Game 8: Bucks at Clips - 9:00 - FSN/ESPN - Kawhi Out

[Buck Dweller]

It’s simple, only allow load management on away games.

[MickeyDavis]

It’s simple, only allow load management on away games.

Clips play back to back home games today/tomorrow

[crkone]

I would say make teams turn in their load management excuses at least 3 days in advance but teams would just say misc hamstring injuries or stiff backs instead.

[ReasonablySober]

Kawhi is getting roasted nationally.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

if kawhi physically flames out at 33-34 instead of 37-38 it could cost him close to half a billion dollars. if im kawhi I tell espn and the casual fan to go **** themselves if they want me to play 100 games a year instead of 80.

that doesn't even count the value of the clippers themselves if they have an extra 5 years of title contention because the guys legs stayed fresh thru those years.

the season is too long and its all for the fan experience. watching more games where the young guys can develop and then hopefully add a win in the playoffs makes sense too. if it were up to me we'd play Giannis bledsoe and middleton about 65 games each and in those 15-17 theyre cheering the team on id be running dj, ddv, brown, pc,bender out there 20-30 minutes a piece. maybe with that experience come playoff time a couple of them step up and win us a game

[greekbuck34]

If it were up to you we would lose the playoff home advantage then.
The Clippers made the playoffs in the West without a star.
The Raptors were a 60win team without Kawhi and Siakam nba ready.
We are barely a playoff team in the East without Giannis.

[HaroldinGMinor]

if kawhi physically flames out at 33-34 instead of 37-38 it could cost him close to half a billion dollars. if im kawhi I tell espn and the casual fan to go **** themselves if they want me to play 100 games a year instead of 80.

I think 5 extra years is a stretch.

[truly]

Are we really talking about fresh legs when the dude sits twice 7 games into the season?foh with that garbage.

What would happen to the league if everyone did the same?

[Rockmaninoff]

Meh?


I think most on this board understand this from a pure basketball perspective. Being that the ultimate goal of winning a championship is more important than an early November Giannis/Kawhi matchup. But the casual NBA fan doesn't. That fan, who has kids with Kawhi Leonard jersey's and posters all over his wall, who possibly just spent hundreds, maybe thousands on tickets to see this. It's complete BS, especially this early in the year. 2nd time in 8 games.

from a business perspective. If I spend a ton of money with ESPN, TNT, or local TV during this game, only to find out he's sitting out, which affects viewerships and ratings, I'm livid. There several different ways that makes this ridiculous. It's not like the dude is 34 with his knees filling up with fluid. I'm glad Doris Burke spoke out on this without toeing the company line.

then the casual fan needs to get it and dad needs to explain it. basketball players may not play 82 games maybe only 60. pitchers dont get 500 innings anymore. maybe 200. these guys make 30-40-50 million dollars a year to win championships and career longevity is a HUUUUGE concern. kawhi gets hurt or ends his career then that kid doesn't want to come to ANY games.

bottom line is the dad needs to teach the kid and tell him not to throw a **** fit. go root for shamet and the other young guys and talk up how exciting its going to be in april and may for years to come

Couldn't have said it better myself. Ultimately the goal is to win NBA championships. If casual fan Joe doesn't understand that resting Kawhi or Giannis in November to preserve them for the playoffs is very beneficial to a team's chances of winning an NBA championship, I could care less. It's up to the NBA to figure out how to deal with the problem that the regular season has little meaning and that there are too many games. The coaching staff and the players are there to win a championship, not to make money for ESPN.

The coaches and players (and teams) are also there to make money, the majority of which is generated from broadcast partners like ESPN. More and more players are going to do this if they can. If they want to ultimately make less money and rest more, that's fine with me.

"Resting for the love of the game", I'd call it if I was an ESPN executive balking at paying more for the next round of broadcast rights.

[MiltownHawkeye]

To me it's simple. The Clippers and Kawhi are doing the logical thing by making sure he's rested for the playoffs, but if someone wants to move Kawhi down lower on their "best players" rankings then he fully deserves it along with any other criticism he's getting.

[DingleJerry]

Fair point on the stars being more important in NBA than baseball. But, NFL rest guys in week 16/17 and no one really complains. This is the same thing. I certainly do 'get it' and see the problem. Just realize the game theory and science of it all makes sense, too much sense to do anything about.

to the only rest road games thing. I've heard the opposite take actually and think it makes most sense. Only allow sitting home games, idea being that road fans only get 1-2 opportunities to see the stars.

[BuckFan25226]

meh... people will still see plenty of kawhi this year in the regular season. we should take a lesson and rest our guys more. season is 82 games and for contenders there is only one mission and that mission has not a damn thing to do with a game in november. strategies for your veterans that give lots of mental and physical rest in nba and baseball makes sense. giving bigger oppurtunites to younger players to progress and get minutes in big regular season games pays off later too

Meh?


