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Did Stacy Paetz just say O'Brien has been giving the rookies an opportunity to prove themselves on the court???

Hibbert is averaging 12 minutes a game, and Rush is averaging 21 minutes. Since Rush scored 22 on Dec. 23rd, he's been averaging just over 10 minutes per game, and most of those have been garbage minutes when OB doesn't want one of our other players to get a cheap foul before the end of the half or something. Call me crazy but I don't see the sense in that. OB said he didn't think it was fair to not let Graham prove himself. How about you let your freakin LOTTERY PICK prove himself instead of a guy that in all actuality shouldn't be more than a IR guy on an NBA roster. Graham has had more than enough time to prove himself, considering he came into the league the same year as Danny Granger. I'd say he's proven just what he is... an undrafted player out of college who has the physical ability to occasionally have a decent game. He's reached the pinnacle of what he will be in the NBA. We have no chance of doing anything this year, so why not develop our young talent? That is my biggest gripe with O'Brien. Rant done.

Did you also not realize that with dunleavy back and the front office's command to start winning games, we can't let a loser like Rush onto the court? O'Brien can only give these rookies garbage minutes. And even then, look what happened in the Raptors game, we almost lost because they were on the court. I say they've had enough chances. It's time to let the big boys play.

I think we have a 30% percent chance of making the playoffs

A loser who won a national title last year....

Yeah, shut up. He's a rookie man. That means its his first year in the league. He's learning. Admittedly, he hasnt looked very good this year, but tagging him a loser already is a little melodramatic dont you think?

JarrettJackSG wrote:Did you also not realize that with dunleavy back and the front office's command to start winning games, we can't let a loser like Rush onto the court? O'Brien can only give these rookies garbage minutes. And even then, look what happened in the Raptors game, we almost lost because they were on the court. I say they've had enough chances. It's time to let the big boys play.

I think we have a 30% percent chance of making the playoffs

And with Dunleavy back we're still only 3-4 in that time. We won't make the playoffs and even if by some miracle we do make the playoffs, we will be whipping boys to the #1 seed. I'd much rather build towards future success than try to pretend our $*it sandwich is a steak.

JarrettJackSG wrote:Did you also not realize that with dunleavy back and the front office's command to start winning games, we can't let a loser like Rush onto the court? O'Brien can only give these rookies garbage minutes. And even then, look what happened in the Raptors game, we almost lost because they were on the court. I say they've had enough chances. It's time to let the big boys play.

I think we have a 30% percent chance of making the playoffs

problem is, our big boys aren't very big (besides granger). this team didn't make the playoffs last year, so we trade JO for a lesser (but healthier) player and a draft pick to compensate. thus, logic follows that if we saw ourselves as a playoff team this year, it would be because of what the draft picks bring to the table. of course, that's not the case, we're not necessarily a playoff team, and we should be giving more minutes to the rookies. i know the front office wants to win, and i can understand wanting to play the next 15 games with that mentality, but if we're still in the same position after that, O'Brien needs to think about giving more minutes to Rush and Hibbert. still though, i agree that dunleavy's comeback has changed things, might as well see if we can win some games with him back rather than just concentrating on developing youth. but our window is closing and i don't want to see o'brien holding on to false hope of a playoff bid at the expense of our youth.

If Rush wants the minutes, make him earn them. However, O'Brien should be giving him more opportunities to earn them.

The thing is Rush and Hibbert haven't been getting the minutes and look where it has got us. This team isn't a playoff team you should get that out of your heads. Why would you want to slip into the 8th seed so we can get beat by the 1 seed by 30pts, that sounds like fun to me. We need to build a team that can compete for 4-5 years in a row for the 3-4 seed. We have some peices that can help us get there so lets put them to use.

One thing I really don't understand about JOB is why would you have Granger on the floor down by 25 in the fourth quarter when the other team has all there subs in, I guess to try to get him hurt would be the only reason I can think of. Also TJ was on the floor, if he is still hurt and you have no chance in winning, then sit him on the bench and let him rest, just don't understand the way they go about things don't know if it is the coach or the front office or both but something needs to happen.

