Eddie Griffin vs. Kenny Thomas: Who is better and who should start

Seriously, how many people consider this a mute point now that Eddie is getting 32 minutes per game, now. I think it is a nice bar argument, but it marginally effects us now and in the future. Besides, how many games can a 19 year old last on 35mpg in a grueling schedule.

Eddie is definitely going to be better. But, Kenny should also be featured for future trades. Kenny does give us future value. Either we trade him within 2 yrs or Mo' doesn't recover and we need a bench "energy guy," as Rudy says.

There is a rule that Rudy is rightfully applying here:

You do not lose a starting position from nagging injuries, otherwise players will not report them for fear of losing their spot.

That is a law in my book.

What is the argument here.

Eddie is averaging 37 mpg in his last 8. And 32 mpg in the last 4 that he has played with Kenny. You know Jermain O'Neil only gets 36 mpg, and only 32 last year.

And......
Kenny freaking embarrassed an O'Neal slam attempt for the second game in a row. Last game Kenny blocked a two-handed power driver from O'Neal...square on. That was the Rockets highlight of the year in my book....Go K9!

<img src="http://www.flashlings.com/images/k_thomas54.jpg">

 

Griffin should start.....I think Thomas is much more ifective coming of the bench then griffin is...

 

The ONLY thing that matters is who is better...period !!!

Screw egos...it is about winning.

Griffin is better.

Start EG...trade KT.

DD

 

I don´t think trading Thomas is a good thing.....i still thinks hes that effective bench player that every team needs..

 

I agree with DaDakota.


Plain and simple Griffin is better and should start and get most the playing time.

If you notice the whole game changes when Eddie is on the floor, at least on the defensive side.

Actually it looks as if KT has a problem with Griff to me, I havent ever seen him pass it to Eddie not that he passes that much anyways.It may be just in my head but it just doesent look like they get a long.

 

And Rudy is.

KT and Griffin are getting over 32 mpg in their last 4 playing together, whereas Willis's PT has dropped significantly. Both KT and Griffin are better than either of our centers, imo.

What is the argument?

You just have to be creative getting your best players big minutes when they play the same position.

 

Crispee,

I understand your minutes argument, so here is the why EG argument.

NBA games have a certain rythm or flow to them, with KT in the game, the other team has an easier time getting to the rack. Also, on offense KT is not as good at getting others involved as EG, and EG gets his in the flow of a passing offense.

Things are much more smooth with EG in the game. KT used to pass, but it is clear that he is focusing on getting his right now.

I would start EG as he is a much better defender and rebounder, and it is better to establish those things early.

DD

 

Eddie played O'Neal great last night. Kenny's too short and Cato's not good enough. Griffin needs to have as much experience as possible because he is a future go-to player for this team. Eddie Griffin produces all the intangibles that Houston frontcourts have been criticized mercilessly about since the Dream era ended. Blocks, rebounds, supreme interior defense...Fast Eddie is a shining gem. His attitude change and work ethic are a thing of beauty. When we get to the NBA Finals, it will be him and Stevie that lead us there.

 

Watching Eddie develop is the only thing that keeps me excited about watching the Rockets this season. He is worlds better than KT, and the stats prove it. Kenny has averaged 12-7, while Eddie has averaged 19-10-5 when starting.

And if the stats don't prove that Eddie should start, then just watching his effect on the game should. When Eddie comes into the game, the Rockets' defense improves. He blocks and alters shots, and hustles for loose balls and rebounds that would be out of reach of Kenny.

Eddie is calm, but explosive. He doesn't complain after each missed shot, and he isn't afraid to shoot the ball. Kenny waits until the shot clock is down to five seconds to shoot the ball, and he routinely turns down open shots for harder ones.

The best players should always start. Kenny has no right to complain about losing his spot. He isn't as good as Eddie, so he should be benched, or traded.

 

This Is very simple.

If Griffin is getting 30 a night he is getting plenty of time to develope. so hes fine.

If kenny is starting and getting minutes and producing like he has, than his "trade value" is considerably higher. If you notice Kenny numbers are alot like mos were when we went all out for him.

I kenny continues. dont be suprised if we ship him out(I will be sad to see him go) for a center worth around 6 mill. why, because kenny is playing like hes worth 6 mill. and we wont resign him and keep mo, so one of them will go. griff can be our starter next season, he has time. kenny is a comodity much like rice taylor and Walt. all expendable in one way or another so we might as well get more value aout of him.

peace

 

Hey everybody....

it has been quite some time since my last post. I've changed jobs and I don't have email access at the new one... (that might change hopefully)...

Anyway, I've been watching the Rocks all year on League Pass and E.G. has looked awesome when he's had the playing time. I agree w/ Ghettostar that Kenny is a valuable asset to this team and shouldn't be traded. I guess I really think Eddie should start, but also that Kenny should still get about 30-33 minutes a game. K.T. has such a great first step and scores pretty easily that I could see him providing the spark off the bench a la Cat a couple years ago.

