Bonzi and SAR off the bench

[Warhawk]

On Sportsline tonight Grant said he spoke with Rick (yesterday, I think, maybe today) and Rick was "gushing" about the play of Bonzi and SAR off the bench. Rick also agreed that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is the mentality he's been going with recently. Finally, he said that Rick said both these guys are OK coming off the bench and were not complaining about starting - just doing what it takes to help the team win.

 

[VF21]

Adelman also said pretty much the exact same things in an interview shown before the broadcast on Friday night.

 

[ForlornKing]

But didn't Bonzi say he liked how Rick was gonna bring him off the bench and slowly increase his minutes until he's a starter?

 

[VF21]

Not exactly. Right now the team is winning. Bonzi is smart enough to know that winning is more important than starting. It wasn't starting that was Bonzi's complaint anyway. It was minutes. He's getting his minutes...

The only real tempest about KT/SAR and Martin/Wells has been on message boards. The guys are focused on getting into the playoffs and beyond. It takes wins to do it. As long as they're winning they aren't going to quibble about whose name gets announced at the beginning of the game.

 

[BigWaxer]

^^ ya I thought I read Bonzi was excpecting to start after 5 or so games.

Hope that doesn't become a problem. Definately not something we need.

 

[DaMan]

I really didn't expect this to be problem this season because we are winning and trying to make the playoffs but next season is where i see this really being an issue.

 

[Bricklayer]

I really didn't expect this to be problem this season because we are winning and trying to make the playoffs but next season is where i see this really being an issue.

Agreed. Actually the offseason. Its not tenable long term, and basically I sincerely doubt Bonzi would return here for a bench spot. Reef...doubt he will be willing to sit behind Kenny Thomas of all people either long term. We'll just have to clean it up and make some choices in the offseason. Right now though we've got one of those situations where you've got starters coming in off the bench and maybe being better than the guys starting the game. As long as they buy in, they remain tow of the more talented guys in the league to be coming off the bench right now and give us real strength where there used to be a weakness.

 

[DaMan]

Agreed. Actually the offseason. Its not tenable long term, and basically I sincerely doubt Bonzi would return here for a bench spot. Reef...doubt he will be willing to sit behind Kenny Thomas of all people either long term. We'll just have to clean it up and make some choices in the offseason. Right now though we've got one of those situations where you've got starters coming in off the bench and maybe being better than the guys starting the game. As long as they buy in, they remain tow of the more talented guys in the league to be coming off the bench right now and give us real strength where there used to be a weakness.

Brick you took the words right out of my mouth. This situation reminds me of Jamison in dallas, a starter on the bench, just like what happen there will happen here. Somebody will have to be dealt or moved.

 

[Kings113]

Fine with me.

Interesting to see what happens in the off-season.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I fully expect Abdur-Rahim to start next season; Thomas will accept coming off the bench, or he'll be traded for someone who will... any chance we could send him to Milwaukee for Joe Smith?

 

[DaMan]

I fully expect Abdur-Rahim to start next season; Thomas will accept coming off the bench, or he'll be traded for someone who will... any chance we could send him to Milwaukee for Joe Smith?

I think this sar/thomas situation will get resolved when we make a decison on RA. If they stay with RA i wouldn't be surpised if thomas stayed but if we get somebody else i really expect Sar to start and thomas to leave.

 

[sc3252]

I have never been a thomas fan, for the train or the player. I hope that kenny gets back on the bench(where that complainer belongs), same with martin(I like martin, but I want bonzi back next year). I like wells and [SIZE=-1]Abdur-Rahim, and I would like them to start.[/SIZE]

 

[AriesMar27]

hopefully thomas plays well for the rest of the year and increases his trade value.... do you think the knicks would take him? curry for thomas straight up..... that'd be nice....

 

[Kings113]

Curry's very good in the post, has a solid jumpshot (I think). But not a good rebounder or a shotblocker or defender. He's foul prone as well. Career rebounding is 5.1, and blocks is .80. Also has conditioning problems. Not meaning his heart, but that could become something also, hopefully not. Plus he's a free-agent after this season.

 

[VF21]

Um, hello? we have a special forum now for trade talks.

 

[love_them_kings]

I really didn't expect this to be problem this season because we are winning and trying to make the playoffs but next season is where i see this really being an issue.

I agree completely. After how bleak things looked for this team at one point, these guys will do anything to get to the playoffs, including coming off the bench behind less talented players. However, once we get through this year, I wouldn't be surprised if they speak up & say they that that (coming off the bench) is not the way they want to spend the rest of their career. SO, to keep these guys, I think changes will have to be made at some point.

But for now, hey, don't mess with it. The Kings are finally fun to watch again!

 

[Wheeler03]

I have no problem with both of them coming off the bench for the rest of the year.....especially seeing as how we are winning right now and the year is coming to a close. It does not make much sense to start messing around with our starting unit once again. However, I believe that both Reef and Bonzi should be playing 25-30 minutes per game. So far Bonzi has approached those numbers. But for some reason Adelman has kept our best post player to around 20 minutes per. Would like to see that bumped up a little seeing as how Reef consistently gets easy points in the point and does so without dominating the ball.

 

[bench_blob]

I guess Rick Adelman learned his lesson the last year two years by ruining our season (1) by putting C-Webb back in the line-up, playing him mega minutes, and being so stubborn to the detriment of our season, and (2) playing Gunner Mobley mega minutes last year when clearly Mo Evans was more effective player with the groups of scorers we had at the time.

Let's hope this season doesn't end on such a sour note. It is a lot of easier to accept defeat when you go down fighting with your best group of players competing.

I think as a lame duck coach Adelman is less concerned about bruising players ego and more concerned about putting the most cohesive group of players out there.

Although he gave Hart too much of an opportunity, until finally admitting the obvious.

His short bench has affected the morale of the bench warmers I noticed, however. They are basically asleep. Ronnie Price might get excited once and a while, but guys like Corliss, Hart, Sampson are just daydreaming all game long thinking how to spend their unearned paychecks.

But this is not a criticism of Adelman, just a fact. Wells is happy off the bench. Artest is happy with his role, although I noticed he is more subdued, and not as vocal as he was when he joined the team. I chalk this up to an unspoken understanding he and his teammates have about what they need to do. A little more emotion couldn't hurt, though.

Anyway, no reason if Adleman keeps it up the Maloofs should not offer a new 3 to 4 year contract at seasons end. At 18-26 six weeks ago and fading fast, who would have thought that.

If Adelman really wants to score points with me, he will do an Avery Johnson tomorrow night and storm the court after a bad call. Or at least get a "T" called on you. I want to see some overt display of passion out of this guy. It's inspiring. Look at the Mavs bench and their enthusiasm with Avery Johnson at the helm.

A little more passion, and intensity....when you match up in the playoffs with equally talented teams....can be the difference between a respectable first round dismissal or advancing two rounds to the conference finals.