[Game] Kings @ Clippers - 10/25/13

I don't really care about what this season could mean for the respective careers of Grevis Vasquez and Isaiah Thomas. Here's what I care about: the Kings have hitched their wagon to DeMarcus Cousins. When Grevis Vasquez is on the court, he's looking for DeMarcus Cousins. When Isaiah Thomas is on the court, he's looking for Isaiah Thomas.

Vasquez should start.

I'm going to stop arguing for Thomas because It's making me uncomfortable :)

I just think Thomas has completely outplayed GV on both ends. It's not even close. Cousins doesn't like losing and he love Thomas. While I largely agree with your assessment of Thomas (shoot first) if the team plays better when he is in (due to lack of better options) than I think that is what we should do. Evans is gone. If Thomas is starting with Ben there SHOULD be enough shots for Cousins and Thomas. McLemore isn't someone who is going to take up a ton of shots or offensive possessions. Same goes for Salmons and Patterson. Thomas and Cousins would and should get a majority of the shots per game.

Is it ideal? no. Is it what I planned for at the start of training camp? no.

But it might be reality right now. Might. I don't know for sure yet.
 
Well, I will confess that went MUCH BETTER than I thought it would at the beginning... Very curious to see what our lineup is to start the 3rd.
 
I like starting GV with Cousins so we can try and get him going at the start of every game. After that I am totally ok with IT coming in and playing a lot of the minutes (if he passes a little bit). IT could even play more minutes than GV, but I think GV needs to be in there at the start of games to get Cousins going.
 
IT- +17 on the floor

Vasquez- -14 on the floor

Also, thought Outlaw played really well. He's stopped doing the "I'm going to dribble twice into traffic and shoot a contested 20 footer" and is taking a majority of shots in spot-up situations. He's also had a big impact defensively.
 
I think Thornton is playing well. On defense and on offense. About damn time. Outlaw too. IT has been unreal, props to him. I still like him off the bench as that sparkplug. GV has to be better, however. I have not been too impressed with him thus far. Cousins needs to not foul so much.

I really liked the intensity we had after the first unit split up. We need that from the first unit though.
 
the bench crew was basically just playing Sacto 2011-2013 Smartball, something they looked very comfortable with.

But damn do we have no starters. Ok. One starter. We should just start 4 random guys around Cousins, call a timeout after our first possession, and immediately sub in 4 reserves.
 
IT- +19 on the floor

Vasquez- -14 on the floor

Also, thought Outlaw played really well. He's stopped doing the "I'm going to dribble twice into traffic and shoot a contested 20 footer" and is taking a majority of shots in spot-up situations. He's also had a big impact defensively.

He was really unhappy last season and wanted to get away from the team, according to his GF during a plane flight last year. He looks a lot happier this year and it sure is showing.
 
IT looks pretty good although he slowed down a bunch once Paul came back in.

I'm still satisfied with Vasquez (at least on offense). He definitely makes more point guard type passes than IT does. Problem is they were to a cold Salmons and Patterson. He also seems to make it a point to feature Cousins.

Honestly IT might be better off the bench where he can be featured around lesser offensive players. It should allow Vasquez to feed Cousins and Thornton while IT can go crazy leading the bench.
 
Maybe if IT can play every single minute of the second half they win this game. He's been the difference maker. So far, I haven't seen much from Vasquez. That starting lineup had no oomph except for Cousins.
 
For all the criticism of GV this game, he had 3 assists, 0 TOs in 10 minutes. If you go back and look at the 1st Q, he should more assists. I'd say that the guys he played with were more to blame than him. Poor start by Salmons and even Cuz....and MT and PPat. I'd pair Ben up with GV, I'd start GV with Cuz to make sure we are feeding the big guy. I think I might put Outlaw out there as well with his length. IT off the bench has been darn good...why mess with that. IT and MT off the bench with Luc at SF and Salmons benched....makes sense.
 
I like starting GV with Cousins so we can try and get him going at the start of every game. After that I am totally ok with IT coming in and playing a lot of the minutes (if he passes a little bit). IT could even play more minutes than GV, but I think GV needs to be in there at the start of games to get Cousins going.
i agree with this here
 
Our bench seems to be a strength with IT now. Past few years we lost a lot of leads when 3/5 of the bench was in. Landry would be nice addition. Only problem right now is figuring a starting 5 using cuz and Vasquez.
 
I'm going to stop arguing for Thomas because It's making me uncomfortable :)

I just think Thomas has completely outplayed GV on both ends. It's not even close. Cousins doesn't like losing and he love Thomas. While I largely agree with your assessment of Thomas (shoot first) if the team plays better when he is in (due to lack of better options) than I think that is what we should do. Evans is gone. If Thomas is starting with Ben there SHOULD be enough shots for Cousins and Thomas. McLemore isn't someone who is going to take up a ton of shots or offensive possessions. Same goes for Salmons and Patterson. Thomas and Cousins would and should get a majority of the shots per game.

Is it ideal? no. Is it what I planned for at the start of training camp? no.

But it might be reality right now. Might. I don't know for sure yet.
I have two basic problems with that:
  1. I'm not someone who subscribes to the belief that your five best players "have" to start. Manu Ginobili may not be as good as Danny Green, at this stage of his career; there's not a person in the world who thinks that he wasn't as good as a young Stephen Jackson, or an old Michael Finley. Is there anyone in the world, with the possible exception of his wife, who thinks that J.J. Redick is better than Jamal Crawford? What is it with people's pathological aversion to bringing a capable scorer off the bench?
  2. As previously stated, Cousins, for better or worse, is the most important player on this team. Starting a point guard who's going to keep Cousins involved in the offense is more important than starting a point guard who may be playing "better" but won't.
Also, regarding your proposed starting lineup, let me just say, eww...
 
the bench crew was basically just playing Sacto 2011-2013 Smartball, something they looked very comfortable with.

But damn do we have no starters. Ok. One starter. We should just start 4 random guys around Cousins, call a timeout after our first possession, and immediately sub in 4 reserves.

And the scary thing is, Cousins isn't that good, neither. He is especially poor defensively.
 
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