Topic Of Debate: Should Kendall Marshall continue starting once Steve Blake, Steve Nash, and Jordan Farmar return back from injuries?
Context: Kendall Marshall has become a relative surprise in light of this injury plagued Lakers team this season. When he was called up from the D-League, many felt he would just become a temporary filler for Jordan Farmar and Steve Blake until they were healthy and ready to return, but his growth from last year as a labeled “bust” has been amazing.
In his tenure with the Lakers, he’s averaged 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 9.6 assists. And to the shock of many, he’s shown that he can shoot the ball by making 1.8 three-point field goals a game on 45% shooting from behind the arc.
His immediate success has led us to wonder whether or not he’s earned a starters role. Nash, Blake, and Farmar are all eyeing to return on the court in February, and as a result that’s going to cause a log-jam at the guard position.
Verdict: We took this poll question to Twitter to get the fans take on whether they felt Kendall has earned a starter’s role.
I presented the poll question:
Lakers fans, Has K.Marshall earned the starting PG job, or should he go back to the bench when Nash/Farmar/Blake return? #Lakersdebate
— Ry (@JustRyCole) February 1, 2014
@JustRyCole back to the bench. Marshall has been great, but those other 3 are better than him — Broncos 15-3 (@CoolGuy_Marv24) February 1, 2014
@JustRyCole @LakersNation thats all dependent on how Nash & Blake play when they return. If nash isnt up to par then KM should back up Blake — Sand Negro (@DieVerseCA) February 1, 2014
@JustRyCole Back to the bench in favor of Farmar/Blake. Can’t guard opposing guards for the life of him — Matthew Peralta (@matthewshandle) February 1, 2014
@JustRyCole @LakersNation he’s the only one that stays healthy. So yes. Don’t mess up his flow. #Lakersdebate
— zack smith (@zactastrophie) February 1, 2014
Kendall Marshall’s early success in Los Angeles has been very fun to watch and fans certainly appreciate the hard work he’s put in, so he can become a viable contributor in the NBA.
With that being said, I’m in the group that feels Marshall should come off the bench once Farmar and Blake are healthy. I believe that Marshall is at his best in the second unit, as that allows him to be able to get up and down the court with some of the younger and more athletic players on this Lakers roster.
I’m also in the group that believes that Marshall’s incompetence on the defensive end is something that the first unit can’t afford to have. This team is already terrible as it is defensively, and it doesn’t help if the first line of defense can’t stay in front of his man.
Farmar and Blake have proven that they can impact the game on both ends of the floor, as a result they should share the bulk of the minutes at the point guard position.
What this does though is allow the Lakers to be more flexible in dealing players as we get closer to the trade deadline. We’d have to think one of the guards is dealt.
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Nick Young Frustrated He’s Let The Fans And City Down
