Where's the weakest position of the bench?

[HaraWish]

Everybody knows our bench are not good as we expected. But where's the WEAKEST postion of the bench, in your opinion?

I don't want to harsh some players or to make trade suggestions. (IMO, they have talents, and have to step up soon.)

I'm just curious what you think about our bench.

ps : Big nasty goes into PF (just in my opinion.)

 

[HaraWish]

I choose the PG. Of course, Jason Hart is selected for his defense, and he's not so good at offense as much as defense. However, when I saw him in preseason, he did well with team offense and penetration. So I expect a lot. But now...

I think we have to find a answer at PG, otherwise Bibby would have some problems - He had no rest nowadays, especially without Peja.

 

[AriesMar27]

there isnt one player on our bench that i would want or be okay with starting in place of an injured player....

back in the day we had bobby, hedo, jimmy, darius and evans or barnes i guess to a lesser extent.... this bench is horrible.... the combination of hart, martin and garcia might be good in 2 years but right now they are not helping.... if they are only productive one at a time when our leading scorer is out then we are in trouble.....

 

[Londonking]

I definately expected more from the KT and Corliss.

Both have plenty of nba experience, but neither have been particularly effective for us as far as i can tell.

 

[tyrant]

the point guard position is pretty steady. mike is a good point guard. hart can shoot the ball and play defense. however im concerned with every other position on the bench. the kings used to be so good that our bench players could start for more than half the teams in the league. our bench is so terrible none of them could start for the bobcats. the bench has caused us at least 2 games.

 

[DirkAB]

the point guard position is pretty steady. mike is a good point guard. hart can shoot the ball and play defense. however im concerned with every other position on the bench. the kings used to be so good that our bench players could start for more than half the teams in the league. our bench is so terrible none of them could start for the bobcats. the bench has caused us at least 2 games.

I couldn't disagree more, Hart has been the biggest disappointment of the season so far. His offense is crippling to the team and when Bibby comes out of the game the Kings are half the team. An injury to Bibby seems to me the only injury that the Kings absolutely can't have. If Bibby gets injured I think the Kings would be absolutely terrible.

 

[Purple Reign]

I think the biggest question mark is at small forward. We have seen what Garcia can do as a starter, but yet to see him be productive off of the bench. And to me the biggest holes on the team is permeter play off of the bench. Martin has shown a little that he can be productive. Hart is what he is and that is not going to change. But they have gotten absolutely zero from the SF spot. That is why I had (and the operative word is had) been such an advocate to get Latrell Sprewell.

 

[Kings113]

Swingman depth.

Regardless of Garcia. I think he should improve the bench a bit, but he is still a rook as much as I like him.

Skinner hasn't played enough or much at all, nor has Corliss. Hart, as time goes on (in relation to fitting in), I expect to do more on offense than how it's been. As it's known, his defense is quite nice. Also known about his time in Charlotte, starting or not. 5-10 pts and 3-5 assists off the bench would be fine here.

I think they're still adjusting themselves and with the team itself.

I think the biggest question mark is at small forward. We have seen what Garcia can do as a starter, but yet to see him be productive off of the bench. And to me the biggest holes on the team is permeter play off of the bench. Martin has shown a little that he can be productive. Hart is what he is and that is not going to change. But they have gotten absolutely zero from the SF spot. That is why I had (and the operative word is had) been such an advocate to get Latrell Sprewell.

I disagree on Hart, it's still such a young season and the guy is on a different team still gelling with it. Writing him off is pre-mature, IMO.

Wesley Person would improve the scoring off the bench well, providing a spark. Lucious Harris ditto. Jarvis Hayes ditto. Rodney White ditto. Adrian Griffin would provide more defense and some scoring, again providing a spark. Also Felipe Lopez.

edit: Other than possibly Hayes, the rest's length would be just for this season.

 

[Bricklayer]

None of those guys listed is a real impact guy. Maybe Hayes, but he's really not a carry you 6th man type so much as a consistent shooter to play along with the starters or to be a 7th man if you have a 6th already there who is the bench's straw that stirs the drink.

And just adding another mediocre bencher isn't going to change the mix much IMO. I really think we need a leader/standout bencher. Just one. And that if you had that magically all the rest of the bench guys would look better. It would give them something to play off of, and someone to follow and feed off of.

Also think that there has to be a decision made one way or the other. We say we want a better bench. but then we also say just give the kids time to develop. Well, the two things really don't work together. If you make a move to strengthen the bench, youo send the kids back to the pine. So you either have to kind of just suck it up, accept the crappy bench play, and hope it pays off down the road. Or you have to make a move and accept the fact that we've once again squished the kids and given them no tiem to develop, in whihc case they never get better.

