George Karl goes crazy--how NOT to motivate your team - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Big Shot Rob · 05-01-2007, 04:58 PM

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Print Email Nuggets coach sidelines Smith
By Chris Dempsey
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 05/01/2007 03:40:51 PM MDT

J.R. Smith of the Denver Nuggets (AP file)The biggest news coming out of the Nuggets video session this morning was coach George Karl announcing he was benching reserve guard J.R. Smith.

"He's done," Karl said.

Smith's mistakes throughout the series have grated on Karl, leading to the decision to bench him for Game 5, to be held Wednesday in San Antonio. The final straw apparently was Smith's missed three-pointer with 25.7 seconds left in Game 4 on Monday night with the Nuggets trailing 93-89.

"And then, of course the one with eight seconds to go, from 50 feet," Karl said. "I just love the dignity of the game being insulted right in front of me."

Karl said he had not talked to Smith about the benching by the time he met reporters at around noon. Smith is averaging 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.8 minutes a game during the playoff series, which the Nuggets trail 3-1.

Dirkadirkastan · 05-01-2007, 08:46 PM

That's not how you come back from 3-1. We'll show you how to do it.

chumdawg · 05-01-2007, 08:48 PM

Actually, I think it's kinda ballsy...and not altogether crazy. This way Smith gets to be the scapegoat, and the rest of the guys can try to fill his role, but better.

And if he's hurting him being in there, they are better off for that too.

dirno2000 · 05-01-2007, 09:31 PM

Karl is the second coach to turn on Smith. Kid has a ton of talent but if he doesn't become coachable pretty soon he's going to end up in the d-league.

MFFL · 05-02-2007, 12:49 AM

Smith is an idiot. He'll be a league vagabond soon enough.

dirno2000 · 05-02-2007, 01:17 AM

You know what's really disappointing? He was featured on "Rookies" a couple of years ago along with Devin, Igudala and Okafor. His dad quit his job to follow him around and provide guidance. Well a few shows in it becomes apparent that his dad is more of a hanger on than an authority figure. His primary concern seemed to be what his son could get for free.

So this kid has an obvious problem with authority and apparently, there's no one in his corner to warn him about what he could be doing to a possibly lucrative career.

nashtymavsfan13 · 05-02-2007, 02:23 AM

I see no problem with Karl doing this. If Smith is being a distraction as well as playing horribly Karl has every right to sit him.

bradleywillcrushyou44 · 05-02-2007, 02:54 AM

i kick ass with him in 2k7...

FINtastic · 05-02-2007, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

You know what's really disappointing? He was featured on "Rookies" a couple of years ago along with Devin, Igudala and Okafor. His dad quit his job to follow him around and provide guidance. Well a few shows in it becomes apparent that his dad is more of a hanger on than an authority figure. His primary concern seemed to be what his son could get for free.

So this kid has an obvious problem with authority and apparently, there's no one in his corner to warn him about what he could be doing to a possibly lucrative career.

I'm pretty sure that show you were talking about (maybe it was another), Smith was asking some veteran (I wanna say the original Super Spare) if the shootarounds were optional. The veteran responded with something like, "Are you for real?"

He seems like a bit of a knucklead.

The Crippler · 05-02-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FINtastic

I'm pretty sure that show you were talking about (maybe it was another), Smith was asking some veteran (I wanna say the original Super Spare) if the shootarounds were optional. The veteran responded with something like, "Are you for real?"

He seems like a bit of a knucklead.

yep. that's the one. Saw it also. That's why Byron Scott benched him and got rid of him so quickly.

Dtownsfinest · 05-02-2007, 09:21 AM

Yea JR Smith is still a kid though. He's came in the league straight out of high school. Talk about not ready to come into the pro's. A tremendous athlete and this year a pretty good outside shooter but the guy is so damn clueless and immature i'd like to believe it was an act.

I seem to remember him having to ask his mom for a Mercedes on that rookies show on spike tv lol.

Still though George Karl is pissed because he knows the series is over. His first problem was saying Game 3 was a must win without factoring in what if his team loses. They lost. So obviously Game 4 has to be a must-win now since Game 3 was. They lose that one. So series is over in that squad's mind. This might be Karl's last year with that squad. Warriors might lose Pietrius if his price range is too much and JR Smith wouldn't be a bad consolation.