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Message: [QUOTE="Ragman2000, post: 3701822, member: 118"] So I can absolutely see both sides of everyone's questions and concerns about playing time, especially after a brutal loss. So I've tried to take emotion and names out of it and give it some thought, and here is what what I came up with, take it for what it's worth. Let's say your starters are Players A, B, C, D, and E. These are the players most equipped to win the game in today's game. Not tomorrows, not next season, but today. Players , G, H, and I are all capable of contributing. Players J, K, L and beyond are "projects" and simply not ready to be a meaningful contributor TODAY (again, not tomorrow or next season). There are two schools of thought: Scenario 1: Play A-E as much as they can with sprinkles of , G, and H depending on situation, foul trouble, etc. This most likely gives you the best chance to win today's game as your average talent and experience level per minute played is highest, but at the expense of tomorrow as players -L are not getting a lot of game experience. Scenario 2: Play A-E the most minutes, but players , G and H get 10-20 minutes a game. On the plus side, your players are all fresher and the rotation guys gets more experience which improves their performance tomorrow and in subsequent seasons. On the downside, your experience (and current talent) level drops and you may be reducing your odds of winning today. In Scenario 1, your starting 5 are getting lots of minutes, so even if they did not play much in prior seasons, they come up to game speed quickly out of necessity because by definition they are playing 35+ min a game. Also, each game is played with "your best chance to win today with tomorrow be damned." In Scenario 2, when players , G, and H eventually become starters in subsequent seasons, they have more game experience and give you the best chance to win "today." However, they are now getting benched for 10+ minutes a game for players J, K, and L (the former projects). This again, does not give you the best chance to win "Today" but is building for subsequent seasons. There is no right or wrong answer here; some coaches are firmly in Scenario 1 camp (such as JB). Some coaches are more in line with Scenario 2. I think it's easy to see the flaws in either approach when your teams approach doesn't appear to be working. However, both Scenarios bring good and bad. I get JB's approach, he thinks it gives him the best chance to win today, and history says he's not wrong. That doesn't mean there aren't drawbacks and Scenario 2 will work as well. Anyway, take the names away and there are no wrong answers here, but I totally get why most coaches choose Scenario 1. [/QUOTE]

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