<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">``I thought Marcus struggled in the first half, and if you're going to struggle in the first half I've got to go in another direction,'' said Rivers. ``And I had to go with Ricky tonight. Is that where I want to go? No. But, you know, if I'm going to tell Al (Jefferson) that he has to earn minutes - if I'm going to tell Kendrick (Perkins) that he has to earn minutes - then I've got to tell Marcus he has to earn minutes, as well.'' </div> Herald Story How about that? A coach that has the same rules for everybody. What a breath of fresh air. I totally agree with Doc on this one. He's not letting Marcus get comfortable while Delonte is injured. Banks plays better when he feels like he has to earn his minutes. He has a much higher level of focus, and he becomes much more of a factor in games. Here's to having a coach that isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in.
marcus is terrible. i wish we kept jones and gave him to los angelas. i agree that doc does a good job with discipline.
I will say this about Banks: you can tell right away which Marcus has shown up. If it's good Marcus, then the second unit continues to push the pace and Banks lets the game come to him. If it's bad Marcus, then his body is 2 steps faster than his mind and he's driving all the way under the basket with nowhere to go and 20 seconds left on the 24 second clock. At least you can tell right away and plan accordingly. The fact that Doc, who was a point guard and knows what the position requires, would rather play Davis or Jiri during the fourth speaks volumes to me. I don't think he's got any confidence in Banks, and hasnt since he was up and down during the summer leagues. sidebar: with Banks being so inconsistant and Perkins unable to find the floor, is it time to declare the 2003 draft a bust? Clearly, Doc will play the high schoolers if they've earned it. You can't keep blaming their lack of development on Obie.
I'm still on the fence with Banks, but I will say that he annoys me more than he impresses me. As for the draft being a bust, I don't really think we can throw Perkins into that. Remember that he came out of HS and will take longer. He's got the body and SOME of the skills, but just isn't ready yet. I'm more willing to give up on Banks before giving up on Perkins, because: 1. Banks is older, has college esperience and still mostly played poorly. 2. Big men are harder to get than PG's are. Imagine giving up on a Garnett, O'Neal, or Stoudemire and knowing you had first shot at them. Remember, we also had Big Ben Wallace and let him go (I blame that on Pitino though). I'd be willing to invest 1-2 more years working and evaluating Perkins. After all, I think that's the reason Blount got his contract anyways: to play stop-gap until the Perk-o-later is ready.
A 6 year contract is a hell of a stop, wouldn't you say? With Googs on and off the IL and Yogi Stewart.... well, being Yogi Stewart, don't you think that Doc would play Perk if he was showing any signs of life? As you read in the Herald article, Doc said he has to earn minutes, and he's not. Thats not a good sign to me.
I'm still not ready to give up on Banks. I agree with Hags that he is more frustrating than he is impressive. Once we get West back, I don't care if Banks gets burried on our bench for the rest of the season. I just don't want to see him go somewhere else and blow up. I don't think he'll be the type of player who needs a change of scenary, and he'll automatically start playing better. I think what he needs is time. He may end up being a bust, and I am perfectly willing to admit it if that ends up being the case. But I am willing to take the risk. He has physical talents that you can't teach. Just try and imagine IF he ever "gets it." Seriously, try and picture that. With his incredible speed and strength, if he ever becomes half the playmaker that many guards disguising themselves as PGs in this league are, he'll be good. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE!?
