STEVENSON BENCHED!

[LyricalRico]

So great it deserves it's own thread!

DeShawn Stevenson's streak of starting 275 straight games will end tomorrow night at Charlotte, interim coach Ed Tapscott said today.

Caron Butler could shift to shooting guard in a lineup that would also include Dominic McGuire at small forward. Or Nick Young could simply replace Stevenson.

Tapscott has been reluctant to sit Stevenson but said the two recently had a conversation during which Stevenson suggested that he'd be willing to come off the bench if it would help the team.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... at_27.html

[yungal07]

LMAO...bum. I'm pretty sure Dominic is getting the start. He adds more size and defense to the lineup.

[ZonkertheBrainless]

"In a real team gesture he basically told me: 'Hey Tap, I'm struggling a bit, why don't you let me come off the bench and see if I can't get my swag back going against some second-line guys,' " Tapscott said. "I thought that an enormously gracious thing to say. And so, we're looking at different combinations with the lineup whether big or small and let DeShawn go with the second unit for awhile. He's the ultimate team guy and that's why I have so much respect for him."

While I don't doubt this is true, I imagine this is part of a larger conversation where DS saw the writing on the wall...

[Dat2U]

HOT DAMN! I can finally check off #2 on the to do list. This is the 2nd best news I've heard all year (after EJ getting canned).

All I can say is IT"S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!

[nate33]

"In a real team gesture he basically told me: 'Hey Tap, I'm struggling a bit, why don't you let me come off the bench and see if I can't get my swag back going against some second-line guys,' " Tapscott said. "I thought that an enormously gracious thing to say. And so, we're looking at different combinations with the lineup whether big or small and let DeShawn go with the second unit for awhile. He's the ultimate team guy and that's why I have so much respect for him."

While I don't doubt this is true, I imagine this is part of a larger conversation where DS saw the writing on the wall...

Perhaps, but I'll give Stevenson credit either way. The bottom line is that it looks like he told the coach not to worry about his games started streak and to do what's best for the team. That shows a lot of character.

I also hope that it helps him out of his slump. Stevenson shooting 30% from the field is good for nobody. It hurts himself. It hurts his teammates who are getting loaded up on. And it hurts his trade value.

[nate33]

The real question is, did it really take DS coming to Tankscott for Tankscott to make the decision. Is Tankscott that weak-spined that he won't bench a player without his consent?

I suspect that Tankscott approached DS and told him he was being benched, and then spun it to the media in a positive fashion to make DS look good. That way, DS doesn't get embarrassed and alienated. I'm sure the team knew the true story so they didn't lose respect for their head coach either. Basically, Tankscott took a PR hit for the good of the team.

[fishercob]

Who knows what really went down between Taps, Deshawn and Ernie. But this allows Deshawn to come away from the situation looking like a good, team guy, and lets Taps start to get younger guys some minutes without alienating veterans.

I said it a couple of weeks ago when everyone was bitching about the kids not getting enough minutes. Just be a little patient. Critt will start to get bigger minutes one he learns the system -- probably after the AS break.

[nate33]

So who starts?

Starting DMac would help out the defense but it would screw up the rotation a bit. Would Stevenson play backup SG? Where does that leave Young? Who backs up Butler?

Starting Young would lead to the least disruption in the lineup. The only think Tankscott would have to do is make sure that Young, Butler and Jamison don't all sit at the same time.

I'd like to see DMac start, but with Young as a 25 mpg backup. (Stevenson shouldn't play at all.) With DMac occupied at SG, he wouldn't be available to back up SF. That's where Jamison should slide over and play the backup SF minutes. That frees up more room for Songaila who is playing well right now. And it provides for the opportunity to play Blatche and McGee together.

The other thing is that by having Jamison handle backup SF duties, Tankscott will be forced to keep one of Butler and Jamison on the floor at all times. Tankscott has gotten undisciplined with the rotations lately - playing Butler and Jamison together for the entire 1st and 3rd quarters. He needs to make sure he pulls one of the star forwards out of the game in the 1st and 3rd, so he can go back in and spell the other at the start of the 2nd and 4th.

[JWizmentality]

The real question is, did it really take DS coming to Tankscott for Tankscott to make the decision. Is Tankscott that weak-spined that he won't bench a player without his consent?

I suspect that Tankscott approached DS and told him he was being benched, and then spun it to the media in a positive fashion to make DS look good. That way, DS doesn't get embarrassed and alienated. I'm sure the team knew the true story so they didn't lose respect for their head coach either. Basically, Tankscott took a PR hit for the good of the team.

I agree, IMO something smells fishy. He noticeably got yanked twice yesterday, and only got 15mins. I doubt the lightbulb suddenly went off in Desuck's head, and he became all gracious. I'm calling bull patties on this one. If it really went down like this, then Jebus Christ, Taps really is a grade A moron. In other news, I'm surprised nobody is talking about Critt. He played reasonably well in the short stint he got yesterday.

[Halcyon]

Well regardless of how it all went down, we probably get to see more Nick Young. Slowly but surely, the younger guys will play more and more.

