mitchweber wrote:SacKingZZZ wrote:
No it's actually completely relevant. If we had TMac, Lebron, or Duncan clogging up minutes in front of the young guys then by all means back to the bench with ye! But, well....duh.
I didn't say that a player needs to come in and get minutes immediately to become a success. I am saying for the franchise as it is it really makes no sense for us to do anything else. And the fact that it could possibly expidite the process of development, both from a team and individual standpoint, remains and will until something is done. And by "sink" what do you mean? I think giving the young players a chance to "sink" is the most productive thing you can do, and I dare you to get any player on an NBA team right now to say any different. Sure waiting is good, but our situation really no longer calls for it and in reality it hasn't for a long time.
No, it's still irrelevant. If players can be successful without a ton of playing time early on in their careers, then we shouldn't be panicking to clear out minutes for our young guys when they don't earn them.
And I'm saying that it could make perfectly good sense to play veterans. It's not like guys are getting minutes because they're entitled to them because of their age (otherwise Kenny wouldn't have his butt on the bench all year). The best players are playing. And that has nothing to do with the team trying to win a championship this year.
You see, it's kind of an air-tight system. If your team is good enough to compete, then your young players will be placed on the back-burner. If your veterans are not good enough to compete, then your young players should be good enough to take over for them. If they're not, then they're not ready.
Also, regarding player development, I have been over this a million times. You can't just throw a player in the game and expect him to figure it out when he's not ready. Some young players need a lot of work on their games before they're ready. This could mean in a certain area of skills, or in general awareness. There is the type of development where a player is getting ready to be a game-worthy player and the type where he is playing in games and is learning from there. To smash them together as if they're the same thing is wrong IMO. Lots of high lotto picks and certain 4-year college players come in ready to play in games, but not too many do.
I also think it's important to establish precisely what players we're talking about here. I think it's time to put up or shut up for Shelden and Quincy. Both can earn spots on this team for the foreseeable future, but it's up to them.
Petrie has undoubtedly drafted based on skill level the last 4-5 years, all they need is the time and opportunity to refine those skills. However it's harder to refine those skills planted on your azz watching Mikki Moore scream, "And one!".
