I guess Tony Allen and Eddie House remained quiet when asked about their playing time during the playoffs right? They didn't voice any concerns over it? They were satisfied with their role on the bench?
That's a good point. Tony, Eddie and Sam all did at one time or another make remarks one could interpret as "griping" about playing time. Only one of them were going to be used and all three were desperate to play. I think that speaks volumes on their respective competitive spirits and probably a little about just how smart they are considering I think it's a pretty dumb time to start commenting about playing time when one's team is competing for a championship. I'm not calling any of these gentlemen dumb just that the decision making process might need some adjustment.
Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is about the league paying half the salary of our newest assistant coach. Because when it all comes down to it and Sam is sitting at the end of the bench in street clothes for most if not almost all of the year coaching the guards, that is what it comes down to. He's a coach being passed off as a player so that the league picks up half his salary and so he's instantly available in cases of emergency.
Come on Nick. You are usually right on with these things! You can't compare House's legitimately being frustrated over playing time lost to Sam. House got completely shafted with them handing the time to Sam. He was playing well all year, we were winning games that he was a big part of, then this has-been old timer comes in and gets gifted all his minutes. Then the guy proceeds to go out and stink it up out there 95% of the time and he is forced to sit and watch our team struggle more than they were due to this guys play. Once Sam finally got the well deserved boot from the lineup he did nothing other than head right out and continue with the energy and effort that we got from him before. Sam then throws masked comments out there about his lack of PT, which anyone but him knew he should have lost. It isn't the same. House didn't make a big stink about it. He said nothing more than Sam did. He just had a legitimate reason as his team was playing poorly without him.
As far as TA's complaining. More of the same as Sam. The guy was playing terribly and shouldn't have seen the floor. It's nice to see him at least showing glimpses of old in the preseason.
EJ, I am not saying that Eddie and Tony weren't justified in what they were saying or had bad opinions, but, yes, their comments were interpreted as griping about playing time by both those in the media and people who read the remarks.
I think Eddie and Tony had every right to be p---ed, especially Eddie and especially, as you say, considering the way the guy who replaced them was playing. I just feel they should have addressed such matters in the coach's office and left it at that.
Unfortunately, questions by the media sometimes need to go unanswered and yet players feel they have to answer them. I love Bill Belichick's way of handling such matters. He says nothing and dismisses the question.
If these guys were responding to a question from a media person regarding their usage they should have differed the question to Doc and left it at that.
