Detroit Pistons: Dwane Casey can’t fall in love with the veterans
I thought Coach Casey did a pretty good job of making the young players earn minutes last season by rewarding them when they played well and benching them when they didn’t.
It is also important to have some more experienced players on the floor to help mentor these young guys on how to play the game the right way.
But it got to a point last season where I really got sick of watching guys like Mason Plumlee take minutes from the youngsters. Yes, Plumlee was probably technically better than Isaiah Stewart last season but the Pistons were out of it anyway, so who cares?
In the end, it’s the young core that will carry this franchise forward, so just play the kids unless they’ve done something to deserve being on the bench. I don’t need to see Cory Joseph playing 25 minutes a night over Saben Lee.
I really really don’t need to see Jahlil Okafor getting minutes just because he is a “veteran” when Luka Garza should probably get his spot.
I’m hoping Sekou Doumbouya gets a real shot over Trey Lyles, who is a journeyman veteran and not a guy who will likely be on the team for more than a season or two.
I don’t expect the Detroit Pistons to be contenders this season anyway, so let the kids take their lumps and give them every opportunity to earn minutes.