Bench cousins

[UK_King]

While I have every respect for your opinion, in this case I fear you are at an advantage being from the UK. I'm assuming you haven't watched a whole lot of NBA basketball over the years.

Should refs be more critical of certain players? Of course not. Does it happen in the NBA? Yep. Has for a long, long time. The officials have an almost impossible job. It's tough enough already without players getting in their faces and whining about every call or non-call. Once a player gets that rep, he is going to be given less latitude in situations where the best thing would be for him to simply suck it up, shut up and play.

I will not use the officials as a justification for Cousins' bad behavior, but I'm not gonna pretend it doesn't happen.

I've been watching Basketball since high school, I'm now 28. But i appreciate that being an 'international fan' gives you less credibility as you're unable to attend games. But trust me i love the sport, have since i started playing when i was 13 years old and will take that passion to the grave, albeit, sadly from across the pond.

I'm fully aware of the way the NBA has been reffed over the years, and continues to be reffed, but i still think my point holds true, it's sad that people have come to accept what is basically rule breaking, thats really my only point. And i agree with you about Cuz, i honestly don't see the advantage of "testing" refs, you come to know how certain refs call games, and can gauge it immediately in play.

[Singhisking]

My personal observation from the last two good games we had, LA and Utah game that we won, We have done better while Cuz playing time having been cut/limited. I believe (IMPO) that Cousins would have been blown up in to something terrible already if not Keith Smart. He's our best player but he is also hurting/not helping the team/organization in many ways. Can't bench/blow him. Can't win/play him. Why not try some psychiatric help for Cuz. I mean fakers tried that on Ron Ron and look how calm & focused he has looked since. They can do wonders to your mind. He is & has been THAT close of being one of the greatest. Poor kid needs a little bit of psychiatric help/counseling to master his own emotions. He will blossom in to something special.

[Kingster]

Smart doesn't need to bench Cousins. Cousins benches Cousins. It is extremely far-fetched to believe that Cousins mental fragility is in any way related to Smart or the rest of the coaching staff. This guy would give a combo of Jung and Freud a headache. Cousins needs to just muzzle himself and stop his contant compaining. Heck, he comes into the game with that "They don't give me no respect" scowl. It's like it's plastered to his face. Bottom line: He's not taking responsibility for his own actions; he's blaming it on others. Until he stops with that BS then his act is going to continue.

[bajaden]

Let me start by saying I went back and rewatched the game. I replayed every call on cousins in the game, and I came to the conclusion that Cousins had every right to be upset. Personally, I don't think he actually fouled anyone in the entire game. But it is what it is. I'd really like the ref to explain to me how batting the ball out of Kanters hands is a technical foul. Did the whistle blow a splitsecond before he batted the ball? Yes, but I mean it all happened in a split second, and it certainly wasn't as though Cousins was trying to do anything other than play defense.

So to be honest, if I were on the court and it happened to me, I certainly would have asked the ref for an explaination. Now whether he said something inappropiate as he walked away or not, I have no idea. But if you go back and rewatch that whole sequence, there was no foul on Cousins part at all. I realize its easy for us armchair quarterbacks to sit in the comfort of our homes and dictate what Cousins should or should not do. And, were probably correct. He needs to learn to just walk away, and let Smart or the team captain ask for the explaination.

So I have no problem with anyone being critical of Cousins actions, but I think the Ref's actions need to be criticized as well. I think its difficult for any player, not just Cousins to know how a particular ref team is going to call the game. It varies from night to night. Some let the players play, and others blow the whistle to see if it still works from 2 minutes ago. The ref's are susposed to call the game equally for every player, but we all know they don't. They have their favorites, and they have their whipping boys. Cousins has a huge target on his back. Some of it is his own doing, and some of it is undeserved. But whether its undeserved or not, he needs to adjust, and develop thick skin.

