Speak Up Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace ….
By tophatal ……
Well the NBA has had its first managerial coaching casualty of the season with the firing of Sacramento Kings’ (2-5) head coach Paul Westphal by GM Geoff Petrie . With the worst record in the league after a mere eight games into their season it shows how unpredictable and cut-throat the NBA can be when success is found wanting . The front office of the Kings , specifically the ownership of the team by The Maloof family headed by siblings Joe and Gavin Maloof have somehow become negligent in their overseeing this organization . Limited success in recent years has left them struggling to remain credible .
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Slide show for your perusal .
Paul Westphal may well have struggled in his communicative skills concerning this team and the very fact that it is a very young roster at its core proves that professional basketball has become one where it is a young man’s game in more ways than one . Certainly there had been some dissent concerning the alleged relationship between Westphal and DeMarcus Cousins with rumors alleging that the sophomore had requested a trade . The player’s college career with the Kentucky (Wildcats ) had been one that indicated his lack of maturity , conflicts amongst teammates and with his coaches . If that wasn’t an indication of things to come considering that the player declared for the draft after just a year into his collegiate career should have been a harbinger of things to come . Cousins’ drafting by the Kings was one out of desperation rather than need but the biggest question may well have been how Petrie was seeking to build this organization .
Struggling offensively the Sacramento Kings have proven to be something of a nightmare to watch over the course of this season and it certainly hasn’t helped that the team’s best player Tyreke Evans has been given very little assistance from his teammates . And given the dire situation now facing the Sacramento Kings not just merely from a competitive standpoint but also an economic standpoint makes their prospects grim . Attendance for the team’s home games at their arena has been terrible to say the very least and repeatedly so in recent years . Certainly with the organization seeking to relocate the Kings , albeit that the city of Sacramento led by its mayor former NBA star …. Kevin Johnson has been working in conjunction with private enterprise to enable the municipality to retain the NBA franchise within its domain. Something that might well prove to be a losing endeavor in the long run should David Stern , the league hierarchy intervene and simply threaten Johnson and his city’s commission . It’s certainly not out of the commissioner’s own wish , given his actions when Clay Bennett and he simply forced the issue concerning the Seattle Supersonics’ wish to leave the city of Seattle nd relocate to Oklahoma City to rename themselves the Oklahoma City Thunder .
Paul Westphal has been succeeded by his assistant Keith Smart as the interim coach of the Sacramento Kings . Now should Smart actually get this team playing with the resolve and tenacity sought then the interim tag could very well be removed as a label . Something that I do believe that the new incumbent would like to see happen as he further gains more experience as a coach within the NBA . Given Paul Westphal’s career record 51-120 and the very fact that he has been given very little assistance by Petrie by way of the team’s personnel decisions it should not be considered that much of a real surprise that he met such a demise . Certainly in terms of the team’s payroll they remain near the bottom of the ladder in comparison to their associates within the NBA . Furthermore given the Kings’ plight and the lack of real candor coming from Joe Maloof concerning his team’s plight it has to be said that were contraction considered by the league hierarchy then perhaps the Sacramento Kings would be considered a likely candidate to be amongst the teams considered for that rather dubious distinction .
David Stern and the team owners have repeatedly pled poverty as they rallied support from the fans in their endeavor to force the NBPA (union) to initiate a rather generous collective bargaining agreement that would favor the league in terms of the BRI (basketball related income) . Instead the compromise reached , was one that simply did nothing by way truly creating an equitable balance for the parties concerned . Union Executive Director Billy Hunter and its president Derek Fisher along with the executive committee came away from the negotiating table with its image tarnished along with that of the NBA’s . And this asinine notion of .teams being able to absolve itself of a financial liability with one time act of buying out a contract when they (teams) simply no longer heed the league’s soft salary cap simply indicates that the general managers , owners and the league hierarchy itself are clearly out of touch with the harsh realities that the game now finds itself in .
As one of the residents within the Pacific Division of the Western Conference the Sacramento Kings find themselves competing alongside the Golden State Warriors , Los Angeles Clippers , Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns . The division itself has to be considered one of the most competitive within the NBA overall . And it has now certainly added a great deal more excitement with the fact that Chris Paul has now joined the Clippers to play alongside Blake Griffin . Almost overnight that particular franchise has gone from being viewed as an “also ran” to now being looked upon as a legitimate contender for the NBA title .
