DetroitSho wrote:Goldtop wrote:per Goodwill twitter
If Drummond had not gotten hurt against the Lakers, he would've started against the Nets the following Wednesday
https://twitter.com/vgoodwill/statuses/ ... 5598816256I was kind of over the Drummond injury, as it is what is... but now this is just adding insult to injury, literally. I know they wanted to get a good look at Monroe/Drummond together before the season was over, to evaluate for next year. So you know the Pistons have to be pissed that this happened, and likely regretting waiting so long, when he's been ready to start for a few months now. Should be a lesson to Frank and the Pistons that everything can't be pre-planned to a tee, as you never know what could go wrong. And definitely the proverbial slap in the face to fans, who have clamored for him to start all year, and now when he's physically unable to, you tell us he would've started the next game.

The fact that he got hurt backs up the way Frank handled him. For all those wanting Frank to just throw him out there for 30+ minutes a game need to have perspective and realize the kid has basically put on 30lbs since the draft and probably has grown an inch as well. He is a growing BOY and his body ain't ready for consistent major minutes. His game says otherwise, but he is still learning how to use his body.
If anything the way they played him was worse for him. When he got 20-30 min in games, it usually two 12-15 min straight stretches. That'll wear down any player, esp a 300lb 7 footer.
If you're going to play him 25 min anyways, he should've just been starting. Then he could've just played 8 min stretches to start the 1st and 3rd qtrs, and 5 min stretches to end the halfs. He still would've gotten his 25 min, but he wouldn't have been pushing body to the limit every stretch he's out on the court.
I'm not saying he should've been playing more min, I just think the minutes he played should've been used more wisely, for him and for the team. His defense would've been most effective at the start of games to set the tone, and at the end to preserve leads.