Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY - The Jazz went 1 and 2 on the three game eastern roadie, and guess who's coming to dinner Friday?
Jimmer and the Sacramento Kings, but last year's phenom is hardly playing. He's watching the last player taken in last year's draft 5'9" Isaiah Thomas take over the starting point guard spot.
The Jimmer Rookie Chronicles are for another time, another column. Right now Jimmer's taking a backseat to the backstory for this final meeting between the Kings and Jazz.
Round 3 of the Devin Harris/ DeMarcus Cousins war of words and then some. Last two meetings (in Sacramento) the 6'11"/270 lb Cousins (with a reputation just as big and bad) for some reason, unknown here, decided to target Jazz 6'3"/192 lb point guard Devin Harris with occasional, obvious bumps, elbows, pushes, stare-downs and general disrespect. Referees either didn't see it (everybody else did) ignored it or chose to look the other way.
In the last meeting, the Jazz tip in win in Sactown last Thursday, there was a blatant mid-court confrontation near the scorers table, drawing technicals for both Cousins and Harris. Big Al got involved but only to pull Harris away. After the game Cousins took it a step further "I'm tired of the dude, honestly tired of him. I don't know what it is but I can definitely solve it."
Harris downplayed the brewing bad blood saying "He's trying to get in my head, I'm trying to get in his, but I can let anybody push me around."
What was stunning to me, growing up playing team sports, including basketball, not one member of the Jazz has done anything, said anything, or even commented about the deal, yet. I'm not advocating anything like fighting but one of the Jazz bigs has got to step in, face to face with Cousins, tell him to back off, enough is enough, or even call him out by saying "pick on someone your own size".
I've talked to Matt Harpring and Jeff Hornacek about it and both have noticed. Hornacek says "We've got a bunch of nice guys on the team, sometimes you need someone not so nice to handle this kind of business".
Matt Harpring? Are you kidding? What do you all think he thinks about letting a big, thug type guy pick on your point guard?
Imagine of it was John Stockton? How many guys in Jazz uniforms would be off the bench, if not in Cousins' face? All of them several steps behind Jerry Sloan.
Sure is a kinder, gentler NBA these days isn't it?
I welcome your opinions/insights. Hit me up on Twitter @tksportsbeat or if you need more than 140 characters, the old-fashioned way is great too. tom.kirkland@ksl.com