[MJG]

Finally! I'm watching the next game in celebration after taking the past week or so off. I'm hoping Young starts, but McGuire is better than nothing.

As for the story, I don't buy it for a second. Stevenson's minutes have gone down five straight games, with yesterday being a season low. I find it highly dubious that he would pick this time to ask for a benching. That said though, come next season, Stevenson will be here and Tap will not, so if we've got to make one look bad, might as well be the latter.

[ZonkertheBrainless]

why the suspicion? DS comes in, says Tapscott I want to talk to you about my minutes, because I've noticed the trend. What's on your mind? Tapscott says, I know the starting streak is important to you, and it's important to keep a rhythm by having a vet start out the game, but you're shooting slump is really hurting the team and I'm bringing in the younger players to see if they can help us out. DS says well if the reason I'm not getting minutes is my bad shooting, why not bring me off the bench against suckier players and I can get my swagger back and earn back my minutes?

I mean why not? It's not Tapscott asking him permission, they could have had a perfectly believable conversation without either one begging the other for anything and it comes out exactly the way they say it did.

[yungal07]

HOT DAMN! I can finally check off #2 on the to do list. This is the 2nd best news I've heard all year (after EJ getting canned).

All I can say is IT"S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!

LOL...that is the GOAT signature. I can't wait until #3!

[JWizmentality]

HOT DAMN! I can finally check off #2 on the to do list. This is the 2nd best news I've heard all year (after EJ getting canned).

All I can say is IT"S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!

LOL...that is the GOAT signature. I can't wait until #3!

That said, wtf is #4 Dat...you jerking off in the euphoria of the first three. I'd rather you not inform us of that accomplishment.

[miller31time]

Bout' damn time.

[MJG]

why the suspicion? DS comes in, says Tapscott I want to talk to you about my minutes, because I've noticed the trend. What's on your mind? Tapscott says, I know the starting streak is important to you, and it's important to keep a rhythm by having a vet start out the game, but you're shooting slump is really hurting the team and I'm bringing in the younger players to see if they can help us out. DS says well if the reason I'm not getting minutes is my bad shooting, why not bring me off the bench against suckier players and I can get my swagger back and earn back my minutes?

I mean why not? It's not Tapscott asking him permission, they could have had a perfectly believable conversation without either one begging the other for anything and it comes out exactly the way they say it did.

Reasons I can think of Stevenson may have asked to be benched:

+ He is a righteous guy, and knows that his poor play is hurting the team. Therefore, he wants to play less and give other guys who can likely contribute more more minutes.

+ He is a dummy, and is utterly unaware that we have several potential-filled perimeter players that are just waiting for an opportunity like this to seize.

Pretending he did ask for this, there is a very real risk that he's permanently demoting himself in terms of role and minutes. If Young or Crittenton or McGuire steps up and produces, he might well never return to the starting lineup. So, if he did ask for this move, he either is truly a team-first guy, or a dim bulb. And since I don't believe either one of those, I'm choosing to assume that Tap told him he was benched, but spun a nice story about it so he wouldn't look bad. Seems pretty plausible.

[W. Unseld]

"Tankscott" is cracking me up as a nickname and it's really not an insult b/c you get the feeling he was given the reighns to either i)drive up vet trade value or ii)play some of the young guys.


Dat, with #'s 1 and 2 down, it's time to go on record with what #4 is.

[LyricalRico]

The real question is, did it really take DS coming to Tankscott for Tankscott to make the decision. Is Tankscott that weak-spined that he won't bench a player without his consent?

That's my concern, that Taps is even more of a players coach than EJ and would rather continue a meaningless streak than do what's best for the team. But as most have already said, this is probably spin to put DeBrick in a good light.

I guess we can forget about him playing his way back into tradeable status. Unless, of course, Nick Young blows this chance, which is a distinct possibility.

[JWizmentality]

I'm holding off getting too excited. After all, I've seen a starting center get 4mins to offset the threat of the mighty Aaron Gray.

[dandridge 10]

So who starts?

Starting DMac would help out the defense but it would screw up the rotation a bit. Would Stevenson play backup SG? Where does that leave Young? Who backs up Butler?

Starting Young would lead to the least disruption in the lineup. The only think Tankscott would have to do is make sure that Young, Butler and Jamison don't all sit at the same time.

I'd like to see DMac start, but with Young as a 25 mpg backup. (Stevenson shouldn't play at all.) With DMac occupied at SG, he wouldn't be available to back up SF. That's where Jamison should slide over and play the backup SF minutes. That frees up more room for Songaila who is playing well right now. And it provides for the opportunity to play Blatche and McGee together.

The other thing is that by having Jamison handle backup SF duties, Tankscott will be forced to keep one of Butler and Jamison on the floor at all times. Tankscott has gotten undisciplined with the rotations lately - playing Butler and Jamison together for the entire 1st and 3rd quarters. He needs to make sure he pulls one of the star forwards out of the game in the 1st and 3rd, so he can go back in and spell the other at the start of the 2nd and 4th.

Thanks a lot Nate...you are just begging for another post by Hands 11 when he has 1/2 page on various starting line-ups.