Looking at the grave situation now facing the Sacramento Kings I certainly would like to think that we are not on the way to seeing the possible demise of the franchise but given the somewhat taciturn leadership of David Stern as it concerns the plight of the Kings and also the ongoing uncertainty as to the ongoing turmoil with regard to the New Orleans Hornets . Stern sought to bring in Jac Silver to oversee the day to day running of the franchise with GM Dell Demps still retaining his position in the aftermath of the team’s sale to the league by former owner George Shinn . There has been no word from the commissioner or from any senior official within the league hierarchy as to whether or not they are actively pursuing the sale of the New Orleans Hornets to a prospective buyer . And the fans of the game are now seriously being asked to look upon David Stern as someone who has the game’s best interests at heart ? If anything the commissioner has always come across as a pompous oaf whose interest and his own image are above that of the game. The commissioner may well have brought in billions of dollars in revenues riding on the back of the Michael Jordan era ______ the player’s rise to prominence within the NBA and around the globe . But since the player’s departure from the league Stern’s popularity has waned , albeit that he has seen the brand’s ascendancy within the Far East , specifically in China. That rise was weaved around the ascent of Yao Ming and the success of Team USA at the Beijing Summer Olympics in China . With the former Houston Rockets’ center retirement and the beckoning for his enshrinement into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame prior to meeting the eligibility requirements .
It will be interesting how Keith Smart goes about raising the morale of this team in light of Westphal’s abrupt forced departure . In this current environment of the NBA you’re simply judged not what you achieved yesterday but what you’re said to be doing now . And for Westphal although it is my belief that Petrie and the Maloofs have done little to assist the coach by way of acquiring free agents and more specifically talent through the NBA Draft !
Like any other small market sports’ professional franchise it is far more about economic success in conjunction with the on field success . Some owners and executives have proven to be successful in that endeavor by being astute but in large part what we have seen by so many of these franchises has been the sheer ineptitude of the franchisees and executives . David Stern would have you believe that the cause of the NBA’s problems rests squarely on the shoulders of the union . But in reality the commissioner the league hierarchy have been slow to mandate the teams to rein in their extravagant spending . Granted , the NPBA’s executive committee have done little to show that they are being financially responsible but then again it should not come as a surprise to the most ardent of fans within the game because what we are now seeing are players who are too self absorbed with their image and financial worth rather than that of the image of game and its influence upon its fans , specifically amongst the young .
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Picture gallery for your perusal .
With the firing of Paul Westphal do you believe that Keith Smart will prove to be a success in turning around the fortunes of the team ? Also what are you own expectations for the NBA over the course of this season ? By all means do leave a comment as you deem fit .
Picture and slide show details below .
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(1) Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins , is restrained by head coach Keith Smart after he was called for a foul during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic in a NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. The Magic won 104-97 . AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli ….
(2) Sacramento Kings guard Marcus Thornton, right, drives against Orlando Magic guard J. J. Redick during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. The Magic won 104-97. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli ……
(3) Kings guard Tyreke Evans, center, drives to the basket between Orlando Magic Jason Richardson, left, and Glen Davis during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. The Magic won 104-97. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli ….
(4) Sacramento Kings’ GM Geoff Petrie is seen here alongside Paul Westphal , Joe and Gavin Maloof . Westphal this past week became the first coaching casualty of the NBA season . The Sacramento Kings got off to a franchise worst season start of 2-5 in their first seven games of the season . But it appears to the the coach’s seemingly tenuous relationship and communication problems with the players that may well have led to his downfall along with the Kings’ poor showing within their division and conference. Courtesy of AFP/ Getty Images ………
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https://tophatal.wordpress.com
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. NBA player stats scoring 2011-2012 season
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NBA player statistics rebounds
Sacramento Kings’ front office
Keith Smart head coach
Sacramento Kings team splits
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Hot chic pic of the day . Stephanie Olivia
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Tophatal's Blog 
I wonder how much of Westphal’s firing had to do with the disgruntled Cousins.
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Chris Humpherys (SportsChump)
Everything and a great deal more ! At the same time Cousins is an ingrate as can be seen from his days at Memphis . John Calipari would kiss his ass at the drop of a hat and he let the kid literally get away with murder both on and off the court .
“Coach Westphal can suck my ##ck and lick my sphincter for all I care ” ! DeMarcus Cousins
Once read a piece within this forum that stated that Cousins simply needs to play ball rather than show that he’s mature . That’s the sort of apathy you’d expect of someone who’s simply anally retentive ! .
tophatal ………….
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Well, I can’t say I’m shocked. He had a spat with Tyreke last season, and I felt that was a big reason why Reke had an off year last season. With Smart as coach, there’s one thing we know for sure and that’s that they’ll be a lot more fun to watch with the uptempo style. I doubt that will help them win much more, but at least the players will be happy…
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chappy
The Kings have been mismanaged by the Maloofs and furthermore in terms of a coach they haven’t had a damn near decent one in years . So no one should be at all surprised by the mess that they now find themselves in . If Smart is able to lead this team to a half near decent record (.450 or better ) – then I for one will be completely surprised ! He’s no more than an average coach at best given his present set of circumstances .
