Rooting against the Nets tonight because...

[Ed O]

I don't like load management for players. I don't like it when a team basically bails on a game like Brooklyn (not New Jersey) is against Memphis tonight. I get that it might be smart, both to rest players and to weaken your team all at once rather than over multiple games.

But I don't like it, and I root against teams whenever they do it (even if it might be best for Portland if Memphis loses this one).

Does anyone else lean this way?

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't like load management for players. I don't like it when a team basically bails on a game like Brooklyn (not New Jersey) is against Memphis tonight. I get that it might be smart, both to rest players and to weaken your team all at once rather than over multiple games.

But I don't like it, and I root against teams whenever they do it (even if it might be best for Portland if Memphis loses this one).

Does anyone else lean this way?

Yep. Don’t like it. MJ used to play 82. Everyone should take every game seriously. They’re being paid to play.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I wish the Blazers would load manage. Instead Lillard plays every minute of the 1st quarters and gets exhausted by the end of the season, lessening his effectiveness in the playoffs. Only season he has been well rested at the end was in the bubble when he was an epic MVP.

I dont like that the NBA has an 82game schedule with back to back games. Also all the travel late at nights and multiple trips a year to the same city. The bubble didn't have travel. Those are the reason it's smart to rest players. The fault is the NBA schedule not individual players or teams.

 

[RoseCityRebel]

I wish the Blazers would load manage. Instead Lillard plays every minute of the 1st quarters and gets exhausted by the end of the season, lessening his effectiveness in the playoffs. Only season he has been well rested at the end was in the bubble when he was an epic MVP.

I dont like that the NBA has an 82game schedule with back to back games. Also all the travel late at nights and multiple trips a year to the same city. The bubble didn't have travel. Those are the reason it's smart to rest players. The fault is the NBA schedule not individual players or teams.

When was the last time a Lillard team wasn’t trying to still get into the playoffs with 4 games left? I don’t recall any. How do you load manage your All-NBA player when it typically means losing without him?

 

[julius]

When was the last time a Lillard team wasn’t trying to still get into the playoffs with 4 games left? I don’t recall any. How do you load manage your All-NBA player when it typically means losing without him?

Literally 2 years ago. The 2018-19 season they were the 3rd seed.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Literally 2 years ago. The 2018-19 season they were the 3rd seed.

They were the 3rd seed in both the 2018 and 2019 playoffs, so yes both of the prior two playoffs.

 

[julius]

They were the 3rd seed in both the 2018 and 2019 playoffs, so yes both of the prior two playoffs.

I guess you could say that they weren't sure of their seedings in 18 until about 2-3 games left (which is true).