Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.' Commence Jokes.

by Tom Ziller on Oct 3, 2007 8:46 AM PDT in News

Reggie Theus told his team about some new rules he'd be imposing for the upcoming season, as reported by The Bee's Sam Amick. The two major ones: There will be a nightly curfew on road trips, and players won't be allowed to use their cell phones on bus trips.

This is a far cry from last year, when the coach was pulling DUIs and making it rain with Mike Bibby and Ron Artest. I wonder if Reggie has the authority to retroactively fine Musselman, actually.

I appreciate the sheer ballsy-ness of The Reggie Rules. This is not a team filled with wild youngsters -- it's a mix of both wild and statesmanly veterans, with some both wild and statesmanly youngsters. But hell, if Ron-Ron needs to be babysat and Bibby needs to be prodded and Kenny Thomas needs to be confined to a tape room, so be it.

Beyond Musselman, two more reminders from last year which may very well lead to a coach-player fistfight if they recur this season: Ron-Ron just plain didn't show up to one road game last year, and in a home game he showed up to the arena within an hour of game time, and 15 minutes before the game announced he couldn't play. I wouldn't put a jab into Ron's nose out of the question; would you?

Last year, the franchise hired Harold Pressley to be the 'team mentor.' (He lasted four months.) Clearly, Reggie wants to take this discipline thing to another level. I'll be skeptical until we see it work. These are grown-ass men, some of which have shown a tendency not to respond well to authority. The ones who are good seeds are going to be pissed they can't call their wife or girlfriend on the hour-long ride from Denver's airport to the Pepsi Center. I hope it goes well -- Theus has a clean slate, right? -- but I'm not expecting The Rules to last.

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Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.'

I'm not sure why, but this scares me.

by otis29 on Oct 3, 2007 9:22 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.'

From my understanding, the curfew is only for the night before a road game so not too punitive. So if they get in a few days before party on. As for the cell phones on the bus, I don't get this one. Sounds kinda high schoolish.

Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Oct 3, 2007 9:37 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.'

I don't have the slightest problem with a curfew on the night before a game when on the road. It makes sense given the record of today's professional athletes.

I don't really understand the mobile phone prohibition - unless, perhaps, if it was employed from the hotel/airport to the arena. From arena to airport doesn't make any sense to me. Maybe, Reggie sees this time period as "work" time - either for game prep or for game dissection afterwards.

by Kusian on Oct 3, 2007 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.'

So...does Theus last until January?

by rbiegler on Oct 3, 2007 9:59 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.'

I'd say this is setting himself up for failure... except he's an honorary Maloof, so he's here until he costs MS&E $10.6 million in a sexual harassment suit. He didn't grab Jerry Reynolds' ass on Monday, so I think he has pretty good self-control.

by Tom Ziller on Oct 3, 2007 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.'

It's never a good thing when the only NBA frames of reference people have to your current course of action are Rick Pitino and Jerry Sloan...

And if Thomas' actions, and Dolan's subsequent reactions, are an indication, Theus is going to have to do a lot worse than grabbing Jerry Reynolds' ass to lose his job. Maybe fellate Big Mike in the parking lot of a Natomas Logans' Road House. Though I'm not sure that'd do it either.

by rbiegler on Oct 3, 2007 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Hammer Time!

Well, we saw how it worked out last year with the inmates running the asylum. I have no problem with Reggie laying down some laws. None of them are cast in stone. They can all be eased upon the players earning the respective rights and priveliges.

I am trying to visualize the team bus. I'm guessing that it consists of the 12-14 players, the coaches and assistants, trainer(s), perhaps some local media, Petrie if he is making the trip...so, maybe between 25-30 people? Now, put all of them on their respective cell phones. Quite the commotion, maybe even a source of irritation. Perhaps that is Reggie's motivation here. I honestly don't know. But I'm OK with this. If anyone other than Martin or Garcia has a problem with this, ship 'em out!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Oct 3, 2007 11:48 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Hammer Time!

The "Reggie Rules" sound more like restrictions you'd place on a college team. I'm not sure the NBA is such a good place to try them out.

I wish him luck, but the success here will be dependant on the Kings ownership backing him up - it's pretty clear that the players hold the power in the NBA, and only a coach with a strong grip on his job can make something like this fly.

Does Reggie have that kind of support from the Maloofs? Will he have that kind of support from the Maloofs if the team plays poorly? I guess we will see...

by otis29 on Oct 3, 2007 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hammer Time!

Whom on this roster are we afraid of angering? Who care if he pisses off Bibby or Artest or K9(woof!) or Miller? Ship 'em out if they bitch! We're not talking about Tim Duncan or Steve Nash or Dirk Nowitzki here.

Maybe the rules are overkill. But if this current bunch is going to revolt over it, given their recent on court performances, I say (I believe I am paraphrasing kingme18 here) blow it up, boys!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Oct 3, 2007 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hammer Time!

Two reasons I disagree - I sense that much of our current roster would have been shipped out already, if Petrie could get fair value. So threatening to ship them out wouldn't hold much sway, I suspect.

Second, like it or not these players are grown men, and will have an opinion on the "Reggie Rules". If he gets Bibby/Miller/Artest on board, this might not be a problem. If the team plays poorly though, there will be some bitching and moaning.

I just don't understand why he feels the need to do this - I guess there's a chance it may have some positive effect, but why open up that can of worms at all?

by otis29 on Oct 3, 2007 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hammer Time!

Good points, Otis.

I suspect if they start winning early, then this will be yet another silly pre-season distraction for all of us. Conversely, if they start this season like they ended the last one, then we probably hear some grumbling.

I am just happy that Reggie is trying to put his imprint on the team early.

by Kusian on Oct 3, 2007 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.'

It reminds me a lot of the way Scott Skiles is leading the Bulls. He's been branded as being extremely demanding and strict on his players, but you know what, he gets results. Would it be such a terrible thing to model your team after Chicago?

Maybe that's just what this team needs this year. If everyone has them pegged at only winning 30 games, maybe it's because last year was total chaos. Set some boundaries and get their asses playing basketball again, and forget about all the distractions.

Personally, I'd love it if Reggie rented out some dormitories, and made the players live together for the month before the season starts like they do in football training camps. Work their asses off, build some chemistry, and make them realize the team and the city of Sacramento deserves to have their players behave like adults. Then, and only then, may there ever be a chance of regaining some of last year's lost glory.

by The Ghost of Dick Bavetta on Oct 3, 2007 6:28 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Coach Theus Unveils 'The Reggie Rules.' Commen

I don't think Reggie is doing this to be the bad guy. I think he's doing it to make it clear whose locker room it is. He himself made the point that he did do it because of the year that THIS group had.

That being said the question as TZ points out is that it's probably unlikely to last. I'm not sure whether it will or not, or whether Reggie pits his stand on that particular area, but I do know it's ambitious. I also know that if it's about winning games at the road and all that then you might have a more committed focused group. It could work because the veterans may be too embarrassed to cross the line.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Oct 3, 2007 8:49 PM PDT reply actions