 

[SacDoug]

Weakest position?

I don't think of it as a specific weakest position. I think the bench just does not have a good 3pt shooter. That would be SF, SG, or PG position to be exact.

Last night we saw the results with no Peja, the Raptors went to a zone defense. With Bibbly in the game, he took 10 3pt shots and scored half of them. The bench's 3pt shooting is horrible. Jason Hart 3-7, Garcia 1-14 and Martin 3-17. Every team knows that the Kings only have two players that can shoot the 3, Peja and Mike. Last year Eddie House and Bobby Jackson could come off the bench and shoot 3s. Add to that, Cattino Mobley and there was usually 2-3 long ball threats on the floor all the time. Opponents can ignore the 3pt line when Mike and Peja are not on the floor this year. They know

Martin and Garcia are going to have to shoot a lot better. Especially, Martin since he is extremely streaky. On the starters, I would like to see Bonzi shooting the corner 3 more often.

 

[Bballkingsrock]

Well, benches are suppose to give a spark and give energy off the enc. None of that has happened. I think the Kings bench is RIGHT NOW awful so I voted for they are all bad.

 

[anafree]

I mean that Martin is weakest place in this team. Too much mistakes in his time. We desperatly need more athletism on second guard position . And shooting skills?, that K-Mart lacks. Maybe Patterson?

 

[Kings113]

I mean that Martin is weakest place in this team. Too much mistakes in his time. We desperatly need more athletism on second guard position . And shooting skills?, that K-Mart lacks. Maybe Patterson?

Patterson isn't much of a shooter, but I wouldn't mind him, and like him as a player.

Martin is still developing obviously, but will likely be inconsistent while showing flashes. Just to say, I know he watched/studied Rip Hamilton tapes over the summer, and showed a bit of it vs. the Nets.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

You can pretty much tell which posters have an axe to grind by looking at who voted for what; I'm inclined to think that the only people participating in this poll that don't have a bias for or against a particular player are the ones who said that the whole bench is bad.

 

[NewMonkey]

I definately expected more from the KT and Corliss.

Both have plenty of nba experience, but neither have been particularly effective for us as far as i can tell.

Corliss has only played in half the games and only 8 minutes per game he's played. Kenny has been stinking it up. He obviously needs to be moved.

 

[swisshh]

Also think that there has to be a decision made one way or the other. We say we want a better bench. but then we also say just give the kids time to develop. Well, the two things really don't work together.

That's basically the problem in my eyes. The bench's biggest weakness is its inexperience. They have little experience in terms of seasons, and less experience in playing together. Plus, the guy who is likely your best threat off the bench(Corliss) isn't playing because there's a logjam at forward and the coach is trying to develop the young guys.

It's basically:

"Man the bench is doing nothing."
"That's because your best bench guy never plays."
"Well we're developing the young guys!"


And there's the predicament that people don't seem to get. Yes, the bench has been weak, but you are handicapping the bench to begin with. Either go with the flow of inexperience or just switch it up. I'm tired of hearing complaints about the bench while it is in its current situation.

 

[Kings113]

^ I mostly agree

 

[SacTownKid]

I would say SG for the role they are trying to fit Kevin in. They are expecting Kevin to come in and be a perimeter scorer, which I don't think he has quite mastered yet, to say the least. I love his defense though. He just needs time. But how much? We'll see what Adelman does with the bench when Peja comes back.

 

[Kings113]

I would say SG for the role they are trying to fit Kevin in. They are expecting Kevin to come in and be a perimeter scorer, which I don't think he has quite mastered yet, to say the least. I love his defense though. He just needs time. We'll see what Adelman does with the bench when Peja comes back.

Agreed.

 

[Folsom Al]

The CENTER position .... IMO, Skinner disappears ..... sure, there's a made basket here and maybe there .... and a block here and maybe there ... but, when Miller gets a breather ... what exactly is the role of our C ???

... thinking outloud - Sampson = ???

 

[Kings113]

Skinner hasn't played much, and Sampson's played 2 minutes in 1 game at garbage time.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/brian_skinner/index.html

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jamal_sampson/index.html?nav=page

 

[SacDoug]

Sampson is not the answer. The only reason he is even on the roster is to back up Skinner if Miller ever gets injured. Skinner is better than Sampson in nearly every stat.

Skinner doesn't get much play time because he can't pass the ball. The Kings need a center that can pass and take a perimeter shot. Otherwise the Kings don't have a high post passer and it disrupts their offense. Even last year when Skinner was starting, he only averaged 1.5 assists per game. That is why Shareef gets time as center when Brad gets a breather.

