Adam Silver talks load management, calls out Spurs executive

[dhsilv2]

Would it help if they made all contracts a percentage base pay and made the rest of it commensurate to how many games in an 82-game schedule they played?

I'm sure there are ways to work around workarounds as well (e.g. 20-minute minimum or something like that).

So then anytime a bench player doesn't get in a game for normal reasons they get hit?

And at the end of the day, players get 50% of total basketball revenue. I doubt this would change salary beyond just taking money from guys with legit injuries.

[old skool]

In an earlier era, top players like Kareem, Wilt, Jordan and Malone routinely played heavy minutes for 80 games - the NBA'S marathon RS.

Today stars don't complete that RS marathon. They sit out games on whims, "needing" rest that the above mentioned stars proved was not needed to perform at an elite level. Were Kareem, Wilt, Jordan and Malone that much better conditioned athletes than Lebron?

At age 39, Jordan played an entire 82 game season, averaging over 37 mpg. Last week a newly drafted rookie sat out the second Summer League game for "rest". I think the current players look mentally and physically soft compared to their predecessors.

Ja Morant boasts that he would cook Michael Jordan. The reality, is that Morant can't even play 80 games in a season. Its hard to "cook" somebody from the bench.

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[ElectricMayhem]

Would it help if they made all contracts a percentage base pay and made the rest of it commensurate to how many games in an 82-game schedule they played?

I'm sure there are ways to work around workarounds as well (e.g. 20-minute minimum or something like that).

So then anytime a bench player doesn't get in a game for normal reasons they get hit?

And at the end of the day, players get 50% of total basketball revenue. I doubt this would change salary beyond just taking money from guys with legit injuries.

Don't blame me for half-baked ideas when I'm 6 ume-shuus in.

[lonzo_pelota]

the clippers have been carrying the load management torch ever since Kawhi signed and he still suffered a catastrophic injury , which essentially says load management might not actually work.

I still am fond of the load management of the 90s and 2000s , u blow ur opponent out and rest the 3rd or 4th quarters or if your a real superstar u take it easy by sitting out practice .

[dhsilv2]

the clippers have been carrying the load management torch ever since Kawhi signed and he still suffered a catastrophic injury , which essentially says load management might not actually work.

I still am fond of the load management of the 90s and 2000s , u blow ur opponent out and rest the 3rd or 4th quarters or if your a real superstar u take it easy by sitting out practice .

Leonard has serious issues and load management is designed to hopefully get him 2-3 more healthy playoff runs before he's retired!

[SkyHookFTW]

MLB showed everyone the way when they started load managing pitchers during games. There hasn't been a starting pitcher with double digit complete games since Randy Johnson back in 1999. Steve Carlton has 30 complete games in 1972; all of MLB has 45 in 2019.

[Blame Rasho]

At least the Spurs were always honest about it and said they needed the rest so 'fine us'.

None of these fake injuries that most other teams have stated.

Funny the spurs started this after manu got hurt in the last game of the season and pop saw why should we go all out all the time

Oh and then there was the 2013 heat game.

It was the Spurs' fourth game in five days and the final stop of a six-city, eight-day road trip.

While the heat had 4 damn days off before the game.

You talk about a scheduled loss… that was one that was designed.

Funny enough pop coached a hell of a game and almost won that game. 105 to 100.

[Ruma85]

Would it help if they made all contracts a percentage base pay and made the rest of it commensurate to how many games in an 82-game schedule they played?

I'm sure there are ways to work around workarounds as well (e.g. 20-minute minimum or something like that).

This is actually not a bad idea.

[Blame Rasho]

Read on Twitter

?s=21&t=I_0f-5m4tWYUNbjEvoFUWw

He's not wrong.

I remember the time this started when Pop didn't play Duncan, Parker, Manu or Danny Green in a nationally televised game against the Heatles back in 2012. Not just that, but Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Green weren't even in the building. They were already on a plane back to San Antonio. The NBA was livid.

The starless Spurs played well but that's not the point. Ticket prices are high and the fans expect to see stars at those prices.

It was the Spurs' fourth game in five days and the final stop of a six-city, eight-day road trip. While the heat had 4 damn days off before the game but yeah let’s hate on the spurs instead of the nba. It is pretty funny how people miss this key fact.

[Lockdown504090]

the game is really physically taxing now with all the ground players have to cover, and the extra cutting and faster movements. Also, teams collectively decided that they dont want any more patrick ewings where they guy can barely get out of bed and is underperforming because he needed a rest last month and didnt get it.

wanna get rid of load management? chill on the illegal screens, uncalled offensive fouls, and flopping that make defense the most difficult it has been in the history of the sport at any level of play.

