re: Simmons continues ragging on Pelicans...

That is a solid point, but you really are looking at basketball as it was being played in the mid 90's, not how it is being played today.

With the new influx of analytics in the league, Coaches and GMs are starting to figure out that you have a better odds of winning by 1) reducing injuries 2) having specialized expert role players and 3) maximizing your efficiency in the minutes played.

The best way to achieve those goals is to have a pretty good player come of the bench EX: Ray Allen -Miami, Manu- Spurs, JR Smith - Knicks, etc. . .

Arguably Miami won the championship because Ray Allen and the Spurs lost the championship because of Manu. In a few years I doubt if any player will take it as a slap in the face if he needs to come off the bench to make the team better. That is just the way the league is moving. The Pelicans should not get caught in a traditional mindset that your star players have to start.