Matt's First Poor Post

by BarryLird on Mar 11, 2008 11:58 AM CDT Comment 60 comments

Matt,
Have you ever been a part of a sports team? I played college athletics. My friends throughout my life have been athletes, especially college athletes who are now going on to professional athletics. "On the field today, your character will be proven." Yes it can appear that character comes as a result of winning, but that's not character, that's unity. And in the case of the Bulls, winning doesn't bring unity--especially in the case of Larry Hughes now.
You can't possibly build a team if there isn't character among its players. A coach can only do so much. Letting down a teammate is far worse than letting down a coach, an organization, or a city. These are your brothers in arms, your brothers in battle. The same brothers who make you bust your ass in 6am workouts, puke during and after practice, sacrifice liberties and rights for; the same brothers who you weep with during defeat, celebrate with during victory.
There isn't anybody on the Bulls who has the character to stand up for what they believe, except probably Joakim. But, as Skiles decided to point out, rookies should keep their mouths shut and and not comment. Yes Joakim made a mistake when challenging one of his coaches, but that was an individual mistake that didn't hurt his teammates. The lack of team character is what leaked that story to the press; which it never should have been. What should have been a one-game suspension should have been labeled, "Joakim won't play tonight for team reasons."
Yes, the bulls do need better players. But character in terms of your dedication to your teammates--not the coach, not the organization, not even the city--is what matters. MJ held his teammates responsible for their actions. Take the Scottie Pippen episodes. Character isn't just not getting arrested or in trouble, but it's proving to your teammates on a daily basis that you are in this for them.
I love the blog and love your comments, but come on man.

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"MJ held his teammates responsible"

By punching them in the face, and betting on absolutely everything.

Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 11, 2008 12:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LMAO

Probably be a very good thing for this team. TT decides to show his Magicness? Bam! Gotta go to Boston? Take the points and hope it's my night in the doghouse. Boylan pulls Noah for Wallace? Bam! Noc fires up a long two when he's 1 on 3? Bam bam? California Al trying to be funny again? Haymaker!

by California Al on Mar 11, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did I really just read that?

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 11, 2008 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Naive

This is the NBA - contracts, entourages, mixed motives, etc. I don't think that the CBA even allows for 6 AM practices and I'm almost positive that very few practices ever lead to puking, given the demands of the 82 game season. This isn't "Beyond the Glory" with Tennessee women's basketball. This is the NBA.

What does 'stand up for what they believe' even mean? I would much prefer that they stand up in the lane and take a hard foul on the driving offensive player. The one point intimated above that I agree with is that a team will assume the persona of its best player. MJ drove the Bulls, Duncan drives the Spurs.

#1 - we don't have a 'best player. #2 - our good players can't seem to drive anyone. It may be that they are too young (Deng is still only 22) or simply not good enough to demand excellence from their teammates.

In any event, the Bulls need to focus less on off-court character and more on on-court chemistry. This mismatched collection of small guards, small/weak frontcourt and role players assuming primary roles must stop.

by Gene Banks on Mar 11, 2008 12:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the rule with MJ

is that he and the Zenmaster were really a match of ying and yang.

Phil is only an effective coach when he can balance the two extremes of the court and the practice. He doesn't put on the uniform so who does the coaching on the court?

Phil has reignited this with Kobe this season, but Phil had this with MJ and with Kobe before. This is Phil's pattern.

Not only do we not have a solid coach, but there is no on the floor coach that wears the uniform. Is that Noah? Probably next season. I wish it were Deng.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 11, 2008 12:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So did this team ever have character?

When was listening to Mike North talk about Duhon as a "bad element" this morning (link on Matt's post) I 'bout flipped.

I mean, I agree with you, Barry, in big picture. You need a team full of guys you'd want to go to war with.

But how does that get executed in reality? Duhon, for example, might suck as an NBA basketball player (I happen to think he doesn't), but he's a guy who's perfectly capable of being a good character guy on an NBA team. Does his recent blow up (or a faux-pas from any player) instantly mean they should be out the door?

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Mar 11, 2008 12:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Duhon's position on the (true!) depth chart

means he should be out the door. His watch-hiding ways are only an indication of him not being a pro's pro good character swagger master.

Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 11, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't one of our experts tell us he was?

Which of you was that that I heard words with? I know it was one of the psycho-babblers that said he was a good pro on and off the court or something.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 11, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go to war with?

My god, the cliches are fucking awful.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 11, 2008 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I missed it - what was Matt's poor post?

by chgobr on Mar 11, 2008 12:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So we've moved on from Deng to...

Matt? Awesome. I happen to lean toward Barry on this one. Trust in your teammates is where it all begins. But Skiles and Boylan are also largely to blame. If Hinrich is your captain, how do you bench him for entire second halves when he wasn't playing poorly? All that does is undermine any authority and leadership he might have. And if your captain can't call you out, it turns into a big joke when your old, "glue guy" does. Boylan does the same thing to Joakim when he pulls him and berates him (although, if you make the same mistake twice in the space of a few plays, you deserved to get yelled at a little.) That's the reason there are no leaders on this team. And if you don't have any leaders, then a guy like TT, who needs some guidance, knows he doesn't have to listen to any of his teammates because they don't have any kind of authority.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 12:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Trust in your teammates

is trusting them to be able to execute... which all goes back to being good basketball players.

by JeffD on Mar 11, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are there any bad basketball players

on the bulls roster?

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously it is relative,

but yes.

by JeffD on Mar 11, 2008 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is one of the most astute observations

I've seen this year. To be the leader, you have to demonstrate that you have the team's interests foremost at all times. Hinrich and Deng come closest to that, with Noc and Noah right there. An insecure coach is threatened by the player's authority. The great ones have no rivalries with their stars for control. If you have to sit a player more than once every couple of years (I'm not talking about a cooling off a couple of minutes on a bad night), obviously he's not listening to you. If you have to sit EVERY player night after night, quit blaming the players! I wasn't even half-joking when I asked if anyone thought this team would perform worse if Pax fired the whole staff and sent them out without a coach. Team meeting, necessary arguments, elect a captain; now go play basketball. Few games to build the PT totem pole, and I think they can play .400 ball. If that's anywhere near true, WTF are we paying Boylan and Co for?

by California Al on Mar 11, 2008 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boylan is a placeholder

until they get something better, kind of like Duhon.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But also to be a leader, you have to actually lead

You mentioned Noah and Nocioni. I think you're looking at the two best co-captain candidates for the 2008-2009 season.

by YaoPau on Mar 11, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Energy does not equal leadership

The reason I stay away from the psychobabble is that we have so little real information to work with. You can't draw any real conclusions. All you can do is reach for conclusions on small bits of information provided by watching games, interviews, and what the beat writers share. Which leads us to silly assumptions like, if a person has high energy on the court, they must make a good leader.

by snley on Mar 11, 2008 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously the players

see things we do not in who they choose as their captains.

by sue369 on Mar 11, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kirk's authority and leadership

never showed up in the first place, so I don't see how we can blame anyone for undermining them.

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Mar 11, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was kind of the point

Boylan doesn't let him, or anybody be a leader. And Skiles was the same way.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you could be right

but it seems a bit of a leap to me. Remember how deliriously happy Pax was when someone 'took ownership' of the team, even though it was in a moronic fashion? It's also possible that they wanted someone to be one, and nobody stepped up. Except for Noah, of course.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you could be right, too

but we're not going to find out under Boylan.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brilliant move...

...if he wants out of Chicago this summer. Maybe he hates it that much and had a good idea of the consequences.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 11, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I don't think Hinrich (or any one player actually) is 'the problem', but his qualifications for being named captain seems to be limited to alliteration.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Obviously Thomas has to take the blame for a number of things he's done. He's hardly the first to come to the NBA with a me-first attitude, though. Most of them at least learn the on-the-court part. That's because they're taught. It's fine to punish Thomas when he does wrong, but if he's not rewarded when he does good, he's going to sulk. He'll begin to think that the team doesn't like him, and that they're more interested in keeping from playing than actually becoming good.

Who wouldn't skip practice then?

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 11, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

we don't know he skipped as a protest

but I agree, this carrots&sticks philosophy works a lot better if there were actual carrots.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know.

