Game 1: Sacramento Kings vs. GS Warriors | 10/29 7:00PM

[blind prophet]

It seems like Isaiah was the perfect fit because he took away so many shots from the God-awful forcing of Cousins and Gay.

Did Cousins play so well this summer because he's a great player, or did he play so well because he was reduced to being a role player against some weak competition? I'm not saying either way; just some food for thought.

That's an interesting thought. The collective forced attempts by all 3 of them together meshed in some sort of hard to explain effectiveness. Kept the opposing teams defense guessing at least.

I'd like to see Collison continue getting good assist numbers, low turnovers, but directing traffic even more. He played reactionary to what the defense gave us, now maybe start barking a little more out there.

[Wolfay]

It seems like Isaiah was the perfect fit because he took away so many shots from the God-awful forcing of Cousins and Gay.

Did Cousins play so well this summer because he's a great player, or did he play so well because he was reduced to being a role player against some weak competition? I'm not saying either way; just some food for thought.

That's an interesting thought. The collective forced attempts by all 3 of them together meshed in some sort of hard to explain effectiveness. Kept the opposing teams defense guessing at least.

I'd like to see Collison continue getting good assist numbers, low turnovers, but directing traffic even more. He played reactionary to what the defense gave us, now maybe start barking a little more out there.

Me too. What this team needs is a leader to keep the others in line, and I'm becoming convinced that Cousins isn't, and will never be that guy. A leader doesn't blatantly disregard the system and force up terrible shot after terrible shot.

[SacKingZZZ]

You first have to have a system to disregard it.

Dinners over, here's your bill, with 3 decent iso heavy players you don't have to rely on a system as much and therefore can look better than one with less players that can play out of a system. Still doesn't change things overall, any team that's ever been a true competitor has had some type of system and players that fit it. If you want to have heavy iso ball going through one or two people the only instance of success I've seen with it is the Mutombo/AI era Sixers. That team had the coach to pull it off and the personnel, there are no options out there right now to make a system like that even remotely workable. The Thunder are as close as you're going to find but even they keep coming up short.

Same story, the leader has to be the coach and the GM because this teams flaws have been related directly to system and personnel for the last 5 or 6 years. Without that you can kiss your butt goodbye. I still have faith in Malone even though I disagree with how he ran preseason this year and his reasoning behind involving certain players in the rotation moving forward. The important thing right now is he's saying the right things. Problem is 3 more months of saying the right things with no results will most likely be a turning point in his coaching career. As unrealistic or realistic as it may be a mandate of sorts has been set from above and it says "WE WANT RESULTS". I just really hope PDA gets his rightful share of the blame if it comes.

Speaking of which to piggy back something I was talking about earlier on how when this franchise doesn't get it's first choice it goes in the opposite and unexpected direction. Another example is Larry Bird to D'allesandro. Goodness gracious, if only this team could have landed Bird.

[Kings2013]

It seems like Isaiah was the perfect fit because he took away so many shots from the God-awful forcing of Cousins and Gay.

Did Cousins play so well this summer because he's a great player, or did he play so well because he was reduced to being a role player against some weak competition? I'm not saying either way; just some food for thought.

That's an interesting thought. The collective forced attempts by all 3 of them together meshed in some sort of hard to explain effectiveness. Kept the opposing teams defense guessing at least.

I'd like to see Collison continue getting good assist numbers, low turnovers, but directing traffic even more. He played reactionary to what the defense gave us, now maybe start barking a little more out there.

Me too. What this team needs is a leader to keep the others in line, and I'm becoming convinced that Cousins isn't, and will never be that guy. A leader doesn't blatantly disregard the system and force up terrible shot after terrible shot.

Or show such apparent flippancy for staying in the game... His garbage fouls, almost like he is too lazy to care at junctures. As a fan who paid money to see that product I felt a bit cheated when he had to be taken out. He just turned 24, but that type of stuff is just not done by other franchise young bigs in the league. I'm a fan of that talent Cuz but he needs to cut that stuff out

[Wolfay]

Looks like we have a chicken/egg thing going on here, but a 36.5% usage rate with 1 assist and 6 turnovers doesn't look a like guy who's trying to play within a system. Sir Charles said last night during the Cavs/Knicks game last night that "it's never the system; it's the players." He wasn't even passing out of the double team to repost, let alone to the open guy. You don't need a system for something as simple as that, but he was content on driving into a closed off paint to force up a crappy shot.

Bottom line is that Cousins can't be the leader. He can be the star, but it's in no way his team. He's like Kobe or Webber: he's going to need someone with an even stronger personality than him to keep him in line. Kobe only had success with Shaq and Pau. Webber realized his full potential with Vlade being the alpha of the team. Webber was the star, but make no mistake, it was Vlade's team, and so far Cousins has only had success with Wall, Isaiah and the loaded USA team, because they were stronger personalities to balance him. If we want to continue to roll with Cousins, then Pete better find an alpha to moderate Cousins' bad tendencies.

