Babby wants to know, are you falling in love with this team?

[RunDogGun]

Not everything is learned on the court. Playing Marshall when he's not ready can ruin his confidence if gets outplayed by more experienced players on a daily basis.

What do you think sitting on the bench game after game while your team gets trounced does to your confidence?

[Frank Lee]

As much that has been said about the front office, you have to tip the hat to the Nash trade. Something for nothing, and the something could turn into 2 good picks. These are the kind of moves that have impact. Seattle did it to us... Chi did it to us... bout time we get a good return.

Hedo for theG was a nice one too.

Its so easy to grade these guys out on the 'what have you done lately' criteria... but come draft day, if we have 2 lottos, hope will return.

and come on... what did we really expect to happen this year ? Some pegged it after the Measley, Marshall and Brown acquisitions... some, like me, held back the condemnation ( I was giving them 20-25 games before judgement). As it turns out, the naysayers had it right. The consolation prize for their correct prophecy is a top pick. Keep in mind, the terrible trio will all be gone after next yr. At least they are not on 4-5 yr deals like some contractual pariahs.

Write this season off, I have.... and just for gits and shiggles, periodically check out the fLakers' board. Good reading over there. I am tempted to post, but why bother. Their fanbase is imploding like their team. Sad to see that well groomed Nash guy finish up like this, but he made his bed, and its turning out to be a comfortable one for us, complete with a fluffy pillow via D'Ant.

[rsavaj]

Not everything is learned on the court. Playing Marshall when he's not ready can ruin his confidence if gets outplayed by more experienced players on a daily basis.

What do you think sitting on the bench game after game while your team gets trounced does to your confidence?

Probably affects it less than getting absolutely destroyed on the court in blowout after blowout, especially since Marshall still clearly thinks of himself as that "impact leader" from NC.

This whole "we have to play Marshall!" movement makes no sense to me. The guy struggled in the mothereffing D-LEAGUE.

[Frank Lee]

I guess many of the Marshall moaners need to 'see to believe' . Playing time will not change the kid's inability to compete at this level. I do not think this is a development issue. It is a physical issue.

I am not a stat guy, more of a huncher guesser, but I think it would be safe to say, 70% of drafted players selected 10th and on have little to no impact.... 50% are flat out busts. In fact, I'd say if you looked at second rounders and walk on FA's late bloomers, they would compare favorably to guys picked from 10 on.

[TruthTelling]

Sitting on the bench has never helped a young guy develop.

Dragic sucked too but got playing time. Joe Johnson was not good as a rookie. Rookies need playing time to develop.

If you are never going to give him consistent playing time and chances you can already write him off like Earl Clark. There is just no reasonable explanation why we are stashing our youngest player at the far end of the bench in a hopelessly lost season while giving huge minutes to old farts who won't be part of our future like Scola or career journeyman who play hard but have little talent and no upside like PJ Tucker.

[Frank Lee]

Sitting on the bench has never helped a young guy develop.

Dragic sucked too but got playing time. Joe Johnson was not good as a rookie. Rookies need playing time to develop.

If you are never going to give him consistent playing time and chances you can already write him off like Earl Clark. There is just no reasonable explanation why we are stashing our youngest player at the far end of the bench in a hopelessly lost season while giving huge minutes to old farts who won't be part of our future like Scola or career journeyman who play hard but have little talent and no upside like PJ Tucker.

Except that he is outmatched. If the kid doesnt bring it in practice, do you reward him with minutes just because?????

Being a first rounder doesnt guarantee anything but a two yr paycheck.

[carey]

I guess many of the Marshall moaners need to 'see to believe' . Playing time will not change the kid's inability to compete at this level. I do not think this is a development issue. It is a physical issue.

I am not a stat guy, more of a huncher guesser, but I think it would be safe to say, 70% of drafted players selected 10th and on have little to no impact.... 50% are flat out busts. In fact, I'd say if you looked at second rounders and walk on FA's late bloomers, they would compare favorably to guys picked from 10 on.

I'm not moaning for Marshall by any means. I think there are two points to be made. It's hard to improve with just practice time in the NBA because there's not a lot of it during the season. And the team is already terrible, playing Marshall won't make much of a difference. We'll be slightly worse? So what.

[Frank Lee]

perhaps they are protecting his trade value... perhaps they are trying to boost Telfair's

But you are right.... why would it matter...


which is why it doesn't.

[mybloodisorange]

We're all just guessing but im throwing in with Frank SubGenius. The knock on Marshall was his lack of athleticism and speed; many were worried that he couldnt defend at all. His lack of playing time 3 months in silently confirms those fears.

As Frank said if the kid is getting scored on at will in practice what good is there in putting him in a real game where he is just going to get a bruised ego? If he isnt playing, he isnt ready to play-its not rocket surgery.

[rsavaj]

I guess many of the Marshall moaners need to 'see to believe' . Playing time will not change the kid's inability to compete at this level. I do not think this is a development issue. It is a physical issue.

I am not a stat guy, more of a huncher guesser, but I think it would be safe to say, 70% of drafted players selected 10th and on have little to no impact.... 50% are flat out busts. In fact, I'd say if you looked at second rounders and walk on FA's late bloomers, they would compare favorably to guys picked from 10 on.

I'm not moaning for Marshall by any means. I think there are two points to be made. It's hard to improve with just practice time in the NBA because there's not a lot of it during the season. And the team is already terrible, playing Marshall won't make much of a difference. We'll be slightly worse? So what.

You have to take into account the affect it would have on the other players.

You know how that report came out that Beasley was "toxic", even though everybody on the team seems to like the guy? A lot of it probably had to do with the fact that he continued to get big minutes even though he absolutely sucked.

What kind of message will it send to guys like Goran, Dudley, Gortat, Bassy, Scola when an unproven kid like Marshall who has been absolutely terrible so far against inferior competition starts getting bit minutes? You don't think that'll have a "toxic" affect?

The only way that Marshall gets minutes is if they officially wave the white flag on the season around the trade deadline and ship out Bassy to a team that could use a PG.