Poll of the Indeterminate Time Period

by Tom Ziller on May 16, 2009 5:11 PM PDT in Commentary

Poll

Would you be pleased if Paul Westphal were named the head coach?

Yes

139 votes

No

288 votes

427 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 24 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Voted No

Only because I like Jordan better, and probably JVG. Westphal is a default choice for me, so while I would eventually warm to it, I would initially be disappointed that we couldn’t do better.

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by section214 on May 16, 2009 5:18 PM PDT reply actions

Voted yes

He’s one of 4-5 guys I’d be ok with.

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 May 16, 2009 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

I'm saying No

because I don’t know enough about him. There should be a “I don’t now enough about him” option

by eduardo_m7 on May 16, 2009 5:20 PM PDT reply actions

I voted no

I’d rather Petrie backed off his criteria and take more of an “assistant with potential” rather than Westphal.

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by otis29 on May 16, 2009 5:29 PM PDT reply actions

No

When your last success came in 1991, I’m not barking at the moon. I don’t want to see Guns ‘n Roses on tour, and I don’t want Paul Westphal coaching my team. Think big! Get bold!

by Tom Ziller on May 16, 2009 5:39 PM PDT reply actions

I don't want Paul Westphal coaching "my team"

Ziller, what exactly is your job with the Kings? What do they pay you for? If you’re not a part of the organization, they are not “your team.” And before you post negative things about people, you should get your facts straight. Paul Westphal wasn’t even a head coach in 1991 yet. His first year was the ‘92-’93 season and he’s had far more success at that level than any one of the coaches you all seem to want for “your team.”

by togos28 on May 22, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions

With all due respect

Fans many times refer to the teams that they root for as “my team.” And everyone that reguarly posts at StR (including the editors) are fans. The words “us” and “we” and “ours” are tossed around liberally by those passionate about the Kings. Heck, when they announce the starting lineup at the games, the refer to the team as “Your Sacramento Kings.”

Oh, and you’re right about Ziller’s calendar. It’s really only been 15 years since Westphal had a truly successful NBA campaign.

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by section214 on May 24, 2009 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

That Pepperdine stint

doesn’t look too hot, either. 7 wins?

"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."

by coolcatreportdotcom on May 16, 2009 5:53 PM PDT reply actions

Westphal is....

a face and a name. He wouldnt even be a last resort in my opinion. As I commented earlier in a different post. This team needs an Identity and I dont feel Westphal is capable of leading a situation such as the Kings at this time. Unless he brings an X and O, chemistry building, player developing coaching staff with him I would not entertain the thought of him as the new head coach. Still hoping for EJ.

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by ridnour8 on May 16, 2009 6:21 PM PDT reply actions

Too much scraping off the bottom of the barrel in hopes of homers

I’m growing very tired of this as a Kings fan. The upper management really need to get their butts into gear if this team has any shot at being good again.

by CloudyEyes on May 16, 2009 7:26 PM PDT reply actions

I abstain

for lack of a sufficient range of emotion provided in the poll question. I’d be fairly ambivalent about it.

by corbin on May 16, 2009 7:33 PM PDT reply actions

I would be happier if another choice were made

but I wouldn’t be unhappy. I don’t know if he is the guy for the next 5+ years. But for the next 3 or 4, we just need a guy who can teach the young guys and put together some consistency. I think Westphal is the guy. I also think he’d be a little more patient having been out of the game for a while. A guy like EJ is looking to immediately improve his numbers and get back to the playoffs. An older giy might not feel the same pressure to win it all now.

I voted yes.

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Vfettke

by SavageBeast on May 16, 2009 8:09 PM PDT reply actions

I voted yes

Because when he was successful he was working with a young team and a struggling franchise.

But Ziller, you seriously need to add a Meh to these coaching polls. Yes or No is too black or white. The only guys I would REALLY say Yes to is Ettore Messina.

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by Aykis16 on May 16, 2009 9:29 PM PDT reply actions

and Lawrence Frank.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement.

by Aykis16 on May 16, 2009 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I voted no because I wouldn't be 'happy" if he was selected as head coach

I’ve come to the conclusion that EJ is our best option. If he’s not selected then I think the Kings ought to look at one of the impressive assistant coaches such as Thibideau or Budzenhotlser.

Wesphal’s Pepperdine experience gives me pause, on the other hand players he coached during his Phoenix tenure speak highly of him as does Mark Cuban and Cuban has some credibility with me.

My guess is that Westphal will do an acceptable job if hired and I believe he is a safe pick but I’m not thrilled by him. If the question read “would Westphal be an acceptable choice as head coach?” I would have voted yes.

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by Bluejohn on May 16, 2009 9:38 PM PDT reply actions

Funny

I voted yes because acceptable would make me happy after the last 3 coaches we’ve had.

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 May 16, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Sort of why I voted yes for him and Jordan too.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement.

by Aykis16 on May 16, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions

In petrie we trust,

if hes happy with a Westphal hiring than so am I, if he is being forced by finances and candidates’ interest to turn to Westphal than that kinda of stinks. Didnt vote because there isnt a “i feel how Geoff feels” option.

by passionforPERPS on May 16, 2009 10:45 PM PDT reply actions

Petrie's record on hiring coaches

Isn’t his strong point. So I’m not feeling too sure right now.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement.

by Aykis16 on May 16, 2009 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Petrie hasn't exactly hired many coaches either

How much do you want to put the Musselman and Theus hiring on his head? And, do you think Eddie Jordan in his stint here 10 years ago is shame on Petrie’s head? (He didn’t hire Garry St. Jean; Jim Thomas did.)

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by pookeyguru on May 16, 2009 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Stop the excuses

We can’t stop giving Petrie a pass because the Maloofs played a role in those hirings. They are going to play a role in this hiring as well.

If it makes folks happier to say “the Kings brain trust (Petrie plus the Maloofs) screwed up in hiring Musselman, etc.,” that’s fine. Just beware that the same folks are back in action for this recruitment process.

"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."

by coolcatreportdotcom on May 17, 2009 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree with this

As probably the most unabashed of GP supporters, I do agree that Petrie is either responsible or toothless at it pertains to these decisions.

That is not meant to give the Maloof’s a free pass. But at the end of the day, most of us have to work under the confines of our employer’s decisions, and we can be held accountable if those decisions go sideways.

I choose to hold Petrie at least partially accountable for all decisions (good and bad), as I prefer that to the thought that he really has no control in this process.

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by section214 on May 17, 2009 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions

You can't deny

that weve been screwed twice, first by Phil Jackson and then by SVG. Petrie deserves all the praise in the world if only because Wisenhunt has never sat on our sidelines(“our” refers to the kings’ not arco’s, i realize he has sat onthe arco sidelines).

Aside from that, Musselman was a compromise, even if he was from Petrie’s list he wasn’t Petrie’s favorite. Theus was a Maloof choice which Petrie signed off on. And this time it will allegedly be Petrie’s choice with the Maloofs signing off on it. The last two coaching choices were indicative of our organization’s collaborative merit, whereas this search will show Petrie’s genius (or futility) but lets reserve judgement until we see his uncompromised opinion acted upon. I agree he’s “at least partially accountable for all decisions” but also think the Maloofs are wholly accountable for not allowing the man to do his job. How often does Geoff give them advice about the casinos, it should equal the amount the Maloofs give him on basketball.

by passionforPERPS on May 24, 2009 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions