RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I think you may be hallucinating that image because Ben had a grand total of 17 turnovers all last season — by far the lowest on the team by those with significant minutes.It depends upon how you define effort. The image in my brain of Ben getting the ball ripped away from his hands repeatedly during multiple games last season is a tough one to make go away.
But last season aside, I'm 100% in favor of merit-based minutes allocation. If reports are correct that Ben has added significant strength and muscle mass, Ben shows a better nose for the ball in the 4 role, he nails 3s more consistently, and Mirkovic has some growing pains adapting to the college game, then Ben definitely should be the first guy off the bench.
My issue is when someone says so and so should get playing time just because they're a veteran. Everyone should be given the playing time they earn.
Now KJ on the other hand? For all the good things that he did, he was notorious for having the ball stripped by a defender.