Bonzi or K-Mart

[Purple Reign]

According to our broadcasters on last night, Kevin Martin is day to day and may be ready to go on either Sunday versus the Clips or Tuesday versus the Mavs. Should Martin go right back into the starting line up or should Bonzi remain the starter and K-Mart come off the bench?

 

[Bricklayer]

If he'd only been out a game or two, I would have said Kevin should go right back into the starting spot. Now...not so sure. Maybe bring him off the bench for game #1 and see how it goes. Certianly if he comes back like Cisco did, where he's noticeably lacking in spark for the first few games, wouldn't want him to start. So like to see where he is physically before a move is made.

Next interesting question becomes how the minutes get split up. This is the first time since the kids emerged that we may have Artest/Bonzi/Kevin and Cisco all healthy and demanding minutes. We've had 3 of the 4. But now finding time for everybody will be tough. Because Kevin is pretty much a pure OG -- neither the mentality of a PG nor the bulk to play SF -- think he might fit better as the starter for the last few games leaving us with more versatile players off the bench (Bonzi OG/SF, Cisco SF/OG/PG). But the minutes will likely be held down in the 20's no matter where he is in the rotation.

 

[Kings113]

I put Bonzi for the rest of the season. Minutes I'd say would be pretty close no matter whos starting.

 

[Padrino]

bonzi was good off the bench, but he's also been good when starting. like any player, he makes bonehead mistakes off the bench, and he also makes bonehead mistakes when starting. there aren't that many games left, and who knows if it will only take one game or the rest for kevin to be prepared for the playoffs. go with bonzi as the starter for the remainder of the season, but split the minutes between the two evenly when kevin is back to 100%.

 

[VF21]

I think there are just too many variables at this point to try and predict this before Kevin even steps back on the court...

My inclination, however, is to keep things the way there are and hope Kevin can be as explosive coming off the bench as we need him to be.

It was Bonzi's position first. He lost it because of injury, and he got it back because of injury. That's just the way it goes.

As others have said, however, it's not about starting so much as being effective.

And we don't have a lot of time left to tinker with things. We just have to hope they'll each play their very best and get us INTO the playoffs.

 

[quick dog]

I would start Bonzi and substitute Kevin decent minutes. And, whoever plays the best would ultimately get the most minutes. I think this is how Adelman treats the Rahim and Kenny. This is how he handles Ron and Cisco. This is how he will handle Kevin and Bonzi. I think it will be facinating to watch.

 

[Entity]

simple if Kevin is aggressive and hitting open shots and actually into the game he should start. If he is hiding on the offense and not moving without the ball he should come off the bench. Its all up to Kevin, he is great player when he does what he can do, but when he is unwilling to take the shot or unwilling to drive the open lane he is no better than any other scrub in the league.

So if you give me Bonzi's best game and Kevins best game side by side i would go with kevin because of floor spacing.

 

[Wheeler03]

I don't understand this logic that you keep things like they are. People here seem to say that "if it ain't broke than don't fix it" when it came to Reef. Then they were fine that way when it came to Bonzi.

But, we haven't had a lot of success since Bonzi has returned to the starting lineup. Sure, Kevin Martin isn't playing off the bench - but it isn't our bench that has been problematic. It's our starting unit.

Honestly, I think people are discounting how much Kevin brings to the starting unit. Ball movement, smart decisions, helps with spacing ... Kevin is the better all-around player.

 

[VF21]

Kevin Martin is a better all-around player than Bonzi Wells?

...

I like Kevin...a LOT. But I don't know if I'm ready to make that statement quite yet. Kevin still has stuff to learn about the NBA. I love his explosiveness, I love his heart, I love his competitive spirit but I also like the "tricks of the trade" Bonzi brings.

Right now, we need the combination. Thank God we have a coach who seems to be able to communicate with guys like Bonzi, SAR, Kevin and KT and has them looking at the "TEAM FIRST" concept instead of thinking about themselves first.

That, IMHO, is what some people discount. With any other coach in there right now, who knows what would have happened.

 

[SacTownKid]

I say Bonzi and a big reason is because of what I think Kevin can bring off the bench. Garcia/Martin/Reef off the bench is enough to light a fire under anyone's butt!

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

I got the impression from Adelman interviews that Bonzi was going to end up a starter again anyway, coming off the bench was just a way of easing Bonzi back from injury.

 

[AriesMar27]

I wanted bonzi to start the minute that he was able too, its just been unfortunate that kevin and cisco had to go down in order for that to happen.....

kevin is great and everything but he is too small.... i cringed when artest was guarding kobe and martin was stuck on odom.... kevin is great for guarding pg's but outside of that....

 

[¿¿¿]

Bonzi is a better player at this point.

 

[Rome]

IMO Bonzi should also start in the playoffs. he has the experience and skills in the post needed for this team to succeed in the playoffs.

 

[Purple Reign]

Kevin Martin is Back Tonight.....

........Bonzi Wells will get the start, according to Elston Turner on the PGPT.

 

[kingsfan52miller]

........Bonzi Wells will get the start, according to Elston Turner on the PGPT.

yay!! Kmarts back!! but he should come off the bench because his timing will still probably be off

 

[OHSacFan]

And we don't have a lot of time left to tinker with things. We just have to hope they'll each play their very best and get us INTO the playoffs.

WELL SAID.