Should Kenny Thomas stay in the starting lineup?

[nbrans]

Sorry fans of Reef and KT... while both guys have NBA caliber games for either to start they HAVE to be matcheded with 4 other guys that of set their weaknesses and need their strenths. IF the Kings starting line up is Bibby, Bonzi, Ron and Brad... THEN Reef is ok... brings inside game, decent handles and is quicker than slow big men down low... Bonzi helps ofset the loss in the boards and it allwos Brad to play high post, but this is still a 5 man line that will get beat on boards by almost every team in the league... put Martin in the line up for Bonzi then forget it, not enugh boards, not enough size. Kenny solves the board problem but has no inside game and kets killed by every big man in the leage... zero interior D and Kings might as well roll out the red carpt and sent out printed invitations to the dunk-fest.

This summer I would hope that a package of a resinged Bonzi and either Reef, Kenny, Corless or even Skinner in some combo can be made for a big man who can play low with his back to the hoop, grab boards and gaurd the paint... call it a Center or Power Forwad it makes no difference it will smell as sweet as by that or anyother...

I agree too. If the question is KT vs. Reef starting then my answer is Shareef. Is the question is a shotblocker/rebounder vs. KT/Reef then my answer is shotblocker/rebounder.

 

[BMiller52]

Wow. I know that playmaker will take his time to response to your post so I won't repeat. However I do have 1 question for you. A team(as of today) with Bibby/Kmart/Ron/KT/Miller, the best post player is Ron which isn't must. When is the last time a team without a true post player go deep into the playoff?

Detroit pistons 04-present.

 

[KP]

It's sucks because I was definately dissapointed with Kenny last year(even though he does some things well), and I had really hoped Reef would be as advertised, and really be that more all around solid player at the 4 we really need. He has had an awful year injury wise, and I commend him for his heart, and he also does many things well, but his rebounding has been absolutely awful, there is just no way around it. The problem is we need rebounding and some shotblocking from the 4 on this team. Hopefully we can make some moves and try somebody else at the position, but at least we have hope again...

 

[sono]

Nope. Although, I don't see if Reef is much better upgrade over him. We have had no luck getting a solid PF ever since CWebb hurt his knee. We still lack inside game.

 

[venom_7]

I say only untill Reef gets into better shape. I think his play would still warrants 30 or more minutes. But his turnovers kill me too much for him to start.

 

[bench_blob]

I'm with Piksi. I like KT's boards. I do not like his jumpshooting, decision making, man defense (he did ok against Pau), help defense (he never does well), passing or basically anything but rebounding. I really don't like KT's game at all.

I totally agree. This guy throws the ball around the court like he drank a half bottle Jack Daniels before tip-off: throws to teammate when he isn't open, throws it into the third row. Just forces action and consistently makes poor decisions.

I think he's trying too hard to score because he is desperate to be productive and prove he should be a starter over Shareef.

Look at these turnover statistics last 7 games:

Boston - 4 TOs
Toronto - 6 TOs
Denver 4 TOs
Utah - 3 TOs
Utah - 2 TOs
Memphis - 5 TOs
Bulls - 1 TOs. (Only played 24 minutes 2 out of 9 shooting)

Pathetic.

Thats 25 TOs -- 3.5 TOs per game ---- way too many for a guy not even creating any offense for anyone else. In the same span a whopping 12 assists 1.7 per game : 1 assist for every 2 TOs.

If the Kings are going to be an elite team, which we can be with a little more team cohesion and personnel tinkering, no way can we have this kind of lolly-gagging bologna from any of our core players.

 

[Goo]

Detroit pistons 04-present.

RW is a very very good post player.

 

[Goo]

I dunno -- when is the last time a team with Reef on it MADE the playoffs?

Ok, low blow. But it was screaming to be taken -- the obvious point being there are post players and then there are post players.

Bibby and Webber don't made it b4 Kings either...

To directly answer your question BTW, '98 Bulls. In fact the '96 Bulls won 72 without a great post playing BIG guy. But they still ahd an excellent post player (Jordan), as do we in Artest. And the beauty of the Artest post game seen so far is that he can use it to make others around him better.

MJ is a deadly post player.
Kings play much better D with Artest, agree but for the win it is more like a Kmart factor.

 

[sono]

MJ is a deadly post player.
Kings play much better D with Artest, agree but for the win it is more like a Kmart factor.

Kmart? who you're refering to? If he's Martin then it's too early to tell.

