DJ or Kemba

[ND22]

This is the part I'm struggling with a little bit. What exactly has Kemba done to deserve all the hype he's getting? He's had a few nice games mixed in with a couple of duds, but nothing to convince me that he's destined to become Allen Iverson 2.0. On the other hand, you could make an argument that DJ is among the top 10 PGs in the league right now. I haven't exhaustively compared stats, but I don't think that would be a stretch based on his early season performance. I don't get why we're so eager to throw him away, especially now that he finally seems to be developing into the player we all hoped he would be 4 years ago. I'm not saying Kemba isn't the guy. I'm saying that maybe, just maybe, DJ is. I get the need for Kemba to develop, but DJ's just 24. He's still developing too. I don't want to see him traded, or have his minutes reduced or see him minimized in any way until we're absolutely sure that the PG we've all been waiting for isn't him.

I'm going to agree with this. Patience is needed. Its going to be a long season even if its only 66 games.

I'm also with those who say the combo guard business needs to end. I know the team is thin at the 2 but frankly DJ and Kemba shouldn't be on the floor together anyways because of their defensive liabilities. Kemba plays when DJ isn't in and vice versa. No f**king around trying to make Kemba a "combo" guard.

[superb1]

Basically, I agree with a little of everyone's argument. I don't think we expected DJ to play so well and a lot of want to say it is because it is a contract year for him. Maybe he knew Kemba would push him and he knew he had to step. Or probably it is his time. He feels it is his time to be the man. Kemba had so much hype around him and it is only 5 games in the season and we are making judgments. It depends on what we plan to do. Silas wants to win, so he coach to win. FO has it's philosophy and it is to lose to get better. DJ helps us win now and Kemba is the future. When the FO decides it is time to shut down then maybe we will see Kemba getting more, starting over DJ or DJ moved. Again I rather have both.

[spectre]

I have no clue why Kemba is so hyped, but there's no doubt it's true.

From the Bobcats' email for the CLE game:



...yet I don't think they ever played against each other heads up!

I imagine the FO will decide one way or the other, but I'd bet money DJ's upcoming RFA status will play a big role too. The cheap route and rebuilding kind of go hand in hand.

[Plowright]

I just want to put this out there. DJ & Kemba does NOT work, Silas has tried it a few times now and it has been just awful

[CatNation1]

I don't see how DJ is playing any better now than he ever has. He looks the same to me. Some really good nights and some nights where he's invisible. Thats pretty much been DJ's M.O. since he got here

[spectre]

I do think he's passing a lot better this season so far

His lack of defense kills me tho. That's seldom up or down.

[CatNation1]

He's gotten more assists than usual but unfortunately not without a lot more turnovers than he usually gets. I'm just not seeing this supposed new and improved DJ. If this is contract year DJ being pushed by a young up and coming lottery pick fan favorite then I don't think I'm sold

[Marvel]

You mean what you're advocating we do with our current crop?

We go small, Kemba at 2, DJ at point. But that's not what i meant, my point was when LB played DJ and Felton together he played DJ at SG and Felton at point and everyone was saying that DJ was a SG in a PG body? Yeah look how that turned out.

It's what Silas is wanting/trying to do. If that's what held DJ back though why in the hell would we be doing it again?

Kemba is nothing near the defender that Felton was. Kemba is pesky and and he is pretty good at staying in front of his guy...but no way do I see him being at all viable in staying in front of legit SGs. DJ is pretty much a train wreck defensively.

As CN said we've NEVER tried to develop a PG the way we're supposed to...mainly because we've always had a lack of talent. Well we're now rebuilding; we're SUPPOSED to lose. The fans know it and even the great competitor himself admitted it. We're all about "The Future". We traded our best player in franchise history to do this...yet we can't seem to give significant minutes to the only guy on the team who's generating hype regardless of us tanking.

It seems like we'll never learn.

Kemba is a fine defender, he's only played what 4-5 games and he's already showing he can hold it down on the defensive end. Is that not what Silas brings him on for at times. I'm not comparing him to Felton as a defender, but i do think he can become the defender Felton was, or even better.

[spectre]

We go small, Kemba at 2, DJ at point. But that's not what i meant, my point was when LB played DJ and Felton together he played DJ at SG and Felton at point and everyone was saying that DJ was a SG in a PG body? Yeah look how that turned out.

Why would it turn out any differently this time around? I guess I'm not getting to your conclusion...apologies.

Kemba is a fine defender, he's only played what 4-5 games and he's already showing he can hold it down on the defensive end. Is that not what Silas brings him on for at times. I'm not comparing him to Felton as a defender, but i do think he can become the defender Felton was, or even better.

Felton had the bulk/girth to hold his own with guys trying to post him up, that's why I don't think Kemba will ever be able to guard SGs like he did/does. Kemba is footspeed fast as hell and he has (from my eyes) pretty darn good lateral movement, which IMO is exactly the type of defender you want going up against PGs, esp. with the way the rules are now.

Silas might have brought him in for defense but it never occurred to me if/when he did. Of course I'm having a hard time figuring out Silas' rotations in general.

[Marvel]

Yeah I have to agree with CatNation on seeing enough. He had almost no training camp and Silas is giving him minimal minutes...usually with the stellar offensive lineup of Matt Carroll, Derek Brown, Mullens & Smack or Gana.

IMO it took DJ 3 1/2 seasons to show he could run a team (remember DJ averaged right around 3 assists per game his first 2 years). I don't see any way that one could determine exactly how a player will be after 4 games playing under Kemba's circumstances.

I don't see "superstar" tho.

This is the post i'm referring to Spec. You said it took DJ 3 years to learn how to run an offense/team. Most of that time he was playing SG with Felton running point. If it took DJ 3 years to learn how to run a team, how on earth do we come to the conclusion that Kemba will manage to run a team in only a 3rd of that time - a year.