[blind prophet]

Looks like we have a chicken/egg thing going on here, but a 36.5% usage rate with 1 assist and 6 turnovers doesn't look a like guy who's trying to play within a system. Sir Charles said last night during the Cavs/Knicks game last night that "it's never the system; it's the players." He wasn't even passing out of the double team to repost, let alone to the open guy. You don't need a system for something as simple as that, but he was content on driving into a closed off paint to force up a crappy shot.

Bottom line is that Cousins can't be the leader. He can be the star, but it's in no way his team. He's like Kobe or Webber: he's going to need someone with an even stronger personality than him to keep him in line. Kobe only had success with Shaq and Pau. Webber realized his full potential with Vlade being the alpha of the team. Webber was the star, but make no mistake, it was Vlade's team, and so far Cousins has only had success with Wall, Isaiah and the loaded USA team, because they were stronger personalities to balance him. If we want to continue to roll with Cousins, then Pete better find an alpha to moderate Cousins' bad tendencies.

To be fair, we need someone to hit their outside shots reliably. Jimmer wasn't the athlete enough to count on. IT is gone, McLemore...well the less he touches the ball probably the better. We get a guy who is lethal out there to pass to, and then Cousins has some options.

Granted we get that sort of threat, we do have some internal options. Evans is a fantastic offensive rebounder, one of the best all time. They can help when when it gets tough in the paint.

Collison may be able to direct in and out traffic, if his teammates trust him, Gay can create for himself when things get stagnant later in the clock too.

I think we actually have enough on paper provided we get the external outside shooting threat. Which Nik could be.

I think we need someone who is a defensive stud at the SG, gives us the option of going with a scoring threat like Nik if he develops, or going the other way, a platoon situation until Nik gets a few more years or we find a guy who can do it all.

[SacKingZZZ]

Looks like we have a chicken/egg thing going on here, but a 36.5% usage rate with 1 assist and 6 turnovers doesn't look a like guy who's trying to play within a system. Sir Charles said last night during the Cavs/Knicks game last night that "it's never the system; it's the players." He wasn't even passing out of the double team to repost, let alone to the open guy. You don't need a system for something as simple as that, but he was content on driving into a closed off paint to force up a crappy shot.

Bottom line is that Cousins can't be the leader. He can be the star, but it's in no way his team. He's like Kobe or Webber: he's going to need someone with an even stronger personality than him to keep him in line. Kobe only had success with Shaq and Pau. Webber realized his full potential with Vlade being the alpha of the team. Webber was the star, but make no mistake, it was Vlade's team, and so far Cousins has only had success with Wall, Isaiah and the loaded USA team, because they were stronger personalities to balance him. If we want to continue to roll with Cousins, then Pete better find an alpha to moderate Cousins' bad tendencies.

Is it? Well I would say the GM and brain trust agreed so what they did is pretty much got rid of every player. Hmmm... looks like the same duck to me. What happened? Not that I don't agree that Cousins isn't most likely the leader of all leaders. He is quite aggressive and somewhat abrasive. When you have a leader like that you firstly need players that are OK in that setting. It's like some players just not being able to play for a coach like George Karl or Don Nelson. Their personalities can be difficult for certain people to deal with.

[Wolfay]

To be fair, we need someone to hit their outside shots reliably. Jimmer wasn't the athlete enough to count on. IT is gone, McLemore...well the less he touches the ball probably the better. We get a guy who is lethal out there to pass to, and then Cousins has some options.

Granted we get that sort of threat, we do have some internal options. Evans is a fantastic offensive rebounder, one of the best all time. They can help when when it gets tough in the paint.

Collison may be able to direct in and out traffic, if his teammates trust him, Gay can create for himself when things get stagnant later in the clock too.

I think we actually have enough on paper provided we get the external outside shooting threat. Which Nik could be.

I think we need someone who is a defensive stud at the SG, gives us the option of going with a scoring threat like Nik if he develops, or going the other way, a platoon situation until Nik gets a few more years or we find a guy who can do it all.

Yea we lack real shooters, but Cousins won't pass to them anyway even if they were the second coming of Reggie Miller. Pissing in the wind will be his go to move until someone won't tolerate it anymore.

Is it? Well I would say the GM and brain trust agreed so what they did is pretty much got rid of every player. Hmmm... looks like the same duck to me. What happened? Not that I don't agree that Cousins isn't most likely the leader of all leaders. He is quite aggressive and somewhat abrasive. When you have a leader like that you firstly need players that are OK in that setting. It's like some players just not being able to play for a coach like George Karl or Don Nelson. Their personalities can be difficult for certain people to deal with.

That same duck is Cousins. New owners, new management, new coaching, new roster, even a new arena on the way, and yet, we're still losing. The one common denominator is Cousins. And Jason Thompson, but do you really want to argue that he has anymore near as much influence as Cousins?

Cousins is the problem.

