NBA Playoffs: Was Brandon Roy Right To Complain About Limited Playing Time?

Much has been made today and yesterday about the comments made by Brandon Roy after Game 2 of the Portland Trail Blazers-Dallas Mavericks series, most of it directed negatively toward Roy. But was he right in what he said?  

It's not uncommon for professional athletes to complain to the media, whether those complaints center on playing time, the player's role on the team, the officiating or whatever is one their mind at that moment. The reason this story has received so much attention is because Brandon Roy, historically, is not a complainer.

He's had his moments, just like everyone does. But he doesn't have a reputation as being selfish or egocentric, and anyone who has followed his career closely knows that he really isn't either of those things.

For anyone who hasn't actually read or listened to what he said, you can find it here.

Basically, Roy was asked how he felt about the game and his limited playing time, and he admitted that yes, it bothered him that he only played eight minutes; also, he wasn't happy to be the last sub, or at least that Rudy Fernandez and Patty Mills entered the game before he did.

Is it reasonable that he would be bothered by those things and that in the heat of the moment, immediately following a frustrating loss, he would simply answer the question presented him in an honest way, sharing his real feelings?

Yes, it is. Brandon Roy is not a robot, and when asked to express how he felt about an inexplicably reduced role in Game 2, he chose to do so.

His frustration at coming off the bench later is understandable. It's not like Fernandez or Mills have done much in this series either to warrant a greater measure of Nate McMillan's confidence than Brandon has.  

He did struggle in Game 1, but sometimes that happens. Dirk Nowitzki struggled as well, minus his free throw attempts. But if a player can't trust that his coach will keep things as consistent as possible from game to game, he can't maintain a high level of confidence that he needs to perform well.

Brandon Roy has never come off the bench in his life, and while circumstances are such that he needs to for right now, he is player that feeds off of rhythm and having enough playing time to get going. He can't find those things and help his team if he only plays eight minutes.

Maybe he should've waited and talked to McMillan in private rather than voicing his concerns to the media. But I can't fault him for what he said, nor can I blame him for being honest when asked how he felt.

I don't think he's wrong to feel frustrated when, for the past two years, he's been less than healthy and unable to carry his team like he used to do. In his situation, anyone could easily feel the same. He still feels like he can contribute, if given the chance.

Now it's up to him to show us, and his coach, that he deserves what he's asking for.