I was just saying I wouldn't fault him if he had. Or, at least I'd understand it.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 11, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Understandably or not

still dumb and gets him farther from the court, not closer.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you missed my point

which was blaming Paxson for supposedly acquiring 'character' without actually doing so.

I partook in many 'case rases' in college, and like your athletic team there was plenty of puking. So I think I'm more than qualified.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 1:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

they have character guys

just no leader since Boylan keeps undermining them.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they just have few 'bad character' guys

I agree that they need a leader, but you'd think there'd be one amongst the Paxson Five (or whatever number, I felt like using a Mariotti-esque nickname) and that leadership woudl be a part of what they were looking for in players this whole time.

There's very little difference between last year and this year in terms of personnel, which is why I wrote what I did, basically it's either:

a) PJ Brown is character personified and we miss him so.

b) All the other players during one offseason turned into selfish monsters.

c) Nearly all NBA players are just that, NBA players, and trying to group them into 'character' or not should be a low priority.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if you're considering using a Marrioti gimmick

you've already taken the wrong perspective. Too many things have already happened this season to try and point to one thing as the reason for anything. There were players playing selfishly (I don't want to call them 'selfish players' yet), egomaniacal coaches, injuries, trade rumors, bad officiating, and a little bit of bad luck. I say chalk it up as a learning experience and try to salvage what you can. I still don't think they are that far off. They just need to figure out how to get on the same page.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno, 'big bum' Wallace was pretty hilarious

I agree with you. It's not just one thing, but it seems like the organization (or at least the coverage) is trying to group it under one thing, namely 'character'.

I was trying to say that the label is bullshit, both when things were going good and going bad.

They are far off, btw. I guess not far off from what they were, but I still considered that place pretty far.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Character is also

how you deal with adversity. And unfortunately, nobody seems to have an overabundance of it this year. But again, it's a work in progress. And nobody seems to remember all the talk about blowing up the bulls in '90 at Christmas time because they couldn't beat the Pistons. This is the youngest team in the league again and not the same team as last year anymore. Patience.

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 11, 2008 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they had Jordan in '90, right?

My archives don't go back that far.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

In the "Paxon" 5 there isn't a true character guy, other than Nocioni and Joakim in terms of effort on the court. They're skills lack in certain respects.
"Captain Kirk" doesn't captain his teammates.
Deng is too soft and too nice of a person--unfortunately.

by BarryLird on Mar 11, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're mixing vocal leadership and character

And I really don't think you can tell anything about "character" at this point with this franchise. I see a huge difference between someone who lacks effort because they really don't care, or who quits in the "I'm taking my ball and going home" sense, compared to guys who are completely frustrated as to what their roles are on the team and whether the ultimate goal is to "play hard" or "have energy" or "bring your A game."

But aside from that whole issue you can also have character guys who aren't rah-rah leaders, and leaders who are more quiet example guys, as well as the stereotypical "speak for the team" vocal kind of guy.

It's pretty amazing to see Lu labeled as not a "true character guy" with the noted flaws being "too soft and too nice."

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 11, 2008 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously Kirk

does some "captaining" for his team mates or he wouldn't be a captain for the 3rd year in a row. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean he doesn't "captain".

by sue369 on Mar 11, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're missing the point too

by getting into the whole 'character' game. You've pointed out yourself, it's not about character, it's about getting, keeping and developing the best players.

The better way to go about it is to say "I blame Paxson for supposedly acquiring 'talent' without actually doing so".

Hinrich's performance this year isn't a failing of character, it's just a failure to play well. Same with Gordon, Deng, and the lot of them.

None of them strike me as bad guys in the Latrell Spreewell or Ron Artest sense of things, or even in the ERobbery sense of things. I'd like one of them to really be a rah-rah, kick-ass leader of men, but to say a guy's "lacking in character" because he can't single-handedly lift this team out of its emotional suckitude is off-base.

Losing and winning are contagious. When we were winning, we weren't as good as the folks expected, but the fact we're losing doesn't mean these guys all suck either.

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Mar 11, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't get into it

I was reacting to what KC's been writing lately.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 11, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, sorry

After reading it again, it was more clear.

