We are saving for the playoff? Cool
Not what I was trying to say. I was saying I'm guessing Treliving is trying to maximize the games Smith will play in playoffs while also trying to minimize the amount of games necessary that Smith will have to play in the regular season to bring us to playoffs so that he won't re-injure himself/be closest to 100% for playoffs. The factors are: Playoffs yes/no and Smith: Healthy/injured/below 100%
Scenario wise IMO:
- Smith jumps in now. We make/miss playoffs and lose Smith to re-injury because he came back too early and wasn't ready.
- Smith jumps in in the middle. Still too early. We may playoffs, have Smith briefly for playoffs or just before playoffs, then run the kids for the rest when Smith goes down, or we play Smith at levels far below 100%. Hindsight tells Treliving made the mistake to bring him back early.
- Smith jumps in the middle a little later. We barely hit playoffs, but we have a relatively healthy Smith for the entire playoff run. (What I think Treliving is targeting) Treliving seen as navigating that situation well or "just average" from some of ya'll.
- Smith jumps in the middle a little later. We barely miss playoffs and criticism for not playing Smith earlier runs abounds.
- Smith jumps in too late. We miss playoffs but Smith is healthy.
Playing Smith too early increases the risk you lose him again to injury or just end up with a guy who is ineffective playing through the injury. Not playing Smith increases the risk we miss playoffs. The best answer is somewhere in the middle and you have to tread that line with a specific level of accuracy. Being too aggressive and too conservative both aren't ideal, but the best mix isn't a clear cut answer either.