I finally figured out what Gen X stands for.

	Payton: He expects to be soaring again soon.

Generation Xecutioner.

A few weeks ago, I wrote that Dan Issel needs to be held responsible for the bungle he created in putting together the Denver Nuggets.

And I still feel that way. But I didn't mean like THIS.

I didn't mean player insurrection. I didn't mean revolution. I didn't mean Xecution.

We saw this a few weeks ago in Seattle, when the theatrics of Gary Payton and Vin Baker eventually led to the firing of Paul Westphal.

But judging from reaction around the league, this is worse. Much worse.

Boycotting a practice? All 14 players?

That, to most memories, is an unprecedented step in the history of the NBA, a step that has many people scared about what direction, exactly, the league is heading.

It's one thing for a player or players to get a coach fired because of personality conflicts. Magic Johnson did it. Michael Jordan. Penny Hardaway. Payton and Baker.

But for an entire team to take the step of an organized strike because they didn't like being yelled at, even if it was only for a day, that is taking the power struggle to a new level, completely usurping the power of the individual who is supposed to be in charge.

What's next? Players don't like what is being served on the team plane, so they don't show up to travel to the next city. They don't like what their uniforms look like, so they don't dress for a game. They don't like their arena, so they'll only play at away games.

And the fact that Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke has kept Issel around only suggests this Denver team is going to go through more turmoil before things get better.

How is Issel going to coach now? He can't say anything to his players. He has to completely change his coaching style in the span of 24 hours, and even then he will be looking over his shoulder each time he says something to make sure he doesn't offend one of his players' fragile egos.

Bobby Knight could not do it. And Issel, a notorious screamer, is not going to be able to do it. Or, if he does, he is not being true to himself, and he might as well get out anyway.

But this is where I get confused. Because we have two completely opposite stories happening in different cities at the same time.

This is what Nuggets team leader -- i.e. lead insurrectionist -- George McCloud said the day after the team decided it could no longer have its ears tormented by Issel's rants:

	Bibby

	McCloud

"Dan's way is to motivate a player through yelling ... He realizes that now, more than any other time, he has to back off somewhat," McCloud said. "You're never too old to learn. To accept it and convey it to us gives us more respect for him."

Only a few hours away, in Vancouver, players are saying that Sidney Lowe needs to yell at them.

There has been a lot of criticism recently that players are too soft in Vancouver, there is no leader, nobody to take charge.

Point guard Mike Bibby was asked if he should be that person, and this was his response:

"I don't know if that's my position to do," said Bibby. "I feel everybody out here is a grown man and if you come at a person a wrong way, they might not take it right. And it might worsen their game, get in their head. They might be worried about me, instead of being worried about the game.

"I'll go over there and talk to them about it. As far as getting in somebody's face and yelling at them, I'm not going to do that. If it's anybody, it should be Sidney."

So in Denver, you've got players who want their coach to stop yelling, and in Vancouver, you've got players who want their coach to yell.

Maybe the Nuggets and Grizzlies should just exchange coaches.

Here's the problem with that: It probably isn't the coaches. It's the players.

And then what is the scapegoat when players continue to lose, and they have the coach they asked for?

Because that is going to happen. The bottom line is, there is not enough talent in either one of these cities to consistently win. Doesn't matter if you have Joseph Stalin coaching the team, or Tiny Tim.

At some point, players need to take responsibility for playing.

It doesn't matter if I scream it or if I say it in a quiet murmur:

Stop politicking and start playing.

	Polynice

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