Re: Kenny vs. Milt

[Jamey Rallis <rallis@vgi.com>]

This was covered by many people last season, but I'll remind Alex anyway.
It's more than numbers.

Milt is a terrible half court offensive point guard.  No question.  When
Kenny plays well, he's good at it, when he doesn't play well, he's still
no worse than Milt.  That's not why Milt has a job.

How many games last year did Milt come in and turn a 10 pt 3rd quarter
deficit into a 10 pt lead?  Or get some easy baskets in the 4th quarter?

Milt pushes the ball hard up the court when he senses the defense is
tired.  He goes hard from end to end, and he puts the ball up at the hoop.
Everyone on the court has to realize that they have a few seconds to get
their asses up the court to be part of the play, or they may as well not
run at all. His teammates have to run to get their precious "touches", or
to score points, and the defenders have to run to play some D, get some
blocks and steals, keep from getting faced, etc. It all results in what
Cousy complains about the C's lacking the most, easy baskets in the 2nd
half.  Or is that Tommy.

It also can take the air out of teams on the road who just want to get
back to their hotel rooms, as Tommy mentions almost every home telecast.

Now it's tough to do all game long, it's tough to do in the first half,
and it's not as effective on the road.  He also sucks when it's not
working and he has to play 1/2 court offense, but then he can go hide.

So if Kenny is playing 1/2 court well, they make a hell of a change of
pace combo.  If Kenny would push the ball, Milt would be a castoff.  If
they start Milt, and use Kenny mostly in the second half, I think it will
be a disaster. But used as a fast break tempo guy in the 2nd half of
games, I think it will work well.  Hell, start Walker as point forward
with Forte or Johnson guarding the other point guard and leave Kenny out
of it if need be, but use Milt in the one and only capacity he's good at.

And you know, with a young athletic team, it might work well.  Especially
during times when Walker and/or Pierce are taking a breather on the bench.
You know it would help guys like McCarty and Battie.  They're runners, not
bangers, and that is what Milt brings to the team.  The ability and
willingness to push the ball hard.

Anything else is asking too much of him and will be a disaster.

It's not always about numbers, sometimes you actually have to watch the
game.

-Jamey