If you thought that Lonnie Walker’s heroic/clutch/tear-inducing 28-point performance against the Rockets a month ago was going to put him in line for huge minutes, well, I wish had your general optimism and positive outlook on life. Because everyone who has been watching the Spurs during their dynasty knows that Gregg Popovich is not so easily swayed. He is reluctant to play anyone who he thinks makes too many mistakes. Walker could score 50 and he would still be at risk for DNPs.
Sometimes, you just have to let the young player get on the court and do his thing, good or bad. Especially when you’re facing the imminent end of your dynasty and your starters are getting killed the second the game starts. You have to start thinking about the future, but I’m pretty sure Poopobitch things the future is still DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge.
By the way, this is just more evidence that proves I am right that Popovich isn’t even that good of a coach and was lucky to be gifted with several in-their-prime Hall-Of-Famers.
Walker, since that huge game where he hit multiple big threes and brought the Spurs back by himself, has played more than he was playing before. That’s something. It’s not like he’s returned to getting half DNPs and half sub-10-minute appearances. He still gets those things, but not as often. And guess what: the Spurs are winning more now. Popovich is dumb, but he’s beginning to realize, even in his dumbness, that things just turn out better with Walker on the court.