Handledatruth wrote:battabing10 wrote:Handledatruth wrote:
Doesn't that mean everyone gets benched? Real talk, with his age and the team's direction, Melo should not be playing more than 35 minutes a night max. Those 40 minute nights have to end as we should not be relying on him like that. However, there's no reason he shouldn't be starting and ending game if he gets with the program and puts effort into defense and ball movement.
I think there are some people that want to see Melo on the bench sulking during important moments in a game due to coach's decision. That is a very bad scenario for everyone and I doubt we will see this.
He, like any other player with that much mileage, should not be playing more than 28 minutes a night. The risk for injury is too great at this stage-- he has shoulder and knee issues, and unless he pulled a Duncan and lost 20 pounds since last season, those major joints will not hold up. I'd love to see him out there at ends of games, only not as a bailout so much as a passer out of a double team if that scenario crops up. Dirk was great at that during his title run.
In the effort to develop the team while remaining competitive, the coach is going to have to be fluid and adaptable and communicate why he opts to go with or without Melo at critical junctures. My point here is that if it's thinkable it's doable.
Funny you mention Dirk who had played over 30 minutes a game up until the age 37. Not sure where you are getting your mileage to minutes measurement from, but to all of a sudden take Melo down to Kurt Thomas minutes would need more of a metric than just "age". Especially if the team plays better with him on the floor (which it tends to do regardless of his shortcomings). Personally if he gets less minutes I want it to be because he is not trying hard on defense or he's not running the offense effectively. Any other reason would be arbitrary and/or vindictive. I'm sure his teammates would feel this way as well.
short answer is durability. dirk has averaged significantly more games per season than melo the first 12-13 years of their careers. that may be due to style of play, conditioning, genetics. a quick glance at their careers and it looks like dirk averaged close 8-10 more games per season. in an 82-game season that is not nothing. then add how many more playoff games dirk has played and the gap is even bigger.