Karl has low level talks with J.R....

by Andrew Feinstein on Dec 9, 2008 12:15 PM MST

In my Sunday column in which I praised George Karl for the effort he's put forth during the first quarter of this NBA season, I noted that Karl still deserves criticism for the way he's handling shooting guard J.R. Smith. I stand by what I said about Karl's coaching effort, but if ever Nuggets fans needed evidence of how ridiculous this relationship between him and J.R. is, I cite the Rocky Mountain News' Chris Tomasson's 12/5 article revealing that Karl delegates assistant coaches to "deal with guard J.R. Smith."

Rarely do we as fans get such a candid take on a coach/player relationship. And while I appreciate Karl being honest with the press, I don't agree with the way he's "dealing" with J.R. Smith.

First off, the Nuggets aren't the Broncos with 53 players to deal with and assistant coaches who communicate with various position players. Last I checked, there are only 12 to 15 players on a basketball team and I always assumed that the head coach actually, you know, talked to his players directly.

Secondly, is it just me, or is this whole situation akin to how the United States deals with North Korea and Iran? Rather than have "top level" talks between our President and/or Secretary of State and their leaders, we instead send "low level" diplomats and intermediaries which gets us absolutely nowhere.

To quote former US Secretary of State James Baker: "You don't just talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies, as well." Meaning, if you talk to your enemies directly and they still don't comply or agree to a middle ground solution for which you're asking, then you can punish them, place sanctions on them, and so on having taken the high road in the first place.

Karl should take Baker's advice, sit down with J.R., sort out whatever issues they have and see if J.R.'s returns the favor with improved, more disciplined play on the floor. If J.R. doesn't respond or blows the opportunity, at least Karl can say he reached out.

The last thing we need is for the Karl/J.R. relationship to deteriorate like Karl's did with another star shooting guard, Ray Allen. I just hope its not too late.

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Comments

It really is ridiculous.
How is the kid up the back of the room able to learn if the teacher ignores him?

I suppose we could think of it another way...

If we get rid of J.R., do we or could we improve the team?

If we get rid of Karl, do we or could we improve the team?

I would say 1. No 2. Yes.

I ca't see us getting reasonable value if JR is traded, BUT I am pretty damn sure there are better coaches out there (Avery Johnson for one springs to mind).

by CB on Dec 9, 2008 6:22 PM MST reply actions

G.K. needs to grow the hell up

by LB47 on Dec 9, 2008 9:36 PM MST reply actions

The reality is we can not change anything just sitting and talkin, if anything at all can be done by bunch of fans.
I would really like nuggs to be one of the teams who fired their coaches, but with team winning nothing gonna change.

by fuckmeimfamous on Dec 9, 2008 11:26 PM MST reply actions

Wow, unbelievable. Karl is such a coward. I mean, how rediculous can you get. The thing Karl fails to realise, and it may be his biggest downfall, is that if actually trained and worked with JR could be a top 10 SG in the league hands down. And yet Karl is obliviuos to this because he is so high on his own ego and agenda. It just baffles me how stupid Karl is sometimes. I mean how sick would our lineup be with a disciplined JR smith in the lineup with Chauncy in the backcourt. I think we could give Devin Harris and Vince Carter a run for their money as the best backcourt in the league. Still, this is only a dream, which is the really sad part because on any other team in the NBA this would be the only acceptable reality. I just hope, sometime in the near future JR will apologize for whatever he has done (who knows what that is?), because Karl sure as hell isn't, and we can finally get past this and start a serious run at winning the division and even, dare I say, a playoff series or two.

by Goldennugget on Dec 10, 2008 1:04 AM MST reply actions

suppose that you're wrong.

just suppose that jr really does have an attitude problem. that's not a stretch. so, let's suppose that the nuggets got rid of him and he went on to another team that wouldn't address some of jr's weaknesses. they just want a hot hand. so, all jr is is a piece of meat. suppose he doesn't mature and gets passed from on team to another but never changes and doesn't develop as a person or as a player. his play becomes erratic. his conduct off the court is worse. no one holds him accountable. his life is turmoil. he can't control his money. he can't keep a driver's license. the coaches he plays for are coaches who are only concerning with winning. they will not hold him accountable.

jr loses.

maybe, just maybe, karl is concerned with jr the player as well as jr the person. maybe he will talk to him when he thinks the time is right. maybe he knows more about jr than we do.

maybe karl wants greatness out of jr. maybe he wants maturity out of jr - in his game and in his personal life. maybe he thinks jr will never mature as a player if he doesn't mature as a person.

maybe that is true and that is why jr has been steadier this year than ever before. just maybe...

i think a coach who will bench a player for his conduct could be on to something. maybe there are things that a larger than winning. maybe like a dead friend in the passenger seat. maybe...

and maybe, just maybe... you are wrong.

by Anonymous on Dec 10, 2008 9:25 AM MST reply actions

Anonymous, will the Real George Karl please stand up?