It's just one of those canards of Chicago sports I like to argue against even the hint of... when we start losing (which is often) it all becomes an issue of replacing the current bunch of slackers with a bunch of gritty boy scouts who once fought off a bear with a tent-pole and a pocket knife.

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Mar 11, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or...

it could just be an inconsistent organizational philosophy.

They might not have elite talent, but they have far better talent than what their record indicates.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 11, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And you as well

Talent was never the issue with this year's Bulls. I've never heard an announcer say "these guys sure are trying hard, they just don't have the talent to compete." We were projected to a be top team this year, and we're just as talented now as we were when those projections came out.

As far as I can tell, Matt and BarryLird are saying the same thing, which is that character off the court is not the same as being a good teammate. (e.g. Luol Deng is Mr. Sportsmanlike. Dennis Rodman has questionable character. Only one of them started on five championship teams.)

by YaoPau on Mar 11, 2008 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So talent isn't an issue?

And these guys are really a contending team based on their talent?

No way.

This team was worse in terms of talent (not long term potential, mind you, but actual on the court ability) than last year's version.

Poorer fit. PJ Brown made Wallace's life easier. Joe Smith didn't. Result: tangibly worse defense.
Worse talent. Wallace was old and slow. If you simply looked at the Bulls going into the year and said "Hey, what will happen if Wallace totally sucks ass", I think most folks would say it'd be very hard for the Bulls to overcome that.
Injury to Deng especially, but various other guys as well were less effective.
Better competition. The East isn't great, but buy and large it's better.
Tyrus hasn't meaningfully improved his game and Noah's a rookie.

Sure, the Bulls haven't played to their level of talent, but their level of talent was overestimated to begin with.

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Mar 11, 2008 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definition of Character

I should have more explicitly defined Character in my diary...

Any coach I've ever had, any professional coach I've ever known defines "character" as, essentially. "the dedication and commitment to do precisely what is necessary to excel. That includes the drills, the practices, the workouts, and, probably most importantly, the unwavering commitment to compete with the strongest conviction possible on the field/court."
Can we honestly say that these Bulls, besides for Noah & Nocioni, compete at the hardest level possible? Albeit mistakes are inevitable because perfection does not exist in sports, limiting mistakes comes as a direct result of mental and physical dedication and focus.
Obviously character, then, comes to include off the court and away from practice moral principles; not getting arrested being one of them.
As far as the NBA goes, there are plenty of character superstars who chase the buck.

by BarryLird on Mar 11, 2008 1:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and that was the summer

when boys turned into men.

Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 11, 2008 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you misread Matt's post

Here's your quote: "Yes, the bulls do need better players. But character in terms of your dedication to your teammates--not the coach, not the organization, not even the city--is what matters. MJ held his teammates responsible for their actions."

Here's Matt's quote: "The organizational message is starting to get re-sent that it's 'character' that wins, and the lack of it has caused this derailment of a season. That may be partly the case, but it's an especially egregious failure in light of the preaching about how they've picked (and perhaps held on to) players based on this nebulous trait, which has turned out to merely mean not getting arrested.

Because the important, actual team-building aspect of these character guys is lacking: they've quit on two coaches, there's no leadership except when it's time to crap on a younger player, and missed practices and shootarounds abound."

The two of you are essentially saying the same thing.

by YaoPau on Mar 11, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Noah and Noc

So these are your 'character' guys? We have Noc, who consistently takes horrible shots, can't stop dribble penetration, and refuses to close out on shooters under control. And then there's Noah, who despite being 6'11" can't rise up in the paint and finish over other post players or provide even mediocre help defense.

These mistakes have manifested themselves throughout this season. I'm not willing to write them off as "inevitable mistakes" in the pursuit of perfection. Their repeated poor judgments and execution cast aspersions on their character as well.

I'd like us to not look at their public "team first" commentary and demonstrative on-court behavior as evidence of their "mental and physical dedication and focus". Their on-court performance suggests that they have more than adequately contributed to the team's stellar play this year.

by Gene Banks on Mar 11, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Noah's hard to categorize

because his habitual lateness would make me want to kick him right in the ass if he was my teammate, although I sure do love his enthusiasm and how he plays the game.