Anyway, I'm glad to get back on the board. Take it easy everybody.

gus

 

I guess the reason there are so many threads asking for a trade of our possible bench players of KT, Mo, Torres (i like torres though.. don't trade him, trade mobley)

is that the Rockets are superfluous of players who have decent trade value... could play a major role somewhere else yet aren't going to bring the Rocks to championship material here.

there are a smaller number of players that can play/improve their game to a high level all the time like francis and griffin, whereas several players available in the market that can come off the bench and produce with a certain spark.

primarily, it's a certain 5 (plus coach) that'll dictate the pace of the game and even motivate the bench.

sure, griffin is getting 33 minutes .. however the idea is our roster is not complete to contend at the C nor the SF (SF position yet to be seen). if assuming with Cato, we are not title contending and griffin cannot fulfill the C either.... then we'd need to replace him with a stable C who would then by his ability receive more minutes. therefore either both or one of KT's or griffin's minutes would dissappear. griffin not getting minutes reduced seems the best answer and therefore KT would have little playing time.

quality over quantity... griffin needs to be molded faster. and if we can get trade value for KT and MoT and somehow purge their salaries, then by all means do so.

 

crash,

I have never said I am against Eddie starting. I am however against benching Kenny...those are two different things. Plus, I just don't bother anymore with worrying about who starts in a Rudy team. I am trying to be objective here with KT and Eddie. Eddie is being muscled, and Rudy is benching the centers to get KT in there to help with the strong post guys without giving up offense like the centers cause. I also see no problem with benching the SFs.

Crash and everyone else...KT did not get schooled by O'Neil last night more than Eddie did. This is a myth. I swear Kenny gets no respect for his deny the ball and positional defense.

Eddie was on O'Neil in the 4th quarter for two backdoor slams, which is becoming a Tinsley to O'Neil trademark. Eddie just couldn't front O'Neil properly and gave up too much position when behind him. Rudy went to KT after those two slams.

Kenny was O'Neil for 5 possessions where Indiana went to O'Neil.

<ul><li>One possession was an incredible strip from behind by Kenny when O'Neill was trying to back him in.
<li>The next two times Kenny denied him the ball all the way out to 18'. Forcing O'Neil to take an entry at 18' is success that Griffin can't do. O'Neill tried to back him up twice and Kenny completely denied him his comfort zone and O'neil passive threw it back out. That is one-on-one defense against a stud. Kenny forced two passes out when the dude had every intention to make a move to the hole...denied.
<li>The final two were won by O'Neil. O'Neil got low post and an easy bank shot. And then the final one. Again though, if you noticed Kenny denied comfort zone positioning, but O'Neil worked and worked and produced a star proving turnaround from 10-12'.</ul>

There are others here who often don't agree with me who are saw how Corliss Williamson and O'Neil abused Eddie on strength moves, too. So did Mason. So did Fortson. Hell, Kenny had a great game against GS, a rather imposing frontline, wouldn't you say?

 

What I want to see happen:

Start Eddie.

Keep K9 as our #2 PF. Like I said in my thread, KT is all heart and hustle. He could be explosive off the bench, and he could start when needed and when obvious mis-matches present themselves.

Trade Mo. I'm still of the opinion that Mo is a starter for a team that needs an offensive-minded PF like Mo. The same team that needs Mo would have others who can make up for his softness inside and lack of rebounding. I love MoT, but Eddie is our future at the 4.

If Kenny has a problem coming off the bench, trade him. I haven't seen any exidence of Kenny being a cancer, but if he has a serious problem backing up Griffin, then I'd be all for trading him. Nothing is more important than our chemistry.

All this assumes that EG doesn't turn into a center, which I don't think he will. EG + more muscle = premier NBA power forward.

 

I expect for KT to keep the starting at least until the trade deadline. Benching him hurts his value. It's no sure thing that he gets traded, but benching limits possible options.

Eddie will get the minutes he needs to progress. He gets abused, but so did Garnett as a rookie. At least he's not doing like Tyson Chandler, and fouling them. The more experience he gets facing the Mason types, the quicker he might figure out how to stop them.

the biggest argument to start Eddie, is that since he's playing almost as well, if not as well or better than KT, it'd be best for him to get used to starting and playing next to Steve and Cuttino from the get-go, rather than coming in with the 2nd unit.

Lynus-Mo has practically no trade value right now. Brand new contract, injury that keeps him out for a year. People wouldn't take Grant Hill last year, why would they take Mo until he's proven he's able to come back.

 

My signiture says it all. It should be a no-brainer when looking at how well EG plays when he is starting compared to KT. If KT can't take comming of the bench, get rid of him. It's time for the Rockets to move in a different direction, because what they have been doing thus far obviously hasn't been working.

 

Rudy T, is scared to bench Kenny T...

Stop your b****ing Kenny, get on the bench where you deserve to be...

 

Crispee, even though I totally disagree with your argument that KT did better on O'neal than Griffin......

what do you think of KT being our SF? or starting SF? and can he develop into a team player? or will he continue to show his selfish decisions on the court? like Jeff outlines in an earlier post.