Game 20: Kings (7-13) @ Bucks (10-9), Cousins Out (Susp.)

[JimmyTheKid]

You do realize Sanders was a lot worse last year than this year right?

I'm sure the inconsistent, low volume of minutes had nothing to do with Larry's numbers and overall impact. But I think you know that. I also think you know flip flopping Sanders' and Gooden's minutes last year was a no-brainer move. But lets argue just to argue.

[LUKE23]

I'm sure the inconsistent, low volume of minutes had nothing to do with Larry's numbers and overall impact. But I think you know that. I also think you know flip flopping Sanders' and Gooden's minutes last year was a no-brainer move. But lets argue just to argue.

Yes, lets blame Skiles for him playing poorly in the minutes he played, then just assume the massive improvement this year is due to more minutes, and not that more minutes are due to massive improvement. Some of you guys are absolutely insane with your Skiles stuff.

[Thunder Muscle]

How can anybody criticize Skiles for not playing Sanders in years past? 90% of this board thought Larry was a bust, no hands, no BBIQ, etc --- including me. He didn't do anything to deserve to play consistently until last March/April...and then Skiles did play him more.

Although Skiles deserves some criticism, sometimes it's just way over the top here.

[JimmyTheKid]

I did not realize Sanders was leading the league in blocks.

Sanders is our best player.

Scott. Skiles.
Always late to the party.

While Drew Gooden was disgracing the game of basketball for 25 minutes a night, Larry Sanders was sitting at the end of the bench. More fantastic decision making by the head coach.

Watch Skiles get an extension if the Bucks make the playoffs.

Skiles annoys me, but to his credit he did get an out of control Sanders to a high level in a short time. He deserves some of that.

We saw glimpses of this version of Larry Sanders in each of the last two seasons. If Skiles would have just taken the good with the bad, and played Larry consistently, we would have seen more good Larry more often.

[Badgerlander]

Hmmm, didn't quite get the pub like "Aaron Rodgers Day" is getting. Must be the Bucks' marketing staff.

It's ok you can still wear your black thong to the game.

[Nowak008]

Really looking forward for tonights game, smoozing some clients in a corporate suite. Don't know if I should wear the Ruben tonight or a suit. Tough call.

[Thunder Muscle]

We saw glimpses of this version of Larry Sanders in each of the last two seasons. If Skiles would have just taken the good with the bad, and played Larry consistently, we would have seen more good Larry more often.

I'll politely disagree. I think Sanders was too out of control and would've been a wreck playing consistent minutes in the past few years. I think he is a good example of a raw player that needed to learn the ropes while sitting and watching for a bit. And the maturation process is working well as he's in his 3rd year and is now ready to contribute and knows how to use his talents better. Throwing a guy in the fire isn't always the best method.

[LUKE23]

We saw glimpses of this version of Larry Sanders in each of the last two seasons. If Skiles would have just taken the good with the bad, and played Larry consistently, we would have seen more good Larry more often.

This is absolute insanity.

[Serge28]

I did not realize Sanders was leading the league in blocks.

Sanders played 38 minutes against the Nets and struggled with his shooting (3 of 12) while posting six points, six rebounds and four blocks. The 6-foot-11 forward has moved into the league lead in blocks at 3.11 per game.

Jennings was leading the league in steals earlier this season. He's second or third now. Sanders has helped us lead the league in blocks. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

[JimmyTheKid]

I'm sure the inconsistent, low volume of minutes had nothing to do with Larry's numbers and overall impact. But I think you know that. I also think you know flip flopping Sanders' and Gooden's minutes last year was a no-brainer move. But lets argue just to argue.

Yes, lets blame Skiles for him playing poorly in the minutes he played, then just assume the massive improvement this year is due to more minutes, and not that more minutes are due to massive improvement. Some of you guys are absolutely insane with your Skiles stuff.

Larry still makes bonehead plays, still argues every foul, still takes inexcusable 18-footers, still wants to fight a dude every time theres contact. Whats the difference this year? No quick hook. Skiles would pull him and then stick him on the end of the bench to rot the last couple seasons. This year? He's letting Larry play through the mistakes. Taking the good with the bad. And as we're finding out with consistent, high volume minutes, that good far outweighs the bad. Whats funny is we can argue exactly "how much Larry has improved" until our faces turn blue. But if you think Gooden deserved 25 minutes and Larry 12 last year, well, thats idiotic. And vintage Scott Skiles.

[LUKE23]

Sanders is making far less mistakes. That's why he's playing more. Look at his PER MINUTE production across the board.

