Indeed.
I only stated initially he would play, and I said that weeks b4 the playoffs started, when guys started to try to make me seem like a fool.
I thought he'd play bc he had averaged over 20 minutes per game from February on, after the RRT, when the team historically emerges with a playoff iden y and while seed wasn't established. Games that really mattered, he helped us win. Then Pop stated he was giving him all these minutes to get him ready to be a "real contributor in this league." Pop never benched him after Kmart's arrival either. If anything, he pushed Kyle harder. He played in all of our markee games and started a bunch of games bc either Kawhi was ill or resting, Danny was resting, and he got minutes at the 4 when Boris was coasting or injured, even when he's still perhaps too underweight for it, and very young. Pop continued to call his number against guys he was overmatched against like Durant and Nowitzky. He's been pushed to develop all season, with some urgency IMO. That is why you saw guys complaining about all the rest affecting Kawhi, Danny and whoever else. On the one hand, Pop wanted to get as many minutes as possible to get Kmart comfortable with the system, on the other, he never quit pushing Kyle to develop.
Then, Pop stated after the final game of the season when asked whether Kyle would figure in the playoff rotation, that he had played Kyle all season, and he didn't see a reason to bench him now. True to his statement Kyle has played. Its ironic that all the forum warriors here see more reason to bench Kyle than Pop has.
Now, we have a veteran team and Pop may shorten rotations in close games. At the same time, we have an old team, and he's not playing a whole series that way. In addition, there are foul situations, (did you catch Manu with 5 fouls in 13 minutes of play time in a close out game?), and lineup problems presented by other teams. The league has increasingly gone to perimeter oriented lineups, a reality that Pop was trying to get Kyle ready for, that is why he's emphasized rebounding so much. When you lose a center in favor of additional guards or a SF, rebounding and rim protection go out the window, thus Kyle was pushed to emphasize, defense and rebounding above all else.
Anyways, I am already yapping too much.
I don't care about Blake's established rules by himself that he gets to change whenever he pleases. I only cared that Kyle got playoff experience and opportunities to help the team. Kyle is already a part of the playoff rotation and will continue to play in some form. According to my standards this issue is already lost for Blake and Kyle haters. All that is left is hoping he plays well when his number is called and that he helps us to a championship. Personally that is all I cared about.