Managing player emotions was part of the job, and Coach Crawford knew it well.
After his talk with Darius, he asked Miles to bring in Lin.
"Starting next game, you're coming off the bench," Crawford said.
Lin had seen it coming ever since Ryan's 35-point explosion in a single quarter during his debut. He'd braced himself for the day Ryan would take his starting spot, but when the moment hit, it still stung.
Unlike Darius, Lin wasn't one to push back. His quieter nature took over, and he just nodded, lips tight.
He'd spent most of the past few years bouncing around the league, rarely starting. It wasn't until he landed with the bottom-feeding Roarers that he found a place in the starting five. And now, that was gone again.
Crawford studied him. "You'll still get solid minutes, Lin. I'm not burying you. When Darius or Ryan sit, you'll spell them. Your time won't drop much."
