DanH

No, Fields takes advantage of bad defense AND pressures good defenses to prevent those good defenses from being great. Salmons has shown the ability to shoot the team out of games which will be so useful in the playoffs.

Fields is just as capable a ball handler as Salmons (it is one of Fields' strengths) - they exhibit almost identical stats (including twin-like assist, usage and turnover rates), except for slightly better shooting from Salmons (and isn't the inclusion of "slightly" sad?) and significantly better rebounding from Fields. They even shoot the same number of shots per minute, at the same points per shot rate. Throw in the trend that Salmons seems to be getting worse all the time (and is bad in low rest situations such as the playoffs) and Fields' better defense (although it is close statistically, I've always thought Fields was a better defender), and I see no reason to stick with Salmons.

bjjs

Pressures good defenses to prevent them from being great...? I don't know what that means. His man turns his head he cuts to the net. That's his game now that he can't shoot.

When did Salmons shoot us out of a game? This has never happened.

Comparing statistics while ignoring the big difference in their responsibilities on the offensive end of the court doesn't lead to any valuable conclusions.

elT

We can agree that Salmons will not be a Raptor next year as only 1M$ out of 7M$ next year is guaranteed.

Comparing their stats IMHO makes no sense. Salmons has the ability to make plays for him self and for others, can handle the ball, run the offense and makes good decisions. Sure, his shots are not falling and he is not playing as good as he can for the time being but I don't see him being replaced by anyone on that 2nd unit.

MBailey85

He'll become more valuable in the playoffs but for now,give him some DNPCDs. Its been documented already that he plays better after 3 days rest so its probably in both his and the teams benefit.

DanH

They have very similar responsibilities - they both provide that pressure release ball handler when on the court, typically to help Vasquez, and run a little bit of pick and roll, while pressuring the defense when off the ball (Fields via cuts and screens, Salmons via the three - which is disappearing fast). Their usage rate bears this out as well.

Salmons shoots too much, at a terrible percentage. Here's the thing though - he typically shoots 5 or 6 times a game, which seems like very little. But it can mean a lot when he so often goes 0-for or 1-for on the game, and we lose by a few points. Against the Clips, lose by 8, Salmons shoots 1-5 and posts a -14. Against POR, lose by 3, Salmons shoots 0-3 and posts a -17. At SAC, lose by 8, Salmons 0-4 posts a -13. At Clips again, lose by 13 Salmons 1-4 posts a -6. CHI, lose by 2, Salmons 2-6 posts a -1. WAS, lose by 5, Salmons 3 for 9, posts a -20. PHX, lose by 8, Salmons 1 for 5, posts a -20.

This is not a knee jerk reaction - it's a recurring theme of Salmons dropping a turd of a game, and the team losing as a result.

LOG

Fields can do all of those things, and imo he does it better. Plus better D and much better rebounder

El Barto

I'm not saying Fields should take Salmons's spot in the rotation, but considering how Salmons played in the last stretch of games, Fields should get some burn to see how he can contribute and help this team.

Giving Fields some minutes would also be a way to rest not just Salmons, but also Lowry and DD. Casey use the two point guard combinaison a lot, and the way Lowry plays, I fear an injury. We've been really lucky on that regard until now.

JoeyJoJo Shabbadu

I'm not sure Fields is a better defender than Salmons. Salmons can dribble and create for others. Fields just doesn't even want to touch the ball. That said... I got there after the last game. Salmons shooting has been awful. I would rest him on backs to backs for sure, rest him on one day offs, and play more Fields and Novac down the stretch to see where it leads.

jeffb

Doesn't want to touch the ball? Whaaa? Dude's a very good passer

JoeyJoJo Shabbadu

He was. There was a time he feared the ball coming near him...I've seen him play for 20 minutes this year. I'm sure that's enough for you to know though

hoodz

i said id like to see fields > salmons a while back.

i dont think salmons is as good as you guys think he is. fields is a great team player and has good bball IQ. id like to see him over salmons, even just as a experiment. i think he'll do better than you guys give him credit for

moremilk

I think salmons is more valuable than fields, way better ball handler and more versatile defender. Fields is fresher and more athletic, but I'd rather have salmons. That being said, the last 2 weeks or so, salmons has been pretty horrible, so eventually you reach a point where something has to give, either he starts playing better or you have to roll the dice with fields. Kind of late now to start experimenting though, let's hope he'll pull out of the funk after PP returns - I think part of the problem is there's too much pressure on him to create offense with the 2nd unit with demar struggling and PP out.

Bill Haverchuck

So....Salmons is this year's Alan Anderson...a polarizing vet...except without the chucking?

jeffb

Why, because we're being honest in saying he's playing like shit?

Diamond Scorpion

I don't think the Raps should cut Salmons minutes entirely, as he has been a decent contributor to the team. It's only recently that he has struggled. I still think he is still not fully healthy and still dealing with the back injury, so Casey should probably only play him for about 4-5 minutes a game or just sit him for 3-4 games and give the minutes to Fields until Salmons is fully healed.

moremilk

the anderson debate was ridiculous, for the 1M he was making, he was a major steal. Not his fault he as asked to do more than he was capable of when everybody was down with injuries. This year he's showing again he can be a very capable rotation guy at a bargain price.

bjjs

That's a valid point, Patterson out definitely has an impact.

Fröz-d

Salmons is a bum. I can't stand his lazy looking face or his crappy game. He misses WIDE open shots all the time. He looks miserable and is just plain no good.

Get Landy Fields out there earning his keep vs. this entitled bum jacking up air balls.

halphbreedballer

Wow Casey keeping Salmons in the game lost us the game!!! Why?

jeffb

Because GV fould out. He's a veteran and should be able to hit his fucking FT's!!!!!