[CallMeKahn]

Come back to me when the league isn't doing four games in five nights on a roadie that's covering 6000 miles. That will wear on any one (doesn't matter how much of an athlete) and creates unnecessary injury risks and wear. Teams and, in particular, coaches have every right to look out for their players they rely on to get them to the post season.

When the league can address its sometimes sh*tty scheduling, then we can talk.

[celtxman]

Adam has been showing his real vision & objectives more and more lately (the Gambling lobbys hold on the NBA, etc) and its not in line at all with what I have in mind- nor am I impressed.

Being proactive with the health of players as a response to the leagues schedule is nothing to publically shame others for, even if theres a perceived short term impact on profit.

It looks like the NBA is still doing pretty **** great financially, despite the beginning of load management, which is a reaction to a schedule littered with back to backs and unnecessary travel coast to coast.

ESPECIALLY when the NBA as a league is set to implement 60 games or less in the next decade. That reflects reality and truth in what RC Burford was thinking over a decade ago: along with many other players, health support staff and organizational management.

Come back and talk to me when "Adam" has a clue about player empowerment (entitlement?) He has no backbone

[antonac]

I absolutely hate that they try and micro-manage franchises like this.

The best way to make teams play their best players is to have games mean more so losing them is detrimental, you can't have an 82 game season where more than 50% of the teams qualify for the part of the season that matters and then act shocked teams don't want to risk people they've invested quarter of a billion dollars into. I mean come on.

It's also so anti-winning. If a team thinks the best way to have a successful season is to sit someone then to demand they don't sit them turns the sport into an exhibition.

[Ruma85]

In an earlier era, top players like Kareem, Wilt, Jordan and Malone routinely played heavy minutes for 80 games - the NBA'S marathon RS.

Today stars don't complete that RS marathon. They sit out games on whims, "needing" rest that the above mentioned stars proved was not needed to perform at an elite level. Were Kareem, Wilt, Jordan and Malone that much better conditioned athletes than Lebron?

At age 39, Jordan played an entire 82 game season, averaging over 37 mpg. Last week a newly drafted rookie sat out the second Summer League game for "rest". I think the current players look mentally and physically soft compared to their predecessors.

Ja Morant boasts that he would cook Michael Jordan. The reality, is that Morant can't even play 80 games in a season. Its hard to "cook" somebody from the bench.

Sent from my SM-N960U using RealGM mobile app

I'm generally confused about the idea of rest, as a basketball player who you used to play 6 to 7 hours a day, 5 times a week plus plyometrics & gym on some days, i wouldn't.be exhausted, these guys don't pratice much during the season,have the best transport,food,therapist etc.

[Jkam31]

If one of the best most successful organization decides to rest player maybe instead of blaming them you take heed. The season is too long for the amount of specialization and off season training it now takes to be a top level NBA player. And quite frankly the vast majority of the fan base can't realistically consume the entire 82 +games a year of their on favorite team.

Lol play 70 games 60 games they’ll still sit gamers out

[lars_rosenberg]

Nothing wrong with load management tbh. I'd rather see a player miss a regular season game here and there than missing the playoffs because of an injury.
It happens in all sports and basketball is the only one where I see people complaining.
And btw you can't force anyone to play, it would be work abuse, so Silver should just shut up and if he's really worried about load management, just reduce the number of games, which he won't do because the league would lose money.
So accept load management and live with it, it's part of the game.

[Swish1906]

Eliminate b2b first or stfu

[BobbyPortisEyes]

Would it help if they made all contracts a percentage base pay and made the rest of it commensurate to how many games in an 82-game schedule they played?

I'm sure there are ways to work around workarounds as well (e.g. 20-minute minimum or something like that).

This seems like the only realistic solution but there are some problems. For example, let's say the Lakers are out of playoff contention.. why would they play Russell Westbrook if sitting him out saves the Lakers (and costs Westbrook) millions of dollars? What about end of the bench guys who play in like 10-15 games.. why wouldn't the team opt for 10-day contracts instead of playing these guys if it saves costs?

[druggas]

Silver is right to call out the Spurs for this.
Popovich and the Spurs are the ones who perfected this strategy along with tanking, two of the most frustrating and shameful strategies for NBA teams to adopt in my opinion.

Yeah because Robinson's broken foot and his back injury (that later shortened his career) was faked during that so called 'tanking' year.

Lakers fans...

Not faked, Robinson was held back from returning so that Popovich could tank for Duncan after he fired Bob Hill.
1994-1996, Bob Hill: 124 wins-58 losses

[tcheco]

I'm fine with rest in order to avoid injuries, no problem at all. If we get to see healthy star players in the playoffs more than injured ones, hell, sign me right up. Some people will miss their favorite player one game? Sad but it happens