Why Kmart should start

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Tim, It's an offense for defense tradeoff and Mitchell is betting that we gain more in offensive efficiency than we lose in defensive efficiency. We'll see.....

That's exactly the bet Sam is making. I'm more of a defense guy so it's not a move I would make...let's hope it works out.

I like Q's next post too...the one hoping that maybe Prince wasn't the reason for the first unit's stellar defense. I hope that too, since Tay is not a core piece going forward. Unfortunately, this move is more than just Martin for Prince though... there's also a domino effect in which Wig has to move to the 3, negating the size advantage he enjoys at the 2.

True, but what has that size advantage done for Wiggins? He's averaging 3.4 rebounds per game, less than Rubio and the same as our backup PG LaVine! Plus he's no more efficient on offense than he was last year.

I do think his size advantage comes in handy defensively when guarding opposing 2's because he has the speed to stay with them and the length to contest shots.

Again, it will be interesting to see how much our team defense takes a hit because of this move. I really have no clue.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Tim, It's an offense for defense tradeoff and Mitchell is betting that we gain more in offensive efficiency than we lose in defensive efficiency. We'll see.....

That's exactly the bet Sam is making. I'm more of a defense guy so it's not a move I would make...let's hope it works out.

I like Q's next post too...the one hoping that maybe Prince wasn't the reason for the first unit's stellar defense. I hope that too, since Tay is not a core piece going forward. Unfortunately, this move is more than just Martin for Prince though... there's also a domino effect in which Wig has to move to the 3, negating the size advantage he enjoys at the 2.

True, but what has that size advantage done for Wiggins? He's averaging 3.4 rebounds per game, less than Rubio and the same as our backup PG LaVine! Plus he's no more efficient on offense than he was last year.

I do think his size advantage comes in handy defensively when guarding opposing 2's because he has the speed to stay with them and the length to contest shots.

Again, it will be interesting to see how much our team defense takes a hit because of this move. I really have no clue.

Yeah, I meant defensively, q...I really like Wig at the 2. And you're right, he hasn't been rebounding well at the 2. But does it make sense to move a poor rebounding SG to one of our forward spots? But overall I'm like you on this move...no clue as to how it will work out, but hoping for the best.

[Coolbreeze44]

Most of you seem to be buying into the logic of the move. The question I ask is why? What has Martin done to suggest he deserves more time, and that the team will benefit from it? He has been flat out terrible so far this year.

Bazz gets more time and that could be a good thing, but he hasn't exactly been stellar either. The guy who needs a more substantial role is Zach, and I don't see how this accomplishes that.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Most of you seem to be buying into the logic of the move. The question I ask is why? What has Martin done to suggest he deserves more time, and that the team will benefit from it? He has been flat out terrible so far this year.

Bazz gets more time and that could be a good thing, but he hasn't exactly been stellar either. The guy who needs a more substantial role is Zach, and I don't see how this accomplishes that.

Martin has played poorly this year, but he also has a 10-year track record that suggests it won't continue. And again, despite his struggles, he's no less efficient than Wiggins on offense. My guess is that he eventually breaks out of his slump. The question is what does this do to the team defense?

While I'm not necessarily on board with this move, I'm not all up in arms over it either. Zach will still get his minutes and ultimately Martin will be traded or let go.

[bleedspeed]

What is everyone worried about? It is a development year. As long as Martin doesn't stop the development of Wiggins and Towns I don't see the problem. My biggest concern is if there is another injury to Rubio. A LaVine/Martin/Wiggins/KG/Towns starting group is awful. We saw enough of LaVIne and Martin paired together to know that won't work.

Lets hope Martin catches fire and puts up 5 games of 25 points or more. Wiggins gets a more efficient 20, and Towns has more room to operate.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I've been assuming that Martin moving into the starting lineup creates a domino effect that also moves Zach to the 2 and Miller to backup PG, but I think I have been interpreting it incorrectly. Some of you have pointed out that Sam also said that he wants to give Bazz more minutes, therefore we have to assume that Bazz will be getting more than the 18 MPG. And the most likely way he does this is if Wig starts at the 3, but continues to get minutes at the 2. Maybe something like this is what Sam is thinking:

PG: Rubio (32) Zach (16)
SG: Martin (30) Wig (12) Zach (6)
SF: Wig (24) Bazz (24)
PF: KG (18) Belly (or Payne, if Belly can't go) 30
C: KAT (32) Dieng (16)

