Banging the drum for a deep reserve to get more playing time is one of sports fans’ favorite hobbies. “If only he got more minutes.” “His per-36 production is off the charts.” “He’s gonna be a baller someday, but he needs floor time to develop.” Portland Trail Blazers fans are just as guilty of it as anyone. Of course, having seen low-minute guys like Will Barton, Patty Mills, and Jermaine O’Neal go off to be difference-makers in other uniforms tends to make you nervous about wasting another talented youngster on the bench.
Most of the time it’s nothing.