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Another NBA coach bit the dust Monday, when the Sacramento Kings fired Reggie Theus and replaced him with assistant coach Kenny Natt on an interim basis.
That makes six coaching changes before Christmas in what Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale, before his team’s game against the Kings, called a sign of the times.
“I think you’re going to see more and more shorter term stuff in our league,” he said. “Just because the access now, there’s so much media availability and everything else. There’s just so many bloggers; everybody’s got an opinion. There’s all kinds of stuff going on. Sometimes that starts forming the opinion of people in front offices, too, and owner. It’s been kind of a crazy year so far.”
Did you know that three of the Wolves’ four wins this season have come against teams that have subsequently fired their coaches?
In order of their firing, that would be Oklahoma City (P.J. Carlesimo), Philadelphia (Maurice Cheeks) and Sacramento (Reggie Theus).
George M Thomas/Akron Beacon Journal on Wally Szczerbiak:
”He kind of really helped me become the player that I am,” Szczerbiak said of McHale. ”He drafted me. He molded me. He kind of schooled me a lot about the game on and off the court.”
Szczerbiak sounded almost envious of the fact that the current Timberwolves will get the benefit of McHale’s counsel.
”I don’t know how long he’s going to be doing it, but right now those guys have to be loving it,” Szczerbiak said.
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
Kevin McHale stuck with 6-7 Craig Smith at power forward and 6-9 Jefferson at center against big lineups presented by the Lakers and Kings intending to turn mismatches at one end of the floor into his team’s advantage at the other.
“If you’re going to establish who you are, you can’t worry about what the other team does,” McHale said. “If you’re constantly adjusting and saying, ‘They’re big, so we have to do this,’ then tomorrow night you’re doing something different. You’ve got to get your guys to play against everybody.”
Kings assistant coach Rex Kalamian has fond memories of his two seasons as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but what stands out the most were his chats with head coach Kevin McHale.
“I have had many, many conversations (with McHale),” Kalamian said. “Without hesitation, I would say that he’s probably the smartest basketball person I’ve been around.”
Also:
“He really, really understands the game,” Kalamian said. “I hope all the best for him. I don’t know if he really likes the coaching thing, but he’s a very good teacher and he understands what’s going on out there.”
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