The idea of benching him is so stupid that I won't even address it. The team needs him on the floor. He needs to be a 30 plus minute a game player, and its up to him to accomplish that. He says he wants to be great! Well part of being great is being professional, both on and off the court. Doesn't mean you can't be intense when playing, but it does mean you give respect to everyone else on the court, includinig the ref's. If you want to be respected, you have to remember its a two way street. I still think he'll get there. Because he'll never be great until he does.

[mac]

Let me start by saying I went back and rewatched the game. I replayed every call on cousins in the game, and I came to the conclusion that Cousins had every right to be upset. Personally, I don't think he actually fouled anyone in the entire game. But it is what it is. I'd really like the ref to explain to me how batting the ball out of Kanters hands is a technical foul. Did the whistle blow a splitsecond before he batted the ball? Yes, but I mean it all happened in a split second, and it certainly wasn't as though Cousins was trying to do anything other than play defense.

So to be honest, if I were on the court and it happened to me, I certainly would have asked the ref for an explaination. Now whether he said something inappropiate as he walked away or not, I have no idea. But if you go back and rewatch that whole sequence, there was no foul on Cousins part at all. I realize its easy for us armchair quarterbacks to sit in the comfort of our homes and dictate what Cousins should or should not do. And, were probably correct. He needs to learn to just walk away, and let Smart or the team captain ask for the explaination.

So I have no problem with anyone being critical of Cousins actions, but I think the Ref's actions need to be criticized as well. I think its difficult for any player, not just Cousins to know how a particular ref team is going to call the game. It varies from night to night. Some let the players play, and others blow the whistle to see if it still works from 2 minutes ago. The ref's are susposed to call the game equally for every player, but we all know they don't. They have their favorites, and they have their whipping boys. Cousins has a huge target on his back. Some of it is his own doing, and some of it is undeserved. But whether its undeserved or not, he needs to adjust, and develop thick skin.

The idea of benching him is so stupid that I won't even address it. The team needs him on the floor. He needs to be a 30 plus minute a game player, and its up to him to accomplish that. He says he wants to be great! Well part of being great is being professional, both on and off the court. Doesn't mean you can't be intense when playing, but it does mean you give respect to everyone else on the court, includinig the ref's. If you want to be respected, you have to remember its a two way street. I still think he'll get there. Because he'll never be great until he does.

I too thought the first T on slapping the ball was a very, very bad call. But based on his expressions and body language as he said/stopped himself saying that last bit to the official before turning away I predicted that he was gonna get a 2nd T.

Body language plays a huge part in communication - and Cuz always displays terrible, terrible body language. There was a play in Utah where Salmons or someone got to the line, and Cuz was still scowling and shaking his head as Salmons was shooting the FTs. It's kinda like ... what's the problem now, you already got the foul called, your team is shooting free throws!

[rainmaker]

If you allow continuation, Cuz is allowed to slap down. No different than blocking a shot after a foul is called so the offensive player doesn't get an and 1.

After how Kobe talked to officials last week, JT's tech was also bogus. JT gets a tech for saying,"damn, man", yet CP3 or Kobe don't for saying "how the f*** didn't you see that". You can't have different standards for every player. I'd of course prefer both to just shut up and play, but at the same time I see worse around the league every day which isn't t'd up.

[ppine]

After Cousins was ejected last night, the Kings increased their lead and came away with a victory. I am sure that was not lost on Cousins. He needs to learn not to react to officiating. The refs don't get every call right. It is part of the game. Cousins got the first T for lowering his shoulder. We don't what he said for the second T.

I am glad everyone is paying attention to my suggestion. I am talking about one game. Sometimes it has a positive impact on a player that is coasting and thinks he is the francise. It also helps to watch a whole game sometimes to see what the team is doing especially when you have someone like Clifford Ray to converse with. You can be outraged all you want. The idea still has some merit. A team that has only won 25 % of its games has nothing to lose by trying something new.

[Bricklayer]

After Cousins was ejected last night, the Kings increased their lead and came away with a victory. I am sure that was not lost on Cousins. He needs to learn not to react to officiating. The refs don't get every call right. It is part of the game. Cousins got the first T for lowering his shoulder. We don't what he said for the second T.

