Preview: Kings vs. Grizzlies
by Tom Ziller on Dec 29, 2010 11:32 AM PST
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STARTING LINEUPS & INJURIES
The Kings bring to the table Mr. Beno Udrih, the Gentleman Tyreke Evans, Francisco Garcia Esq., goodie Carl Landry and Sir Samuel Dalembert. Off the bench we'll see Pooh Jeter, Omri Casspi, Darnell Jackson and perhaps Jason Thompson or Donte Greene. DeMarcus Cousins should also play, provided he hasn't decided on season-ending laser surgery on his professionalism.
Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are definites in the the Memphis starting five, provided that Cousins' contagious unprofessionalism reeks havoc on the Grizzlies locker room. Xavier Henry is a question mark; if he doesn't play, Sam Young should get the start because O.J. Mayo is a big boy off the bench now. Hasheem Thabeet will play. Hasheem Thabeet ... will play.
SCOUTING REPORT
Check out HighTops' scouting report.
MATCHUP OF THE GAME
Zach Randolph vs. Carl Landry. They aren't dissimilar, you know ...
PLAYER TO WATCH
Tyreke Evans' foot will deserve special attention again, given that Monday's game came with a bit of rest and today's match has just one off-day ... an off-day in which Evans practiced with the team, a rarity of late. Evans' cut on the ball should tell the tale.
GIVEAWAY GAME
It's posted. LAST GAME OF THE CONTEST! THIS IS IT FOLKS!
DETAILS
7 PM. Game threads at 7 and 8:30. Let's go Kings. Win one for the Peach!
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All I'm hoping for is for the competitiveness of our last game
And for Tyreke to show up again.
Never Turn Back - Crush 40
Best preview ever!
I think TZ forgot to close his opening tag.
by defender96 on Dec 29, 2010 12:08 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Ugh, '/sarcasm' tag.
Mobile updating sucks.
by defender96 on Dec 29, 2010 12:09 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Why are we calling DMC unprofessional
What did I miss? Is he still 20 years old and angry about losing so many games? I’m angry about that too, am I unprofessional as well?
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
The fact that there may be reasons or mitigating factors for Cousins' lack of professionalism
does not make him any more professional. In fact, one could say that he is 100% justified in his lack of professionalism, and it would still not make him any more professional.
In other words, Cousins has been called less than professional because he has been less than professional. This does not mean that he should be traded or have his pee-pee whacked – it just means that he has not been very professional at times this year, probably moreso than any other player on the Kings.
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Poll question?
Who is more unprofessional on the court?
DMC or Brad Miller?
There are some guys dumber than me, some guys worse looking, I take umbrage at the fact that there is no guy that is both.
2nd poll question
do you act more or less professional after you get your pee-pee wacked by a professional?
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
3rd poll question
Are you a professional pee-pee wacker?
by HeuristicLineup on Dec 29, 2010 1:58 PM PST up reply actions
4th poll question
If yes, to #3, what did you do that caused you to lose your amateur status?
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by section214 on Dec 29, 2010 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
With the only option in the poll being "Went through puberty"
by HeuristicLineup on Dec 29, 2010 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
I disagree.
The other, and correct, option would be the Karl Malone school of Martial Arts
by clicc916 on Dec 29, 2010 3:11 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I would think that was dirty play
except I would kick Robert Horry there if I could too.
by MichaelMack on Dec 29, 2010 3:49 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
The Lakers are professional pee-pee whackers
I don’t see anyone behaving more professionally after they come to town, so I’m going to say no.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
I don't see it.
What are we calling unprofessional? Not hi-fiving the coach? Not accepting discipline from a coach who is failing the team as well as the fans? Flashing an unfortunatly timed choke gesture? Is it the lack of conditioning? I can see that as a problem, but I don’t think that’s it.
I think the coach is losing the team and De Marcus is the first one to say anything. Then I think the coach is retaliating agains De Marcus because he is an easy scape-goat, an easy target, and it discredits him if you dismiss him as a kid with no professionalism.
I think De Marcus just wants to win.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
Yes
Not accepting discipline from a coach who is failing the team as well as the fans?
Yeah, that’s unprofessional. Your coach is your coach, right up to the day that he’s not. No matter the cause, it’s unprofessional. And no matter what one might think of Westphal as a coach or a disciplinarian, the simple fact is that Cousins has placed himself in the crosshairs with his actions.
I love Cousins, and I hope that he grows and prospers here. But if the question is has been professional or unprofessional, the answer is both, adding that he has easily been the most unprofessional player on the roster. Justify it if you like, but he has still exhibited a lack of professionalism.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
You would make Bill Clinton proud
It all depends on what the definition of is is.
