Who should Tyreke replace in the starting lineup?
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vikinginferno
Starter
The way he played today, let him come in and dominate off the bench a la Manu.
Not sure yet. I want to see Thornton develop a more consistent offensive game and not be so streaky before we annoint Reke the next Manu. But, Reke's play the last 2 games has flat out been awesome to watch on both ends of the floor. He's playing elite defense, while dominating the offensive end by getting to the rim and creating for others. I'll take his play these past 2 games any day of the week
jcwkings
All-Star
I'll repost something i wrote on the Grades thread
agree with this, Salmons was doing much better with the 2nd unit, however a starting lineup with Thornton, Tyreke, Cousins isn't balanced, too much offense that we are sacrificing by playing our 3 top scorers together, each night one of the three wont get enough shots, or not have enough shots to get going. The reason Reke got going tonight was because he knew he was the only scorer on the floor in the second quarter, didnt have to worry about lettting cousins and Thornton get their touches. One of Tyreke or Thornton has to come off the bench. This is only to balance our play in the first and second, and perhaps third quarter. Tyreke and Cousins can start and be the catalysts, then Thornton can come in guns blazing, this gives the second unit a legits scorer to work off of. Thornton could work very well off of Hayes anyway.
We are very much built like the Spurs, not identical but similarly
Cousins= Duncan (Talented 7 footers, that dominate the boards)
Tyreke= Parker (Attack minded gaurds, that love to get to the rim)
Thornton= Ginobli (Can score inside and outside, both love to get out and run)
So what i want to see is
pg: Isaiah (or a good veteran pg that can shoot the 3)
sg: Tyreke
sf: Defensive minded sf that can hit the spot up 3 (Bruce Bowen)
pf: JT (is earning his position)
c: Cousins
Bench
6. Thornton
7. Hayes
8. Salmons
9. Garcia/Donte
10. Jimmer
(Bench positions 8-10 can change based on trades or free agent signings/draft pick)
agree with this, Salmons was doing much better with the 2nd unit, however a starting lineup with Thornton, Tyreke, Cousins isn't balanced, too much offense that we are sacrificing by playing our 3 top scorers together, each night one of the three wont get enough shots, or not have enough shots to get going. The reason Reke got going tonight was because he knew he was the only scorer on the floor in the second quarter, didnt have to worry about lettting cousins and Thornton get their touches. One of Tyreke or Thornton has to come off the bench. This is only to balance our play in the first and second, and perhaps third quarter. Tyreke and Cousins can start and be the catalysts, then Thornton can come in guns blazing, this gives the second unit a legits scorer to work off of. Thornton could work very well off of Hayes anyway.
We are very much built like the Spurs, not identical but similarly
Cousins= Duncan (Talented 7 footers, that dominate the boards)
Tyreke= Parker (Attack minded gaurds, that love to get to the rim)
Thornton= Ginobli (Can score inside and outside, both love to get out and run)
So what i want to see is
pg: Isaiah (or a good veteran pg that can shoot the 3)
sg: Tyreke
sf: Defensive minded sf that can hit the spot up 3 (Bruce Bowen)
pf: JT (is earning his position)
c: Cousins
Bench
6. Thornton
7. Hayes
8. Salmons
9. Garcia/Donte
10. Jimmer
(Bench positions 8-10 can change based on trades or free agent signings/draft pick)
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
That seems a little...cowardly? by Smart to make Reke the guy who tells Salmons he's going back to the bench. Seems like a way to pee away the chemistry gain too, at least vis a vis Salmons -- the rest of the team I doubt are going to be crying crocodile tears. Its one thing if your coach benches you again, quite another if a fellow player says well, we're struggling again and John sucks eggs, time for me to take that spot back.
The ideal, albeit entiely fantasy scenario would be for John to look in the mirror and say damn! I do! I do suck eggs! And go to Reke, thank him for the extra couple of starts, but offer to return to the bench. However I am more likely to win this Friday's megamillions payout than John Salmons is to bench himself.
link?
ParniValjak
All-Star
Heard those comments from coach Smart and I think its a bit of a cop out on his part. He is not prepared to make a tough decision so he will pass the buck! That is NOT what you want from the coach who is supposed to LEAD the young team. Tyreke should be back in the starting line up and he should be playing major minutes. Best 2 way player we have and out best perimeter defender.
ParniValjak
All-Star
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/23/4360275/smart-says-hell-let-evans-make.html
As Bricklayer correctly pointed out, this should be Smart's call.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I'm going to choose to interpret that positively and pretend that this is a continuing part of Smart's desire for the team to grow together and form an identity, and for Reke to assume a leadership role. However I still have considerable doubts. Anybody remember how John Salmons reacted several years back when Ron Artest came back from injury and Salmons lost his starting spot? Maybe he's grown up since then. Seemed to react well, oncourt at least, when moved to the bench for IT, so how upset could he be being moved to the bench for a Tyreke Evans?
Sac.1989
Starter
Yep its all facing up to be abit of an issue with participative management working in the textbooks but not right here.
