Detroit Pistons: 4 thoughts about the kids and Blake Griffin’s future
By Duncan Smith
3. Sekou Doumbouya’s opportunities
On a rebuilding team, one would think the sky would be the limit for young players’ minutes. That hasn’t been quite the case for Sekou Doumbouya, who just turned 20 on December 23rd. With the exception of a couple of games, Doumbouya has been firmly lodged between the 10 and 14 minutes played marks each game, even when Blake Griffin is out of the lineup and no longer blocking his path to minutes at the four.
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My suspicion is that Doumbouya is simply being asked to make the most of his specific minutes in the rotation. Perhaps in head coach Dwane Casey’s view, it’s more important to see how he responds to those opportunities than to simply unleash him and let him roll. We may see his minutes and responsibilities expanded as time goes by, but don’t forget that Doumbouya didn’t get a sophomore summer league, barely got training camp and the preseason was four games long.
As a result, his learning path is simply going to be a different experience from what other second-year players have experienced in the past. It’s an unorthodox journey, but it’s nothing to worry about at this early juncture.