"This talk about (Theus) being gone whenever just needs to go out the window, because we're all...

"This talk about (Theus) being gone whenever just needs to go out the window, because we're all excited about playing for him. I want him here, Brad (Miller), the vets, they want him here. He's our coach."

Kevin Martin, quoted by Sam Amick

11 months ago Ziller 18 comments 0 recs |

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Having faith in your coach is great Kevin

But what about all these losses?

Bad coaching or bad players?

I lean towards the 2nd.

by ZenBaller on Dec 5, 2008 4:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

There's no there there

Looking at this roster, even absent injuries, it always appeared to be a contender for one of the 5 or 6 worst teams in the league. Between Kevin Martin adjusting to a leadership role, Hawes and Thompson adjusting to roles and a one/two point guard punch of Benu and Bobby Brown how could expectations, at least temporarily, not be low? Such is the nature of bloodletting. But this team, or rather this team’s players, did exceed expectations, and by virtue of that said expectations were artificially enhanced, to the unreasonable detriment of Theus’ job security.

I don’t disagree with the demerits most have expressed about his coaching job. The lack of any sort of offensive gameplan is damning, and it’s not something that’s going to be remedied with time. Firing Theus seems reasonable if you feel there’s a better option to guide this team more gracefully from cellar dweller to title contender. But don’t fire Theus if you plan on a coaching change making an immediate impact on this roster (particularly when the players who have expressed the most mutinous feelings for him, Moore and Jackson, are the guys I care least about on the team.) Management has shown a dedication to the long term with player decisions, it should show a similar dedication to personnel ones.

Besides the market for other viable options remains suspect. I’m intrigued by the idea of Flip Saunders, but so to, I’m sure, are any number of Timber Wolf, Wizard and Raptor fans. Remember three of the names bandied about two years ago in connection with the Kings coaching search that landed Theus haven’t fared much better. Carlesimo is fired, Brooks looks overwhelmed attempting to cleanup the mess that got Carlesimo fired, and Terry Porter has yet to disprove the feeling that he’s a Musselman wolf in Adelman sheep clothing.

by rbiegler on Dec 5, 2008 6:56 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Not only that

Moore has expressed those feelings despite his very poor play. Ditto with Bjax. They blame Theus for their declining abilities.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 6, 2008 9:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't watch the last minute tonight

The carnage was way too bad. Did BJax really leave the court before the rest of the team?

Bobby’s definitely been a disappointment in the leadership department this season.

"Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff." - My Dad, confusing me at a very young age.

by otis29 on Dec 6, 2008 10:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Last possession

BJax walks into the tunnel with about 10-15 seconds on the clock and Denver dribbling out the time.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Dec 6, 2008 10:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Saunders

is a chump.

by sactown on Dec 5, 2008 7:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

There is a big difference

between saying that Theus should be fired and criticizing his late game and rotation decision making.

I have not come to bury Theus, but I sure as hell ain’t going to praise him.

Bash, Reggie! Bash!! Bash!!!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 5, 2008 7:54 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Reggie's negatives are totally obvious

I want to see if there any positives. That’s really why you fire him at this point.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 6, 2008 9:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

One positive

he gets the boys to try hard, really hard. It should be a given, but sadly its not. These guys give it their all (almost) every night.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Dec 6, 2008 6:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

They did the same for EMuss

"Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff." - My Dad, confusing me at a very young age.

by otis29 on Dec 6, 2008 10:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Call him Coach "Sure Thing"

When a coach gets hired by a new ball club and stands before the local media for the first time, he ought to present everyone with a disclaimer similar to the ones that come with mutual funds, “past performance does not assure future success,” unless, of course, the coach’s name is Greg Popovich or Phil Jackson. If he is not one of those two men then he is a crap shoot. Plain and simple. I don’t mean to knock Don Nelson, Mike D’Antoni, or Jerry Sloan, they usually win more than they lose; but I imagine those men still spend every off-season weighing the benefits of a luxurious retirement with their chances of maybe, just maybe, being the coach next year who takes the title. We, sideline judges, may constantly take swipes at defining what alchemy turns a normal gathering of men into champions and what by contrast fetters our favorite team from doing so as if there is some basic equation to the whole matter, but the truth is only one team a year wins the whole show and usually only a handful of teams make for decent contenders. Everyone of those teams has owners who are willing to mortgage their house for the title, GMs who will mortgage the team’s future to win now, at least one Hall of Fame Player with a crew of All-Stars, and usually a Hall of Fame Coach. Beyond that, the designs of championship can only grow from the actions of all of these players in the moments that sum up a season. The rest of the league spends their time searching in vain for those future Hall of Famers while their fans chastise them for not measuring up. But we cannot forget that championships are hard to come by. Magic’s Lakers and Jordan’s Bulls and Duncan’s Spurs are memorable because to watch them was to witness brilliance. A brilliance we all want our favorite teams to have; but the truth is few are capable, even amongst the professionals; even fewer have the luck of avoiding the overwhelming set-backs that so many should-have-been championship teams suffer, even fewer have the brilliance to let nothing stand in their way—and usually those teams are coached by Greg Popovich or Phil Jackson.