That's a tighter 9-man rotation than Sam has been using. And still allows him to put Ricky and Zach out together if the matchups dictate it. And cool, it gives Zach more run as you have been calling for. I still prefer Wig at the 2, but if this is the way Sam wants to go, I'm willing to give it a chance.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I guess the way I see it is you can't have starters that give you 3 ppg and 2 rpg in 22 minutes, unless they are an upper echelon defender....and I mean a lights out, stud defender. Prince is NOT this. Solid team defender....yep. But I have to believe in the sentiment offered above that the offensive increase from Martin will overshadow the difference in defensive loss. I too think Prince is given too much credit for his defense.

[Coolbreeze44]

Most of you seem to be buying into the logic of the move. The question I ask is why? What has Martin done to suggest he deserves more time, and that the team will benefit from it? He has been flat out terrible so far this year.

Bazz gets more time and that could be a good thing, but he hasn't exactly been stellar either. The guy who needs a more substantial role is Zach, and I don't see how this accomplishes that.

Martin has played poorly this year, but he also has a 10-year track record that suggests it won't continue. And again, despite his struggles, he's no less efficient than Wiggins on offense. My guess is that he eventually breaks out of his slump. The question is what does this do to the team defense?

While I'm not necessarily on board with this move, I'm not all up in arms over it either. Zach will still get his minutes and ultimately Martin will be traded or let go.

Why do you have to keep going there? It's just a stupid, hollow argument. How about this? Let's keep Tay in the starting lineup and insert Martin over Wiggins. Since Martin is as good offensively as Wiggins and Tay gives us the defense Wiggins does nothing should change right? I just don't understand your obsession with poking holes in Andrew Wiggins.

[TAFKASP]

Most of you seem to be buying into the logic of the move. The question I ask is why? What has Martin done to suggest he deserves more time, and that the team will benefit from it? He has been flat out terrible so far this year.

Buying in? No, but I do see advantages in opening up floor spacing and that will happen in spite of Martin's slow start. Slow start or not teams are going to have to honor Martin far more than they ever did with Prince. Theoretically KAT will have more room to operate down low, Wiggins will have more driving lanes, and Rubio will have somebody who can shoot to pass to.

Bazz gets more time and that could be a good thing, but he hasn't exactly been stellar either. The guy who needs a more substantial role is Zach, and I don't see how this accomplishes that.

Regarding Zach I believe his time is coming. I agree with those who see Martin being traded by the deadline with the exception being if the Wolves were truly challenging to make playoffs. So if this move only creates more space in the near term with Martin being traded and Zach eventually taking his place among the starters, great! If on the other hand this works, the team scores more, wins more, and is position to push for the playoffs while Zach continues to learn in a bench role, great!

I guess in the big picture I don't think we'll be looking back on this stretch of Wolves basketball in a couple of years and saying "if only Zach had been made the starter in place of Martin...". Just my $0.02, unadjusted for inflation.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Most of you seem to be buying into the logic of the move. The question I ask is why? What has Martin done to suggest he deserves more time, and that the team will benefit from it? He has been flat out terrible so far this year.

Bazz gets more time and that could be a good thing, but he hasn't exactly been stellar either. The guy who needs a more substantial role is Zach, and I don't see how this accomplishes that.

Martin has played poorly this year, but he also has a 10-year track record that suggests it won't continue. And again, despite his struggles, he's no less efficient than Wiggins on offense. My guess is that he eventually breaks out of his slump. The question is what does this do to the team defense?

While I'm not necessarily on board with this move, I'm not all up in arms over it either. Zach will still get his minutes and ultimately Martin will be traded or let go.

Why do you have to keep going there? It's just a stupid, hollow argument. How about this? Let's keep Tay in the starting lineup and insert Martin over Wiggins. Since Martin is as good offensively as Wiggins and Tay gives us the defense Wiggins does nothing should change right? I just don't understand your obsession with poking holes in Andrew Wiggins.

What's the stupid, hollow argument I'm making? I just pointed out a fact. I am not at all suggesting that Wiggins should be displaced in the starting lineup as I believe we need him defensively as much if not more than we need him offensively. He's our best wing defender.

(by the way, if you think I just like to pick on the young guys, please refer to my commentary on KAT. It will make you blush).