Sacramento Kings' Head Coach Paul Westphal Fired

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-spears_sacramento_kings_paul_westphal_firing_010512

The Sacramento Kings fired coach Paul Westphal Thursday, hours after the team suffered a 27-point loss to the Denver Nuggets and just four days after the coach openly feuded with center DeMarcus Cousins.

Kings assistant Keith Smart will coach the team in Thursday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

In what could ultimately be the franchise’s final season in Sacramento, the Kings have opened with a 2-5 record, worst in the Western Conference. All but one of the losses have been by at least 17 points.

Westphal’s firing comes four days after he banished Cousins from the team for one game, saying the young center demanded a trade. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie and co-owner Joe Maloof had said they supported Westphal’s decision, but also said they have no intention of trading Cousins.

Cousins returned to the Kings on Monday and played in their past two games, but didn’t start.

Westphal was 51-120 in two-plus seasons as coach of the Kings. “Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not approached what we felt was reasonable to expect,” Petrie said in a statement released by the team.

“I would like to thank the Maloof family for the incredible opportunity they gave me to participate in the attempt to bring the Sacramento Kings back to prominence,” Westphal said in a statement. “While the job is far from finished, I am proud of the strides we were able to make.”

Well, shit.

My goodness. What seems to be the problem?

Demarcus Cousins.

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! Westpaul might just retire or take some time off. My question is: who shall fill the void of all the drama? Your center has emotional issues, and your team miight not be in the same place in just a few months.

No surprises here given the drama with Cousins and the lacklustre start, though I don't think anyone predicted they'd be doing much better than they are right now. I'm guessing Flip Saunders is next on the hot seat.

My question is: who shall fill the void of all the drama? Your center has emotional issues, and your team miight not be in the same place in just a few months.

They'll ride it out to the end of the season with Keith Smart as the interim coach and if he's around beyond this season, he probably stands a decent shot at losing the interim tag...at least until he does something that makes Cousins pout.

EDIT: In fact...

Keith Smart has agreed to a two-year with the Sacramento Kings, source tells Y! Sports. His deal is guaranteed through 2012-'13 season.

It's not just Cousins but Westphal system ain't just working on the Kings' players. In short his not bringing the best out of them.

From one terrible coach to another.

Westphal at least had a decent run in his first coaching stint, at the helm of Barkley's Suns.