I just think that if you are not an attorney
you may have missed your calling. You seem to have the ability to argue any point to contrary twisting and turning with stuff like
The fact that there may be reasons or mitigating factors for Cousins’ lack of professionalism does not make him any more professional. In fact, one could say that he is 100% justified in his lack of professionalism, and it would still not make him any more professional. In other words, Cousins has been called less than professional because he has been less than professional.
This is confusing to me
Pat Willie asked
Why are we calling DMC unprofessionalI answered that he is being called unprofessional because he has been unprofessional. I’m not sure how that is twisting anything. Simply, you can reason why he has been unprofessional. What can’t be reasoned is whether or not he has been unprofessional – he has. I really don’t see how that is twisting anything.
I also don’t see how my chosen profession is germane to this conversation.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on Dec 29, 2010 3:09 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Please don't take it as a critism
I meant it as a compliment. I really wish I could do it.
So you are an attorney! That explains it.
No way he could be an attorney
He never defined what made Cousins unprofessional, except that he didn’t submit to authority. Authority cannot just expect acceptance. Authority is to be earned and following is a choice. Players shouldn’t be expected to just put up or shut up when the coach is tanking a whole team.
Can De Marcus handle it better, maybe someday. He’s only 20 years old and he does things his own way. His way is not that far out of line. Unprofessional is a generic blanket term ment to discredit his outrage.
If you are using unprofessional to explain De Marcus’s outrage in my opinion you are using unprofessional to describe the outrage of the King’s fans as well.
As far as I’m concerned Kings fans are being taken with malice every time they attend a home game and every time they watch a game supported by sponser dollars. This coach isn’t even trying to win games at this point he just wants to assert his authority. What are these bench games he’s playing? Does he think he’s running a daycare?
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
I see your point
And for the record, since your question was not answered:
(1) He was fined early in the year for arguing with an assistant coach.
(2) He was kicked out of practice for apparently ‘mouthing off’.
(3) He was benched for choking gesture in Dubs game.
(4) He also has been mentioned as coasting through practice drills, and not being in the type of shape the team wants him to be or he needs to be. He is in improved shape, but his work ethic has been questioned.
I agree with your point about respect having to be earned, and Big Cuz is questioning the decision making of Westphal. In fact one of their disputes is that Cousins said he disagreed with the plays the team was running. And given the way the season has played out, there is probably validity to his point of view. You can argue whether or not he has been unprofessional, but I think he has a personality of a winner: strong and assertive with a lot of confidence in spite of adversity. I wish there were more personalities like his on the team. We would not be 5-23.
and it can be debated whether Big Cuz is unprofessional, or just immature with strong personality.
I think he is being slammed by the coaches for questioning their gameplan
Which seems to suck by the way.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
Follow up comment:
Disparaging your players to the press is a bit unprofessional if you ask me. Keep it to yourselves if it’s an issue. Telling the press he is a troublemaker decreases his value to you if you have to trade him. Stupid move.
Treating him like an infant is not going to make him more useful to the team. He’s just going to respect the coach less. You want to be professional, protect the team’s investment.
He didn’t ask to be spoiled or babied or treated differently. He just wants to win games. The coach has to be able to use that.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
Except
that we are talking about Cousins’ professionalism here, not anyone else’s. You want to call Westphal unprofessional, I might agree with you. But I won’t agree that this somehow makes Cousins’ actions more professional.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
I changed it to Westphal
Not really arguing with anyone right now, enough of that here at home tonight. In my opinion it is more disturbing a coach is operating on this level.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
Oops
I think you missed something, Pat. I don’t want to speak for TZ, but I believe he was remarking on DeMarcus’ (no space) lack of professionalism facetiously. As far as I know, there is no laser surgery for professionalism.
by furious.d on Dec 29, 2010 5:48 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
That's what I got from him too
I wanted to run with it, either way. I think it deserves discussion.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
Well,
Again, my chosen profession is absolutely not germane to this conversation.
Also, how Kings fans act (or anyone else for that matter) really is not germane to this conversation.
Also, the way that the team us playing is not germane to this conversation, nor is sponsor dollars or a coach that isn’t even trying to win games (though if you really, truly believe that Westphal isn’t trying to win games, then I am probably wasting my time attempting to have a conversation with you here, as that is just ludicrous).
Clear your mind and focus on this point and this point only – has Cousins demonstrated acts and attitudes that would be described as unprofessional if you were comparing him to his teammates or even other NBA rookies? That’s it – yes or no. My opinion is that the answer is yes.
