Bridges Calls Thibs Out For High MPG

[Ruma85]

I know I'm likely getting trolled, but I can't resist.

You simply are saying they run more. The 90s were far more physical.

I have no idea where this graph comes from, its methodology, or how reliable of a source it is (the numbers should be pretty accurate for recent years, but I've no idea how they would determine this for the 1980 season when I'm not even sure there is game footage available for every game back then), but let's assume it's true and break the numbers down a bit...

The graph shows that roughly 200 more miles are covered over an 82-game span now than in 1980.
To break that down per game, we divide 200 by 82, and we get 2.44 additional miles per game.
But of course each game is played by 10 players, not 1. So when we distribute the additional miles per player, we get about .244 additional miles for each player. Now that we are into fractions, let's convert to meters to make it easier.
1 mile is roughly 1,609 meters, so .244 miles is about 392.6 meters.
But of course players don't play a full 48 minutes, there are subs. Bridges, for example, only plays about 75% of each game on average.
And if we take the 392.6 meters and multiply by 0.75, we see that a player like Bridges is moving an additional 295 meters per game than a player from 1980 that played the same minutes.
According to this article, that's about 1-minute of sprinting for a male in good shape: https://www.weekand.com/healthy-living/article/average-time-male-run-300-meters-18058607.php
Feel free to check my math, as it's late, but I'm pretty sure I did that right.

So 1-minute of extra sprinting per game, not insignificant by any means, but we also have to factor in that high-end starters like Bridges would probably be playing more minutes in previous eras, so the difference is likely less in actuality.
Plus modern NBA players get private jets instead of flying commercial (or buses way back in the day), they don't have the grueling schedule players in the past had to deal with (games on three consecutive nights sometimes back in 1980, but even up until recently five games in 7 nights was not uncommon), and of course all the advanced training and breakthroughs in diet that fans of the modern game remind us about regularly, which should be helping players recover and stay healthier and fresher for games.
Plus, there was literally no such thing as a flagrant foul in 1980, so I do think the game was rougher as players weren't as protected as they are now, not to say the game isn't more physical in other ways now (offensive players are allowed to initiate much more contact now than they were in 1980, for example).

Not really taking a side here, I just thought it'd be interesting to see how the numbers break down.
Personally, I think what Thib's does with minutes is fine, but all of his starters should get like 4-5 rest days per year imo to help their body recover. I think that would likely have more benefit than a couple less minutes a game, but I'm not an expert on the human body and physiology so maybe I'm off base on that one.

I will just like to add, there is game footage of every game from 80's.

[-Luke-]

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result"
Thibs: "Sounds like a plan!"

Look over the Knicks history before Tom Thibodeau turned things around. Oh, how people forget.

Non All-Star Mikal Bridges has an issue? Okay!



Sent from my SM-S928U1 using RealGM mobile app

Forget what? This thread isn't about the history of the Knicks or the success in the last years compared to the Fisher/Hornacek/Fizdale/Phil "era".

[Handlez]

I know I'm likely getting trolled, but I can't resist.

You simply are saying they run more. The 90s were far more physical.

I have no idea where this graph comes from, its methodology, or how reliable of a source it is (the numbers should be pretty accurate for recent years, but I've no idea how they would determine this for the 1980 season when I'm not even sure there is game footage available for every game back then), but let's assume it's true and break the numbers down a bit...

The graph shows that roughly 200 more miles are covered over an 82-game span now than in 1980.
To break that down per game, we divide 200 by 82, and we get 2.44 additional miles per game.
But of course each game is played by 10 players, not 1. So when we distribute the additional miles per player, we get about .244 additional miles for each player. Now that we are into fractions, let's convert to meters to make it easier.
1 mile is roughly 1,609 meters, so .244 miles is about 392.6 meters.
But of course players don't play a full 48 minutes, there are subs. Bridges, for example, only plays about 75% of each game on average.
And if we take the 392.6 meters and multiply by 0.75, we see that a player like Bridges is moving an additional 295 meters per game than a player from 1980 that played the same minutes.
According to this article, that's about 1-minute of sprinting for a male in good shape: https://www.weekand.com/healthy-living/article/average-time-male-run-300-meters-18058607.php
Feel free to check my math, as it's late, but I'm pretty sure I did that right.

So 1-minute of extra sprinting per game, not insignificant by any means, but we also have to factor in that high-end starters like Bridges would probably be playing more minutes in previous eras, so the difference is likely less in actuality.
Plus modern NBA players get private jets instead of flying commercial (or buses way back in the day), they don't have the grueling schedule players in the past had to deal with (games on three consecutive nights sometimes back in 1980, but even up until recently five games in 7 nights was not uncommon), and of course all the advanced training and breakthroughs in diet that fans of the modern game remind us about regularly, which should be helping players recover and stay healthier and fresher for games.
Plus, there was literally no such thing as a flagrant foul in 1980, so I do think the game was rougher as players weren't as protected as they are now, not to say the game isn't more physical in other ways now (offensive players are allowed to initiate much more contact now than they were in 1980, for example).