The NBA now is far more ego driven than ever before and the main culprit behind this has been David Stern ! He’s made the league more about the players rather than the teams therein . The players and the union have ran with that and made the league hierarchy and team owners seemingly alost fu##king irrelevant for that matter . Is it any wonder that the union has so much power and we get the likes of LBJ , ‘melo , Dwight Howard rf f and D Wade at times acting like immature children ! Intelligence was never their biggest forte` to begin with !
tophatal …………..
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chappy
This just in from Cousins …….. don’t hate the player hate the game ” .
tophatal ..
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Yeah, the Maloofs blew it, and are continuing to blow it.
Oh and, I ain’t hatin Demarcus!!
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chappy81
The Maloofs have blown it and Kevin Johnson and the Sacramento City Council are about to bail their ass out !
If you’re a Wizards’ season ticket holder which would be more preferable to witness at this moment ? See the team …. play or watching the members of the Congress and Senate bitch and whine up on Capitol Hill ? Your thoughts . Flip Saunders couldn’t bribe that team to a win (0-8) if the promise were copious amounts of sex with high class call girls !
DeMarcus appreciates your kind thoughts no doubt . LOL,LOL ,LOL !!
tophatal …………..
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The fact that the Kings let Paul Westphal go reeks of front offices encouraging the idea that players are greater than coaches. I feel horrible for Westphal.
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brief22
Westphal’s coaching record was not that impressive to begin with but what he had was a way to connect and communicate with the young players willing to learn and hone their craft . And a dickhead like DeMarcus Cousins is the jnt complete antithesis of that because he believes himself to be better than he really is . He’s not even the best player on the team much less the most efficient in terms of his play on both ends of the floor .
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Exactly, I can understand firing a coach over LeBron James (Mike Brown)m, but Cousins? Really?
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brief 22
It’s GM’s like Geoff Petrie and a no talent player like DeMarcus Cousins that gives the sport a bad name ! Is it any wonder why the Kings have been a mess for close to decade ? The Maloofs as owners have simply been a joke and the team is about as competitive as a three legged horse running in the Kentucky Derby ! .
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“We own the Palms (in Vegas) , we own hotels , a transportation and beverage company but somehow we have completely fu#ked up in our ownership of the Sacramento Kings . But don’t worry mayor Kevin Johnson is such a dumb ass that he’s going to pay for us to remain within the city of Sacramento as a money losing concern.” Sentiments of the Maloofs and no doubt encouraged by NBA commissioner David Stern .
The Maloofs , current owners of the Sacramento Kings . They now make Donald Sterling , former owner of the Clippers seem like a magnanimous individual whose ownership tenure as we know can be best described as being woefully inept ! The same must now go for the Maloof family !
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tophatal …………….
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Kings’ GM Geoff Petrie couldn’t disseminate NBA talent from dog poop ! Hence the current mess of the organization in terms of on field talent . Once Evans’ rookie contract is up he ought to seek life elsewhere ! The Kings won’t be winning anything anytime soon except if it’s for being one of the worst ran NBA franchises in the league . Because in such a case then they’d definitely have my vote !
“As mayor of the city I hope to imbue upon the city and residents all of the things I believe to be dear to my heart . And if that means spending money like pimp on one of his ‘ho’s then that’s what I’m about to do with the Kings . It’s your money and I simply don’t give a shit ” ! Kevin Johnson mayor of Sacramento
The members of the Sacramento city council are a bunch of idiots if they’re going to use private and public funds to retain an NBA franchise within their locale when they have far more acute issues to deal with in terms of the city’s infrastructure .
Money at times begets money but within the city of Sac-town they’re simply too dumb for their own good !
tophatal ………………
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Yeah the fact that they chose Cousins over Westphal was a headscratcher. IMO, its way to early to be firing anyone right now even if your winless like the Wiz. The Kings simply don’t have anyone on their roster that is threatening. Thorton is solid but nothing special. Maybe Cousins but he won’t be a factor in this league until he grows up, which be could be never. But hey, with the multiple lottery picks they’ve had and will get…….they are bound to strike gold sometime…unfortunately, the team will be moved outta sac town by then.
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jgome Someone needs to shove a pacifier up DeMarcus Cousins’ ass to make him happy because this kid is so damn far from being a complete player much less being mature ! Whilst at Kentucky his coach John Calipari let him (Cousins) and Derrick Rose at Memphis ( here he was coached by Caliperi) literally get away with murder in terms of both being viewed as mature adults much less athletes . There were details into Rose’s alleged taking of the SAT’s and whether or not he was the person who sat and took the exam. What we did however find out was that a close acquaintance of Calipari’s was behind the whole thing but the NCAA chose not to investigate .