I am on record as saying that Cousins should not have been yanked from the starting lineup for the choke sign. I hope/think that he is the future of this franchise. I am 1,000,000 times more excited to see him play than to see him coach. I love what the kid brings to the table. None of this changes the fact that he has acted in an unprofessional manner, and that was the question that you asked.
You want a different answer? Ask a different question.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
...1,000,000 more times to see him play than see Westphal coach
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
see, even you like DeMarcus. : )
he’s not that tough to like. Too bad his coach has such a hard time with it.
The problem is that DMC also acts like an immature brat.
It’s a tough situation. No coach would handle it well I can promise you that.
EvilCowtownInc: Screwin Suckaz over since 1985...... On Twitter
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Considering PW is supposed to be a "Players" coach too,
I fear what would happen if we had the opposite.
Seriously
And I think it’s hard to understand that one can like the guy but also call him out when he does stupid crap. He acts unprofessionally sometimes, but I also want him on my team and want him to grow up and realize his potential.
"Children want what they want when they want it." ... Andy Sims
There is the rub indeed.
EvilCowtownInc: Screwin Suckaz over since 1985...... On Twitter
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
"No coach would handle it well I can promise you that".
I can name one that did. And, you are a smart guy, I’m sure you can name him, too.
And yes, by saying what I did above I am also admitted that yes, he’s acted “like a brat”. No doubt.
But, to say that no coach would handle his personality well is wrong, IMO. He and Westphal are just like oil and water. They don’t mix well. At all.
I hope they can get it figured out, but it just seems to me that it’s going to have to be Westphal that bends as he’s more the adult here, not DMC, you know?
College coaching ain't pro coaching Big Sky. You're a smart lady; I don't need to tell you that.
Handling a poor college kid is much different than handling a college kid with multiple millions coming to him. There is no way that Calipari could handle DMC at the NBA level the way he did at UK.
College and Pro games are just different that way.
EvilCowtownInc: Screwin Suckaz over since 1985...... On Twitter
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I love DeMarcus
I don’t think that this was ever in question.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
You want a different answer? Ask a different question.
No. If I keep asking it over & over, eventually you’ll get the hint and tell me what I want to hear.
EvilCowtownInc: Screwin Suckaz over since 1985...... On Twitter
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I get it, you are a bit of a tight wad like the coach
Not to insult you or anything but you are beating this poor horse to death. I already said I disagree with you.
There’s no changing that. We are on the same side though and I won’t hold your opinions against you. Glad you appreciate De Marcus and it sounds like you aren’t a control freak like the coach at least.
Thank you for the discussion.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
I'm not insulted
You don’t know me – how could I be insulted? However, I would recommend that you read this before you continue posting around here, or your stay may be a brief one.
Thank you.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Besides
We all know what 214 does for a living. This site is a cash cow. He probably rakes in something in the high six-figures as second in command.
by furious.d on Dec 29, 2010 6:41 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
The real money
is that I copyrighted “Fire Westphal!” Everytime somebody posts that, I make $1. Retirement is coming fast.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
This also explains
why I want Westphal to stay until the end of the season.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Ever thought about owning a pro sports franchise?
I know one that seems ripe for top-down change.
by furious.d on Dec 29, 2010 7:15 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
No
I couldn’t deal with blog-types calling me “sucktion214” or “section8.”
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on Dec 29, 2010 7:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Chad Ford be Hating.
What’s wrong with the Kings? So much talent with so little results? coaching?
Chad Ford (1:47 PM)
Not as much talent as you think. No chemistry. Way overrated front office. Evans and Cousins are good individual players, not great team players. Rest of the supporting cast has a few solid players like Landry, Casspi … but not much else to be excited about. I know lots of people love Geoff Petrie, but I don’t get what they’re so excited about. Team has been terrible for a while. You’re supposed to get great players with very high draft picks. Rest of his moves are pretty questionable. Since the roster has already essentially been blown up … might be time for changes at the top.
Evans and Cousins could be just as good team players as anyone with a good coach.
Westphal hasn’t earned anyone’s respect as he has taken a losing team and made them even worse. I believe him to be the problem as well as maybe his bosses.
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
We've had two "very high" draft picks
and one of them was the rookie of the year. And plenty of teams would love to take Cousins of our hands so I don’t know what is “questionable” about those moves. Plus very few draft picks are “great” in their first or second years in the league. Tyreke has already shown he can be “great” and I don’t think anyone doubts that Cousins has the talent to be. So Chad Ford I say to you STFU.
by StevenG on Dec 29, 2010 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
"You’re supposed to get great players with very high draft picks."