Not really taking a side here, I just thought it'd be interesting to see how the numbers break down.
Personally, I think what Thib's does with minutes is fine, but all of his starters should get like 4-5 rest days per year imo to help their body recover. I think that would likely have more benefit than a couple less minutes a game, but I'm not an expert on the human body and physiology so maybe I'm off base on that one.

Good breakdown.

[hauntedcomputer]

Olajuwon, during his back to back titles, averaged 40 minutes a game and 42.5 during the playoffs lol.

Olajuwon AVERAGED 36 MINUTES A GAME OVER AN 18 YEAR CAREER.

Wilt average 48.5 playing every game one season. Averaged 45.8 for a career. Had one injury-shortened season but generally played them all. And nobody gives him all caps, only asterisks.

But it is kind of horrifying when Thibs keeps them in during blowouts. I like garbage time with scrubs running around like headless chickens trying to nab some stats and here are these guys trying not to get injured.

[DimesandKnicks]

OMG, how dare they have to play 36 out of 48 minutes!
Wilt says, today's players are soft.

Wilt dominated in an era where backing guys down Shaq style would be called an offensive foul

[DimesandKnicks]

This is what the JB Bickerstaff truthers said about the Cavs bench last year. But with a new coach who won’t yank around minutes or bench guys for missing 1-2 threes, all of a sudden Wade, Okoro, Merill, Niang, and Levert were able to play at a considerably higher level this season. Jerome being healthy obviously helped a ton, but we had 4 productive bench players that weren’t properly utilized last season with a budget Thibs type coach

Shrug. I had seen 4 of those 5 Cavs be productive NBA players, that’s not surprising. Knicks have what? Deuce, then you can barely count Mitchell since he just got back. What else? Precious is meh, as is Shamet.

Shamet has played 27.4 MPG in this league... You truly believe 11.8 MPG is all he can muster?

Payne has played 23.3 MPG in the NBA, he's really only good for 14.2 MPG this season?

Wright has played 30.8 MPG before, he can't get off the bench?

I have Knicks fans on the GB telling me Robinson can play 27 MPG again no problem...

Anyone telling you Robinson can play 27 minutes is an anomaly and Wright just got here.

But I do agree that guys like Shamet Precious Payne Deuce Mitch Huk before he got hurt is more than enough to keep all our starters under 35 minutes. Thumbs simply does a really weird job of staggering minutes. It’s weird watching Bridges play 40 minutes a game but him not really have the offense run through him with the second unit

[UcanUwill]

OMG, how dare they have to play 36 out of 48 minutes!
Wilt says, today's players are soft.

Ewing, a big lumbering center, averaged 36+ minutes 9 times while virtually playing every game.

Players don’t really practice anymore either. Playing 35 mpg 2-3x per week shouldn’t be a big deal.

This generation is ridiculous

Problem is, now, your opposition does not do that, so if you play a lot minutes, you just put yourself at a disadvantage late in season, and thats the fact.

I dont care how many minutes Wilt or Malone or Stockton played, in an era your opposition did the same and were equally banged up. But now thinking about it, maybe if those guys didnt do that, they wouldnt have choked in the play offs almost every single time, so yeah, great example realgm rofl...

[UcanUwill]

They don't make em like they used to.

Go look at Stockton and Malone's minutes while playing 82 virtually every year lol.

Look at all the titles they won by doing that.

[Handlez]

They don't make em like they used to.

Go look at Stockton and Malone's minutes while playing 82 virtually every year lol.

Look at all the titles they won by doing that.

They got beat by the GOAT two straight finals.

Would've happened to nearly every team in history.

No one was beating the Bulls at that time.

[UcanUwill]

They don't make em like they used to.

Go look at Stockton and Malone's minutes while playing 82 virtually every year lol.

Look at all the titles they won by doing that.

They got beat by the GOAT two straight finals.

Would've happened to nearly every team in history.

No one was beating the Bulls at that time.

Maybe it wouldn't have happened if they were fresh... As I said in previous post, its irrelevant how many minutes players in the past played, cause no one rested, no one was smart enough to rest their guys, so no one had disadvantage. If Jazz smarted up faster, maybe Malone would have a title, well he doesnt.

Problem with Bridges playing so much, is that his literal competition doesnt do the same anymore. Thibs literally sacrificing late season chances to win as much regular season games. Bridges probably wants to win a title, not game in March. Everyone who plays Stockton Malone minutes in 2025, put themselves in big disadvantage to win a title.

[druggas]

They don't make em like they used to.

Go look at Stockton and Malone's minutes while playing 82 virtually every year lol.