 

[Kings113]

Adrian Griffin would provide more defense and some scoring, again providing a spark. edit: Other than possibly Hayes, the rest's length would be just for this season.

Looks like Griffin will be going to the Mavs (Christie gone, and Howard now out for a bit) or Knicks:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram - The bad news became worse for the Mavs late in the fourth quarter of their loss to the Grizzlies when Josh Howard's right ankle buckled as he tried to defend Damon Stoudamire. Unable to put any pressure on his right foot, Howard was helped off the court.

X-rays taken at the arena were negative, but Howard immediately began to experience swelling. He'll have the ankle revaluated today, and he probably won't be available for the upcoming two-game road trip that begins Monday at Toronto.

"I knew I rolled my ankle right away and I've never really had an ankle sprain before," Howard said. "When they cut the tape off before the X-rays, my ankle was already swollen. We'll see what it looks like [today]."

Though it's unknown how long Howard will be out, the Mavs immediately began considering options to fill the roster opening created Friday by Doug Christie's departure.

Former Mavs forward and current free agent Adrian Griffin has emerged as the front-runner to be signed. Also out is Jerry Stackhouse (sore knee), leaving Marquis Daniels and rookie Rawle Marshall as the only healthy swingmen on the roster.

"Nobody will feel sorry for us," Johnson said. "We just have to make some adjustments. If you have five players, you have a chance to win."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/38094/20051127/mavs_look_to_adrian_griffin_after_howard_hurt/

"The Knicks have shown interest in bringing aboard Adrian Griffin. The ex-Celtic, who earned the moniker ''Old School" when making his NBA debut in Boston, is a man without a team."
"His former agent, Frank Catapano, said the Bulls, for whom Griffin played last season, had told him there would be an offer, but one never arrived. ''I must have talked to every team in the league and I thought three or four were close," said Catapano, who stopped representing Griffin two weeks ago. ''It's hard to figure out. I think he could help any team in the league."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2005/11/27/what_are_we_waiting_for/?page=3

 

[Bricklayer]

The CENTER position .... IMO, Skinner disappears ..... sure, there's a made basket here and maybe there .... and a block here and maybe there ... but, when Miller gets a breather ... what exactly is the role of our C ???

... thinking outloud - Sampson = ???

Skinner has to be one of the most disappointing Kings this young season. Had a great camp, but has had absolutely zero impact in his minutes during the season. No rebounding at all, and just looks clueless. Don't get it. Much as I think we desperately need a shotblocker/rebounder, I understand why Rick hasn't gone back to him much recently. He's not showing anything.

 

[Entity]

I'll admit I have a knee jerk effect when i see the young guys make bone head plays. I also thought of maybe getting Doug back to come off the bench and give leadership to the bench and the young guys. But like Brick said if you do that you push those guys back.

Now as far as the future goes and i mean THIS YEAR It is best for us to play through the mistakes and let them learn. If we do that by the end of the year and come playoff time those guys will be keys to our team by then and give us a much better idea of our future for years to come. Remember Dallas with Daniels and Howard how they were signifigant in there playoff push a few years back, they also made mistakes to start the season. I see this team being very good come ALL STAR break and on the verge of Great going into April.

GO Kings!!!

 

[Kings113]

Now as far as the future goes and i mean THIS YEAR It is best for us to play through the mistakes and let them learn. If we do that by the end of the year and come playoff time those guys will be keys to our team by then and give us a much better idea of our future for years to come. Remember Dallas with Daniels and Howard how they were signifigant in there playoff push a few years back, they also made mistakes to start the season. I see this team being very good come ALL STAR break and on the verge of Great going into April.

Excellent points. I didn't think about that with Garcia/Martin too much (I have briefly)... I especially like both Howard/Daniels too.

While it could definitely use an addition, I still think the bench needs time to adjust and develop as a whole.

 

[Fillmoe]

pg and sg...... skinner needs to get more playing time.... hes a decent backup c

 

[SacTownKid]

Skinner can't pass? I remember him doing an alright job when Brad went down last season. I just think its hard to ask a player to come in for 2 minutes a game and contribute the way people expect. He should be doing more but the lack of familiarity seems to be hurting right now. A little playing time can do wonders sometimes.

 

[Alacron]

I'd like to see Price come off the bench instead of Hart, or, if Adelman doesn't want to totally shatter Jason's confidence, just start by giving Ronnie a few minutes per game. He can score, and judging from the preseason he gives 100% on defense too.
~~

 

[BK_KingsFan7]

Our weakest position is probably at Center. We have no one coming off the bench that's over 6'9 except for Sampson and Skinner hasn't been producing at all. Even if he was producing, we really need someone useful that's at least over 7'0.