Hood should be the priority

[Chris Craig]

I'll Kindly refer you to Olajuwon's Championship playoff numbers. Last I checked he was Human:

View attachment 26180
View attachment 26179

Hakeem was better than Nurk, Kanter and Aminu put together. Dude was superhuman as it was. You have those three guys fasting, it hurts a lot more than Hakeem. Didn't hurt Houston much at all.

But, we have to deal with that. Find ways around it. Playing Meyers is one of them, but he needs to be played right

 

[dviss1]

Hakeem was better than Nurk, Kanter and Aminu put together. Dude was superhuman as it was. You have those three guys fasting, it hurts a lot more than Hakeem. Didn't hurt Houston much at all.

But, we have to deal with that. Find ways around it. Playing Meyers is one of them, but he needs to be played right

None of that means they can't do it.

Edit: Kanter is not healthy bro.

 

[Reep]

Nope. It's his faith. It's Ramadan that's why he can't play.

Trade all the Muslims!!

That's fine, we just need for ET to convert first.

I honestly thing is is blown out of proportion. Not eating or drinking during daylight is less than ideal, but I would imagine any struggles Aminu or Kanter are having have more to do with ability or injuries than diet.

 

[Minstrel]

For me, the priority is:

1. Hood
2. Curry
3. Kanter

I'm firmly of the belief that wings and guards who can both shoot and play defense are the coin of the realm nowadays. Hood and Curry are the types of players Olshey thought he was getting in Crabbe and Turner--useful two-way perimeter players. Portland needs more of those types of those players, even if Simons pans out long-term.

Kanter is a solid player, but with Nurkic back eventually, I don't think the team needs two "big" centers. I'd rather they try to find small ball centers to back up Nurkic. Collins can operate in that role, potentially in addition to playing some power forward alongside Nurkic.

 

[Reep]

For me, the priority is:

1. Hood
2. Curry
3. Kanter

I'm firmly of the belief that wings and guards who can both shoot and play defense are the coin of the realm nowadays. Hood and Curry are the types of players Olshey thought he was getting in Crabbe and Turner--useful two-way perimeter players. Portland needs more of those types of those players, even if Simons pans out long-term.

Kanter is a solid player, but with Nurkic back eventually, I don't think the team needs two "big" centers. I'd rather they try to find small ball centers to back up Nurkic. Collins can operate in that role, potentially in addition to playing some power forward alongside Nurkic.

I wouldn't disagree with that, and also believe Hood is the most likely to take a home team discount. He seems to really appreciate the opportunity he has been given and seems to like the team/coach/city. His versatility to fill in (well) at SG or SF is also really nice.

 

[illmatic99]

I said I wouldn't have three guys who were fasting for the entire month of May every year.

Can you honestly say that Chief and Kanter are contributing anywhere near their normal levels in the past 4 games or so? Fasting for spiritual reasons is fine. Expecting that it isn't going to have an impact on sports performance, particularly at the end of a 12 hour fast that includes no water? Sorry, but the human body can't just power through that without performance degrading. You complain about Leonard getting minutes? That's the price of Kanter not being up to full strength at the end of the game.

There is just so much ignorance in this post I don't even know where to start.

 

[dviss1]

That's fine, we just need for ET to convert first.

I honestly thing is is blown out of proportion. Not eating or drinking during daylight is less than ideal, but I would imagine any struggles Aminu or Kanter are having have more to do with ability or injuries than diet.

I love that you got the joke.

 

[illmatic99]

There has been NO talk of Aminu fasting. None. You don't know that he's practicing his faith. You are only assuming.

This is the problem.

It's blind ignorance. Kanter is the only one fasting, and the only reason we even know about it is because he mentioned it and ESPN jumped on the narrative. His performance is declining because of the competition and the consistent wear he's putting on his already hurt shoulder. He is getting plenty of calories and hydration before the day starts and is breaking his fast during games. And if the power of prayer and meditation has shown anything, it usually makes a mind sharper and more disciplined. Justifying Kanter's decline in this series by saying it's solely due to his fast is a ridiculous claim. And then taking it further to distance the team from all Muslims because he think Ramadan is always during playoff time (newsflash, it isn't) is even worse. That is one of the dumbest posts I've seen here.

 

[e_blazer]

There is just so much ignorance in this post I don't even know where to start.

