It wouldn't be fair to say it's Jimmer Fredette vs. Isaiah Thomas for playing time.
That's because Keith Smart said it's the opponent that usually will use as Aaron Brooks' back up.
Fredette was the backup point guard in Wednesday's win over the Toronto Raptors. Thomas did not play.
Just don't assume Fredette will be the first point guard off the bench Friday against the Orlando Magic.
"I'm just going to fight through that as much as I can and stay away from the traditional thinking of you've got to have this guy as your backup," Smart said. "I'm going to look at how the game plays. I've got to two young guys and they're not 10-year veterans, they're not five-year veterans. These guys are young, developing guys. I was always taught you've got to always be ready, be ready to play."
It's not the ideal situation. But Smart isn't about to (publicly) declare one player is ahead of the other.
That means we could continue to see Thomas and Fredette continue to take turns as the primary backup while the other watches.
"I know they won't like it but you know what, you're in the NBA," Smart said. "So many guys would love to be in these positions and you're playing in the NBA, a privileged league."
*The Kings figured out how to survive when all of their players aren't clicking.
Marcus Thornton only had three points (his second lowest total of the season) in Wednesday's win, but the Kings still had 20 bench points thanks to seven points apiece from Fredette and Thomas Robinson.
James Johnson had eight rebounds, six points and two blocked shots off the bench.
*John Salmons was one of the glue guys in Wednesday night's win. He had seven assists, a blocked shot and had no turnovers.
The seven assists were a season high for Salmons.
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