...put in? It will be someone who, for that game at least, probably hurts the chances at winning that night. That's a tough call as a coach"

You put the next guy in and if the next guy in doesn't turn things around that game then you're no better off than when the starter was in and not getting the job done. But, by benching the starter, and he has to sit for a long stretch knowing full-why he's out, and he knows that the 15-20K fans in attendance also know why he was benched, and he has to watch a player that he very likely considers to be a lesser player than him get his playing time, it will likely eat at him and provide the motivation he needs to make the required changes which will make him a better player and it makes the team better.

In the game vs SMC, Bryant was playing very lethargic defense to open the game against a very gimpy Joe Rahon. Rahon beat Bryant like a drum, off the dribble, and basically got to where ever he wanted to on the court with ease and as deep into the paint as he wanted. This set up easy kick outs to open 3 pt shooters and drop-offs for waiting SMC bigs and layups. There was not much effort there at all from Bryant.

After SMC jumped out to their early lead, Rose put Davin Guinn in the game and if you go back and watch, you'll see the gimpy Rahon didn't get into the paint at all and he went where Guinn forced him to go. Guinn isn't some magically gifted athlete, he's just a determined and committed one.

When you're coaching a rebuilding team or a young team, you don't coach to win each game early on as much as you coach with an eye on building, growing and coming together as a unit for the end of the season (where hopefully you get a chance to give some payback for the lumps you took at the beginning of the season.)