Rose now gets it having been spoken to by the likes of Jordan and Pippen as to what it means to don a Bulls’ uniform . There has been no one within the Kings’ organization with the damn insight to explain that to an ingrate like Cousins .
As to that Kings’ roster you’re right there doesn’t seem to be anyone it that is that imposing that you would indeed be in fear of . Certainly not Evans , Thornton or anyone else for that matter . They’re a long way off from being a credible contender within their division much less the conference as a whole .
tophatal …….
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Al, you mentioned the Maloof’s credibilty? I think it’s more like solvency. The Palm’s is no longer in their control. They now only run it and have a miniscule piece of it.
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Ronbets
Right on the .Palms but they still hold a minority stake in the resort and hotel through the family’s holding company Maloof Sports & Entertainment . They still have liquidity problems on all fronts concerning the Kings’ organization as well as several other core parts of the family’s business holdings .
Joe and Gavin Maloof try to come across as if they’ve got their sh_t together as astute businessmen but in reality nothing could be further from the truth .
They’ve eschewed their fiduciary responsibilities with regard to the Kings and are now looking to the city of f Sacramento to bail their ass out as well as pay for the complete refurbishment of Arco Arena/Power Balance Arena or possibly getting the council . to pony up for a new venue in conjunction businesses within the locale .
Is city mayor Kevin Johnson that much of an idiot in thinking that he can use public funds to support a private entity while at the same time his city’s infrastructure is a complete mess ?
In the meantime David Stern is watching this all from afar gleefully licking his lips as yet another NBA franchise puts one over on the public because they’re too friggin’ stupid to realize what’s going on within their midst !
tophatal …….
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Westphal is an average coach. Not great shakes. It is Tebow time. The Doncos did great. I love it. Stick to the ESPN idiots and NFL Network idiots and Fox.
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Bobby Gee
Paul Westphal is an average coach without a doubt but his primary strength has always been as a coach who can communicate with young players willing to listen and hone their craft. Obviously with the players on Kings’ roster it would appear as such that a number of them simply didn’t want to listen . Geoff Petrie the general manager is about as astute with choosing talent as Stevie Wonder would be in telling you the colors of a rainbow for the very first time were he not told first hand !
tophatal ………
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Included in ex-Trojan Westphal’s resume includes a league wide vote on having the best looking wife during his NBA days. Not much more since.
You know the Maloof mystique is fading when LV Metro issued him(Geo) a DUI citation a few months ago. Personally, they are fun loving, free spirit guys that eventually must realize that this country has very few Hugh Hefners.
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Ronbets
Ain’t got nothin’ but love for a man who’s got a “hot wife ” just as long as he knows how to use his tools where it matters the most ! I feel sorry for the guy because he’s not deserving of his fate but at the same time with the mantra of professional sports being …… ” what have you done for me lately ” ? The Kings’ front office simply felt that they had to go in another direction from a coaching standpoint . That being said I do believe that Paul Westphal will land on his feet by getting a gig somewhere in the capacity as an assistant coach with a franchise . His experience would prove to be invaluable .
As for Keith Smart he now has a mighty struggle on his hands to get this team …. playing with zeal and consistency over the course of this season . They’re stinking up the joint in more ways than one !
As for Westphal and his wife Elie …. well let’s just say I’d rather have Jeanie Buss (Jerry’s daughter ) place her chin beneath my balls ! Get my drift ?
tophatal ……
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I’ve hated the MaGoofs and the Suckramento Queens since they had their mini-run as a wannabe contender back in the early 2000’s. I had a run in with a bunch of yahoo shitkicker Queens fans in Vegas during that time. A group of five of them started giving me shit about my Shaq jersey -and me being me, I told them to go fuck themselves. After being seperated by security my brother and his buddies showed up and we watched the Lakers beat those cowpatties again en route to another championship. The cherry on top was listening to those same dopes that wanted to bust my head cry like bitches as Horry buried the hatchet as me and my brothers friends whooped it up…Good times.
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BleedPRPL&GOLD
It’s owners like the Maloofs that make the NBA a complete friggin’ nightmare because they tend to treat their teams as a bauble and a “tax write-off ” without ever being truly business minded , never mind the fact that fu##ing dumb ass politicians at the state and municipal level will bend over backwards to be butt _##@ked by these cretins ! The city’s mayor Kevin Johnson is an idiot to think that the use of public funds in conjunction with the private enterprise will abate the situation concerning the Sacramento Kings’ franchise and its inherent problems .
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Ah well youse guys know I don’t like the roundball pros…..but kudos for the guys who really play jard at it
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al clements
It doesn’t matter what sport it happens to be nowadays when you have an ingrate athlete who thinks that they can get away with disgusting behavior and the team is said to be under-achieving it’s always the coach whose ass is hung out to dry !
tophatal ………………
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