I don't understand quarterman over hickey.

Was wondering why myself. It was my first time seeing him play and just figured his shot was off for the night.

Q started over Hickey but only played 11 minutes

and Hickey played 29.

I think its a ploy to get quartermans confidence up and perhaps push hickey even more to get over his problems.

Maybe to limit his and stringer playing at the same time due to both being under6

I think its a matchup thing.
Hickey still plays the majority of the minutes at pg, but it allows us to now start two sub 6 foot guards. Could be disciplinary, wouldn't surprise me, but isn't necessarily.

I heard it was disciplinary

I like the thought of Quarterman starting, and by tourney time he will be hard to handle, his length at the top of the defense should not be overlooked. That will come in handy when the Tigers meet up with the Kentuckys of the world. so i'm ok with Quarterman getting his minutes.

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I think its a ploy to get quartermans confidence up and perhaps push hickey even more to get over his problems.

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I think this is mainly right.

I've gone back & forth with this, and this just my opinion from observation and being around the team,but here's what I know and think:

1. Anthony was surprised and upset when Trent left. He recruited him and "was nice to me and kind to my family". I think Anthony was "nurtured" to some degree by Trent, as coaches' new recruits can be. He was never in trouble as a freshman.
2. JJ has a completely different personality with a different attitude. Personality clash.
3. Anthony is a disorganized kid, often late for stuff, etc. doesn't take care of his business. He gets disciplined by the coaches. They want him to mature.
4. Tim is JJ's recruit and I think JJ's treating him more or less like Trent did with Anthony as a freshman. Bringing him along and trying to boost his confidence, PLUS watch Hickey in action. Tim is young and new will look up to JJ more.
5.It's my opinion that they are pushing Anthony to mature. Coach Leonard told us that Anthony knows his new role, is on board with it and doing well. I'm sure that's true, but I'm also sure that Anthony doesn't like it. It's his chance to show coaches that he can suck it up and do this new job well, without sulking.
6. I saw a few practices before the season started. Tim & the other freshman played with JOB, Andre, and sometimes Shavon as the "1st team". Trying to get them up to speed with the plays and each other etc.
Anthony was given the task of teaching the offenses and defense to the "2nd string" - Shane, John, Darcy, the walk-ons with Malik and Keith Hornsby going between each team.
They scrimmaged against each other.
IMO the coaches gave him this role to see if he would mature - e.g. no complaining or sulking about not being with the 1st team.
He didn't look too happy at the 1st practice I saw, but at the last practice seemed to be having fun.

I hope he realizes that he was given a big responsibility to train the others, rather than a punishment.

He's also a great catalyst coming off the bench.
Embrace that role Anthony!

There's undeniable truth there Team. As good as Hickey and Stringer have been at times, there is just no getting around that having two guards as small as Hickey and Stringer on the court at the same time is not a recipe for sustained success against better teams.

We need to have Quarterman bridge that gap. Hopefully his play develops over time so that he can do so efficiently.

Coaches like starting defense and having spark plugs come off the bench. I don't know how much longer it will last but it happens a lot just normally not at the point guard position. Like starting Aminu and having Evans come off bench for scoring. Or ginobili or thunder starting sefolosha and having harden come off bench for scoring. It balances the game to where you don't have too many highs and lows scoring wise.