Pelton: Blazers Project As 2014 Lottery Team

[Draco]

For the record, I'm not proposing that we play to lose, but that we put player development over victories this upcoming year. If it means we lose more games than we would otherwise, so be it. Put another way, I'd rather win 5-10 fewer games and have McCollum develop his game which will benefit us in future years than have Wes play heavy minutes at the expense of McCollum's development.

Well I kind of agree in that we should give the young guys a chance to work through some mistakes but I’m from the school of thought that its best to have players earn playing time. If they are going to be a difference maker they will show you glimpses, LaMarcus and Nic both did as rookies, Jermaine Oneal had a number of wow moments. If you see something special from a young guy give him a chance to build on that success.

But don’t just give a young player minutes because they are young. They should have to earn major minutes in the rotation. Keeping a young player in the game when they are making tons of mistakes and getting destroyed can be worse for their development then not playing them at all. That’s one reason I don’t like the tank for draft pick strategy, I think players on losing teams pick up bad habits.

I would like to see our starter play significantly less minutes this year. I love the Spurs strategy of giving starters plenty of rest and playing deep into your bench. Its an 82 game season. If we do some of that there will be plenty of minutes available for our bench and young players.