Kings fire Mike Malone

[BleedGreen1989]

Wow, Boogie didn't even know about this as of 8PM last night...

If you're going to fire your coach, shouldn't your star player know about it?

[Fafnir]

They apparently want to play "uptempo offensive and positionless basketball".

Which makes total sense when you have a great low post center  .

Wow.  I don't even know what to say to that.

Vivek apparenlty paid a lot of attention to the Erik Spolestra interviews during the LBJ Heat years....

Ha.  Yeah.  It helps to have a superstar who can credibly plan 4 positions when you're going "positionless".

Boogie is a great athlete, but I don't want to see him out there at shooting guard. 

The reason Isiah Thomas is gone is now clear.

PG Boogie shall rule the WC for years to come!

[D.o.s.]

From everything I've read, I don't think Vivek was the one doing the firing.

What I've read is that the GM didn't support Malone, and its ownerships loss of faith in him that led to giving the GM the freedom to fire him.

Correct. On the other hand, they're also not going out of their way to hire another coach, so they'll have Blazin' Tyrone Corbin at the helm for their fast paced positionless offense.


Because, you know, when I think Tyrone corbin, I think up tempo basketball.

[BleedGreen1989]

From everything I've read, I don't think Vivek was the one doing the firing.

What I've read is that the GM didn't support Malone, and its ownerships loss of faith in him that led to giving the GM the freedom to fire him.

Correct. On the other hand, they're also not going out of their way to hire another coach, so they'll have Blazin' Tyrone Corbin at the helm for their fast paced positionless offense.


Because, you know, when I think Tyrone corbin, I think up tempo basketball.

When you think Tyrone Corbin, do you even think basketball, period?

[Atzar]

If this firing was truly all about basketball like the Kings claim, then it's one of the most incompetent decisions I've seen in a while.  You don't build an uptempo, positionless system around a post center.  That's ridiculous.

The system worked for the Heat because Wade, James and Bosh are all freaks who possess the size, athleticism and skillset to fit nearly any role.  You probably don't want Wade taking threes much, but aside from that they can each do at a high level nearly anything you'd ask of them on the basketball court.  Their collective talent and versatility allowed them to bend the rules, and they shouldn't be imitated. 

I hope Mike Malone gets another shot in the near future.  If everything is as it appears on the surface, then he didn't deserve this.

[Roy H.]

Kings fans seem to almost universally hate this move.

My favorite .gif from the comments of SacTown Royalty:

[TheFlex]

Perfect example of a team in need of a miracle to see its way out of the "Bad Front Office" forest.

If Danny had as many lottery opportunities as this team has had, we'd be a dynasty in the making... which is why those Nets picks are so intriguing.

[D.o.s.]

Kings fans seem to almost universally hate this move.

My favorite .gif from the comments of SacTown Royalty:

Bookmarked for future CB threads.

[Fafnir]

I guess if they wanted to tank this season to get that top 10 draft pick this is one way to attempt it.

[Kuberski33]

From everything I've read, I don't think Vivek was the one doing the firing.

if it was the GM, then his head is now firmly on the chopping block.  If it was Vivek....this is why I love the NBA...lol.

It was only a matter of time before this situation blew up.

[Evantime34]

From everything I've read, I don't think Vivek was the one doing the firing.

if it was the GM, then his head is now firmly on the chopping block.  If it was Vivek....this is why I love the NBA...lol.

It was only a matter of time before this situation blew up.

A move like this puts pressure on the GM. When there is pressure on the GM they look for win now moves. When they look for win now moves to save their job, there is often an overpay in a trade.

Maybe the GM decides to roll the dice on Rondo even if he won't re-sign, because if he doesn't do the move he gets fired at the end of the year.

[Fafnir]

I don't think it puts pressure on the GM as much as you think, the coach wasn't his hire. It puts pressure on the upcoming hire, but the GM likely has time to work with that coach before he's on the chopping block.

Vivek has shown he'll make implusive moves though, as hiring Malone, firing Malone, and the atttempted trade for Josh Smith all qualify.

[Fafnir]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-doomed-partnership-of-the-sacramento-kings-and-coach-michael-malone-175201188.html

The owner played the part of a fantasy league owner, treating the Kings like a science experiment. He shared tactical experiences with Malone about coaching his child's youth team, and pressed him to consider playing four-on-five defense, leaking out a defender for cherry-picking baskets. Some semblance of that strategy is expected to be employed with Corbin now, a source told Yahoo Sports.

This sounds like a fun, good luck getting George Karl or another good coach now.

[D.o.s.]

[fairweatherfan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-doomed-partnership-of-the-sacramento-kings-and-coach-michael-malone-175201188.html

The owner played the part of a fantasy league owner, treating the Kings like a science experiment. He shared tactical experiences with Malone about coaching his child's youth team, and pressed him to consider playing four-on-five defense, leaking out a defender for cherry-picking baskets. Some semblance of that strategy is expected to be employed with Corbin now, a source told Yahoo Sports.

This sounds like a fun, good luck getting George Karl or another good coach now.

Hoo boy - Vivek really does seem to want to win and they have some nice pieces there for once, but he seems way too involved and way too clueless.  This is the sort of thing that'll have talent fleeing town ASAP.  Especially if he is making that brilliant cherry-picking strategy his hill to die on.