I think it'd also be a huge sign of disrespect to everything Aldridge, Batum, Matthews and Lillard have done, and all the years of struggle each of them have had to go through to get to where they are now. Each of them have been undervalued, underappreciated, pushed out of the limelight for shinier things, only to prove week after week this year that they are a lot better than anybody gave them credit. Benching Hickson would be just another example of "smart people" saying it's just not worth it, they just aren't good enough. Give up. Bide your time and maybe next year all the effort will be worth it. Fuck that. That's not how you build chemistry and faith in your franchise/gm/coach. It's not how you mold young players to be competitors at an elite level. It's just not how you treat these guys. Fuckups like Felton/Camby/Crawford/Crash last year? Sure. But not these guys. While they still have a chance you have to give them the opportunity to sink or swim. If Leonard can prove he's the better player, then sure, let him start. This season is about hard work and proving people wrong. When we're out of the playoff hunt and there's nothing to work toward, then I say you pull the plug. Until then it's just disrespectful and counter productive to what the Blazers are doing.
