So far this season Evans has been pulling in 3 more rpg than Najera in 3 less mpg. (I'll also point out that since Evans started playing, the team started winning ) Perhaps most suprising is that defensive/rebounding specialist Evans has even been scoring more points than Najera. Najera just isn't doing enough in my view to be starting at power forward. Points aren't as important when you've got Anthony on the team and others like Boykins, Miller, Smith and Camby who can make up numbers, but 3.7rpg just doesn't seem very good. Being in Australia I can't see games, only highlights - is there something I'm can't tell from the stats, or is Najera just not playing that well? EDIT - in tonight's just completed game in Orlando, Evans pulled in twice as many boards as Najera (8-4) in about half as much game time.
I have no idea what George Karl has against Reggie Evans but he's not making the right moves. It's obvious we are playing alot better with Reggie Evans on the floor than Najera. He is one of the best rebounders in the league off the bench and he is a tough hard nosed defender. Reggie Evans is averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds in 19 minutes per game, Those numbers are amazing for the amount of time he plays. I love Najera, I love his hustle. But we need to start Evans.
Maybe the starting lineup has enough rebounders and when guys are fresh they don't need Evans at that point. Evans might be the energy off the bench, the guy who sparks the team. To collect the rebounds as starters get tired or are on the bench.
George Karl is a very stubborn coach and he has to be sure a player will fit exactly into his scheme before he will start him. But, really, George, why the heck are you starting Najera when you have the smallest player in the league, Boykins, putting in 12 ppg? And, more broadly, you now have a team scoring more than 111 ppg, much more than any other team. Now that George has the top scoring team in the league, he is going to have to make some adjustments or probably see the team flame out after the allstar break. One of those adjustments should be to start Evans, the sooner the better.
