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.
Ausar has had worse games, much worse, and Monty played him, while benching Ivey who was having a fantastic game. I guess yesterday was Opposite Day.
But on a day where we need rebounding and somebody to guard garland, he picked a weird time to bench Ausar.
Also trotted Killian back out there to seal the L. Convinced he’s trying to get fired and get back to his family with an extra 80m in his pocket.