I’ve been writing the last week on Donatas Motiejunas and my belief of his need for consistent playing time. A reader, Johnny Rocket, makes a compelling counter-argument:
I disagree with Rahat’s premise that playing time is the same thing as player development. The first thing that NBA players have to learn is that if you don’t do things the right way, you don’t play. It is absolutely vital–especially on teams that have ambitions of becoming contenders–that the best players play without exception. Jones didn’t play last year because he wasn’t as good as the other options (including Greg Smith). But that experience helped Jones, as he freely admits.
With all the injuries to all the big men, D-Mo has had plenty of time to establish himself as a viable option. He’s failed to do so, so why reward that failure with more playing time? It would be devastating for morale, as the players would see it as a white flag of surrender.
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