What do you think of Monty benching Ausar last night? Is this the best way to handle the highly drafted young talent? What’s the most effective way to get young guys to reach their full potential? Any data points from other coaches who have taken raw young talent to winning teams (OKC, GSW)?
Per Monty:
Williams explained what factored in his decision to pull him.
“I think any young player with that kind of talent is going to have moments like he had tonight. I can’t be the coach that I’ve told them I’m going to be if I continue to put him out there and let him play through those kinds of lulls where he is turning it over and not taking the shots that we want him to take.”
https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/2023/11/17/pistons-monty-williams-ausar-thompson-benching/
I am not a fan of what’s going on. I don’t love the way Ivey has played / developed but I don’t think less playing time is the answer. Let these guys sink or swim. We suck anyway. I get maybe a short benching later in the season to send a message but the current Ivey situation runs the risk getting broken beyond repair and wasting a great athletic talent and high draft asset.
I’m not sure what Monty is looking for, but he must have some kind of specific game plan he wants guys to adhere to. I thought Ivey had one of his worst games of the year with some really bad turnovers (6 on the night) and ill-advised drives, but lo and behold he played almost the entire 4th quarter and logged the most minutes he has all season while Killian sat out.
I’m not ever gonna complain about Ivey getting minutes, but it does seem weird that he’s played much better in several games this year and gotten pulled in the fourth
He seems to be imitating Gene Hackman in Hoosiers.