SALT LAKE CITY -- With Mo Williams needing rest and Daniel Gibson in foul trouble last Wednesday night in Portland, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown had a conversation with his coaches about whether to insert seldom-used guard Tarence Kinsey.
Brown thought about it and out loud decided not to use him. Standing nearby, Kinsey overhead the decision. A few minutes later, during a different timeout, Kinsey approached his coach.
"He said 'coach I'm not going to let you down, you can trust me,'" Brown said. "I told him 'T.K. you are right.'"
Brown didn't use Kinsey Wednesday, but when he got in a tight spot again Friday in Golden State, he sent Kinsey in. With Brown living up to his end, Kinsey did too by scoring 11 points and getting three rebounds in 15 minutes.
Signed as a free agent in August after finishing last season overseas, Kinsey hasn't been much of a factor this season. He's mostly been used in mop-up duty and in a few short spurts for matchup purposes. Which is what Brown was using him for against the Warriors, who play very small.
"You just have to take advantage of your opportunities," Kinsey said. "That's what I practice every day for."
Despite that strong play, Brown isn't promising to alter his rotation to give Kinsey more guaranteed chances. But the way Kinsey responded likely earned more trust from the coach.
"We have some guys in front of him who are playing pretty well, too," Brown said. "It's going to be a case-by-case basis."