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Originally Posted by FreshPrince22  I don't know. If a young, highly touted player gets promises of minutes coming into the year, gets nothing, there is already an issue. Then he sees a new guy come in, and without earning it, already gets some minutes spoon-fed to him. You gotta put yourself in Amir's shoes.
It's starting to look more an more like the Darko situation. Granted, Amir isn't as Emo as Darko, but you can tell he's discouraged when he's out there in garbage time night after night. Everytime he makes a bad play, fouls, etc, he hangs his head.
I don't think we're at the point of no return, but something will have to change pretty quick. I don't think Amir is satisfied with 3 straight years of no playing time. And considering we've got Dice, Sheed, and Max all locked up for next year, a 4th straight looks very likely. Amir isn't stupid, he sees this as well and it can get into a young guys' head. |
Agree on all points. Also, Dice just got a 3-year extension, and we all know Flip will undoubtedly play the vet before him. Max got an extension as well, and soon Sheed will get a new deal. Where/when will he get his time? After 3 more years? If I'm him, I'm not happy right now. Heck, I'm NOT him and I'm not happy. It's really not fair to get a guy's hopes up and then...nothing. Brezec shouldn't play ahead of him after only one practice, particularly after the way Flip delayed playing Amir because "he needs more practice". Same goes for Stuckey, but to a lesser extent.
Also, Brezec, for all his "trying" just isn't very good, and he doesn't fit the mold of Piston big men who are generally very mobile and good defensively.
Lastly, his body language and facial expressions all show that something's bothering him. Amir's greatest strength is his speed and his activity - I really haven't seen the latter as much after that one great game against GS. His confidence certainly isn't where it was, or where it has to be right now, and Flip might have something to do with that. Flippy has never shown any faith in the kid, and you get the feeling he's being forced to play him.
Edit: I'm sure I mentioned this in chat, but Amir should not be put out there with Brezec. Road Block (Brezec) clogs the lane and takes up so much space, it sort of throws Amir off. During the GS game, when he was playing with Max, he was MUCH more effective. Once Brezec came in, he was suddenly nowhere to be found outside of a rebound here and there, and we can't have that. Amir, when he plays the way he's capable of playing, is able to energize the team. That's not something to scoff at.
Garbage time is when you play your youth and let them show you what they've got, not for vets like Flip/Jarvis/Brezec/Mohammed to pad some stats.