There needs to be a decision made and its needs to be made soon so we can build on it. If the brass are thinking about moving thornton to the bench then i sure as hell hope that if tyreke feels like starting, marcus doesnt hear the bench calling his name at morning shoot around. This needs to be a managed process with direct input from GP and Smart
There needs to be a decision made and its needs to be made soon so we can build on it. If the brass are thinking about moving thornton to the bench then i sure as hell hope that if tyreke feels like starting, marcus doesnt hear the bench calling his name at morning shoot around. This needs to be a managed process with direct input from GP and Smart
Kingster
Hall of Famer
Either that or Salmon's sees that Tyreke is playing so well off the bench he wants to keep him there to keep it rolling. Tyreke played his best performance of the year off the bench last night. Maybe Salmons just needs to step his game up as a starter; then you have two guys playing well, one as a starter, the other off the bench.
gunks
Hall of Famer
Reke needs to replace Thornton. We've had recent success with it, but I'm no fan of smallball. Tyreke is not a SF, or a PG for that matter. He needs to play with IT for the team to be effective.
He's been pretty good off the bench, but I still see him as a starter over Thornton. Reke plays better D, is a better and more willing passer, and a better rebounder. He's our best player (arguably). Thornton otoh, is a selfish streaky shooter who can light it up on any given night, perfect 2nd unit 1st option. Though he seems like the type who'd see it as a demotion and throw a fit.
He's been pretty good off the bench, but I still see him as a starter over Thornton. Reke plays better D, is a better and more willing passer, and a better rebounder. He's our best player (arguably). Thornton otoh, is a selfish streaky shooter who can light it up on any given night, perfect 2nd unit 1st option. Though he seems like the type who'd see it as a demotion and throw a fit.
With a month left in the season is there any harm to finishing this way and then cleaning house at SF and starting next season with Reke in the starting lineup and Thornton as 6th man?
I'd like to see him at the SG spot, which opens up the floor in a way that works better for his style of play. I don't believe the bunk about keeping him on the bench. When this game became a slugfest, Evans was the one trading punches. These are the kinds of games you will see in the playoffs. You don't wait until you're on the ropes to start punching back.
OK, enough of that analogy.
I don't think the position really matters for Evans. He gets to the rack better than most in the league, he finds open players with consistency (don't say that the missed three by Salmons wouldn't have helped last night) and he's an absolute TERROR on defense. Keeping him out of the 1st quarter, regardless of position, makes no sense. Smart just needs to man up and make the move, or else you're pitting the players against themselves. Move someone, whether it's IT, or MT, or Salmons. Just as long as it isn't JT.
Asking Evans to tell someone to give him his spot back is just dumb. There's no other way to say it.
OK, enough of that analogy.
I don't think the position really matters for Evans. He gets to the rack better than most in the league, he finds open players with consistency (don't say that the missed three by Salmons wouldn't have helped last night) and he's an absolute TERROR on defense. Keeping him out of the 1st quarter, regardless of position, makes no sense. Smart just needs to man up and make the move, or else you're pitting the players against themselves. Move someone, whether it's IT, or MT, or Salmons. Just as long as it isn't JT.
Asking Evans to tell someone to give him his spot back is just dumb. There's no other way to say it.
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
Honestly, it doesn't matter what John F. Salmons thinks or believes of himself. Chances are still pretty good that he's going to be amnestied this coming summer. I actually predict that we use our lotto pick on a SF (Harrison Barnes), Salmons is amnestied, and Terrance Williams takes his spot at backup SF. He's like a younger, more athletic Salmons anyways.
It is my opinion that Thornton should be coming off the bench simply because of defense. Next year our depth chart should be:
IT/Jimmer
Tyreke/Thornton
(Lotto pick SF)/Williams
Thompson/Greene
Cousins/Hayes
It is my opinion that Thornton should be coming off the bench simply because of defense. Next year our depth chart should be:
IT/Jimmer
Tyreke/Thornton
(Lotto pick SF)/Williams
Thompson/Greene
Cousins/Hayes
kupman
Starter
...or better yet, Havlichek.
Agree on amnesty for Salmons and using our pick on a SF but think we should still bring in another 3 and not rely on Williams if he's even around to be the backup (or starter if it takes the new guy a while to break in).
MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
I understand some of the doubts and I have them too, but I think it would be much more in line with what Smart has been doing to assume it's another 'leadership' test type thing. I have my own issues with Smart, but I don't think he is cowardly, and he loves these type of 'exercises'.
And to answer the OP, he should start for Salmons or Thomas, but with how Thomas is playing .. it's going to have to be for Salmons right now.
This is a tough question. If memory serves correctly last night we had Evans, Salmons, and Garcia with Hayes and Cousins on the floor at the same time. That is the all-defensive unit- really a 3 3 3 5 5 set-up with the ball being brought down the floor by a point forward. Call Evans a pg and it is still a 1 3 3 5 5. Unusual but not bad. Smart is willing to try things that work and should be given more credit by members of this forum for his line-ups.
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