by BrooklynFan on Dec 5, 2008 9:34 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Popovich has to coach other stars beyond Duncan

for me to annoit him to that kind of level. But I do agree with what you’re saying.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 6, 2008 9:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The end is nigh

I agree in theory and with other reasons I have mentioned elsewhere that it is not time to dismiss Coach Theus but..
it is 9 straight, and the once formidable ARCO Arena has fared a dismal 3-8. How many more losses before you just simply HAVE to pull the plug?
10 Straight? 11 straight? 12 straight?
Another blow out loss – to the LALAkers no less?
Another blow out loss at home (see above) ?
Where does the fine line between loyalty and surrender begin for this squad?

The executioners’ axe is at his neck, and the nod to finish the job at the ready. The lack of a roaring crowd is due partialy to the most deadly of reasons – apathy.
BrooklynFan you have supplied intelligent discourse on the burden of expectation but utlimately – whether you are a high school principal, corporate manager, stock broker – you are judged by wins/losses (and what have you done for me lately).

by betweentheeyes on Dec 7, 2008 8:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly who

Which coach has the SECRET BOOK OF PLAYS that will teach Miller & Moore how to defend the basket, or get more than 2 inches off the floor. Who can come in and teach our back court how to shot a 3pt shot? OR, get Greene ready to start before the trade deadline.

We didn’t start with a deep and talented roster, and losing 3 SG’s at the same time wasn’t anything any coach could have dealt with successfully.

What GP needs to do is continue rebuilding the roster because no coach is going to win any more games than Theus can, with this roster. Let me pose one question “How much did Theus and his coaching staff contribute to Spencer Hawes rapid development?”.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Dec 8, 2008 3:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What HAS he done for us lately?

I agree that, as you so poetically put, apathy has taken hold in Arco. Apathy is, however, contagious and I don’t think any one in Section 214 or on the Kings bench generated the cancer spontaneously.
Reggie is no Hall of Fame Coach: granted.
But the Kings also have no future Hall of Famer (at least not one in his prime).
The team has no All Stars.
Petrie has turned the boat towards a winning future as if he were steering through a mud pit.
And the fact that we even have to discuss luxury tax problems only shows that the Maloofs, while they talk about doing whatever it takes to win, behind their backs they are holding the purse strings pretty tight. (people like to call them gamblers because they own a casino but the house is the safe bet in the long run; so they’re not really gamblers.)
The only thing the Maloofs have really gambled on here is their ability to convince everyone that they really want to win well enough that they could keep season ticket prices high while they waited out their bloated contract mistakes. Now that Arco is empty they’re turning the place into a Vegas variety show to get people back in the seats. Before you know it they’ll have slot machines in the concourse and the dance team standing by in five inch heels and feather hats. I find the whole situation rather sad.

by BrooklynFan on Dec 8, 2008 5:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember

I remember when the team publicly rallied around Muss after his DUI. And while this is not the same sort of scenario (Theus has committed no crime, at least not off the court), it is hard to take the endorsement at face value. What else would you expect a stand-up guy like Speed to say?

“Hmm, gosh, Sam, I think firing Coach isn’t a bad idea. And go ahead and print that. After all, I don’t mind getting fined or called a coach killer. And, really, I’m sure Reggie will understand my comments are my opinion and aren’t in any way meant to undermine him. Oh, and can Whiz be our coach? I think he’ll instantly win the respect of the veterans.”

It’s true that the Vets who spoke up for Theus seemed to do so of their own volition, but I think the key phrase showed up in the blog…

We just don’t need the distraction (of Theus’ situation) to our team right now.

Beware certitude.

by Reges on Dec 5, 2008 11:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Coming late to the game

I gotta say Martin is right. They need a chance to get themselves together before they’re judged, and after that, it’s fair game. (I’ve said that about 10 times now. I think it’s the only possible viewpoint of this team, even with the head scratchers that is driving this “Fire Reggie” talk.)

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 6, 2008 9:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs