Saying players
should be able to handle heavy minutes isn't an argument against Thibs running players into the ground. Placing an arbitrary number like 36 minutes a game and seemingly suggesting that because players aren't averaging those minutes, it refutes the idea that he's not running them into the ground or being reckless with their minutes doesn't hold up - again, Randle doesn't average 36 minutes a game, but was top 5 in minutes played in the entire league. An average number isn't telling the whole story.
Having the ability/capacity to do something and doing it aren't the same thing. Having the ability/capacity to do something and needing to do it aren't the same thing.
In a league where load management is an evolution to help save players legs for deep playoff runs, or strategy to manage player health, Thibs doesn't believe in it. He doesn't believe in it to a point that he makes a habit of playing starters and stars minutes when a game is well out of reach, whether it be a loss or a win. There is an argument to be made for the benefits of having your players play through victory and defeat to learn from it in real time. There is also an argument to be made that in playing star players when they don't need to play, irrespective of their capacity to, that he's putting players at risk by playing when they don't NEED to - as you just so pointed out, injuries can happen at any time.
If you're cool with his approach because you think players should be able to handle it, cool. I personally see it as an outdated, short sighted approach to the sport that puts players at risk. Coupled with his predictable offensive approach, poor adjustments and reliance on the same starters that are playing heavy minutes in the name of their youth, and we have a recipe, to some, for a coach with significant limitations that may not translate to a championship.
I don't have any alternatives. I don't think the grass is greener. I just don't think Thibodeau is it. He has a solid approach that as someone said, lowers our floor, but doesn't necessarily raise our ceiling. Hell get the most of his teams. He's made us respectable. But long term, his approach doesn't appear to be sustainable for the grind of a long season in this current league and from what I've seen to date, he hasn't given any reason to believe that he will change his approach. With more talent, he might and I'll eat my words. For now, I don't think he's the one to lead us.