I am glad everyone is paying attention to my suggestion. I am talking about one game. Sometimes it has a positive impact on a player that is coasting and thinks he is the francise. It also helps to watch a whole game sometimes to see what the team is doing especially when you have someone like Clifford Ray to converse with. You can be outraged all you want. The idea still has some merit. A team that has only won 25 % of its games has nothing to lose by trying something new.

actually no, its basically never useful to bench a putative franchise player. Players at that level have options. Once you humiliate them, in particular a guy like Cousins always hypersensitive to criticism, you've lost them forever. I know you'd lose me, and I'd take great joy at coming back into your building, kicking the crap out of you, telling the press why I was kicking the crap out of you, and taking a dump in your courtside seat on the way out of the building. Players at that level you work with, not against. The onyl lesson you can teach them is that they don't need you anymore.

and btw no Cousins didn't get a T for lowering his shoulder. The first one might have been for slapping at the ball. The second for talking to the ref.

[Kingsguy881]

IIRC, Cuz flexed at the ref like he was punking/going to swing on him. That was the second T. The 1st was bogus.

[Capt. Factorial]

IIRC, Cuz flexed at the ref like he was punking/going to swing on him. That was the second T. The 1st was bogus.

Must have been a pretty subtle flex as I watched it several times and saw nothing.

[UK_King]

decide for yourself.

[Kingsguy881]

^^^^yeah, you can't do that. It's almost an 'I should slap you' move.

[DesertFox]

actually no, its basically never useful to bench a putative franchise player. Players at that level have options. Once you humiliate them, in particular a guy like Cousins always hypersensitive to criticism, you've lost them forever. I know you'd lose me, and I'd take great joy at coming back into your building, kicking the crap out of you, telling the press why I was kicking the crap out of you, and taking a dump in your courtside seat on the way out of the building. Players at that level you work with, not against. The onyl lesson you can teach them is that they don't need you anymore.

and btw no Cousins didn't get a T for lowering his shoulder. The first one might have been for slapping at the ball. The second for talking to the ref.

I don't know about that. Vernon Davis was very similar. A hard working super talent, but had some prima dona tendencies and temper tantrums. When the coach threw him out, Davis changed for the better.

[Bricklayer]

I don't know about that. Vernon Davis was very similar. A hard working super talent, but had some prima dona tendencies and temper tantrums. When the coach threw him out, Davis changed for the better.

This isn't football and a tight end is the NFL has a tiony fraction of the importance of a top center in basketball. DeMarcus Cousins power is >>>>>>>>>>>> Vernon Davis.

[Capt. Factorial]

^^^^yeah, you can't do that. It's almost an 'I should slap you' move.

You can't walk away when the ref tells you to walk away? What kind of crazy world is this? Oh, and that looks like "zero flex" to me.

[uolj]

I don't know about that. Vernon Davis was very similar. A hard working super talent, but had some prima dona tendencies and temper tantrums. When the coach threw him out, Davis changed for the better.

I think Davis has/had a much different temperament than Cousins.

[bajaden]

IIRC, Cuz flexed at the ref like he was punking/going to swing on him. That was the second T. The 1st was bogus.

Sorry, I watched that sequence over and over again in slow mo, and I didn't see anything by Cousins that should have warranted a technical. Unless of course your a mind reader. I've seen players more physically antimated than that who didn't get a technical. First of all, I couldn't even find evidence of a foul on the play, much less two technicals. When last I checked, the defender is still allowed to stay between the offensive player and the basket. Cousins did touch him with one hand, but thats allowed in the rules. Kanter was banging into Cousns, and couldn't move him, or get him to leave his feet. So the whole thing started with a bad call.

If the ref doesn't call that first technical, none of the other things happen. And that first technical was pure crap. If you going to call a technical for slapping at the ball, then why not call a technical when a player shoots the ball after the whistle has blown and the other team jumps up and bats it away. No one pays money to see the refs blow the whistle or kick players out of the game. The whole sequence reminded me of the game where Webber got two technicals in the span of around 30 seconds and was kicked out. The only difference is Webb got kicked out in the first quarter.

