10-30-2025, 12:02 PM
(10-30-2025, 11:47 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: You keep making the argument that the starters don't really matter compared to other things, like the closing lineup and the group that plays the most together throughout the game, and normally I'd agree. That's a discussion we've had around here (and in past community locations) for 20 years. In a general sense, I agree with that take, but usually, the starting lineup has a chance to be successful, even if some argue it's not ideal. In this case, I disagree, mostly because I DON'T think "getting Flagg some time running the offense" is a reasonable or defensible goal at this point in time. What THIS team needs is to find something...anything...that works well enough to build around. You and I seem to agree about what we think that group will be, for the most part. In the specific circumstances of this team, this season, I actually do think it's a mistake not to lean into that and get games started off on better footing.
And yes, sorry...I do think playing Nembhard more than Russell in a game or two early might've been the difference between winning and losing. Nobody wants to play Russell 48 minutes, but I think he played as few as 12 in one game. I'm sorry, but I think that's criminal, given who has been available.
I normally don't have to make an argument about the starting lineup but the comments here, discord, and social media that call Kidd an idiot for not starting a PG have zero context. Kidd told us what he was going to do with Flagg. He's had one healthy PG available to him that's on the 15-man roster. I agree that he didn't play DLO enough in the first two games, but since then he's averaged 26 minutes a game. And the one time he didn't play 30 was last night when BWill got 22.
There's plenty to gripe about with Kidd. He takes longer than I'd like to get to something obvious. Now that he has two healthy PG's it will be interesting to see what he does. Even then, will he do the same when all of AD, Lively, Gafford, PJW, Flagg, Max, Naji, Klay are healthy?
And to double down on the starting group opinion. I've always felt people put way too much emphasis on it, especially in Kidd's tenure. They play 8-10 minutes together in a 48-minute game. I'm much more concerned with the other 38-40 minutes. It doesn't mean I don't think it's important or have opinions on what would make that group better, just that those opinions get recycled and emphasized, mostly to call the coach an idiot. I think its lazy.