Ice Man wrote:Billy's done a fantastic job with Matas. Matas hasn't received any entitlement minutes. If he earns the right, he plays. Consequently, he's making good decisions out there. He knows that if he does not, Billy will find somebody else for his slot. And he's confident, because he knows that he has earned the right to be on the court.
That's a model for rookie development, unless you have a guy who is so NBA ready that he can start from Day 1.
There are numerous examples of rookies being thrown in the fire, being permitted to fail, and succeeding tremendously. Including guys who are not LeBron James types who walk on the court and seamlessly play like a high quality starter.
I really dislike this notion that there is one way. It doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. There are so many factors at play. Talent and skill level, the individual player’s personality and what motivates them, the personalities of the other players on the team and the existing dynamic and hierarchy, the organization’s positioning and goals for the season, the coach’s personality and style, the list goes on.
Great coaches acknowledge regularly the need to understand what motivates individuals, how that varies, and knowing which levers to pull considering those factors.
Billy certainly nailed the formula with Matas (presumably, for all we know throwing him in the fire might have worked even better) so no complaints. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right approach for every player in every circumstance. That’s just not how humans are. Great coaches have been saying this for decades.