Tell that to all of the perpetual lottery teams who have been rebuilding for years. The 76ers, Raptors, Wolves, Grizzlies, Nets, Clippers, etc. have botched a ton of lottery picks.
The sentence should read “you normally only draft great players with very high draft picks,” but it is far from a guarentee, which is why we are perfectly happy with Petrie making those selections.
That is personal
I have to believe that ESPN still has an angry agent scratching it’s back. This is a pointed attack at Geoff Petrie and in my book, totatlly uncalled for.
To repeat what has been quoted here by someone whom I deeply respect:
Chad Ford is a tool.
by betweentheeyes on Dec 29, 2010 4:36 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Petrie gets Ford back
I didn't major in Common F-cking Sense, but ...
by MustangMBS on Dec 29, 2010 6:02 PM PST up reply actions 8 recs
Rec'd
Just because I love that
Never Turn Back - Crush 40
by raiderking21 on Dec 29, 2010 6:14 PM PST up reply actions
Can Donte not rot the bench tonight this time around?
There is this guy named Gay on the other team that’s not too bad of a player.
If Donte wants to play then he needs to High Five the coaches more
"People are on to us right now. They're got our number. We have to regroup and start doing something a little more different. I'm not saying we're predictable, but when you've got the opponent out there calling out plays, and they know what's coming, then we've got a problem. They know what plays we're calling. They pretty much know what routes we're running. They pretty much have us down right now." -
-- Jerry Rice
by Pat Willie on Dec 29, 2010 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I believe he is the designated rotter for the next few games
There are some guys dumber than me, some guys worse looking, I take umbrage at the fact that there is no guy that is both.
Don't worry, Omri will make a rookie mistake and PW will banish him to the DNP-CD list.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
Forever.
In these times, you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning.
~Carl Sandburg
by PurpleLoco on Dec 29, 2010 2:30 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
This is PW's team, of course it won't be forever.
He’ll be starting again a week later.
"Cousins is the Blaster to Evans’ Master, the Hammer to Evans’ Sickle"- HP
by tomroadrunner on Dec 29, 2010 5:15 PM PST up reply actions
What is the story on JT tonite?
Can he play? I would rather slowly push a golf pencil into my left eye ball than watch the other team get almost as many offensive rebounds as we have defensive rebounds again.
I've done that after 4 putting from 12 ft. and I don't recommend it at all, unless that was the 18th hole.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
I believe Jermaine Taylor is 100% ready to go
Jason Thompson, however, may be questionable. Who knows? He only played 16 minutes the last time both teams met, but managed to get 3 offensive rebounds. I hope he plays too, but I hope MORE that we can guard Rudy Gay
On the Kings game day notes, no one is list on the injury report
I believe he was available last game if necessary.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
Just you
You and your friend should sit in different sections so the Arena looks fuller.
There are some guys dumber than me, some guys worse looking, I take umbrage at the fact that there is no guy that is both.
yeah, it will be like a sports movie, they'll shoot us at one angle
and then digitally put it in the background of every shot to make it look like there’s 12 fans.
let's leave the older single ladies out of this
for now
by betweentheeyes on Dec 29, 2010 4:24 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Post game baby
"Cousins is the Blaster to Evans’ Master, the Hammer to Evans’ Sickle"- HP
by tomroadrunner on Dec 29, 2010 5:16 PM PST up reply actions
I can't stand
Having DMC on the bench. I guess I am not the only one frustrated about how this team is ran though, so I will stop my rant short… (sigh)
The Kings bring to the table Mr. Beno Udrih, the Gentleman Tyreke Evans, Francisco Garcia Esq., goodie Carl Landry and Sir Samuel Dalembert. Off the bench we’ll see Pooh Jeter, Omri Casspi, Darnell Jackson and perhaps Jason Thompson or Donte Greene. DeMarcus Cousins should also play, provided he hasn’t decided on season-ending laser surgery on his professionalism.
Is Jermaine Taylor inacive?
I haven’t seen him play yet.
He played a few minutes in one game.
And he was active in the last game, just didn’t play. I think he’s been active the whole time, but I wouldn’t swear to it.
In these times, you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning.
~Carl Sandburg
Played 5 mins against the Warriors and scored 4 points.
In these times, you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning.
~Carl Sandburg
Yes Jermaine Taylor is active.
EvilCowtownInc: Screwin Suckaz over since 1985...... On Twitter
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Im gonna hang out with you all a little for the game
Let me assure you that are lots of teams fans and management who think PW is not much better than VD and would be glad to take Cousins off your hands
by southern oregon on Dec 29, 2010 6:52 PM PST reply actions
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