Thorton and Jimmer

[Lennox]

Any else think we should try starting Thorton over Ben now? We have tried to start Ben for awhile now and he is improving. But why not let Ben come off the bench and let the more experienced Thorton get another shot. What do we have to lose by doing this?
I might try Jimmer for a couple games too with IT bringing a spark off the bench.. If jimmer can do what he did last night and get the ball to Cuz and take open shots, I think it can work out well for all.
Thorton and Jimmer seem to play decent together in the short time they have played.
What are you thoughts?

 

[hrdboild]

Well, this is a hell no for me. Jimmer playing within himself for limited stretches is a positive development for him. I wouldn't push it right now and try to incorporate him into the starting unit somehow. There's more to being a starting PG than just feeding Cousins the ball. I would start by letting him play more minutes off the bench. If he continues to follow the offense and take the shots he should be taking, then we can reconsider this later in the season.

But mostly I think Marcus Thornton's re-emergence as a shot-taker has hurt our offense more than it has helped. If all you care about is scoring points, then sure he's your man. But for so many reasons, getting Ben McLemore comfortable and engaged in these games is more important to the future of the team. The results aren't there obviously on the defensive end, but it's not for lack of effort. Ben is one of the guys who is listening to coach Malone and trying to do what he's asking. He's not freelancing with the ball, he's not committing excessive turnovers, and he's not playing minimal effort D. This is where you need to continue investing time in young talent for better production down the road.

 

[Glenn]

Ben is part of the future. Thornton is not. Jimmer is not. What is to be gained by what you want? A win or two?? In my mind, that's not what I want as I want #1 Ben to play as a starter as that's what he will be in the next few years and #2 lose to get a higher draft pick.

 

[Lennox]

I don't think it would hurt Ben too much coming off the bench, he still has a lot to learn and would still get plenty on minutes.
IT is better coming off the bench
They will have a different starting PG next year anyway.

 

[TheFirstBandwagonKingsFan]

In my opinion, I sometimes see IT slow down when he is logging high min. He is a fast paced high energy guy. Playing with that effort takes a lot out of a player. Before this game Jimmer has played eh at best so you have to ride IT till his wheels fall off. I hope Jimmer keeps playing solid, so they can rest IT more especially in back to back situations.
Who knows it might help with his production and maybe give him more energy to use on D? Idk just throwing it out there.

 

[jsb]

Not sure what people see in McLemore. For most of the season he has been horrible on both offense and defense but they are willing to look past that. You could argue that he has cost this team a few games with his lack of production. MT for all his horrible shooting at least will go off every once in a while and his defense isn't any worse than Ben.

 

[dude12]

Jimmer's playing time is solely to increase his little value so that we may move him. If he can show decently, maybe a team gives us a 2nd round pick. That's my take and I'm sticking to it.

 

[ESP47]

I don't think it matters how we use most of our players. The majority of them aren't any good and no matter the combination, they still aren't going to be any good when all is said and done.

 

[bajaden]

Not sure what people see in McLemore. For most of the season he has been horrible on both offense and defense but they are willing to look past that. You could argue that he has cost this team a few games with his lack of production. MT for all his horrible shooting at least will go off every once in a while and his defense isn't any worse than Ben.

For the last 4 games, McLemore is averaging 73.7% overall, and 69.0% from the three. And yet, despite those averages, he was ignored 9 different times during the game when he was wide open on the wings, and waving his arm for the ball. You can't do much offensively when you never touch the ball. He only took 2 shots in last nights game, and that wasn't his fault. Defensively, he has a long way to go, and most of his problem is lack of experience, and you don't get experience sitting on the bench. If your only going to judge McLemore, in the short term, then you would have never seen anything in Kobe his first year either, or Nash, or Stockton, and I could go on and on. Not every player that comes into the league is an instant star. The Lebron's and Jordan's of the world are the exception, and not the norm.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Nope...gotta roll with the rook still, sorry. We REALLY need to find a taker...ANYBODY...for our incredibly 'solid' guard tandem of Thornton/Jimmer. Perhaps a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered for them...because they have absolutely NO future with this team. Pete...PETE!!!

 

[kingwin]

thorton has been more engaged on both sides of the ball lately and we would be better with him starting instead of ben, but i dont think sitting ben is the answer at this point. ben needs confidence for the future, so we just let him take his lumps and hopefully he grows. i just wish thorton started the season like this, i mean the job was all his and he still let it slip out of his hands...jimmer played well, especially against brian roberts on ball defense...

