S.R. wrote:
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The best example is Popovich and Tony Parker. In Parker's rookie year, Pop had the option of playing the 16-year vet, Terry Porter, or the 19-year old, 29th pick of the draft, from France, with no jump-shot. Parker started 72 games for a 59-win team with championship aspirations, and Porter came off the bench 72 times. Is there any question what Casey would have done, given the choice? And that's what makes Popovich so great. He had the balls to go with his gut, recognize potential talent and go right at development, rather than play it safe. And that gamble has paid for itself many times over. In the case of Ross over Salmons, that doesn't even look like a gamble. Salmons shouldn't even have been on the court. At some point, vets also 'un-earn' their minutes, too.
Vince Carter got to start over even a solid 2-way veteran like Doug Christie, just based on pre-season, as yet another example even closer to home of a coach who wasn't afraid to play talented youth over 'vets who earned it'. At some point, it crosses the line to entitlement, which is equally bad.
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