First Speights, now Turner … Collins makes wrong move for Sixers

Philadelphia foolishly traded
talented big man Marreesse
Speights earlier this season.

I always call it like I see it and from where I’m sitting, I think Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins is clearly making a huge mistake by bringing along second-year swingman Evan Turner far too slowly for a player that was selected with the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

First, Collins dropped the ball in a big way by trading young, sweet-shooting big man Marreesse Speights to the Memphis Grizzlies for basically a bag of marbles, even though Philly, like every other team in the league, needs competent big men.

How Speights could immediately move into a starting role for the Western Conference title-contending Memphis Grizzlies, but couldn’t even find his way on the court for Collins and the Sixers is beyond me, but clearly there’s some sort of problem with Collins’ penchant for not playing certain youngsters.

Having said that, Eye On Sports NBA hardwood lovers, I also have to rip Collins for his even more glaring failure to play Turner consistently this season even though he clearly has a bunch of positive skills that could help Collins’ young ballclub.

Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick in the 2010
NBA Draft, needs to play more minutes - now!

After playing Turner just 23.0 minutes per game as a rookie last season, Turner’s minutes have not gone up this season with the former Ohio State superstar averaging just 23.8 minutes of playing time per contest.

The multi-faceted swingman is averaging just 8.2 points per contest after averaging 7.2 per game a year ago.

Just looking back at the 2010 NBA Draft should bother Turner and the Sixers, seeing as how several players that were picked after Turner have established themselves as either starters or integral parts of their respective teams’ current and near futures.

No. 5 pick DeMarcus Cousins, despite his immaturity issues, is a starter for the Sacramento Kings while No. 7 pick Greg Monroe also starts in the middle for the Detroit Pistons.

Sixers head coach Doug Collins has made some serious
personnel mistakes during his tenure with the team that drafted him over three decades ago.

Versatile forward Gordon Hayward, the No. 9 pick in the draft is averaging just over 27.0 minutes per game for the Utah Jazz and No. 10 overall pick, shooting guard Paul George, is starting to look like he’s got real superstar potential as the starting two guard for the blossoming Indiana Pacers.

I mean really, the Knicks nabbed a starter in Landry Fields with the No. 39 overall pick while Utah’s slam dunk champion Jeremy Evans was selected with the 55th overall pick and now looks like he’s going to be serious contributor for the Jazz for years to come.

Collins needs to start Turner and get him on the floor with young point guard Jrue Holiday so the pair can grow together and form the foundation for Philly’s franchise for the next decade. For Collins to fail to recognize that Turner needs to play and play right now – is a mistake of epic proportions and one that could come back to haunt the Sixers for years to come.

Cousins Wins, Kings Still Lose!

The Sacramento Kings decided to part ways with veteran head coach Paul Westphal after he publicly called out immature young center DeMarcus Cousins after constantly clashing with the petulant big man, but it say right here Eye On Sports hoops fans, that the Sacramento Kings are the real losers for empowering Cousins – and all of their other players – with the ability to now tell any of the franchise’s future head coaches where to go and exactly how to get there!

The Kings were hoping that player-friendly head coach keith Smart would have an easier time relating to Cousins and while the Kentucky star is undeniably talented, it’s also crystal clear at this points that Westphal wasn’t the Kings’ most pressing problem. Sacramento has lost two straight and five of its last seven games overall under Smart and generally look like the same team they did under Westphal, even if DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t personally.

Kings, DeMarcus, No Kissing Cousins!

In my tradition of always ‘keeping it real’ for my Eye on Sports followers, I’m just going to say that Sacramento Kings talented second-year forward DeMarcus Cousins is a nutcase of the highest degree!

It’s a damn shame too, because everyone that knows basketball knows Cousins has a s**tload of talent that could make him a perennial all-star for at least a decade.

Unfortunately, I suspect that it will take at least a half-decade – if ever – before the gifted, but enigmatic big man decides he wants to grow up and act like an adult.

After giving the Kings and veteran head coach Paul Westphal a hard way to go all season long as a rookie, Cousins is back with more nonsense than ever in his sophomore season – and apparently the Kings and Westphal have had enough – and rightfully so I say.

First and foremost, Cousins’ team-dividing behavior dates all the way back to high school, not to mention the fact that his conditioning generally hasn’t been what it should be. The point is, if Cousins is so adamant on ‘acting a fool’ well then maybe the fifth overall draft pick in 2010 needs the taste of reality he’s going to get after being told by the franchise to stay away from the team after making repeated trade demands this past week.

Well, the ‘old-school’ Westphal, one of my favorite players way, way, way, back in the day, has clearly had enough. Westphal released a statement before Sunday's game against New Orleans, saying when Cousins "continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely."

While Cousins' agent, John Greig, responded by saying he "has no idea what the Kings are doing" it’s apparent he has a fool for a client in the 21-year-old Cousins who is averaging a fine double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds per game this season.

I agree with Westphal and I’m backing my man when he said, "This is only the tip of the iceberg. You can only get so many chances before something needs to be done. And something needs to be done."