 

[dude12]

Not sure what people see in McLemore. For most of the season he has been horrible on both offense and defense but they are willing to look past that. You could argue that he has cost this team a few games with his lack of production. MT for all his horrible shooting at least will go off every once in a while and his defense isn't any worse than Ben.

Harden shot 40% his first year, Kobe shot like 41% his 1st and his 2nd year wasn't much better.....and I'm not saying that Ben is going to be anything remotely close to these guys but just saying....it happens...first years can be tough.

 

[Bricklayer]

Not sure what people see in McLemore. For most of the season he has been horrible on both offense and defense but they are willing to look past that. You could argue that he has cost this team a few games with his lack of production. MT for all his horrible shooting at least will go off every once in a while and his defense isn't any worse than Ben.

Its all potential. I will be the first one to tell you he has been complete crap thus far, with 2 NBA level abilities/traits (the form on that jumper and his athleticism, which helps on the glass too) and a bunch of stuff that would get you run off the park if he were 6 inches shorter. But the form on the jumper is so perfect you just expect it to start going in eventually. And he's such a remarkable athlete you expect...well I don't know what, but he will never fail due to lack of athleticism. So its all potential. He might be a Top 10 prettiest looking shot until he shoots it guy, and a Top 10 athlete in the NBA.

As for Thornton -- only as a prelude to trading him. But the thing is, I don't think starting him would help either us or a trade because think about it -- Cuz, Gay and IT are all still there. The shots are all spoken for. This last game Ben got 2 shots. JT 4. Even if Marcus is coming out his megaslump, the very last place he would be able to help us with scoring is in the shothappy starting lineup.

If we had a legit option that could somehow thrive despite never being allowed to touch the ball by the other starters, I'd start him in a second over Ben. Right now Ben is out there almost as a designated defender, but he's one of the worst defenders in the league. Give me a Thabo and I start him instantly. I actually think Ben might be better off. I certainly know we would as a team. But Thornton is the last sort of guy who can thrive in a shot deprived environment. If he's coming alive he's much more likely to be able to provide us with punch coming off the bench.

 

[Tetsujin]

Not sure what people see in McLemore. For most of the season he has been horrible on both offense and defense but they are willing to look past that. You could argue that he has cost this team a few games with his lack of production. MT for all his horrible shooting at least will go off every once in a while and his defense isn't any worse than Ben.

He's also among the youngest players in the league with elite athleticism and a stroke that is (theoretically) well-developed for his age. The team really gains nothing out of benching him for MT at this point. Unless you'd count shattering a young guy's confidence as a gain. We made our choice when we moved Ben to the starting lineup. Moving him back to the bench for MT does zilch for his development.

 

[SacKings2002NBAChampions]

Why would you bench a player with immense potential compared to one who isn't part of the future and doesn't have the confidence to stay on top.
We're already going to finish bottom of the league anyways. It's not like Thornton is a guaranteed scorer or that he will bring something to this team bar a game here and there. Ben has been improving a lot from what I've seen. Sure, he doesn't put up big numbers like a SG should, but he also doesn't get that many shots. His defense will improve as he matures. He's a great kid with great potential. Thornton was good until he got exposed.

 

[Kingster]

Nope. You have to ride McLemore until the very end of this year, unless there is a trade for an established 2-guard vet. There really don't appear to be many options currently, although I'd be taking a look in the D-league for a backup point guard. I just don't see Jimmer being able to handle that position, and IT could get worn down quite quickly with 40+ minutes a game.

 

[treach1976]

Nope. You have to ride McLemore until the very end of this year, unless there is a trade for an established 2-guard vet. There really don't appear to be many options currently, although I'd be taking a look in the D-league for a backup point guard. I just don't see Jimmer being able to handle that position, and IT could get worn down quite quickly with 40+ minutes a game.

Don't start... Jimmer's been handling the limited back-up minutes he's been getting just fine. He's not blowing anyone out of the water, but he hasn't been hurting the team (unless you want to spotlight his 3 minute / 2 Turnover stint against the Heat).

 

[Kingster]

Don't start... Jimmer's been handling the limited back-up minutes he's been getting just fine. He's not blowing anyone out of the water, but he hasn't been hurting the team (unless you want to spotlight his 3 minute / 2 Turnover stint against the Heat).

Jimmer is getting extremely limited minutes for one reason - he's not that good in the backup pg role. A couple of games ago Malone said he was going to play him more because he realized IT was getting tired. Malone tried it, and it didn't work. He yanked Jimmer and got IT back in there for his 40+ minutes. This team needs a pg that Malone can play 15-20 minutes a game without creating an extra worry line in Malone's face. I'd settle and try to find a guy who isn't that great of a shooter, but a better ball handler.