It doesn't matter who starts...it's who's on the floor in Q4 that is bringing you what you need. (And who had productive minutes in between those two points in time). Actually, starting Piatkowski (and no, Cat has not yet reached his 3pt level for an extended amount of time) is not that bad of an idea if the goal is initial offensive sets run into the low post. JJax can take the temporary tougher defensive assignment. Starting Pike is logistically consistent in a number of areas...low post emphasis, reducing Cat's overall minutes, bringing in a second unit that keeps the energy level high...Is there really that much wrong with letting Piatkowski get the first 6 minutes of Q1 if it helps reduce Cat to 36-38 mpg overall? IMO, no.
Well, knowing JVG's temper and Cat's streaky wildness at times. There will come a point in this season when Pike will get an opportunity to start over Cat. We'll see what unfolds then. For now, I'm solidly behind Cat as the starter
I don't want Piatkowski starting at all especially right after an injury. No matter how much people think Cat has problems. HIs defense is so much better than the Polish Rifleman that it's no worth letting him start the first quarter and have opposing two guards abuse him, let me see, Kobe, Tracy, Iverson, etc. Piatkowski should come in when either Cat is having a bad game, either shooting wise or decision wise or when cat needs to rest. I would only put Piatkowski too when either Francis or Yao is on the court. It's really hard to say right now because we truly don't know how Piatkowski will fit into the scheme of things or how he will play.
The off-guard for Kobe is Devean George, the off-guard for TMac is Giricek, the off-guard for Iverson prior to this season was Van Horn...all doable from a defensive stand point.
you are certainly the voice of reason Untill Pike is playing and playing better than cuttino, he gets nothing. Cuttino earned his starting roll on this team. how can you take cat's starting role away from him like that? look at how well he has been doing in the past 4 games. and you just can't say "put him on the bench" when pike hasn't even played a regular season game yet. but i was impressed with pike's shooting ability in the preseason. this is gonna be a hard decision for jvg
do u remmeber the days when Mobley could have won the 6th man award? we at least made the playoffs, maybe it's time for him to try and earn that trophy, cuz he's an outstanding bench player!
Gater is absolutely right on this.... doesn't matter who starts, matters who plays 4th Q. But to answer the question.... Mobley should start, unless we can get Michael Redd.
At first I would say No, because Mobley has been playing great with our starting squad, but the more I think about it, our bench is a huge liability on D. Mooch, Pike, Boki, MoT, Braggs? - Thats not a very good defensive unit, but I guess A. Griffin will really help them out.
Start Jackson and Nacbar. The Cat must go to the bench because he helps us there. I like it when Francis is NOT playing w/Mobley. I like it when Cato is playing w/out Yao (when Yao is resting).
I would have to say no, but i do like the idea of an instant boost on offense from the cat when/if he comes off the bench.
no doubt about it. mobley should be the 6th man on the team. it'll be good for him and the team. he's a scorer. if he comes off the bench, he'll have more opportunities to shoot without people yelling at him.
GATER said it perfect, great post! If you sit ego aside for a moment, the move would make a lot of sense. You put Pike out there first, because Yao needs to dominate the beginings of games and Pike is just a better compliment to Yao than Cat. Bring Cat in when Yao sits down, then he and Steve can run a couple of iso's. I think all this talk is moot, as Cat will never accept a sixth man role at this point in his career.
at this point i prefer mobes starting, but for argument's sake i'll say pike. you don't necessarily start your 5 best players. cat's game seems to lend itself to the guy that comes off the bench and ignites the team. i'd argue that bobby jackson is better than doug christie and maybe even better than mike bibby and could start on any team in the league. however, he comes off the bench because he provides the kings the spark off the bench. he still gets a lot of playing time too.
hmm, so eric piatkowski signs a ~3M/yr contract, is getting older, and comes from being a bench player on the CLIPPERS and is now going to take the starting job away from a top 10 shooting guard. interesting. and if mobes doesn't agree with it, it must be b/c he has an ego problem or is selfish. please. mobes would have every right to not accept a bench role. he doesn't have to have an ego or be selfish to do that. he just has to know he's earned his starting spot and is obviously better than piat, and knows piat has been a bench player the last couple of years. fit, schmit. cat is the better fit. his can hit 3's, can create when it's needed if a play breaks down, cuts, and can D up much better. look at his 3pt % the last 2 years. 39% 2 years ago, and 39% the 2nd half of last year and now 60% to start this year. he's a fine 3pt shooter, quite a good one when he's simply spotting up like now. everything he brings over piat is not even close to being made up by a few extra % on the 3pt for piat. name one guy who is so obviously inferior to the guy he starts ahead of? bobby jackson is one of the few people who it's even arguable he's better than the guy in front of him, and at least that's a debate, not a landslide. you put your best team on the court as much as you can. mobley is our 3rd best player and as much time as he can play and still be going strong is how much he should play. what i'd love to see is not piat taking cat's minutes, but moochie's. when steve leaves the game, mobes slides to the point and piat is sg. it's not like we need a true point to just give it to ming while steve is on the bench and instead of moochie craptacularness, we have 2 good 3 point shooters at the guard positions and probably jackson at sf. that's perfect. boki over cat, lol.
Pike could not start for the clippers and you want him to start of mobley who is shooting 61% from the 3 point line. let taylor be the 6 man and pike be the 7, I rather see mobley slide over to the point to give steve a rest and then pike come in at the two, that way less moochie.
