Backcourt Bonanza

[dnbman]

So Kemba has improved leaps and bounds this season. He gets way more minutes than other players on the roster. Is the equation for developing our other young players as simple as give them more minutes? Is that why ben gordon didnt play at all against the bulls?

I'm a believer in guys getting time, but I don't know that simply leaving them out there for long minutes is necessarily the answer. You need to give guys a chance to get into a flow, but you also don't want them struggling mightily for long periods of time: that's not good for them or the team.

Kemba is clearly pretty ready for the minutes. MKG not as much. BB is getting there. I definitely want to see our young guys play more, but it's not as simple as trotting out the rookies for 40 minutes and night and they'll instantly improve. You have to put them in situations, let them work their way through it, and then provide instruction on things to work on and reinforcement when they do something right. I think you'll see a big jump in a guy like MKG once he has a season under his belt and can spend an off season focused on playing with professional athletes rather than college guys.

[QC Thundercats]

It looks like Kemba is the only one continuing this Bonanza. Maybe the thread should be renamed Kembapalooza...

Anyway, he was the only one who could hit a shot yesterday, finishing with 27 points and 4 more threes. He only had one assist, but the other players didn't know we had a game last night. If you take Kemba's shooting percentage out, the team only shot 27%, with the starters only shooting 25%.

Lets see if he still has legs for tonight, but with our 4th game in 5 nights, I'm sure Karl and Lawson are going to try to run our guys into the ground.

[QC Thundercats]

So Kemba's streak of 4 straight games with 24 or more points ended. But Hendo came back to score 24 himself, continuing the streak to 5 straight games of a backcourt player scoring 24 or more. Have we even had such a streak before?

Also, I DVR'd the game but didn't get to watch last night. Hendo scored all those points but got ZERO free throws? Was he just shooting all mid range jumpers, or did the refs not give him any calls. Kemba only had 2 free throws, but we're used to him not getting any calls.

Anyway, I like the streak, but until we can balance out the scoring with someone in the frontcourt, the team will continue to be horribly unbalanced and easy to defeat.

[Wi11iWii]

I agree. We need front court scoring. And it's frustrating because Mullens could be an excellent front court scorer with his shooting touch. Have you seen him in the post. His turn around jumper in the post is deadly but he is too content with sitting at the 3 point line and jacking up 3's. I'd like to see him in the post a lot more often as he is pretty good on the block. He needs a lot more efficiency. Shooting 38% from the field is pitiful. But when Mullens plays well the team fairs much better.

Kemba has been stellar. Once he gets more players that can score his assist number will increase dramatically and his fg% will rise too. He does seem to be the go to guy in the clutch though. He has that killer instinct and every team needs a guy like that. Hendo has been great too and his mid range game is superb. Hopefully he can expand his range and knockdown more corner 3's.

MKG and Bizz have been throwing away shots the past 5 games which is great too.

[spectre]

Hendo was insane from midrange last night...so that was mainly why no trips to the line.

[QC Thundercats]

Well our dynamic duo came back in full force last night. Kemba and Hendo BOTH scored 34 points. Have we ever had two players score 34 or more in the same game? I don't think we're giving enough credit for Kemba's incredible game - 34 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks on 13-23 shooting. I mean, look at that statline again. If Kyrie or Westbrook or Rondo had that line, it'd be all the rage on NBAtv and ESPN.

But going further, check out the last 5 game stats for these two:
Kemba: 22.2 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 46% FG
Hendo: 23.0 points, 3.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 53% FG

Our backcourt is basically averaging 45 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals on 50% shooting. I would bet that that is probably the most productive in all the league. And we have a winning record during that span.

I know its not for an entire season, but that is an awesome trend. Maybe the two are finally coming into their own together as a powerful duo. I made the Hendothetical thread after his 35 point game with the premise of him averaging 21 the rest of the season. Since that game 10 games ago:

22.6 points, 3.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1 steal, .8 block, 51% FG

At this point, I'm all about keeping these two together and watching them grow over time. We were previously hoping to draft a big time scorer on the perimeter; well seeing what these two have been producing lately, it seems they're starting to answer our questions on that part, and I think we need to focus ALL our attention on getting a post player or two who can put the ball in the hoop.

[SWedd523]

Have we ever had two players score 34 or more in the same game?

Before last night, no

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...=&order_by=pts

[Roon]

I agree. We need front court scoring.

With the thought that McLemore is going to be good, but not a franchise player, should we start looking at the real possibility of taking Noel Nerlens with our pick? I am actually starting to come around to that idea.

[SJackson1]

I've always liked Hendo and he's showing what he can do on a daily basis now. I said last season that he should take a few more shots per game becasue he shoots at 45% from the field.

[DashGlobal]

we desperately need front court scoring. noel wont provide that. id say trade Bizz and some players or future pick to try and get noel and olynk.