SacBee: Kings Notes: Bibby and Martin better 'D' up
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Rockmeister
All-Star
Bibby and Martin better D' up
The inference became the official word Thursday, when Kings coach Reggie Theus said Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby will start their respective returns from injury by coming off the bench.
And as if it was training camp all over again, Theus pounded the point that defense and effort will decide how quickly they return to the starting lineup.
"Their play defensively, their stamina, and the flow of the team will dictate how many minutes they get," Theus said. "My responsibility is to everybody, not just the stars."
Read more at http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/626608.html
The inference became the official word Thursday, when Kings coach Reggie Theus said Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby will start their respective returns from injury by coming off the bench.
And as if it was training camp all over again, Theus pounded the point that defense and effort will decide how quickly they return to the starting lineup.
"Their play defensively, their stamina, and the flow of the team will dictate how many minutes they get," Theus said. "My responsibility is to everybody, not just the stars."
Read more at http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/626608.html
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Geoff has to resolve this or there will be trouble in Sactown sooner or later. We have six guys who can claim starting spots for three positions, and at least four of them who will nto be happy with anything less (and maybe five since Beno will absolutely leave us at year's end for a starting shot someplace else if its not going to be here). That's before we even get to Jones and Douby, who will go from major bench guys to scrubs overnight. Reggie's got a tough balancing act to perform, but there is only so much he can do. Geoff is the only one who can clean things up.
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A
AriesMar27
Guest
i could care less about douby, he's useless now thanx to beno... jones is cool though, sucks for him... bibby and martin are starters... bringing them off the bench is okay for a game or two but thats it...
PurpleHaze
All-Star
There's no way Bibby or Martin starts for this Kings team when they return. They'll be coming off the bench as they round back into top form. The question is exactly how long is the round into top form process... er... "better 'D up"... standard going to last before both finally get back their respective starting positions. Obviously the 'D up part is most critical to Coach Theus. With over half the season left there's no dire need to frantically rush them back into starting roles unlike if this were a college team with only about 35 games, not NBA season 82 total, or some situation where team had zero bench strength.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
It's pretty obvious to isn't it. Great situation to be in but he needs to act sooner than later. I would go with the most obvious and most often mentioned trade guys as the ones to be moved.
Gary
All-Star
Grant, and Jerry always say "It's a good problem to have" when they talk about who will start, and play backup when Martin/Bibby/Artest come back.
I don't agree with them. I probably never really fully 100% no doubt about it agree with them anyway, but this "problem" we have might spoil their return.
I can assume that Bibby/Martin/Artest will all want to start, relegating Beno/Salmons/Garcia to the bench. Six players all shooting for playing time at three positions is going to leave a player out of the mix. A trade needs to happen. Perhaps two. There are a ton of teams that can use the services of a decent swing player. If we were to trade one of our guys.. Let's say... Artest? That would leave us with Bibby, Martin, and Salmons all playing 35 mins and Garcia/Beno each getting approx 20 mins per game. That's the ideal situation imo.
I don't agree with them. I probably never really fully 100% no doubt about it agree with them anyway, but this "problem" we have might spoil their return.
I can assume that Bibby/Martin/Artest will all want to start, relegating Beno/Salmons/Garcia to the bench. Six players all shooting for playing time at three positions is going to leave a player out of the mix. A trade needs to happen. Perhaps two. There are a ton of teams that can use the services of a decent swing player. If we were to trade one of our guys.. Let's say... Artest? That would leave us with Bibby, Martin, and Salmons all playing 35 mins and Garcia/Beno each getting approx 20 mins per game. That's the ideal situation imo.
gunks
Hall of Famer
And a grand job he's done at that these past few seasons.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
What people continue to miss is that those two positions are one and the same thing in the NBA. Its not high school. Its an ego management position.
And, in some cases, fan management.
If he weren't a politician, would he be making speeches all the time?
bloom
Starter
So I was listening to Grant and Mike and it seemed that Grant (as much as he respects and likes Coach Reggie Theus) didn't like what Reggie had to say about Kevin Martin coming back, how Kevin had to “earn” his minutes. He said that if he were Kevin, that he would be pissed about that comment cause Kevin is the third leading scorer in the league (before his injury) and he’s already proved himself when he was healthy. Does anybody agree with Grant (and I do know that a lot of people on this board has a problem with him but putting that aside) or do you think he’s wrong?
