Game 63: Bucks @ Pacers, 4/19/12, 7:00 EST

[Nuntius]

As we continue to beat this dead horse until there's nothing left of it, I'll point out that we're comparing a player with 5.3 assists/48min and a 2.7 assist:turnover ratio to one with 7.3 assists/48min and a 2.66 assist:turnover ratio. I agree that it appears there are teams that Hill plays better with than Collison. I also think that we would miss Hill MORE than we would miss Collison should either be injured, but by no stretch of the imagination have I seen anything consistently from Collison that would indicate he can't pass. I'm beginning to believe that you have some tie to Lance and you just really want to see him play. It's the only reasonable explanation for why you would take an above-average point guard and make him sound like he couldn't compete in the D-League.

You make good points about the Hill - Collison comparison.

Truth is, we have missed Hill a lot when he was injured. On our 5 game losing streak he was injured and he was also injured in half of our 4 game losing streak as well. It's safe to say that is damn important to us.

In the last few games we've been fine without DC even though I feel that the team does miss him a bit at times. We've still managed to win all of our games with him. But then again we went on a streak without Hill as well simply because we were playing bottom feeders.

Anyway, I believe that every team misses a player when they're injured. It's evident that we've missed both DC and GH but we could probably miss GH more.

It's the only reasonable explanation for why you would take an above-average point guard

How is being one of the worst starters in the league above-average?

Did you notice that he said above-average point guard and not above-average starting point guard?

[Indy2thaWindy]

Put 60% of the point guards in the league in the position that Darren Collison has been in with us and they would have performed better. Another 25% would produce at about the same level. Point guards always step in and play well for teams. It happens all the time. It rarely makes the team better tho. Darren Collison makes the team worse when he plays. I said the same things about Murphy and Dunleavy. Almost all of you said I was wrong and a hater. Pretty much like you do now. But when they left we got better. When Collison is gone we will get better. I don't hate him and I don't care if Lance plays another minute this season. DARREN COLLISON JUST SUCKS AT BASKETBALL! He's not in any way above-average.

[Nuntius]

Put 60% of the point guards in the league in the position that Darren Collison has been in with us and they would have performed better.

That's false.

[Miller4ever]

Put 60% of the point guards in the league in the position that Darren Collison has been in with us and they would have performed better. Another 25% would produce at about the same level

Made-up numbers.

Point guards always step in and play well for teams. It happens all the time.

What? No. Many point guards step in and don't play well. It happens all the time. See AJ Price, Steve Blake, Mario Chalmers, Mike Bibby, Toney Douglas, Randy Foye...

It rarely makes the team better tho.

So if good point guard play doesn't matter, what are we arguing about?

Darren Collison makes the team worse when he plays.

Besides the less-than-useful plus-minus, the we are better with him than with AJ Price. Collison is not the best point guard on the roster, probably, but he is far from the worst and does not make us worse because he is better than the alternative, which is AJ Price.

I said the same things about Murphy and Dunleavy. Almost all of you said I was wrong and a hater. Pretty much like you do now.

What tends to happen is any player beneath a threshold is instantly worthless. You've called Gallinari and Rubio bums (I don't think Gallinari is that good, but he can play in this league), and disagreed a season or so ago when somebody said Marc Gasol was going to be a top-3 C in the NBA.

But when they left we got better.

Nothing to do with Obie following them or and West and Hill getting added with great development from Hibbert and George.

When Collison is gone we will get better. I don't hate him and I don't care if Lance plays another minute this season. DARREN COLLISON JUST SUCKS AT BASKETBALL! He's not in any way above-average.

Do you think he's fast?
Do you think 44% and 37% shooting is an accident? Would you prefer 32% and 28% (Price) or 33% (Lance)?
Do you think better than a 2.5/1 A/TO ratio is a happy coincidence?
Do you dislike fastbreak points?

Obviously, there's areas where he can improve but I think his skillset is pretty refined for his age and even if Indiana isn't the place for him, he'll have a nice career. I would say if you can shoot 44% on a team that shoot 43% and not turning it over and your team scores more than the other team when you're on the floor, chances are you don't suck at basketball and belong in the D-League.