Why so many players days off for players for rest now days?

 I understand that if a star isn’t hurt you expect to see them playing. Truthfully I don’t think resting players is anything new, I think it gets talked about a lot more especially as the Spurs do it throughout the season and not just at the end of the regular season. Teams are just worried their guys will get hurt in a meaningless game before the playoffs so they rest them. 

 I understand that if a star isn’t hurt you expect to see them playing. Truthfully I don’t think resting players is anything new, I think it gets talked about a lot more especially as the Spurs do it throughout the season and not just at the end of the regular season. Teams are just worried their guys will get hurt in a meaningless game before the playoffs so they rest them. 

As a fan you should expect the best players to play if not injured, by the same token as much as people want to look at it as entertainment, a professional basketball team is a business. For the owners these guys are investments and assets. Unlike other entertainers, athletes have a shorter window in their craft because it depends partially on their bodies holding up and being able to perform at a peak level. Tim Duncan has been able to not only lengthen his career because of the rest, but provide a greater impact when he plays and he’s also able to come in much fresher during the playoffs. Look at LeBron. You give him an extra day or so off and he looks like a much better version of himself.

None of this probably changes unless you shorten the amount of games or spread the season out over a longer period. I think it’s something you are going to keep seeing, especially with the better teams. It’s going to be a lot easier to rest guys when you see so many teams making the playoffs with records near .500. Then you have teams that are exceptions like the Spurs and Warriors that can not only compete, but win without their full roster because of their depth.

1. Thibs is an example of running players down in practice and games.

2. Who knows?

3. Some yes, some no.

4. Lots of analytics showing that players are moving a lot more than before which makes sense when you are no longer in the iso age. If Barkley is backing a guy down from the 3 point line EVERYONE except the guy guarding him gets to rest. If Curry is getting double screened and Thompson is moving into space EVERYONE is moving.

As a fan you should expect the best players to play if not injured, by the same token as much as people want to look at it as entertainment, a professional basketball team is a business. For the owners these guys are investments and assets. Unlike other entertainers, athletes have a shorter window in their craft because it depends partially on their bodies holding up and being able to perform at a peak level. Tim Duncan has been able to not only lengthen his career because of the rest, but provide a greater impact when he plays and he’s also able to come in much fresher during the playoffs. Look at LeBron. You give him an extra day or so off and he looks like a much better version of himself.

None of this probably changes unless you shorten the amount of games or spread the season out over a longer period. I think it’s something you are going to keep seeing, especially with the better teams. It’s going to be a lot easier to rest guys when you see so many teams making the playoffs with records near .500. Then you have teams that are exceptions like the Spurs and Warriors that can not only compete, but win without their full roster because of their depth.

1. Thibs is an example of running players down in practice and games.

2. Who knows?

3. Some yes, some no.

4. Lots of analytics showing that players are moving a lot more than before which makes sense when you are no longer in the iso age. If Barkley is backing a guy down from the 3 point line EVERYONE except the guy guarding him gets to rest. If Curry is getting double screened and Thompson is moving into space EVERYONE is moving.

 I have no stats to back this up but the game seems to be played at a higher pace now.  Offenses in general now try to force the opponents to be moving constantly on defense.  Over a season that pace could take a bigger toll on players physically and mentally.  

Team athletic trainers, strength trainers, etc also have more information that they can use to determine when players are fatiguing. 

 I have no stats to back this up but the game seems to be played at a higher pace now.  Offenses in general now try to force the opponents to be moving constantly on defense.  Over a season that pace could take a bigger toll on players physically and mentally.  

Team athletic trainers, strength trainers, etc also have more information that they can use to determine when players are fatiguing.