Well, golly, how is a rube like me ever going to see the light unless you share your knowledge?

 

[illmatic99]

Well, golly, how is a rube like me ever going to see the light unless you share your knowledge?

Rube is absolutely right. Be better.

 

[dviss1]

Well, golly, how is a rube like me ever going to see the light unless you share your knowledge?

"
Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location.
As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycle of the moon."

 

[illmatic99]

"
Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location.
As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycle of the moon."

Guess it's OK for us to have Muslims after 2023. smh. Ramadan won't be during playoff time. Until then, stay away.

 

[e_blazer]

Rube is absolutely right. Be better.

Okay, so I did a little research and found that Ramadan moves back by 11 days each year due to the lunar cycle not matching the Gregorian calendar. That’s good information that you could have shared without the snark. Probably that explains Olajuwon’s performance during his finals runs. They didn’t occur during Ramadan.

The food fast likely has little impact on performance, but not drinking liquids during periods of high energy use, with accompanying sweat loss, no way that doesn’t impact a player’s game.

 

[illmatic99]

Okay, so I did a little research and found that Ramadan moves back by 11 days each year due to the lunar cycle not matching the Gregorian calendar. That’s good information that you could have shared without the snark. Probably that explains Olajuwon’s performance during his finals runs. They didn’t occur during Ramadan.

The food fast likely has little impact on performance, but not drinking liquids during periods of high energy use, with accompanying sweat loss, no way that doesn’t impact a player’s game.

That wasn't the only ignorant part of your post. You ASSUME Aminu and Nurk are also fasting, and are correlating Kanter's performance to the fast, while ignoring the more obvious reasons for it. The biggest trigger for me was your idea that we should avoid these guys altogether. And that's not words in your mouth-- you said it. "I said I wouldn't have three guys who were fasting for the entire month of May every year. "

 

[e_blazer]

I assumed nothing. I watched the video that dviss1 posted. Both Nurk and Chief said they observe Ramadan.

My point that having three guys who are main rotation players all fasting at the same time isn’t viable for an NBA franchise, I stand by that unless you can provide medical support that lack of fluids doesn’t affect the human body.

 

[e_blazer]

I think here's probably a little bit of context to add

to start with, he was Hakeem and we're talking about Kanter (injured) and Aminu. Hakeem was about 4 tiers above. A less than optimal Hakeem was still about the best player in the league

secondly, I'd need to know how many of those games started after dark. Houston is 2 hours ahead and they were on TV schedules, even back then.

Ramadan was in February in 1994 and 1995, so it wasn’t a factor in the playoffs for Olajuwon.

 

[wizenheimer]

Ramadan was in February in 1994 and 1995, so it wasn’t a factor in the playoffs for Olajuwon.

good to know, and it certainly would indicate that Hakeem's performance 25 years ago isn't relevant to what's happening now

 

[dviss1]

Guess it's OK for us to have Muslims after 2023. smh. Ramadan won't be during playoff time. Until then, stay away.

Excellent post bro. Really.

 

[dviss1]

Ramadan was in February in 1994 and 1995, so it wasn’t a factor in the playoffs for Olajuwon.

I just learned something new about Ramadan.

 

[wizenheimer]

That wasn't the only ignorant part of your post. You ASSUME Aminu and Nurk are also fasting, and are correlating Kanter's performance to the fast, while ignoring the more obvious reasons for it. The biggest trigger for me was your idea that we should avoid these guys altogether. And that's not words in your mouth-- you said it. "I said I wouldn't have three guys who were fasting for the entire month of May every year. "

maybe it was some in-artful language, but I sure don't see that it isn't a relevant discussion. Being concerned about the idea of having 3 rotation players, including two starters, fasting during the playoffs, including going without hydration isn't anti-religion IMO. I mean, they could be 7th Day Adventists and refuse to play on Saturdays. That' would be an issue to consider as well

 

[illmatic99]

maybe it was some in-artful language, but I sure don't see that it isn't a relevant discussion. Being concerned about the idea of having 3 rotation players, including two starters, fasting during the playoffs, including going without hydration isn't anti-religion IMO. I mean, they could be 7th Day Adventists and refuse to play on Saturdays. That' would be an issue to consider as well

Don't really wanna go down this path already to derail this thread further, but I'll admit my post was probably harsh.

While they might be at a disadvantage physically, each and every person in that video mentioned how much stronger they are mentally as a result of the fast.