 

[Entity]

Sorry fans of Reef and KT... while both guys have NBA caliber games for either to start they HAVE to be matcheded with 4 other guys that of set their weaknesses and need their strenths. IF the Kings starting line up is Bibby, Bonzi, Ron and Brad... THEN Reef is ok... brings inside game, decent handles and is quicker than slow big men down low... Bonzi helps ofset the loss in the boards and it allwos Brad to play high post, but this is still a 5 man line that will get beat on boards by almost every team in the league... put Martin in the line up for Bonzi then forget it, not enugh boards, not enough size. Kenny solves the board problem but has no inside game and kets killed by every big man in the leage... zero interior D and Kings might as well roll out the red carpt and sent out printed invitations to the dunk-fest.

This summer I would hope that a package of a resinged Bonzi and either Reef, Kenny, Corless or even Skinner in some combo can be made for a big man who can play low with his back to the hoop, grab boards and gaurd the paint... call it a Center or Power Forwad it makes no difference it will smell as sweet as by that or anyother...

better yet do that trade now and don't worry about who is on the bench and who is not. Kenny and Bonzi for Channing Frye and Penny Hardaway. Reef starts, Frye grows and Penny gives you experience and doenst worry about not starting. Because face it Kings fans Martin and Bonzi will be a problem when Bonzi is full strength. Bonzi was our MVP before the injury and Martin gives us the perfect compliment to Ron Artest and we are wining. So we will see what happens

 

[Folsom Al]

I like KT - all players have their faults, inefficiencies, good days, bad days, and moments/times of having a positive impact in a game.

I too like Kenny's rebounding (off & def) and NO FEAR attitude of going at the rim on the offensive end.

He should be KNOCKIN' DOWN those WIDE-OPEN jumpers ... it's well within his range ... and I cringe when all I hear is a CLANK ... nobody in his face or even near him.

For now, till Shareef is 100% - absolutely .... but, KT has got to realize "every player in the King's lineup is a role player - more-or-less"

 

[dunkondem]

Admitted Kenny fan here! General rule of sports is that if a starter is injured he/she does not lose their position as a result (once they make a full recover). The Kings without a doubt are better off with Kenny getting minutes, whether those minutes come in the starting role are not does not matter. Kenny has proven he deserves at least 25 minutes per game, he was not getting enough minutes prior to SAR’s injury. Kenny is a double double treat every night, he is willing to due the dirty work and others benefit from his play.

 

[BMiller52]

RW is a very very good post player.

But he'd rather shoot 3s.

 

[thesanityannex]

Admitted Kenny fan here! General rule of sports is that if a starter is injured he/she does not lose their position as a result (once they make a full recover). The Kings without a doubt are better off with Kenny getting minutes, whether those minutes come in the starting role are not does not matter. Kenny has proven he deserves at least 25 minutes per game, he was not getting enough minutes prior to SAR’s injury. Kenny is a double double treat every night, he is willing to due the dirty work and others benefit from his play.

I agree with everything but this.

 

[LoungeLizard]

But he'd rather shoot 3s.

That's because there are no 4's.

 

[BMiller52]

That's because there are no 4's.

ROFL. The pistons should trade for Antoine.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Kenny Thomas fits in the starting line-up, with our new attitude, way better than SAR. I think SAR coming off the bench is going to prove to be more valuable than him starting.

 

[Larry89]

Usually I see KT force the Issue or try to force a play or a pass and it ends up in a horrendous turnover, I've been seeing it more and more lately.

And I see him doing alot of 1v1 and failing, either ending up in a TO or a missed shot.

His shot has been horribly inconsistent lately also.

 

[loopymitch]

I say yes only until SAR gets back to his original form. Then he can start pouting again.

 

[Kings113]

On KTs TOs, I remember that one flailing force shot around the rim at Boston. The ball just slammed off the rim really hard and made a loud bang. Artest was standing there wide open too, lol.

 

[Gary]

I think if we told SAR, and KT to go out and get rebounds and play some D that KT would do a better job than SAR. SAR is also a better bench player than KT. Not sure if it is beause KT pouts or something when he has to come off the bench or what. I think I like the lineup as it is now. Bonzi, and SAR should come off the bench.

 

[Kings113]

Bonzi won't be coming off the bench with regularity. If at all.

 

[Bricklayer]

Bonzi won't be coming off the bench with regularity. If at all.

And if he does, there's going to be trouble.

That's not really an option. Gotta start him or trade him.

 

[Kings113]

Indeed.