From John Hollinger ESPN

[Bodhi]

I pretty much have to agree with everything NUMB is saying here. I badly want Burks to do well and eventually make Raja's and CJ's minutes a non-topic, but at the moment he's not doing that. He looks like he's playing his own game within the game. Like NUMB says, he needs to settle down and learn to play within the system. He's the kind of player that could average 8-10pts a game just on hustle/put backs and getting to the line if he just relaxed and didn't force things.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

or Cyrone's "man crushing" on him...

?

 

[NUMBERICA]

?

He meant to say Jonas "Fiery Pau Gasol" Valanciunas.

 

[sportsnut1232]

To be fair, though, Hollinger doesn't watch the games, and Burks not only doesn't get the offense, he chucks unmercilessly. He either has to start making his shots or learn that he needs to find a way to contribute without the ball in his hands. His D has been unexpectedly good, though.

My problem with that is, how will he get used to the offense if he doesn't get any playing time? He obviously has the talent to come in and contribute right now, atleast when it comes to scoring/getting to the line. Whenever I have seen him in the game, he makes things happen, either by getting to the line, or by driving and dishing. If we had another solid option at the 2 I would understand bringing him along a little slower, but when you have Bell getting most of those minutes, I have a problem with that. I would prefer Burks getting 25 minutes per game, I could live with his mistakes.

 

[Hitman]

However, why CJ is getting any minutes except to keep Burks off the court for his 'cowboy game' is beyond me. Especially since CJ has absolutely no shame for hoisting up shots, despite not getting to the line and shooting a horrible percentage from the field.

CJ and Burks jack up shots at the same rate. However, Burks also gets to the rim and draws fouls at a higher rate, which technically is shooting even more, but at least these are good shots (BTW, CJ is getting to the line at a decent rate this year). Plus Burks also gets more rebounds and assists, and shoots a better percentage, and can handle the ball, so given the choice I would go with Burks over CJ.

 

[cowhide]

I love when people use Burk's mistakes for the reason why he doesn't play while all the time they disregard ALL the mistakes Bell makes. Burk may be up and down but Raja has been awful every game except the LA. A game where he was average.

 

[freakazoid]

Raja has been awful every game except the LA. A game where he was average.

5-6 tonight with 3 dimes in 22 minutes. He also had a 2 handed dunk. A DUNK!


No, seriously, he had a dunk. I'm not kidding. Maybe I was just imagin......No, no, I'm sure I saw it.

 

[jimmy eat jazz]

Does Hollinger know anything about basketball other than compiling stats?

I wonder the same. Let's not forget that he has a clear self-interest to promote PER and whatever other stats he might have developed. In other words, he is pretty much compelled for his own credibility's sake to see the entire world in terms of his stats. As with anything else, in many cases the PER sheds really valuable light, in other cases, it may shed less light.

He reminds me of the economist whose entire career is wrapped up in promoting rational choice theory and who is completely unable or unwilling to consider that alternative theories may have some explanatory power as well.

Hollinger strikes me as a one-trick pony whose conclusions need to be taken with a certain degree of caution.

 

[Grandpa Jazz]

Ran this notion up the flagpole once before and got no response. Notion- Ty will not make a change with minutes or starting slots until some losses pile up. Basically he can't. What concerns me most is diminishing playing time for our youth movement. Favors, Burks, Evans, Kanter, et. al. At the same time players who are under producing have stable minutes Harris, Bell, Hayward. By the way, Boler-Harp keep harping on the fourth best bench in the league stuff. Well that's because our starters minutes must be near the bottom of the league. Only one player (Jefferson) is getting a trusted starters minutes. And that #4 designation is only based on scoring and not how well they defend.

 

[InGameStrategy]

Ran this notion up the flagpole once before and got no response. Notion- Ty will not make a change with minutes or starting slots until some losses pile up.

This notion is supported by Millsap being reinserted in the starting lineup--even though Jefferson + Favors and Millsap + Kanter would make for more balanced lineups.

Basically he can't.

To parapharase President B.O., yes he can.

What concerns me most is diminishing playing time for our youth movement. Favors, Burks, Evans, Kanter, et. al. At the same time players who are under producing have stable minutes Harris, Bell, Hayward.

True, but I just look to the idea that the youth movement would be stalled more if veteran-biased Sloan were still here.

At least Burks has averaged the near-theoretical-minimum 10 MPG (he had one DNP), and Kanter is getting more than that. And Favors is getting twice that. I still would like each of them a few more--although at least AJ's and PM's minutes have fallen back to earth.

By the way, Boler-Harp keep harping on the fourth best bench in the league stuff.

Harpring is good at harping ...

 

[Grandpa Jazz]

Don't recall the exact timing but we had just had our butt kicked big time twice and the season was very,very young. No risk then making a change. Now that they have been winning more it is too risky to make changes. But you are right, he can. But he won't. By the way " InGameStrategy" thank you, i thought i was posting in a vacuum. Oh...... i was.