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Coach K’s starting frontcourt
Bucks look to improve on poor season
By Steve Manske
Two days before the start of the season the Milwaukee Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak surprised some fans by choosing to start Yi Jianlian and Desmond Mason at the forward positions.
To my knowledge I would agree halfway on coach Krystkowiak decision to start Mason over Bobby Simmons. Simmons was a reserve for the Los Angeles Clippers and did a nice job winning his 6th man of the year in his last season with them before coming to the Bucks.
Mason has been a starter most of his career and he provides the kind of energy you need to start a game. You don’t want to fall down early to good basketball teams, because it’s difficult to play catch up in this league.
I know many people love Yi and so do I, but a rookie should not start when he is not familiar with the NBA style of basketball. It can get real physical inside the paint and he doesn’t possess the size and strength at this time in his young career to start.
Charlie Villanueva would be a better fit, because he brings more strength and quickness to the table that the Bucks need at the start of a game. I do feel that Yi still should get plenty of playing time, because he provides good outside shooting and can give you rebounds off the bench that you need when your starters come out of the game.
When you got a rookie it’s not always good to throw him into the fire, because if he gets off to a slow start, which can be expected, it could hurt his confidence and linger all season. Let the kid get adjusted to the NBA game and as the season goes if he meshes well with the other starters then I would give him his chance.
As for the center position, starting Andrew Bogut is the right decision because he has had a few years in the league now and you need a guy out there that can help Yi adjust to the game situations while on the court together. Dan Gadzuric is a back-up player and he will provide good energy coming off the bench.
I can understand why Krystkowiak feels it’s not a big deal on who starts the game, because you’re going to have several different lineups on the floor throughout the game. Plus, in an 82 game season there will be many switches in the starting lineup especially with the forward position where the Bucks possess many solid athletes. Also, injuries do occur in a long season, so that opens the opportunity for guys like Simmons, Villanueva and Gadzuric to get their chance as well.
Right now it’s too early to judge whether the lineup he chose for the front-court is good or not. Fans need to sit back and give the players time and see what line-up works the best and if Krystowiak doesn’t see it the way we do then the team will be in for a long season. The game is 48 minutes long, and in the end whoever finishes the game will matter the most in the success of the Bucks this season.
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