I think most on this board understand this from a pure basketball perspective. Being that the ultimate goal of winning a championship is more important than an early November Giannis/Kawhi matchup. But the casual NBA fan doesn't. That fan, who has kids with Kawhi Leonard jersey's and posters all over his wall, who possibly just spent hundreds, maybe thousands on tickets to see this. It's complete BS, especially this early in the year. 2nd time in 8 games.

from a business perspective. If I spend a ton of money with ESPN, TNT, or local TV during this game, only to find out he's sitting out, which affects viewerships and ratings, I'm livid. There several different ways that makes this ridiculous. It's not like the dude is 34 with his knees filling up with fluid. I'm glad Doris Burke spoke out on this without toeing the company line.

then the casual fan needs to get it and dad needs to explain it. basketball players may not play 82 games maybe only 60. pitchers dont get 500 innings anymore. maybe 200. these guys make 30-40-50 million dollars a year to win championships and career longevity is a HUUUUGE concern. kawhi gets hurt or ends his career then that kid doesn't want to come to ANY games.

bottom line is the dad needs to teach the kid and tell him not to throw a **** fit. go root for shamet and the other young guys and talk up how exciting its going to be in april and may for years to come

Who said any kid is throwing a fit? They are probably bummed as hell! And their dad is even more bummed for their kid.

I would love you as one of my customers. Hey Man, I know we talked about buying this product. But, it's not really available this week. It's not that I don't have it to give you, I just don't really feel like giving it to you today, I'm kind of tired. So can I just give you the knock off version for the same price??

No? That upsets you? You want a discount now? Wow, who raised you? Quit your BITCHING and stop throwing a **** fit!


Spare me the tough guy, life isn't fair approach. Like I said, it's not like he's injured or old and banged up. This is bad for the league and there isn't any argument that justifies that it isn't.

[DingleJerry]

But you know this going when you buy the product as a risk. When I bought UW at OSU tickets I knew a risk is that it would be bad weather. you buy a sports ticket knowing that a player could be injured, resting, wife having a baby, etc.

[jerrod]

I'm perfectly happy with Kawhi missing this game. I'll take any advantage we can get, i don't want a fair fight!

Also, i don't want a shorter season, i don't want fewer games to watch. Plus, in this specific case, i think we can all be sure that if the season was 60 games next year Kawhi would still be managing his load all over the league.

[BuckFan25226]

But you know this going when you buy the product as a risk. When I bought UW at OSU tickets I knew a risk is that it would be bad weather. you buy a sports ticket knowing that a player could be injured, resting, wife having a baby, etc.

I agree. This is always a risk with injuries, but this is apples and oranges.

Unfortunately, this is the new reality now. Which will undoubtedly hurt the league financially.


Look at this from back in Septemeber...

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/clippers-say-kawhi-leonards-load-management-wont-be-as-strict-as-it-was-with-toronto-per-report/

This is such a hard thing to manage. If you truly enforce no load management. Players will have to start faking injuries instead.

[trwi7]

i think we can all be sure that if the season was 60 games next year Kawhi would still be managing his load all over the league.

He's back, folks.

[M-C-G]

It’s simple, only allow load management on away games.

The league probably prefers if you load management, do it at home. If Giannis sits for a home game, attendance is still good even against a team like Memphis. If Giannis sits IN Memphis, attendance would suck and fans that bought a ticket to see Giannis would be pissed.

[DingleJerry]

But you know this going when you buy the product as a risk. When I bought UW at OSU tickets I knew a risk is that it would be bad weather. you buy a sports ticket knowing that a player could be injured, resting, wife having a baby, etc.

I agree. This is always a risk with injuries, but this is apples and oranges.

Unfortunately, this is the new reality now. Which will undoubtedly hurt the league financially.


Look at this from back in Septemeber...

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/clippers-say-kawhi-leonards-load-management-wont-be-as-strict-as-it-was-with-toronto-per-report/

This is such a hard thing to manage. If you truly enforce no load management. Players will have to start faking injuries instead.

No its not. When talking about it from the ticket buying product perspective as was brought up here, everyone knows this going when you buy the product. Injuries, illness, rest, wife having baby, etc. It's not a bait and switch as was implied. Everyone knows this now.

[KidA24]

It’s simple, only allow load management on away games.

The league probably prefers if you load management, do it at home. If Giannis sits for a home game, attendance is still good even against a team like Memphis. If Giannis sits IN Memphis, attendance would suck and fans that bought a ticket to see Giannis would be pissed.

If I'm a team, I want my best player playing at home, rewarding the home town fans.

[chonestown]

Meh, Jordan played all 82, averaging 37 minutes in his final season at age 39.

Conversely, Jordan wore size circus tent stonewashed denim and sported a Hitler mustache because he found it dashing.