Should Malik Monk Demand to Start? | Locked On Kings

[@LivinProoof]

I'm so tired of the damn off-season my god

[@jaybirdful]

I don’t care what anyone says on this … The dude stayed for less money and more than proved himself last year I’ve been waiting to see Kentucky Connection highlights on ESPN since he signed in Sac

[@zenecawll5677]

Yes let’s make the team worse to please your highlights makes sense

[@mordecaidrake]

​@zenecawll5677 assuming it makes you worse.... he definitely deserves the chance

[@badnewssourgrapes]

We need Monk's energy coming off the bench sure he could start on probably every team out there but his role off the bench for this team has led to the best seasons of his career I hope he stays with the 2nd unit

[@lapaprofundous3788]

Good point....but consider - if a team has a policy of saving it's "energy" players for the bench....what does that do to the starting lineup? Also consider whether the Kings have historically had a problem with flat starts to games? ....maybe there's a connection?

[@justmyopinion8395]

But how do you know the team won’t do better with him starting if stubborn old Mike Brown refuses to even try? Not even once.

[@WolfsDE]

I am on the side of let the 3 guys battle it out in camp and the pre-season. Now, I also prefer Monk starting. Why? Because Kevin Huerter is capable of playing SF. Having him backup DeMar DeRozan when there is a shortage of guys to do so, makes sense. This way, Monk and Ellis can be the two primary SG's. It allows for more interchangeable lineups as well. You need more offense on a given night? Monk gets more minutes. You need to shut down another team's SG or PG, Ellis gets more minutes that night. You need Kevin Huerter's 3 point shooting, you can sub out DeRozan for a bit to create more spacing. This is something where it balances the lineup. You can keep guys healthy if you can interchange the lineups with different looks. It keeps the other teams on their heels.

[@lapaprofundous3788]

I like it!

[@davonchism5975]

I think Monk is best off the bench, as well as a closer option as well, I would make sure he’s on the court to finish a game with 5 minutes remaining at minimum.

[@shaynehenry1836]

Isn't that funny...Let's keep Monk on the bench, bring him in to get us back in the game...put him back on the bench, then bring him in with 5 minutes left to win the game🤔....C'MON PEOPLE!!!!! DO YALL HAVE DUST FOR BRAINS?!

[@davonchism5975]

He comes off the bench because the starters eventually hit the bench. So what's your point with back on back off bench crap he's a NBA player, and would he not be a feasible closer option if fox or DeRozan are struggling? ​@@shaynehenry1836

[@1970ronin]

I think Monk will do what ever it takes to win period. Even if he doesn't start he will be on of the leaders in minutes and be on the floor closing and that is definitely more import. So my 5 is Fox Ellis Deros Keegan and Domas with Monk and k9 and eventually the rookie coming in as a line change to keep everyone fresh and the break neck pace up on both ends

[@billritchey3700]

I think that if Malik becomes a starter he won't get the ball as much as necessary to be as impactful. Off the bench he is running the show much more.

[@justmyopinion8395]

Start your best players and take it from there. At this point, the team being better with him coming off the bench is just a baseless theory because Mike Brown refuses to try and start him. You can’t say one is better than the other if you only tried one. Put him in the starting line up and if it doesn’t work, take it from there.

[@seanembery9815]

I understand people saying the kings need energy off the bench in monk, BUT i thinl he should start especially now that derozan is there. They need to build a strong chemistry with their best players and keon is good enough to come off the bench with huerter.

[@1takefades]

Monk and Derozan will get chemistry through out the game. It’s not gonna be hockey style 5 in 5 out , it will be staggered. The only problem I have with monk starting, is the defense

[@5un50utPr05]

i havent watched this vid yet, but malik needs to prove he can play solid defense in order to start

[@shaynehenry1836]

Malik is a Team player...He won't demand starting, But he will demand to Coach to bring him in when Malik feels the need make sure the Kings stay up...TIMING IS EVERYTHING

[@DasGoose24]

Calling line ups now.. PG: Fox. Backup: McLaughlin(until Carter is cleared) SG:Ellis. "Backup": Monk SF: Derozen. Backup: Huerter PF: Murray. Backup: Lyles C: Sabonis. Backup: Len

[@WolfsDE]

@@DasGoose24 Agreed. However, Len had better be careful. If he plays badly, Orlando Robinson might get moved into that primary backup role. Robinson is a little more athletic, and I think has the potential to be a good rim protector and rebounder. Not sure about his offensive upside, but I do think he can push Len into having to play very well or be riding the bench a lot more. Also not sure on Carter this season. Sure, I think he will get cleared unless there is a setback in his recovery. However, if McLaughlin is playing well, they might integrate Carter slowly in order to give him time to get used to playing NBA basketball in practice mostly this season because he hasn't had a lot of coaching yet.

