Deep down, i know we're better with KG on the floor.
However... i can't help but think that against certain teams, he's not always the best option on the floor. I will back this up with my observations, especially from Game 2 last night.
1. We can RUN!! with rondo pushing the ball after every stop (or even made basket) we got much better offense. I feel like with Davis in there over KG, he gets down the floor much quicker than KG can at this stage. Although KG has a better outside shot, i think the running overshadows benefits in a half court set.
2. We have enough defense when we put in the effort. So to say you need KG in there defensively is not entirely true. Perkins was a beast last night, and with solid team defense that davis was talking about post game, i think having KG in there is not mandatory.
3. Davis is way more aggressive than KG. He was moving to get in position for some charges that i've never seen KG do. He was on the floor every other play, which with KG's legs, is harder for him to do.
So i know not everyone will agree, but i know some of you were thinking these things during the game. And this thought is not entirely based on the fact that we won, that would be stupid. It was based on HOW we won, and what i saw during the game.
Thoughts?
I strongly disagree with this.
First of all, I felt that KG was one of the few guys who showed up for game 1. Yes, he made a boneheaded mistake, but before that, he looked as close to his old self as we have seen all season. He was making plays on defense, grabbing rebound, and scoring inside.
The problem with game 1 is that Perkins, Rondo (well, for the first 2 1/2 quarters), Allen, and Pierce to some extent did not show up. If they were playing at the level they did in game 2, I would not be surprised if KG finished with 25/12 in game 1.
If they were getting stops, and Rondo was pushing the pace in game 1, like they were in game 2, KG (who is still one of the fastest big men in the league) would have been just as effective, if not moreso than Davis on the break.
The other issue is that while Davis is more aggressive than KG offensively, we are a much better team with that coming off the bench. The bench needs that aggressiveness, if only to offset Wallaces lethargy.
I love Davis, and think he is an incredibly important part of this team, but to suggest he was the difference in game 2, and ignore the dramatic difference in performance by the other key players does not make sense to me.
...Now, if we want to go to a 3-man big rotation, upping the minutes of Davis and KG, and cutting Wallace out, then we are talking.