The answer is quite simple really. While not playing our rookies could potentially slow the team's progression long-term, this franchise is also looking to bring the fans back. Winning will be bring them back. Tanking will not. Right now, this team still has a chance to make the playoffs. Until they don't, our rooks should have to earn their minutes just like everyone else.

Playing Rush and Hibbert does not increase our wins right now, as simple as that.

notque wrote:Playing Rush and Hibbert does not increase our wins right now, as simple as that.

You say that as if we are winning without them?

As for Brandon Rush being a "loser", I'm assuming thats a joke. He was the best player on the team that won the National Championship and is only a rookie this year. Just because you did not like the Bayless trade, doesn't mean you shouldn't give Rush a chance. Hes been very solid as a rookie and has shown potential to be very good.

As for Hibbert, I'm not sure what else he needs to do to earn time. He fouls too much, but other than that he has been great, I would even say our best Center. He really should be getting more minutes, as should Rush.

It's about probability. If you are the type of coach (JOB) and the type of Manager (Bird) that winning every night is your only option, then you play to whoever is helping you do that the most.

many nights, that isn't Hibbert, or Rush. Some nights it is. They will get inconsistent minutes provided that JOB and Bird won't tank, and they won't.

This is the most mundane sort of issue. You knew how JOB would play it before the season started. Just like he is.

The thing I hate about O'Brien is that when the rookies do start playing well, he benches them. Roy once had like a 12 point first quarter in less than 5 minutes, and he gets benched for the rest of the game. Pissed me off hardcore.

JarrettJackSG wrote:Did you also not realize that with dunleavy back and the front office's command to start winning games, we can't let a loser like Rush onto the court? O'Brien can only give these rookies garbage minutes. And even then, look what happened in the Raptors game, we almost lost because they were on the court. I say they've had enough chances. It's time to let the big boys play.

I think we have a 30% percent chance of making the playoffs

You cant possibly blame the Toronto comeback on Rush and HIbbert, Hibbert played 2 minutes was 1-1 and a +1, Rush played less then 5 minutes and took 1 shot.... that was a team collapse.

Let the big boys play? Roy Hibbert is 7'4!!!!

cdash wrote:A loser who won a national title last year....

Yeah, shut up. He's a rookie man. That means its his first year in the league. He's learning. Admittedly, he hasnt looked very good this year, but tagging him a loser already is a little melodramatic dont you think?

His plus-minus suggests that when he steps onto the court,we start losing. At least for this year, he is a big loser. His rep has taken a hit.

MillerTime101 wrote:Let the big boys play? Roy Hibbert is 7'4!!!!

Hibbert is 7'2.

It could also be though that the only time he gets to play is in a blowout when we're already outmatched. That's why I don't put a of stock in +/- statistics.

JarrettJackSG wrote:

cdash wrote:A loser who won a national title last year....

Yeah, shut up. He's a rookie man. That means its his first year in the league. He's learning. Admittedly, he hasnt looked very good this year, but tagging him a loser already is a little melodramatic dont you think?

His plus-minus suggests that when he steps onto the court,we start losing. At least for this year, he is a big loser. His rep has taken a hit.

Plus/Minus isn't the end all, be all of statistics. I'll freely admit that he has not played well this year, and that I am very disappointed in him. I expected more. In that regard, I agree, his rep has taken a hit. Labelling him a loser might be a little much though. Really, everyone on this team is a "loser". Has anyone on this team been a contributor on a playoff team?

I'd like to know what everyone ACTUALLY expected from Rush this year. The kid was averaging 8 points a game off the bench before O'Brien took him out of the rotation. For a late lottery pick, I'd say that's not too shabby for the first few months of his rookie season. There was a guy by the name of Miller, who played for us and was also taken as a late lottery pick. He only averaged 10 per game his rookie year off the bench. Some of you may remember him.

Who?

Don't know any Millers. The thing with Rush is that he was billed as a guy who was ready to contribute now. Sure, by rookie standards, hes not playing too bad. The thing about it is, this rookie class has been fantastic this year. Really a lot of guys are contributing and playing well, guys who were seen as less prepared for the NBA than Rush. It worries me a little. In the long run, I still think he'll be good, but I expected more out of him at this point.