[Thunder Muscle]

I'm sure the inconsistent, low volume of minutes had nothing to do with Larry's numbers and overall impact. But I think you know that. I also think you know flip flopping Sanders' and Gooden's minutes last year was a no-brainer move. But lets argue just to argue.

Yes, lets blame Skiles for him playing poorly in the minutes he played, then just assume the massive improvement this year is due to more minutes, and not that more minutes are due to massive improvement. Some of you guys are absolutely insane with your Skiles stuff.

Larry still makes bonehead plays, still argues every foul, still takes inexcusable 18-footers, still wants to fight a dude every time theres contact. Whats the difference this year? No quick hook. Skiles would pull him and then stick him on the end of the bench to rot the last couple seasons. This year? He's letting Larry play through the mistakes. Taking the good with the bad. And as we're finding out with consistent, high volume minutes, that good far outweighs the bad. Whats funny is we can argue exactly "how much Larry has improved" until our faces turn blue. But if you think Gooden deserved 25 minutes and Larry 12 last year, well, thats idiotic. And vintage Scott Skiles.

Um, yeah. Well we're clearly not going to agree, lol. Therefore, Kings at Bucks. Carry on...

[step3profit]

OK, now let's apply the 'Larry wasn't ready until his 3rd year' logic, which I agree with, to Tobias Harris.

Next year, when Harris is averaging 30 minutes a game, 16 points, and 7 rebounds, are we going to say "Skiles was an idiot to sit Harris last year", or are we going to say "Just like Sanders, Harris had some learnin' to do"?

Personally, I'm going with option 2. Sometimes the young guys need to sit and watch and learn and simmer down.


Bucks by 17 tonight.

[JimmyTheKid]

Sanders is making far less mistakes. That's why he's playing more. Look at his PER MINUTE production across the board.

Really? "PER MINUTE" production? No thanks. I refuse to compare statistics from year to year when a player's minutes look like this:

2011:

11, 15, 6, 2, 16, 20, 12, 24, 0, 5, 17, 0, 9, 0, 0, 0, 7, 11, 13, 12, 7, 20, 0, 13, 12, 0, 0, 4, 6

2012:

21, 29, 26, 30, 26, 17, 21, 20, 21, 6, 29, 12, 13, 32, 32, 25, 17, 25, 37


You know how many garbage arguments I could make about any number of NBA bench players deserving more minutes if I used PER MINUTE production?

[LUKE23]

Really? "PER MINUTE" production? No thanks. I refuse to compare statistics from year to year when a player's minutes look like this:

2011:

11, 15, 6, 2, 16, 20, 12, 24, 0, 5, 17, 0, 9, 0, 0, 0, 7, 11, 13, 12, 7, 20, 0, 13, 12, 0, 0, 4, 6

2012:

21, 29, 26, 30, 26, 17, 21, 20, 21, 6, 29, 12, 13, 32, 32, 25, 17, 25, 37


You know how many garbage arguments I could make about any number of NBA bench players deserving more minutes if I used PER MINUTE production?

Wow is it clear you just don't get it. But I won't clutter up the game thread anymore.

[Badgerlander]

So no fine or suspension for Cousins punching Mayo in the nutz?

[JimmyTheKid]

OK, now let's apply the 'Larry wasn't ready until his 3rd year' logic, which I agree with, to Tobias Harris.

Next year, when Harris is averaging 30 minutes a game, 16 points, and 7 rebounds, are we going to say "Skiles was an idiot to sit Harris last year", or are we going to say "Just like Sanders, Harris had some learnin' to do"?

Personally, I'm going with option 2. Sometimes the young guys need to sit and watch and learn and simmer down.

Thats fine. And true to a certain extent. What people keep conveniently ignoring, for some strange reason, is the fact that DREW GOODEN was the other option. Yes, that Drew Gooden. The Drew Gooden that would give up the lane every single time someone came at him. The Drew Gooden that was a step slow on every defensive possession. The Drew Gooden that loved the 19-footer.

As much as I want to see Harris play, there are other legitimate options at his position. I don't want to see four small forwards splitting minutes right down the middle. So bench the young guy right now. Fine. Huge difference between Tobias' situation this year and Larry's last year.

[JimmyTheKid]

Wow is it clear you just don't get it. But I won't clutter up the game thread anymore.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you. Oh well...

[Ayt]

But was he worse that Gooden?

Do we know he would have not improved knowing he had a consistent role to play?

Frankly, I think Skiles main failure as a coach is his inability to create roles for players and to utilize those roles on a nightly basis. There is too much "floating" by him, and, therefore, by his players on a nightly basis.

[mlloyd10]

So no fine or suspension for Cousins punching Mayo in the nutz?

Kinda want to see him go after Sanders tonight, just to see what would happen