Los Angeles Clippers v Sacramento Kings The NBA is full of talent, personality and suspense. During the offseason, It’s easy to forget how wonderful the league can be. So, I’ve assembled 67 Reasons I’m Excited For Next Season (67RIEFNS). They’ll be presented in no particular order.
Would you rather have Player A or Player B?
stats via Basketball-Reference.com
You’re probably taking the younger and better Player B. I sure am, even though he costs a little more (less than $2 million per season).
If you agree, you’re not the Kings, who cast aside Player B (Isaiah Thomas) for Player A (Darren Collison).
Sacramento has indicated Thomas didn’t defend and distribute well enough, but Collison is the answer to those problems? Really?
At 5-foot-9, Thomas will always have limitations on the court. But, despite being the last pick in the draft, Thomas has repeatedly overcome obstacles in front of him. He’s somehow become an excellent finisher at the rim, which says something about his will to succeed.
Now, Thomas has even more motivation.
Thomas said he felt “very disrespected” by the Kings and that he plans to “kill” them . A point guard scorned is a point guard worth watching. Set your calendars:
- Fri., Nov. 7: Kings at Suns, 9 p.m.
- Fri., Dec. 26: Suns at Kings, 10 p.m.
- Sun., Feb. 8: Suns at Kings, 9 p.m.
- Wed., March 25: Kings at Suns, 10 p.m.
For what it’s worth, Collison is a fine player, and there’s a chance Sacramento doesn’t regret its decision. DeMarcus Cousins has already praised Collison’s willingness to pass.
But I want to see Thomas trying to prove the Kings wrong. Thomas became an insanely fun sparkplug by channeling the 59 times he was passed over in the draft.
Now, it’s more personal than ever, with one team – the team he sweat for his entire NBA career so far – telling him he wasn’t good enough for them. I can’t wait to see what he does with that information.
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- toom1 - Oct 25, 2014 at 8:38 PM
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Any reason why you hasn’t publish my comment yet?
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- toom1 - Oct 25, 2014 at 9:44 PM
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As I commented on your 10/02/14 post on the same subject, I wrote that the relevant stats are only the per 36min and per 100poss. When comparing these two players stats, their stats are almost the same. Collison stats are even slightly better. Thomas scored more (took more shots per min), but Collison had better FG%, better 3pts FG% and better assists to turnover ratio. In the last three years Collison played on the Clippers, Indiana and Dallas with multiple All Stars on each team so of course he would have less looks, but he gained experience on winning teams, and learned from Chris Paul the best PG in the country.
The Kings didn’t make the playoffs with Thomas(28 wins), and next season they’ll probably win 28 games as-well, but again will miss the postseason.
Thomas will make 24m for 3 years. Colison will make only 16m for 3 years. So the Kings are getting almost an identical player (stats-wise) for 8 million less.
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- toom1 - Oct 25, 2014 at 9:49 PM
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OK. Why HAVEN’T you published my comment yet?
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- toom1 - Oct 25, 2014 at 9:53 PM
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Any reason why my comment is not up yet?
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- toom1 - Oct 25, 2014 at 9:53 PM
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Any reason why my comment is not up yet?
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- phaden27 - Oct 26, 2014 at 2:53 AM
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I can think of no less than three reasons.
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- kobeslapsjordan - Oct 26, 2014 at 2:06 AM
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Pardon me but do you have any grey poupon? That’s Kobe’s new nickname for old age when he still dropping 50 some games….. No more black mamba …. Grey Poupon
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- ranfan12 - Oct 26, 2014 at 9:04 PM
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wow lol
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- lowpostfootwork - Oct 27, 2014 at 12:59 AM
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The NBA needs better defensive statistics
* Successful Close out %
* Missed Rotations
* Altered Shots
* Failed steal attempts
* Tipped passes
* Forced T.O
* Times blown by per indiv matchupIf you only show offensive stats, you miss half of the analysis.
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- Kurt Helin - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:48 AM
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The Sports VU cameras help provide some of that, but we don’t have access to all of it yet. But you are right.
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- hannah20ford - Oct 27, 2014 at 8:21 AM
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I enjoyed watching Thomas beat the lakers at the buzzer in the preseason. I knew he would be a good pickup for the suns. They sure do have alot of point guards though.
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- rafaelgarcia916 - Oct 27, 2014 at 12:48 PM
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I am a huge Isaiah fan and Kings fan but THIS is exactly why the Kings didn’t want him. Isaiah needed to stop talking about himself and how everyone doubted HIM. How HE’S short so therefore HE is disrespected. Yes its good to prove yourself but they want team players and Isaiah was about him first and his team second. Look at Collison and all he does it talk about the team and how he wants to get them involved.
I’m not saying they should have let IT walk but this is why they did it. Isaiah is a better player then Collison don’t get me wrong. But their looking for team guys and Isaiah just couldn’t figure that out.