 

[wizenheimer]

just as an ancillary observation, I think somebody should clearly demonstrate and establish their racism or intolerance before being accused of those transgressions. Too often the indictment and conviction happen with very little evidence

 

[wizenheimer]

Don't really wanna go down this path already to derail this thread further, but I'll admit my post was probably harsh.

While they might be at a disadvantage physically, each and every person in that video mentioned how much stronger they are mentally as a result of the fast.

maybe the nutrition aspect can be overcome; but for basketball, I think the lack of hydration is a killer. You just can't be optimal when you're dehydrated.

 

[illmatic99]

maybe the nutrition aspect can be overcome; but for basketball, I think the lack of hydration is a killer. You just can't be optimal when you're dehydrated.

Regardless, I'll stick to my guns on this one that this whole thing is overblown. And it definitely should not matter in our player personnel decisions.

Why does no one ever bring up Kareem or Shaq when this discussion comes up? It's always just Hakeem.

 

[dviss1]

That wasn't the only ignorant part of your post. You ASSUME Aminu and Nurk are also fasting,

This was my fault. Truly. I suggested they may be and posted this:

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/4744105/

 

[dviss1]

Regardless, I'll stick to my guns on this one that this whole thing is overblown. And it definitely should not matter in our player personnel decisions.

Why does no one ever bring up Kareem or Shaq when this discussion comes up? It's always just Hakeem.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Way too big of a deal is being made of fasting. Try it sometime. It is not that bad.

 

[e_blazer]

Way too big of a deal is being made of fasting. Try it sometime. It is not that bad.

I’ve fasted, but not without liquids. I don’t see that going without food for a half a day is anything that’s going to seriously impact sports performance. Going without liquid intake while losing buckets of sweat? Different story.

 

[wizenheimer]

Regardless, I'll stick to my guns on this one that this whole thing is overblown. And it definitely should not matter in our player personnel decisions.

Why does no one ever bring up Kareem or Shaq when this discussion comes up? It's always just Hakeem.

I'm really not trying to be combative yuyuza, but I'm not sure what 'guns' it is you're sticking too...?

today, daylight lasts 15 hours. Do you really believe somebody expressing concern about 3 rotation players, including 2 starters, going without food and water for 15 hours a day during the playoffs is an 'overblown' concern?

can we at least agree that it wasn't some form of religious intolerance, or at least not established by the post you objected to?

it really might be helpful to have some data on this but it looks like an inconclusive landscape:


"Design
Two Algerian professional soccer teams (55 men) were studied. Field tests of physical and soccer performance were collected before, at the end and 2 weeks after Ramadan in 2004. Players were queried on sleeping habits and personal perception of training and match performance.

Setting
Field setting at club training ground.

Main outcome measures
Performance on fitness and skill tests.

Results
Performance declined significantly (p<0.05) for speed, agility, dribbling speed and endurance, and most stayed low after the conclusion of Ramadan. Nearly 70% of the players thought that their training and performance were adversely affected during the fast."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2465333/

another:

"The absence of fluid intake in the day
may have a greater impact on performance than the absence of food, especially
when training and competition take place in thermally stressful environments.
Even mild dehydration may have adverse effects on a number of physiological and
cognitive functions that are important components of performance. Collectively,
these changes may cause perturbations that alter the physiological responses to
exercise, which may have detrimental effects on sports performance.
............................................
It is well established that hypohydration can reduce physical performance. A
recent review of the literature concluded that, in warm-to-hot weather, dehydration
by 2% or more of BM will impair the performance of aerobic exercise, and may
also degrade mental/cognitive function. In addition, mild-to-moderate levels of
hypohydration produce small but significant decrements in high-intensity exercise "

https://www.researchgate.net/public...g_on_Sports_Performance_and_Training_A_Review

that one's an insanely long read that made my eyes glaze over about 13% thru it

main thing is that logically, we just about have to assume it limits performance. That at least makes it worthy of discussion and consideration

the other side of it may be that you just have to assign priorities, individually and as an organization. And perhaps, at a certain point, treating people right trumps winning a damn basketball game

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

@wizenheimer , that is for soccer though. According to this article, typically a soccer player runs three times as much during a game. You never see a back to back in soccer because of it.

https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20805366/the-distance-run-per-game-in-various-sports/