Does anyone think they would given Duncan a technical for batting the ball away, especially in such a bang/bang play? Unfortunately its not going to change anytime soon, so Cuz has to learn to walk away.

[spudfan]

Sorry, I watched that sequence over and over again in slow mo, and I didn't see anything by Cousins that should have warranted a technical. Unless of course your a mind reader. I've seen players more physically antimated than that who didn't get a technical. First of all, I couldn't even find evidence of a foul on the play, much less two technicals. When last I checked, the defender is still allowed to stay between the offensive player and the basket. Cousins did touch him with one hand, but thats allowed in the rules. Kanter was banging into Cousns, and couldn't move him, or get him to leave his feet. So the whole thing started with a bad call.

If the ref doesn't call that first technical, none of the other things happen. And that first technical was pure crap. If you going to call a technical for slapping at the ball, then why not call a technical when a player shoots the ball after the whistle has blown and the other team jumps up and bats it away. No one pays money to see the refs blow the whistle or kick players out of the game. The whole sequence reminded me of the game where Webber got two technicals in the span of around 30 seconds and was kicked out. The only difference is Webb got kicked out in the first quarter.

Does anyone think they would given Duncan a technical for batting the ball away, especially in such a bang/bang play? Unfortunately its not going to change anytime soon, so Cuz has to learn to walk away.

No I don't think they would have given Duncan a tech. And I think Kobe wouldn't make it past the first 2 minutes of any game if they gave technicals to him for all the whining/groaning he does after every possession. I hate HATE HATE listening to and watching Kobe/Duncan cry like they do when they think refs miss calls.

I LOVE that the refs rarely, if ever hit them with technicals. I just don't think talking should have an outcome on the game. Giving teams free points and ejecting players for mouthing off is not what the game should be about. I don't think it should have a chance to be able to change the outcome. I would have no problem with a fine/suspension system like they just implemented for flopping. It would make more sense to review after the game and connect with officials who can pass along what players said. If it was deemed inappropriate make them pay, if they keep it up suspend them. Emotional outbursts in an emotional game should be allowed. Words that may offend one ref, but not another shouldn't get players thrown out.

[Kingster]

I think Cousins should apologize to every single ref in the league. Before every game he should go each referee, look him or her in the eye, and apologize for his behavior since he began in the league. He should do it sincerely and acknowledge that's he's been an absolute jerk and that he's disrespected them and dishonored the game by his adolescent behavior. He should tell them that he's going to do everything in his power to turn it around. He should also tell them that when he's sporting "the face" after getting called for a foul that he would appreciate it very much if the ref would just call him on it so that he could be aware of it. When he gets a foul call, instead of sporting the face, he should smile at the referee and nod acknowledgment that they were right. Every single time. At Christmas Cousins should send every ref a 10 lb box of See's and again apologize in writing and ask for their forgiveness. Maybe then he can not only turn around his juvenile behavior on the court, but also the resentment that has no doubt been building with the refs ever since he came in the league.

[spudfan]

I think Cousins should apologize to every single ref in the league. Before every game he should go each referee, look him or her in the eye, and apologize for his behavior since he began in the league. He should do it sincerely and acknowledge that's he's been an absolute jerk and that he's disrespected them and dishonored the game by his adolescent behavior. He should tell them that he's going to do everything in his power to turn it around. He should also tell them that when he's sporting "the face" after getting called for a foul that he would appreciate it very much if the ref would just call him on it so that he could be aware of it. When he gets a foul call, instead of sporting the face, he should smile at the referee and nod acknowledgment that they were right. Every single time. At Christmas Cousins should send every ref a 10 lb box of See's and again apologize in writing and ask for their forgiveness. Maybe then he can not only turn around his juvenile behavior on the court, but also the resentment that has no doubt been building with the refs ever since he came in the league.

While he is at it he should offer to pay for all of their kids education. Maybe pay for a yearly retreat for all referees and host it for them. Show them all how he is a really nice guy.