I don’t want to bring this up but, what some people don’t realize is that Chris (as much as I love him and what he did for Sacramento) was not and will not have come off the bench for anything or anybody. He wants to be the starter and even if it meant hindering his team and throwing off their team chemistry, he wanted to be out there.
I don’t want to bring this up but, what some people don’t realize is that Chris (as much as I love him and what he did for Sacramento) was not and will not have come off the bench for anything or anybody. He wants to be the starter and even if it meant hindering his team and throwing off their team chemistry, he wanted to be out there.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I think...that we have a problem brewing. And again, that Geoff has to resolve it. Reggie has to be careful -- he has largely tabled the pseudo-tough guy my way or the highway stuff after the muttering in the lockerroom reached a crescendo, and now is not the time to restart it. I figure he's got about 5 games, tops, before the original starters have to be starting again, or there will be trouble. And he can talk all he wants, but that's just the truth of the matter. Neither Mike Bibby, nor Kevin Martin nor Ron Artest is going to accept any long term benching or platoon situation. And our problem is that after such a good run, now neither is John Salmons (nor really should a guy putting up the numbers he is). (Beno might. For a few months. But then he will leave us looking to start now that he's gotten a taste of it. Cisco I think will for the time being.)
As for whether that is right or wrong? Irrelevant. Egos are involved for major, accomplished, NBA players. Just the way it is. If Reggie is smart he'll huff and puff to gratify the egos of the current starters, and then quickly concede the spots back to the regular starters, while claiming that they are defending as well as he had demanded. But he's going to be stuck really scrambling to keep a lid on the chemistry, stelaing minutes from his starters to give to Salmons/Beno/Cisco, shifting Ron to PF and pissing off Mikki again (and largely eliminating the kids' minutes). Losing Jones and Douby, with the always cheerful KT sitting over there brooding. In any case, Reggie's got no reasonable choice but to pander to the returning stars -- without that things will go nuclear in a hurrry. Mike and Ron are in potential contract years, Kevin is trying to establish himself as a star. They aren't going to tolerate a coach trifling with their minutes. but with all the other guys also wanting minutes, merely moving the starters back into their spots isn't going to be enough.
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Entity
Hall of Famer
I am hanging on the fence on this issue. i don't know which way to go. I imagine its alot harder for Theus than it is me. You got 3 proven starters vs. 3 starters that are proving themselves. Then you have the old addage that an injury shouldn't make you lose your position. I have a feeling we will not have this problem after the trade deadline.
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
Winning cures all ills, I think. If the team is winning, then I can see Theus sticking with what works. If we are losing, then we will likely see some grumbling and Theus will have to shake things up.
Remember the 03 team? Bibby/Bobby/Christie/JJackson/Peja/Hedo
Remember the 03 team? Bibby/Bobby/Christie/JJackson/Peja/Hedo
Remember the 03 team? Bibby/Bobby/Christie/JJackson/Peja/Hedo
Still, that was only 2 guys per position, plus a few who joined the inevitable injured King in waving towels. And, even with a 10-man rotation, some players didn't get the minutes they should have. (Gerald Wallace, anyone?) At SF and/or SG we will have:
1) Artest
2) Martin
3) Salmons
4) Garcia
5) Douby
6) Jones
Unless we manage a trade which changes that, we're going to be looking at underutilization, or actively playing a roster of 10-12. I'm not sure whether we can expect Theus to juggle that many players all the time.
Entity
Hall of Famer
Douby and Jones are not the problem I am worrying about. Douby can ride for all I care. Jones has been a hustle guy but so is Garcia so oh well. what monkey doesn't remember is Hedo had a alot of DNP because of JJ doing so well. Then Hedo got traded that offseason and JJ signed somewhere else after the season. Then we drafted another sg (Kevin Martin) that summer. I suggest one gets traded (Artest or Bibby) and it will be a little easier. Just hope one doesn't leave in the offseason or you can guess what we will be drafting.
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