I feel like KCP was only starting because he was the “vet” and maybe even to a small degree because of who his agent is. But Hart has beat him out, he’s surpassed him in consistent play, he earned the spot.
Haha, y'all still with the starter thing. Hart's motor is awesome and as long as he's getting minutes and finishing close games, that's all that should matter. Hart closed out each quarter when the game was still in doubt and was semi-shutdown when the game was put away (ie Kcp played more minutes than Josh tonight). That being said, Suns aren't a great team, JHart started, played till the 4 minute mark and subbed back in to finish out the last minute of the quarter. So dude played 9 out of the 12 minutes in the 1st quarter and the Suns scored 30 and we led by 2 at the end of that quarter. 2nd quarter is where we blew it open. KCP player all but 4 minutes of that quarter. KCP's not trash fam. As long as dude is fighting over screens and diving on the floor to get to balls, I don't care if his j ain't true...cuz dude is streaky AF. Just put the effort on D to earn playing time especially when we're a couple good men down at the moment. JHart deserves more minutes, deserves to close games and be on the floor when we need good defense...but why we s***ting on KCP and clowning dude to big up Hart?... Why y'all looking at Luke side ways when Hart had gotten the lion share of minutes and closes the critical minutes of each quarter?... That's weird. And this starting thing is just crazy hype. Say it with me: closing games when the game is in doubt is All.That.Matters. Btw: I'm happy for Hart AND for us, but I do think it's weird we have to s*** on a player to hype up another and question why the coach can't see dude as an "obvious starter"... especially when it's obvious that Hart is part of our core while Kcp is a 1yr stopgap and a solid to Rich/Klutch.
We've never lost with our starting lineup of Hart, Kuzma, Ball, McGee and James. So there's that. And Josh has some nice elevation on his Js and even a bit of fall back lean on them. He's not the tallest 2 out there so both definitely help.
Aside from the funkyness when he lets go of it, I like the release high on the apex and that slight fade away. It looks so natural and I'm glad it's working for him.
LOL yeah I feel you with the I'd say "slight" funkiness when he releases. But some angles watching it look better than others honestly.
Synergy. That's why. The theory of who finishes is BS for a one very simple reason. There are many many games, like today, where putting the pressure at the correct moment puts the game in the fridge. If you only cared about combinations of people that finish games, you would may be miss the quarters in-between, like 2nd today, that make the rest of the game a moot point. Today was one of the better KCP games, but if you insisted, like Puke does, to do these auto subs of starters/reserves, you may not have gotten that 2nd quarter, thus actually having to scramble in the 4th, making that adage of "who finishes" relevant . All quarters matter. Reminds me of Shaq with his "I make them when it counts". It always counts, you Big Doofus. If you made them in the 1st, they would count towards the score, perhaps negating the need for you to even play in the 4th. Or, more likely, you making them all the time would change the dynamics of the game, making the opponent send doubles, opening the game for eveeyone else, again, perhaps, giving you 4th quarter off. My point in all of this rant is that "who finishes matters" is way way too simplistic to use as a measuring stick for a player being used in an appropriate manner. Or giving a chance to shine.
Outside of the obvious that we're a better team when Kuzma/Hart/Ball are playing with LeBron, Hart deserves to start because he worked his *** off for it. "Who cares" doesn't work for me because it's obvious Hart cares and he earned the spot. I'd like to live in a world where hard work meets success meets recognition. Pope was given his due, he was given his shot, Hart out played him.
At this point I wand Hart to start and finish games, especially if it’s close. Maybe KCP will finds his game again which then we can have a different discussion, but right now Hart gives us the best chance to win with his play right now.
Josh should start and finish and get the bulk of the minutes because he's been playing great and KCP has been playing like garbage. It's simple. I'd like him to get about 30 minutes a game and KCP about 15-18.
Ugh, Luke in the post game was all bitter about the starters defense in the beginning, then had to throw in a little tidbit about KCP looking good or something like that...like really? He looked better, but Hart is still significantly better than KCP.
PhilJax, Pop and every other notable winning coach convincing talent like LO/Manu to come up off the bench and have them close games tho... Society/players glorifying guys like Jordan/Kob and Montana/Brady for being clutch and hitting game winners or driving their team to winning TDs in the final 2 minutes tho... Rich Paul/Bron with the name of their agency tho... Shaq daring coaches to hack-a-shaq in close games tho... This quote tho... This image tho... This movie tho... Finishing matters tho...
But you're sure on where to end tho. Don't be like Zo and get... ...in this starter discussion. He's deserving to start no doubt, but I rather he closes quarters/games and eats off that opposing 2nd unit. And with that, I'll wrap it up and be out this b****.