[@DasGoose24]

@@WolfsDE i almost fee as if they may just red shirt Carter this season and use McLaughlin this year. Also I just say Len because he's been here longer even if its a year to year basis lol but for the most part he gives solid minutes when he gets them.

[@EricBorchert]

He knows if he starts he won’t be the guy! He made a mark with his energy coming off the bench and that’s where he thrives. Now after our rookie gets healthy and he can take over the roll of six man and bring that energy then you can start Monk. Until we have an energy guy ready to come off the bench it would hurt us to loose that just to start him. Now extending his min by about 4-5 min would be good as long as he can bring it the whole time.

[@TheHappyCoder]

He must demand to start to prove his worth having more minutes, so that he could get a great contract next time.

[@lapaprofundous3788]

Agreed 100% with your point that Malik is in their top 5. If a coach does not start his best 5, it's on that coach to explain that strange lineup... And it's not enough that the player sparks the bench....that can be said of any of your starters.... In my view, it is also not correct to argue that Malik has done well only because he plays as a 6th man - against bench players...that dog just won't hunt. We have all seen how well he does as a finisher against the best starters in the league. Also agreed that Malik must have more minutes....and must finish. Malik is a very important part of this team...WAY too important for him not to start...in my view.

[@WolfsDE]

PF Keegan Murray SF DeMar DeRozan C Domantis Sabonis SG Malik Monk PG De'Aaron Fox PF Trey Lyles SF Kevin Huerter C Alex Len/Orlando Robinson SG Keon Ellis PG Jordan McLaughlin Len vs Robinson probably will be a camp battle. I think Colby Jones, probably not a rotation player. Just the extra body in case of injury.

[@rickynolan5154]

Start Malik!!

[@twilderlm2559]

A demand is not needed. He's going 2 start👍🏾👍🏾

[@frimports]

Good luck demanding something from coach Brown. I don’t think that’s gonna go well.

[@DanMars27]

Monk is the only guy on this team that should obviously start

[@SKOOBZTERZ]

No.

[@WolfsDE]

Austin Reeves as the 8th best SG? I don't know if I agree with that one. Only because he hasn't proven he can be that 3rd guy every night with the Lakers. He starts, sure. McCollum I think has moved to PG since going to New Orleans. Or at the very least, is more of a combo guard. Bradley Beal shouldn't be anywhere near the top 15, partially because of his health issues. Partially because even when he was on the court last season, he wasn't consistent. But, not a lot of the guys in Phoenix were consistent last season.

[@Whocares-z6v]

Per 36 minutes monk averages 4 more points, 1 more assist, twice as many blocks, same steals, and 0.5 rebounds less than Austin Reaves. Monk has a Better PER by a little less than 1 point. Monk is better

[@kendavis385]

It should be no question, Monk should start! There is no justification for a player of his caliber in his prime to come off the bench. Bring Derozan off the bench.

[@mordecaidrake]

Just stop playing top 5 players on this team bench player minutes

[@justmyopinion8395]

There is no stats, numbers, or sample size that says the team is better with Malik coming off the bench. It’s all speculation because Mike Brown is too stubborn to even try. His rotations and lack of adjustments was the main reason the team missed the playoffs last season. He is not the right coach. He gets a lot of praise around here because he was the coach who helped end the playoff drought but even Luke Walton could have coached that year’s team to the playoffs. Losing to the pelicans 6x without making any adjustments is inexcusable. In fact he is holding Fox back with his insistence on pulling early in the 1st quarter of every game.

[@justinlinscheid4018]

Personally, I don’t think an individual should demand to start. Coaches make those decisions based on what they see as best for the team. Every all star is a starter. Coaches know starting caliber players and what is best for their team. Spots are earned and not given. So far Monk has fit the 6th man role to a T. If he was 6-6 with lock down defense in addition to the skills he has on offense, he would no doubt start. He doesn’t. He is more like Jamal Crawford. Good, but not super well-rounded.

[@hc434]

Even the coach who started HB 82 games and had him avg 3 more minutes than Monk? Even the coach that had the worst perimeter defense in the league but still decided to DNP arguably his best perimeter defender about 15 of 20 games leading up to the allstar break?

[@justinlinscheid4018]

HB is more well rounded than he got credit for. Best option for that position at the time, especially defensively. Not saying he was great, but he had the size others didn’t. And if anything, the switch to Ellis and increase in defense is more argument not to start monk.

[@hc434]

@@justinlinscheid4018 Size doesnt mean much to me when the player has one of the worst defensive ratings and plus minus on the roster. Also the worst rebounds/min Trey Lyles had one of the best plus minus on the team and they always look much better with him on the floor compared to HB

[@twilderlm2559]

Brown rotations were TERRIBLE last season.

[@mordecaidrake]

Austin reeves being the 8th best sg in the league is wild... that dude is good but so overrated 😂

[@babycakes9976]

Rather have a prototype two way perimeter defender than all named😂 Ellis or Carter. Matt, seriously, stunts Keegans growth?