« Reply #45 on: February 10, 2010, 07:13:57 PM »
It's one thing if players have to play because they have no choice (i.e., we don't have a backup point guard). But what bugs me is how often players say that they're "good to go" when they are not. I get the warrior mentality, love for the game, heart... whatever it may be. But I also think it's a bit selfish of them to think that way. In my opinion, it's better for the team in the long run if a recently injured player can rest up, heal properly, all while letting their teammates grow given this opportunity to get playing time. Plus, if you're injured, you can't try as hard on defense... you stop playing physical, you start shooting jumpers rather than getting the ball inside.... all that hurts the team.
Obviously, as competitive, professional athletes, these guys always think that they can play. It's up to the coaching and medical staff to see through that mentality and do what's best for the team.
Maybe Pierce is "ready to go." How do you know he's not?
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"If somebody would have told you when he was playing with the Knicks that Nate Robinson was going to change a big time game and he was going to do it mostly because of his defense, somebody would have got slapped." Mark Jackson