Look at all the titles they won by doing that.

Ridiculous post. You can do better.

[Handlez]

Look at all the titles they won by doing that.

They got beat by the GOAT two straight finals.

Would've happened to nearly every team in history.

No one was beating the Bulls at that time.

Maybe it wouldn't have happened if they were fresh... As I said in previous post, its irrelevant how many minutes players in the past played, cause no one rested, no one was smart enough to rest their guys, so no one had disadvantage. If Jazz smarted up faster, maybe Malone would have a title, well he doesnt.

Problem with Bridges playing so much, is that his literal competition doesnt do the same anymore. Thibs literally sacrificing late season chances to win as much regular season games. Bridges probably wants to win a title, not game in March. Everyone who plays Stockton Malone minutes in 2025, put themselves in big disadvantage to win a title.

It's irrelevant to you, but not to everyone.

They were tough. They were masculine. They got paid to play a game and they played it as much as possible for their own self respect and for the fans that paid their hard earned money to watch them play.

Much respect to those old school men that did their job and cared about the fans and their integrity.

And the Knicks ain't winning a title, regardless.

[UcanUwill]

They got beat by the GOAT two straight finals.

Would've happened to nearly every team in history.

No one was beating the Bulls at that time.

Maybe it wouldn't have happened if they were fresh... As I said in previous post, its irrelevant how many minutes players in the past played, cause no one rested, no one was smart enough to rest their guys, so no one had disadvantage. If Jazz smarted up faster, maybe Malone would have a title, well he doesnt.

Problem with Bridges playing so much, is that his literal competition doesnt do the same anymore. Thibs literally sacrificing late season chances to win as much regular season games. Bridges probably wants to win a title, not game in March. Everyone who plays Stockton Malone minutes in 2025, put themselves in big disadvantage to win a title.

It's irrelevant to you, but not to everyone.

They were tough. They were masculine. They got paid to play a game and they played it as much as possible for their own self respect and for the fans that paid their hard earned money to watch them play.

Much respect to those old school men that did their job and cared about the fans and their integrity.

And the Knicks ain't winning a title, regardless.

Are Jazz fans happier knowing they had the chance to see Malone and Stockton play every game, or would they be happier knowing they did what was best for postseason?

These, past players were tough posts are laugable to me. Players rest because that gives team best odds long term, teams simply learned and got smarter, but people like you confuse that for getting softer. Playing in every game 36+ minutes, especially in a league like this is simply not smart.

Knicks suppose to be contenders, but they wont be, cause their opposition will be in better physical condition come play off time.

[Blacksheep25]

This is the funniest thing about this Cavs season. Every time someone national tweets out a positive Cavs tweet, it’s full of Knicks and Celtics fans saying they are the Hawks team. Knicks fans are the worst. At least the Celtics fans have won a lot of ****.

Every comment is wait until the playoffs when they shorten rotations and every time I look Tatum is playing 41 minutes. Forget about the Knicks. Everyone plays too many minutes.

Both those teams are older than the Cavs and every starter with the exception of Horford who is kind of a quasi starter has played more minutes per game than any Cavs player. The fans act like the Cavs are the ones taking the regular season too serious and they don’t care about it and watch out for the playoffs.

Why are 2 Cavs resting every night and no one is playing more than 30mpg and your best players are already in playoff mode playing 40? The Knicks have been in playoff mode and minutes all year.

We were similar back when JBB coached. Now we are healthy and have a lot of gas in young tanks. Really hope we get the Knicks to bludgeon them. Won’t be arrogant about Celtics. They are good. The Knicks though are a joke this year.

[Handlez]

Maybe it wouldn't have happened if they were fresh... As I said in previous post, its irrelevant how many minutes players in the past played, cause no one rested, no one was smart enough to rest their guys, so no one had disadvantage. If Jazz smarted up faster, maybe Malone would have a title, well he doesnt.

Problem with Bridges playing so much, is that his literal competition doesnt do the same anymore. Thibs literally sacrificing late season chances to win as much regular season games. Bridges probably wants to win a title, not game in March. Everyone who plays Stockton Malone minutes in 2025, put themselves in big disadvantage to win a title.

It's irrelevant to you, but not to everyone.

They were tough. They were masculine. They got paid to play a game and they played it as much as possible for their own self respect and for the fans that paid their hard earned money to watch them play.

Much respect to those old school men that did their job and cared about the fans and their integrity.

And the Knicks ain't winning a title, regardless.

Are Jazz fans happier knowing they had the chance to see Malone and Stockton play every game, or would they be happier knowing they did what was best for postseason?

These, past players were tough posts are laugable to me. Players rest because that gives team best odds long term, teams simply learned and got smarter, but people like you confuse that for getting softer. Playing in every game 36+ minutes, especially in a league like this is simply not smart.

