Michael Jordan: Load Management Shouldn't Be Needed

[RealGM Wiretap]

Michael Jordan commented on the current widespread practice of load management by NBA teams and players during his second installment of "MJ: Insights to Excellence" on NBC. The NBA has responded to its load management issues by requiring players appear in at least 65 games per season to be eligible for regular season awards.

"Well, it shouldn't be needed, first and foremost," Jordan said. "You know, I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove. It was something that I felt like the fans are there that watch me play. I want to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his [butt] off to get a ticket or to get money to buy the ticket."

Jordan said that even applied to fans from the opposing team.

"Yeah, because I know he's probably yelling at me and I want to shut him up," Jordan said. "You know, he's calling me all kinds of names. I definitely want to shut him up. ... You have a duty that if they're wanting to see you, and as an entertainer, I want to show. Right?"

Jordan played in at least 78 games in 12 of his 15 seasons. 

Via RealGM Staff Report

[the_process]

The game was much slower and more physical in the 90s. I don't need my guys running 82 half marathons like they do now.

There's only so many minutes in every pair of legs.

Also, do not let Embiid hear this. He absolutely needs load management.

[Roy T]

The game was much slower and more physical in the 90s. I don't need my guys running 82 half marathons like they do now.

There's only so many minutes in every pair of legs.

Also, do not let Embiid hear this. He absolutely needs load management.

Embiid would of been out of the league after his rookie extension without load management for sure.

[KYfan]

So tell me without telling me that the League is soft.

[dubbmotta]

The game was much slower and more physical in the 90s. I don't need my guys running 82 half marathons like they do now.

There's only so many minutes in every pair of legs.

Also, do not let Embiid hear this. He absolutely needs load management.

Then teams need to develop talent and use their bench like the 80s and 90s. OKC and the Pacers went deep into the bench last year and that's why they made the finals.

[Pickled Prunes]

The game was much slower and more physical in the 90s. I don't need my guys running 82 half marathons like they do now.

There's only so many minutes in every pair of legs.

Also, do not let Embiid hear this. He absolutely needs load management.

Then teams need to develop talent and use their bench like the 80s and 90s. OKC and the Pacers went deep into the bench last year and that's why they made the finals.

100%. In 2014 the Spurs won the title. They didn't have a single player average <30 MPG. When the game is in hand (or out of hand) your starters get rest. The only reason to sit them the entire game is to boost their counting stats. It's about ego, not necessity.

Of course there are players like Embiid that will need days off. But lack of depth combined with players that take games off is why PHI has MPG leaders 1, 2 and 4. Somebody else will get hurt if they can't balance the workload.

[the_process]

The game was much slower and more physical in the 90s. I don't need my guys running 82 half marathons like they do now.

There's only so many minutes in every pair of legs.

Also, do not let Embiid hear this. He absolutely needs load management.

Then teams need to develop talent and use their bench like the 80s and 90s. OKC and the Pacers went deep into the bench last year and that's why they made the finals.

100%. In 2014 the Spurs won the title. They didn't have a single player average <30 MPG. When the game is in hand (or out of hand) your starters get rest. The only reason to sit them the entire game is to boost their counting stats. It's about ego, not necessity.

Of course there are players like Embiid that will need days off. But lack of depth combined with players that take games off is why PHI has MPG leaders 1, 2 and 4. Somebody else will get hurt if they can't balance the workload.

No the reason for the workload is Nick Nurse, who is the new Thibs. They have enough depth not to grind Maxey and Edgecombe into oblivion. Nurse just chooses to do it anyway.

[Cassius]

Then teams need to develop talent and use their bench like the 80s and 90s. OKC and the Pacers went deep into the bench last year and that's why they made the finals.

100%. In 2014 the Spurs won the title. They didn't have a single player average <30 MPG. When the game is in hand (or out of hand) your starters get rest. The only reason to sit them the entire game is to boost their counting stats. It's about ego, not necessity.

Of course there are players like Embiid that will need days off. But lack of depth combined with players that take games off is why PHI has MPG leaders 1, 2 and 4. Somebody else will get hurt if they can't balance the workload.

No the reason for the workload is Nick Nurse, who is the new Thibs. They have enough depth not to grind Maxey and Edgecombe into oblivion. Nurse just chooses to do it anyway.

His book should have been "how to win anywhere: treat your players like bots a la Morey... who cares about health when you're coaching in the British B-League"

[Rek]

The game was much slower and more physical in the 90s. I don't need my guys running 82 half marathons like they do now.

