I don't think LB wants all veterans. I think there are two things at play.

a) he thinks Rose and AD are capable of setting a defense and team oriented tone and that, by reason of logic, he should be able to expect more out of two cagey playoff hardened vets than rookies (and sophmore). Lots of guys games are off and he's not shocked if that includes those guys.

Now if you ask me if I feel the youngins out play the vets and I rather them get the PT, yes, I do. But I'm not shocked that LB gives them the benefit of the doubt.

b) LB wants the vets to be his lockerroom allies. When certain guys are feeling coach is unduly harping on them or their carping about reduced PT, etc, LB wants the sagely vets to support him and help keep the peace. He has to keep them somewhat happy to maintain their alliance.

c) My feelings about the young guys is not only do they play really hard and have a good sense of the game, but I think they play best together. The effect of just subbing in any one of them is far lesser than when they play together. They happen to know each other's games and mesh really well, while the vets still struggle to find their identity and chemistry. But giving these guys extended minutes to the exclusion of the vets is really troublesome to LB because of how they grate against "a" and "b" from above. It's very difficult for LB to think that these kids could actually out-compete the vets, and it's difficult for him to abandon the vets and their alliance to him. It's just counter intuitive to his 30+ years of coaching.

But that's not to say that if the pattern continues to hold that he wont change his mind.

At the same time, it could also just sour him on these vets and compel him to find new vets. Ones who will mesh better with the youth.

As one astute observer on another board noted, pretty much anytime we have 2 or more guys 26 years or older on the floor together things go downhill. He was half joking, but it's not far off the mark at all.

Now wether that's great commentary on our youths or sad commentary on our vets is what is yet to be sorted out.