For Bucks fans, the often maddening phenomenon of Liggins getting playing time over more potentially productive wings or cannibalizing the minutes of the four proven guards on the roster (*cough cough* Brogdon) provides an interesting insight into the priorities of Kidd as a coach. From his rationalization of the hyper-aggressive defensive scheme he’s only recently pumped the brakes on to his weird insistence that Thon Maker take more mid-range shots , the consistent playing time Liggins received as a Buck shows definitively — -for those not yet convinced — -that Kidd goes with his gut, results be damned.

Trying to take away every shot for an offense and demanding constant, flawless engagement from his defense seems like a good thing. Having your shooters get a little closer to the basket seems like it creates better odds of good offense. In this way, the ceaseless exertion by Liggins makes it seem like he’s making a big defensive impact. But he’s not. On these integral matters of schematics and rotations Kidd is too often dead wrong and hardheaded. But to him it feels and looks like he’s right. When things go poorly it’s a problem of execution or effort because the logic looks so sound.

I really don’t mean for this to be a potshot at Liggins. If you crack the rotation on any NBA team you are doing something to stand out and have shown ability to do some positive things on the floor. In my view, if you can put Liggins on a team like the Kings, Hawks, Suns, Magic or Bulls his defensive energy could diffuse into the young, raw talent those teams will rely on for years to come and he can add real value if not immediate results. However the Bucks are at a different stage as a team. They’re past the point of toying with flash over substance, and Kidd is coming late to the game.