way),but his immature reputation as an immature trouble maker has it appearing like he’s pouting again..But i’ve watched alot of Kings games and seen several times,when he had been open under the basket or could’ve gotten an easy basket and the Kings guards are tossing up 3 pointers…Then you can see Cousins getting upset and either gets a tech or the coach puts him on the bench…..

1 of the reasons why Cousins might be shooting 35% from the floor is becuz Westphal doesnt know how to create any offensive plays….And that has Kings doing alot of 1 on 1 plays….

 

[Johnny Chill]

Why the fuck is he always mean mugging?

[KayjayParticipant]

Idk, but it rubs me the wrong way.

[Author]

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