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Mar 11, 2008 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh

I see your point, but Noc is leading our team in true shooting %, so it's hard to argue his shot selection. As for Noah, I don't see how his inability to jump correlates to having bad character.

None of us are falling for the team first commentary. But just watching them play, Noc and Noah (I'd count Thabo, too) seem like the only ones who play with intensity, desire, pride.

by YaoPau on Mar 11, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barry's definition of 'character'

...included some babble about hard work, diligent practice habits, etc. If they were so diligent, they wouldn't have the same mistakes.

Noah's problems with help defense have nothing to do with his jumping ability. They have to do with knowing the rotations and being able to help the helper on the rare times when his teammates actually cut off dribble penetration. That's why Boylan was so hot at him - he was late on two rotations in Sunday's game.

Stats can be misleading wrt Nocioni. When you watch the Bulls struggle, Noc will undoubtedly jack threes in an effort to get them back in the game instead of going to the rack. Nice idea, not good basketball.

The point is that Barry's definition of character is flawed. Identifying Noah and Noc as meeting this standard neglects to take account for their repetitive mistakes on the basketball court and gives them too much credit for public displays of 'passion'.

by Gene Banks on Mar 11, 2008 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who?

now in the Bulls locker room can a group of 23 years old and younger Bigs (TT, Noah & Gray) be forced to be accountable too just by his mere presence? (Gooden? Boylan? DON'T THINK SO). Sunset Joe(now gone), and Sunset Wallace (was in the money).

Theses rookies and 2nd year players think that they are "entitled" in the NBA to playing time. This mess is unheard of on good teams. They wouldn't be pulling this mutiny if they were on the Pistons, Spurs or Suns? Imagine "Glen Davis" throwing his hands in the air because he wants some of Garnett's minutes? They need to sit on the bench and wait until their time comes. Unfortunately they believe their time is now, Paxson built a overly emphasis young team which fosters "entitlement" in these young fellows minds.

The same situation existed/exists with the spoiled group of Bulls guards who were handled the mantle without proving their were entitled to earning it? This is the house that Paxson Built, the house that he's trying to rebuild, and also may explain why the organization is having internal conflict on whether to play the veterans or the youngs? A team in Identity Crisis?

Portland went young this year, similiar to 06-07 Bulls who had pre-mature false success in a very weak eastern conference. Will they suffer similiar to the Bulls next year or the year afterwards?

Young teams make it to the NCAA Final 4, veteran players win NBA Championships.

Unfortunately, Paxson's team won't get a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

by exult463 on Mar 11, 2008 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So who's Garnett on this team?

by Big D on Mar 11, 2008 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have a virtual Garnett

is the appearance of Boylan and Paxson's discipline which controls these guys playing time.

by exult463 on Mar 11, 2008 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Virtual Garnett

That must be who these Bulls are waiting for to step up in crunch time.

"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Mar 11, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Portland has put many teams to shame this season

... especially us. We certainly don't have less talent than they do and yet they are above .500 in the Western freakin' Conference while we're not even the playoffs in the East. Sad.

They won't suffer in the future like the Bulls have this year. Why? They actually have a coach with an above average brain (as well as Oden coming back). They actually gave their lottery picks a fair chance to develop with consistent playing time.

Blake, Jack, Roy, Fyre, Aldridge, Oden ... they all are young, quality guys who did well in college and the NCAA tourney and are doing well now. Reminds me of another NBA team ... except they aren't doing well now.

by Orange Juice on Mar 11, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OH YEA?!?!

Send them Wallace and A.G. and then see how long they last!!!

Kirk Hinrich. The Best White American Point Guard in the NBA.

by piccolomair on Mar 12, 2008 12:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Entitled to playing time...

Just who is standing in their way of playing time? I could see how Garnett would be someone who should get more time than our bigs but we don't have Garnett or anyone good enough to warrant not playing our young players. We don't have a season record good enough. We pretty much don't have any reason why we shouldn't play our young bigs, entitlement minutes or not. We have a window of opportunity to see what they have and I'd rather do it now than at the beginning of next season when we desperately need everyone to be on the right page day one in order to compete and not play catch up all year again.

by cranscape on Mar 12, 2008 7:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs