thedofd
Bench
Maybe this should be a separate thread, but I think this is a fair question: If you were coaching, how WOULD you distribute the minutes to A) remain competitive and thus acceptable to the majority of your fans over the rest of the season while B) giving younger players the opportunity to develop.
There are 240 total minutes available in a regulation game. Typically, starters average 30-35 minutes. A look at the Kings' stats bears that out: Artest averages 37 mpg, KMart 35.4 and Bibby 35.2. Shareef and Kenny essentially split the minutes at power forward (25.7 mpg and 23.4 mpg, respectively). Brad averages only 28.4 mpg, followed by Corliss (19.3) and Cisco (15.1).
Maybe the Kings' goal for the rest of the season should be to get more time for Cisco, at least 10 minutes a game for Price and Douby, and at least 5 minutes in each game for Justin Williams.
Part of the issue here is matchups: Cisco plays the same positions as KMart and Salmons. Muss could buy some minutes at small forward by moving Artest to power forward when matchups allow. Production-wise, it makes sense to play KT and Corliss less, although KT could be a pain the in a-- in the locker room and Corliss probably deserves better for being a trooper, frustrating as he is to watch at times.
I don't see many scenarios where the Kings can play Bibby, Price and Douby together for long stretches, and I also don't see the Kings destroying Bibby's confidence or trade value by cutting way back on his minutes. Salmons plays some backup point, so there's minimal time to be had here.
It's sort of similar to the situation the Kings faced when they had Gerald Wallace behind Peja and Hedo; they may have to bite the bullet and decide that either Price or Douby gets a serious look at the expense of the other. While Douby has shown offensive flashes, I like Price's energy on defense -- that half-court trap they threw in against Indy was very effective -- and his quickness, so I might be inclined to give him the edge at the moment.
There are 240 total minutes available in a regulation game. Typically, starters average 30-35 minutes. A look at the Kings' stats bears that out: Artest averages 37 mpg, KMart 35.4 and Bibby 35.2. Shareef and Kenny essentially split the minutes at power forward (25.7 mpg and 23.4 mpg, respectively). Brad averages only 28.4 mpg, followed by Corliss (19.3) and Cisco (15.1).
Maybe the Kings' goal for the rest of the season should be to get more time for Cisco, at least 10 minutes a game for Price and Douby, and at least 5 minutes in each game for Justin Williams.
Part of the issue here is matchups: Cisco plays the same positions as KMart and Salmons. Muss could buy some minutes at small forward by moving Artest to power forward when matchups allow. Production-wise, it makes sense to play KT and Corliss less, although KT could be a pain the in a-- in the locker room and Corliss probably deserves better for being a trooper, frustrating as he is to watch at times.
I don't see many scenarios where the Kings can play Bibby, Price and Douby together for long stretches, and I also don't see the Kings destroying Bibby's confidence or trade value by cutting way back on his minutes. Salmons plays some backup point, so there's minimal time to be had here.
It's sort of similar to the situation the Kings faced when they had Gerald Wallace behind Peja and Hedo; they may have to bite the bullet and decide that either Price or Douby gets a serious look at the expense of the other. While Douby has shown offensive flashes, I like Price's energy on defense -- that half-court trap they threw in against Indy was very effective -- and his quickness, so I might be inclined to give him the edge at the moment.
