Barn - let me try this.
I don't think anyone is saying that this season is "not" about winning, or that winning isn't important.
Of course you want to win as many games as possible. Watch the games, and I think it's pretty clear that the coaches are coaching to win and the players are playing to win.
Where I differ is this - this season is about more than just winning.
A new Coach is going to be installing a new approach, new systems, and if you like the word, a new culture. It's a balance between trying to win games now and building for the future. Both are important. And yes, a coach has to make decisions. If you put a kid on the court before he's ready, and he gets schooled, is that good for his development? In my experience, that can set a kid back.
and, FWIW, I have heard several media people suggest that TT is not a good man-to-man defensive player, and that is why the coaches have tried to manage his playing time.