Start Donte, Bench Salmons

Flipstorm · Post #1 » by **Flipstorm** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:26 pm

I'm just gonna keep things real simple because Salmons stats are so bad you can't argue in favor of him at this point. Salmons is averaging 7 pts, 3 boards, and 1.8 asts in 28 min a game, while shooting 35% FROM THE FIELD AND 23% FROM THREE WOWWWW. Also, his PER is a whopping 7.1 right now.

Donte isn't having the greatest season but his stats are much better in limited time. He's averaging 5.6 pts, 2.8 boards, and .6 asts in only 14 MPG and has a per of 13.49. He's shooting 41% from the field, and only 20% from three but I think if his playtime was more consistent like Salmons has had his percentages would go up a bit (I can see Donte shooting at least around 33-34% from three, he's a much better 3 point shooter than he's shown this season). He's a more versatile defender, and at this point clearly better than Salmons who has just been horribly defensively this year, getting burned by everybody. And we want to be a running team right? Then why don't we play one of our best open court players who seems to have good chemistry with Tyreke/JT especially? Donte isn't getting a chance for some reason, while Salmons is just coasting by on reputation. Donte may not be the answer at SF for our future, but at this point I'll take potential over history.

I just don't understand why nothing is happening with the Salmons situation, its so clear he brings nothing to the team where it is even worth playing him. And he provides no veteran leadership, guys the quietest NBA player I've ever seen, I doubt he even hangs out or has good chemistry with the rest of the team.

gold_leader64 · Post #2 » by **gold_leader64** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:35 pm

I have been saying for years that Donte needs consistent minutes if you want consistent improvement. He needs more time, is younger, has more upside than Salmons, and there's no reason at this point regarding their production who should get minutes.

SacKingZZZ · Post #3 » by **SacKingZZZ** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:19 pm

Donte is just not a great 3. If you look at when he was having those pretty good breakout games recently he was playing the 4. He started to look like the player he did in college, taking bigger guys off the dribble and scoring around them. He can't do that at the 3 and just doesn't spread the floor like you need him to. They need to start Cisco.

Post #4 » by **ICMTM** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:40 am

Did I see a Free Donte Greene post? Nice!

Post #5 » by **KF10** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:14 am

I give him a shot at it. It couldn't be worse.

Krle_12 · Post #6 » by **Krle_12** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:12 am

It's not a matter of what Salmons is averaging, though it would help if he knocks down those open 3s which he is generally good at except this season of course.

Its the fact that he is getting killed defensively. Salmons used to be a VERY VERY good man defender. He had a quick step and was able to stay in front of his man and challenge the shot. He seems to have lost that step which has had an extremely negative impact on his defence. He is getting killed out there on a nightly basis. He is getting torched by his man with ease. He was killed by Hayward last night. C'mon now!

Donte at least will play tough defence and can defend many different positions. He is also a role player that does not need to pound the ball to be effective offensively.

LoyalKing · Post #7 » by **LoyalKing** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:31 pm

They need to start Garcia at the 3

Donte sucks and Salmons sucks even more.

PetrieUnderstudy · Post #8 » by **PetrieUnderstudy** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:59 pm

Out of bewilderment with his current play I watched some previous years footage of John Salmons. The biggest thing I noticed (other than the obvious of him not hitting his mid range and 3 point shots) is that he is not taking it to the hole. Now, he may have lost some of his explosiveness (he was really never that explosive) but I can't recall (and I've watched about all of every game this year) a shot from him that wasn't either near the free throw line or a 3 pointer. Salmons was very good at playing under the rim and scoring at the basketball. His game was similar in ways to Tyreke's. Maybe he isn't driving because guys can play off of him with his 30% shooting. He needs to attack the basket or at least prove to me and all us that he no longer can.

I've only seen a guys game deteriorate like Salmons this much with one other player with the Kings and he was another favorite of most on this board. Kenny Thomas. For anyone that remembers the initial Kenny Thomas right after the CWeb trade he was a 15 ppg guy with the elbow jumper and went to a guy that couldn't even make a layup. Salmons at this point is in the same boat but he doesn't even attempt layups. YouTube some of his highlights of years past. He actually did have some emotion, some facial expressions, and was a good player. There's been a lot of bashing on why the Kings traded for him. Look at his highlights and you'll see why they did. I just hope its a case that he's in a huge funk opposed to just being done.