To fix it, you're suggesting acquiring players that will be ok with being Cousins' bitch. I'm suggesting acquiring players that will make Cousins their bitch. I'm becoming more and more convinced that's the only way we'll succeed with Cousins. He simply doesn't want to be be told what to do, and will need someone beat his childish attitude into submission.

[SacKingZZZ]

To be fair, we need someone to hit their outside shots reliably. Jimmer wasn't the athlete enough to count on. IT is gone, McLemore...well the less he touches the ball probably the better. We get a guy who is lethal out there to pass to, and then Cousins has some options.

Granted we get that sort of threat, we do have some internal options. Evans is a fantastic offensive rebounder, one of the best all time. They can help when when it gets tough in the paint.

Collison may be able to direct in and out traffic, if his teammates trust him, Gay can create for himself when things get stagnant later in the clock too.

I think we actually have enough on paper provided we get the external outside shooting threat. Which Nik could be.

I think we need someone who is a defensive stud at the SG, gives us the option of going with a scoring threat like Nik if he develops, or going the other way, a platoon situation until Nik gets a few more years or we find a guy who can do it all.

Yea we lack real shooters, but Cousins won't pass to them anyway even if they were the second coming of Reggie Miller. Pissing in the wind will be his go to move until someone won't tolerate it anymore.

Is it? Well I would say the GM and brain trust agreed so what they did is pretty much got rid of every player. Hmmm... looks like the same duck to me. What happened? Not that I don't agree that Cousins isn't most likely the leader of all leaders. He is quite aggressive and somewhat abrasive. When you have a leader like that you firstly need players that are OK in that setting. It's like some players just not being able to play for a coach like George Karl or Don Nelson. Their personalities can be difficult for certain people to deal with.

That same duck is Cousins. New owners, new management, new coaching, new roster, even a new arena on the way, and yet, we're still losing. The one common denominator is Cousins. And Jason Thompson, but do you really want to argue that he has anymore near as much influence as Cousins?

Cousins is the problem.

To fix it, you're suggesting acquiring players that will be ok with being Cousins' bitch. I'm suggesting acquiring players that will make Cousins their bitch. I'm becoming more and more convinced that's the only way we'll succeed with Cousins. He simply doesn't want to be be told what to do, and will need someone beat his childish attitude into submission.

You've had an agenda with Cousins since the day he was drafted. At least now the doors are off and there is no hiding it. Yeah, you take your most talented player and bring in lesser talents to make him their b*tch. That's how it's done. Not.

[Wolfay]

To be fair, we need someone to hit their outside shots reliably. Jimmer wasn't the athlete enough to count on. IT is gone, McLemore...well the less he touches the ball probably the better. We get a guy who is lethal out there to pass to, and then Cousins has some options.

Granted we get that sort of threat, we do have some internal options. Evans is a fantastic offensive rebounder, one of the best all time. They can help when when it gets tough in the paint.

Collison may be able to direct in and out traffic, if his teammates trust him, Gay can create for himself when things get stagnant later in the clock too.

I think we actually have enough on paper provided we get the external outside shooting threat. Which Nik could be.

I think we need someone who is a defensive stud at the SG, gives us the option of going with a scoring threat like Nik if he develops, or going the other way, a platoon situation until Nik gets a few more years or we find a guy who can do it all.

Yea we lack real shooters, but Cousins won't pass to them anyway even if they were the second coming of Reggie Miller. Pissing in the wind will be his go to move until someone won't tolerate it anymore.

Is it? Well I would say the GM and brain trust agreed so what they did is pretty much got rid of every player. Hmmm... looks like the same duck to me. What happened? Not that I don't agree that Cousins isn't most likely the leader of all leaders. He is quite aggressive and somewhat abrasive. When you have a leader like that you firstly need players that are OK in that setting. It's like some players just not being able to play for a coach like George Karl or Don Nelson. Their personalities can be difficult for certain people to deal with.

That same duck is Cousins. New owners, new management, new coaching, new roster, even a new arena on the way, and yet, we're still losing. The one common denominator is Cousins. And Jason Thompson, but do you really want to argue that he has anymore near as much influence as Cousins?

Cousins is the problem.

To fix it, you're suggesting acquiring players that will be ok with being Cousins' bitch. I'm suggesting acquiring players that will make Cousins their bitch. I'm becoming more and more convinced that's the only way we'll succeed with Cousins. He simply doesn't want to be be told what to do, and will need someone beat his childish attitude into submission.

You've had an agenda with Cousins since the day he was drafted. At least now the doors are off and there is no hiding it. Yeah, you take your most talented player and bring in lesser talents to make him their b*tch. That's how it's done. Not.

No, I haven't. I just don't sugarcoat it, and I'm not afraid to take unpopular opinions. If you interpret that as an agenda, maybe that says more about your feelings about Cousins than it does mine.

And talent don't mean squat if you don't have the attitude to back it up. I've been saying that over and over, and I'm getting tired of it.



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