You have taken an interesting discussion and injected race into it. We probably shouldn't be surprised.
The Revenge Of The Sixth Man: Why They're More Valuable Than Ever In Today's NBA
The idea of bringing in a bench player to change the game is hardly new. The original concept dates all the way back to the 1960s, when legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach used to bring one of his best players off the bench to allow them to play with reckless abandon. Frank Ramsey was the NBA's first sixth man, and eventually John Havlicek grew into the role. Those players allowed the Celtics to continue playing at a breathneck pace when all other teams got tired.
The sixth man has always been valued since then, but never like this. Consider: when Barbosa won his Sixth Man of the Year award in 2006-07 while with the Phoenix Suns, there were 12 players who started less than 20 games (out of a minimum of 50) and averaged at least 10 points a game. Last year, that number ballooned to 22. This year, it's at 20. That's just with scorers too. A player like Turner, who touches a game in so many different ways, isn't on this year's list.
Read more at:
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/2/...eandro-barbosa
The Invaluable Sixth Man
The most important quality a sixth man needs is that this player should know your teams systems as well as any starting player within the line. Often players junior, senior or elite if they are not in the starting line-up do not pay attention to the importance of knowing what is going on at all times on the floor. For elite teams this can be especially evident as coaches utilise players from the bench in certain situations so those players often become overly familiar with that role, but then reduce their ability to fill any other role they may be called upon to play.
The sixth man needs to be a positive force on the floor. When the sixth man first rotates into the game they need to energise the other floor players from the starting line-up. The sixth player can be used a catalyst for changing the game if a poor result on the floor is occurring. When substituting into the game in these types of situations or in general the sixth man should bring positive energy to give to the other players. An over emphasis on positive talk and actions can help inspire team mates to change the game. Regardless of the situation, the sixth man should initially when walking onto the floor act like the “biggest fan” of the other players on the floor to instil a positive atmosphere.
The sixth player needs to be an impact player. When the sixth man steps onto the court this player should be looking to change the game. Each player within a team brings something different, as coaches you are probably more aware of this more than most people. But for the sixth man the impact needs to be immediate and in line or above the intensity of the game. This player should be looking to fill the directive provided by the coach to the letter so the game play can continue to evolve and play out as desired. A sixth man who substitutes into a game only to have the player they are guarding score the next three baskets becomes a problem for the team and a weakness that upsets the flow of the team.
Read more at:
https://functionalbasketballcoaching.com/the-invaluable-sixth-man/