Reggie Theus hasn't asked, but if he does, this is what I would suggest: Give management and its fan base what it wants. Play the kids and spare the rod. Tell the older veterans to give their knees, elbows and attitudes a rest. Simplify the offense. Introduce a defense.

But the biggest change? The one that might save Reggie's job? Walk down the hall, knock on the door and lure Monarchs general manager John Whisenant out of coaching retirement. Call him an assistant or a consultant. Call him a golfing buddy helping another golfing buddy. Whatever.

But lean on Whisenant, an exceptional defensive coach who led the Monarchs to the 2005 WNBA championship and the parade down J Street. Wave the white flag, as your defense does at tipoff.

You need help, desperately.

You need change, immediately.

The Kings entered Tuesday night's game against the injury-depleted Utah Jazz – another agonizing defeat – with a defense so embarrassing, the players and coaches should be wearing costumes. They are competing fiercely with the league's bottom feeders in almost every significant defensive category.

The guards and wings rarely deflect or steal passes. They seldom appear interested in chasing loose balls. They almost never contest perimeter jumpers, more often than not stepping back with arms at their sides and watching opponents fire away. "Backing up (on shooters) has got to stop," a frustrated Theus acknowledged after the 99-94 loss had sucked the air out of Arco Arena.

Which is why Whiz makes sense, why Whiz has made sense for months. If the NBA frat boys could stifle the giggles and open their minds, they would hear a compelling argument for the inclusion of someone who teaches demanding, smothering defensive schemes that would play to the team's youth, length and quickness, and maybe get them out of their halfcourt rut.

Girls. Boys. Men. Women. If the boss has your back, there's no difference. The ball is still round, the court still 94 feet. The NBA is a faster game, though you could forget that while watching the Kings and their methodical, complicated dance.

Besides. It's not as if Theus has a lot of choices, or a lot of time. Seven consecutive losses. Ten defeats in 11 games. If this continues, Reggie will be home for the holidays, home being Los Angeles.

His team president is increasingly restless, his owners are impulsive, and none are feeling particularly chipper about their coaching choices lately. Geoff Petrie pushed for Eric Musselman, who lasted only the 2006-07 season. The Maloofs subsequently pressed for the charming Theus, who had no NBA coaching experience.

We say it again. And again, it's common sense.

Young players have to be taught, and in the NBA, even the brightest young coaching minds – almost without exception – are assisted by former college or NBA head coaches. A young Phil Jackson had Tex Winter. Gregg Popovich had Hank Egan. Mo Cheeks has Jimmy Lynam. Vinny Del Negro has Del Harris and Bernie Bickerstaff. Reggie has a de facto lead assistant (Chuck Person) who works tirelessly but handles the maligned defense and is in only his fourth year as an assistant. (It's no stretch to say that Petrie should require any unproven Kings coach to add an ex-head coach to his staff as a condition of employment.)

Meantime, why not Whiz? There is precedent here for something that dramatic, by the way. Petrie added his mentor, Pete Carril, to the bench during Garry St. Jean's tenure. Granted, Whisenant is no Pete Carril. But he watches practices, attends games, studies the league. He coached men in college and women in the pros. And he would be a cheap hire – a huge factor in this economy.

But mainly, there is this: The man can coach defense. That would be a start.

Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208.