Your take on the situation seems to be very one sided. It also seems as though Andrew struck a nerve with you about this topic. Karl has kept silent about his reasons for "dealing" with Smith.

JR does not seem like he's on self destructive path. He comes off as a nice guy. Karl comes off like a pompus ass. As HEAD COACH he should always be the first person in that organization to set the appropriate pattern of conduct, and I'm sorry but acting like an eight year old with the silent treatment is not a good pattern to set.

by joelsopinion on Dec 10, 2008 9:44 AM MST reply actions

Anonymous. I think you are exactly right. The fact is that none of us have access to the locker room and very few of us have access to the practices. It is so tough for anyone outside of the organization to judge what is going on behind the scenes because we just aren't there. We only know what goes on in the public eye, which can lead to frustration from the fans because fans only see one side of the situation. I don't think Karl's relationship with JR will ever be acknowledged by JR fans as proof of JR's issues, but the real test will be how Chauncey's relationship with JR progresses. If Chauncey reaches a point where he has had enough of JR's antics, JR will be on the market. If Chauncey can reach out to JR and get him to buy into the team concept then that would be great for JR and great for the Nuggets.

by Anonymous on Dec 10, 2008 10:53 AM MST reply actions

Wow, bringing up JR's car accident that killed his friend, as an indicator of his maturity, is an extremely cheap shot. He's certainly not perfect, and probably is somewhat immature, however he's also only 23.

I've seen nothing recently that JR is regressing, in maturity or otherwise. Camby recently asked JR to take over this Christmas for his Cambyland charity, and if nothing else, Camby is a stand-up guy and probably a decent judge of character.

There are reasons for Karl sometimes benching Smith, as he can be inconsistent, and does still make poor decisions. However, there are not any good reasons for Karl not to talk to him, routinely chastise him through the media, or generally act like a petulant ass.

by Cessair on Dec 10, 2008 11:01 AM MST reply actions

i brought up the accident as a question. i don't know that that was a cheap shot. it is more of a hard truth. i would bet for him, it was the worst moment of his life.

no one wants to see jr succeed more than i do. i guess my thought was "is he maturing - on and off the court." it is a valid question. is karl good for this, or bad for this is the gnawing question.

this is a human being we are talking about. and seemingly, jr is a human being we all care very much about.

and that, is pretty good place for all of us to start.

by Anonymous on Dec 10, 2008 11:36 AM MST reply actions

Anonymous, all you really did is just skate around the fact that nobody knows what is going on and that is the exact reason for why it is rediculous. If we did know for example what was going on we could at least try and see the sides of the story but right now all we know is that Karl is being a total a hole for absolutely no reason at all simply because he just doesn't like JR. You seem to forget Karl has a long history of this sort of behavior in the NBA. It is there, set in stone. This isn't new to anyone. And for you to say that nobody knows so we really don't have the right to pass judgement is wrong because if we did know what was going on we probably would understand one side or the other but since we don't we can only assume, confidently, that this is just typical Karl. Nobdody else does this. When was the last time you heard of a coach that never talks to one of his players, that sends over his freakin assistants to talk to a designated player. Come on, it is simply vintage George Karl and that is it. And I am sorry but bringing up the car accident was totally inappropriate. I can assure you that no matter how much of an ass hole Karl is he would never bench a player for a tragic accident off the court. That is just taking it way too far.

by Goldennugget on Dec 10, 2008 2:17 PM MST reply actions

Let's not get all technical here. Point-blank, bottom line is that GK IS the head coach, J.R is 23, and therefore the older statesman should show the young buck how it is done, as he is responsible for it, and is getting paid for it. GK should just grow the f**k up, get over his ego and talk to the kid.

by Jack on Dec 10, 2008 3:33 PM MST reply actions

"as he is responsible for it, and is getting paid for it."

George Karl is getting paid to win. Period. Coaches are NOT getting fired for not maintaining a solid relationship with one of the players on the bench. They are getting fired because they aren't winning. JR's relationship with Karl has nothing to do with the won/loss record of the Nuggets. He is a bench player who needs to just shut up and concentrate on his basketball skills. Complaining about his coach's lack of communication is not showing any development of his maturity.

by Anonymous on Dec 10, 2008 4:42 PM MST reply actions

"Secondly, is it just me, or is this whole situation akin to how the United States deals with North Korea and Iran? Rather than have "top level" talks between our President and/or Secretary of State and their leaders, we instead send "low level" diplomats and intermediaries which gets us absolutely nowhere."

It's simple.

The Nuggets need to hire Henry Kissenger to conduct shuttle diplomacy between Karl and Smith.

Kissenger will get them them to agree to share Jerusalem as their capital, and peace will reign amidst the Rocky Mountains.

by Petey on Dec 12, 2008 11:30 AM MST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

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2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

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3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
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4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.