There's only so many minutes in every pair of legs.

Also, do not let Embiid hear this. He absolutely needs load management.

Then teams need to develop talent and use their bench like the 80s and 90s. OKC and the Pacers went deep into the bench last year and that's why they made the finals.

100%. In 2014 the Spurs won the title. They didn't have a single player average <30 MPG. When the game is in hand (or out of hand) your starters get rest. The only reason to sit them the entire game is to boost their counting stats. It's about ego, not necessity.

Of course there are players like Embiid that will need days off. But lack of depth combined with players that take games off is why PHI has MPG leaders 1, 2 and 4. Somebody else will get hurt if they can't balance the workload.

Spot on - both of you

[Nate the Great]

Sure, Grampa Mike, and in your day, you walked ten miles to school, barefoot, uphill both ways.

[alienpick]

The game was much slower and more physical in the 90s. I don't need my guys running 82 half marathons like they do now.

There's only so many minutes in every pair of legs.

Also, do not let Embiid hear this. He absolutely needs load management.

".. or maybe, you're just making excuses." - MJ

[Pickled Prunes]

Then teams need to develop talent and use their bench like the 80s and 90s. OKC and the Pacers went deep into the bench last year and that's why they made the finals.

100%. In 2014 the Spurs won the title. They didn't have a single player average <30 MPG. When the game is in hand (or out of hand) your starters get rest. The only reason to sit them the entire game is to boost their counting stats. It's about ego, not necessity.

Of course there are players like Embiid that will need days off. But lack of depth combined with players that take games off is why PHI has MPG leaders 1, 2 and 4. Somebody else will get hurt if they can't balance the workload.

No the reason for the workload is Nick Nurse, who is the new Thibs. They have enough depth not to grind Maxey and Edgecombe into oblivion. Nurse just chooses to do it anyway.

PHI has had 19 five-man lineups with a positive +/-... Maxey was part of 16 of them. The other three combined for a total of 9.4 minutes and each outscored their opponent by 2 pts. PHI has outscored their opponents by a total of 22 pts. Maxey's +/- is +23. He's the only PHI player to have a positive +/- in every game this season. They don't have a replacement for him on this roster.

[NUMBERICA]

I’m really sick of this ****.

Players were mostly stationary and shot steroids like crazy in the 90’s. Of course no one ever got hurt.

The game is so much more active now that it’s like a different sport.

[the_process]

100%. In 2014 the Spurs won the title. They didn't have a single player average <30 MPG. When the game is in hand (or out of hand) your starters get rest. The only reason to sit them the entire game is to boost their counting stats. It's about ego, not necessity.

Of course there are players like Embiid that will need days off. But lack of depth combined with players that take games off is why PHI has MPG leaders 1, 2 and 4. Somebody else will get hurt if they can't balance the workload.

No the reason for the workload is Nick Nurse, who is the new Thibs. They have enough depth not to grind Maxey and Edgecombe into oblivion. Nurse just chooses to do it anyway.

PHI has had 19 five-man lineups with a positive +/-... Maxey was part of 16 of them. The other three combined for a total of 9.4 minutes and each outscored their opponent by 2 pts. PHI has outscored their opponents by a total of 22 pts. Maxey's +/- is +23. He's the only PHI player to have a positive +/- in every game this season. They don't have a replacement for him on this roster.

They can survive for 10-12 mins, as evidenced by your own numbers. And that's the point.

[cfour6]

People really out here justifying load management lol. What a joke. Tell that to Allen Iverson.

[Pickled Prunes]

No the reason for the workload is Nick Nurse, who is the new Thibs. They have enough depth not to grind Maxey and Edgecombe into oblivion. Nurse just chooses to do it anyway.

PHI has had 19 five-man lineups with a positive +/-... Maxey was part of 16 of them. The other three combined for a total of 9.4 minutes and each outscored their opponent by 2 pts. PHI has outscored their opponents by a total of 22 pts. Maxey's +/- is +23. He's the only PHI player to have a positive +/- in every game this season. They don't have a replacement for him on this roster.

They can survive for 10-12 mins, as evidenced by your own numbers. And that's the point.

Maxey is averaging 43 MPG. My numbers say that PHI has broken even in the 6.25 MPG that Maxey has not been on the floor. And that is against four teams with a combined 6-12 (.333) record. Give it time, it will get ugly.

Loving VJ though!