Why Is MKG Not Starting?

[RMT]

I've not been able to watch the last few games but I notice when I check the box score that he came off the bench tonight and did'n play at all aginst Chicago.

[JamieMcNeill]

Scratched cornea held him out against chi. Working him back slowly tonight


Perpetual Optimism

[fan_of_a_fan]

MKG played tonight. I didn't understand why he didn't start or play any minutes in the 4th quarter though.

[Adam42R]

MKG played tonight. I didn't understand why he didn't start or play any minutes in the 4th quarter though.

Heard the post game on the way home from the arena and coach said it [he & Kemba not in for the 4th] was because the guards on the floor were being efficient on both ends of the court (Dell suggested he didn't want to upset that rhythm also). He didn't start I assume because he was a GTD and that must have been the decision.

From my POV (and I was amassing tix all 3rd quarter so I missed most of that ), they [Kemba & MKG] weren't doing as much to propel the team as Sessions & Gordon in the 2nd half so it seems justified.

[StakJak]

I wasn't in favor of Dunlap subbing in anybody at that point. The offense looked good with that unit in the 4th; our offense is too shitty for us to afford to fuck with it when it gets going...the flow of our offense is about as fragile as a Christmas ornament. Give the youngins their minutes, but play to win a la the hot hands...by Bobcat standards, they were offensively on a role.

I'm not a fan of this "put the young guns in during crunch time" mentality. When the younger players are on the floor and hot, or at least in good form, I'm fine with them being left in in the 4th; when the "older" offense is on the floor and struggling, I'm fine with plugging in the youngins in the 4th ...but when the game's in the balance late, and you got Sesh, Taylor, Gordon playing well, keep them in and play to win.

[JGib23]

Just my .02 but, I have zero interest in watching Sessions and Gordon play an entire 4th quarter while our 2 best players and future of our franchise sit the bench.

I'm pissed that we lost and Kemba and MKG didnt play a single f'ing minute in the 4th. I can take the losing as long as the young players are getting game deciding minutes... Really pissed at Dunlap right now.

[Scottley Crue]

Just my .02 but, I have zero interest in watching Sessions and Gordon play an entire 4th quarter while our 2 best players and future of our franchise sit the bench.

I'm pissed that we lost and Kemba and MKG didnt play a single f'ing minute in the 4th. I can take the losing as long as the young players are getting game deciding minutes... Really pissed at Dunlap right now.

I'd argue that Kemba and MKG did play deciding minutes...the first 36. I love those two and think they're the core to our future success, but tonight? Neither one of them really had it going. I have no problem with Dunlap doing that tonight. If he makes a habit of it, that's something different. But he was clearly trying all night to find a group that would work, and when he did, he stuck with it. Nothing more, nothing less.

[JGib23]

I'd argue that Kemba and MKG did play deciding minutes...the first 36. I love those two and think they're the core to our future success, but tonight? Neither one of them really had it going. I have no problem with Dunlap doing that tonight. If he makes a habit of it, that's something different. But he was clearly trying all night to find a group that would work, and when he did, he stuck with it. Nothing more, nothing less.

I disagree. Kemba played 24 minutes and played pretty good shot 50% from the floor, had 5 assists and played good D
MKG didn't shoot well (3-10) but lead the team in Rebounds (9) despite only playing only 21 minutes.

Kyrie scored half of his points in the 4th quarter when MKG and Kemba were on the bench.

I thought the lineup and substitution pattern was absolute shit tonight and we lost to the CAVS without their 2nd best player and possible All Star.

[Scottley Crue]

I disagree. Kemba played 24 minutes and played pretty good shot 50% from the floor, had 5 assists and played good D
MKG didn't shoot well (3-10) but lead the team in Rebounds (9) despite only playing only 21 minutes.

Kyrie scored half of his points in the 4th quarter when MKG and Kemba were on the bench.

I thought the lineup and substitution pattern was absolute shit tonight and we lost to the CAVS without their 2nd best player and possible All Star.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one, then. While they may have done OK offensively, the Cavs put up 62 points in one half. It certainly can't be pinned on them exclusively, but when Dunlap found a group that could get them back in, it turned out Kemba and MKG were not part of it. I understand why he didn't put them back in...he was dancing with who brought him. Not a major deal, every once in a while an unconventional lineup ends up working. I think that's what happened tonight.

[CatNation]

Kemba and MKG didnt deserve to play, let the guys who made the run try to finish the job. anything else is a quick way to lose the respect of your players. which could league to incalculable long term damage to everything