Knicks suppose to be contenders, but they wont be, cause their opposition will be in better physical condition come play off time.

The Knicks are not contenders, regardless. It'd take devastating injuries to Boston and Cavs for them to get out of the east. I even think the Bucks can beat them.

[UcanUwill]

It's irrelevant to you, but not to everyone.

They were tough. They were masculine. They got paid to play a game and they played it as much as possible for their own self respect and for the fans that paid their hard earned money to watch them play.

Much respect to those old school men that did their job and cared about the fans and their integrity.

And the Knicks ain't winning a title, regardless.

Are Jazz fans happier knowing they had the chance to see Malone and Stockton play every game, or would they be happier knowing they did what was best for postseason?

These, past players were tough posts are laugable to me. Players rest because that gives team best odds long term, teams simply learned and got smarter, but people like you confuse that for getting softer. Playing in every game 36+ minutes, especially in a league like this is simply not smart.

Knicks suppose to be contenders, but they wont be, cause their opposition will be in better physical condition come play off time.

The Knicks are not contenders, regardless. It'd take devastating injuries to Boston and Cavs for them to get out of the east. I even think the Bucks can beat them.

Well great, you determined they dont have a chance, so they should not even try to prep for play offs, and Bridges is wrong. Great, thanks.

[Black Jack]

Bridges is right to call this crap out. Thibs always does the same thing.

[JujitsuFlip]

Shrug. I had seen 4 of those 5 Cavs be productive NBA players, that’s not surprising. Knicks have what? Deuce, then you can barely count Mitchell since he just got back. What else? Precious is meh, as is Shamet.

Shamet has played 27.4 MPG in this league... You truly believe 11.8 MPG is all he can muster?

Payne has played 23.3 MPG in the NBA, he's really only good for 14.2 MPG this season?

Wright has played 30.8 MPG before, he can't get off the bench?

I have Knicks fans on the GB telling me Robinson can play 27 MPG again no problem...

Anyone telling you Robinson can play 27 minutes is an anomaly and Wright just got here.

But I do agree that guys like Shamet Precious Payne Deuce Mitch Huk before he got hurt is more than enough to keep all our starters under 35 minutes. Thumbs simply does a really weird job of staggering minutes. It’s weird watching Bridges play 40 minutes a game but him not really have the offense run through him with the second unit

There are Knicks fans on the GB who swear up and down Robinson will start and play 27+ MPG as soon as next month.

[Handlez]

Are Jazz fans happier knowing they had the chance to see Malone and Stockton play every game, or would they be happier knowing they did what was best for postseason?

These, past players were tough posts are laugable to me. Players rest because that gives team best odds long term, teams simply learned and got smarter, but people like you confuse that for getting softer. Playing in every game 36+ minutes, especially in a league like this is simply not smart.

Knicks suppose to be contenders, but they wont be, cause their opposition will be in better physical condition come play off time.

The Knicks are not contenders, regardless. It'd take devastating injuries to Boston and Cavs for them to get out of the east. I even think the Bucks can beat them.

Well great, you determined they dont have a chance, so they should not even try to prep for play offs, and Bridges is wrong. Great, thanks.

You determined they weren't contenders because a few of their guys play a few more minutes a game than you'd like.

So you're saying playing 4 extra minutes a game has doomed them.

[Myth]

Maybe it wouldn't have happened if they were fresh... As I said in previous post, its irrelevant how many minutes players in the past played, cause no one rested, no one was smart enough to rest their guys, so no one had disadvantage. If Jazz smarted up faster, maybe Malone would have a title, well he doesnt.

Problem with Bridges playing so much, is that his literal competition doesnt do the same anymore. Thibs literally sacrificing late season chances to win as much regular season games. Bridges probably wants to win a title, not game in March. Everyone who plays Stockton Malone minutes in 2025, put themselves in big disadvantage to win a title.

It's irrelevant to you, but not to everyone.

They were tough. They were masculine. They got paid to play a game and they played it as much as possible for their own self respect and for the fans that paid their hard earned money to watch them play.

Much respect to those old school men that did their job and cared about the fans and their integrity.

And the Knicks ain't winning a title, regardless.

Are Jazz fans happier knowing they had the chance to see Malone and Stockton play every game, or would they be happier knowing they did what was best for postseason?

These, past players were tough posts are laugable to me. Players rest because that gives team best odds long term, teams simply learned and got smarter, but people like you confuse that for getting softer. Playing in every game 36+ minutes, especially in a league like this is simply not smart.

Knicks suppose to be contenders, but they wont be, cause their opposition will be in better physical condition come play off time.

I never got the sense that Malone and Stockton were too banged up to perform to their expected levels in the playoffs (exception for old Lakers Malone) nor that their careers would have lasted longer if they had load managed. They were just top tier durable. Very few even have a case for more durability and longevity.