The emerging debate taking the NBA world by storm is whether or not teams should be giving off days to key players as often as they do during the regular season. The debate is everywhere you look, and everybody seems to have an opinion. But just how much of a concern is this really for the league?
Kevin Durant, one of the players who seems to get those off days at times, thinks the issue is overblown and really only concerns a small select few.
“The truth about it is, it’s only for a couple of players in the league,” Durant told ESPN. “They don’t care if the 13th man on the bench rests. It’s only for like LeBron [James], Steph [Curry], [James] Harden, Russell [Westbrook]. It’s only for like five players. So you want a rule just for those five players?”
It’s fair to suggest the grind of a regular season can take a toll on players, both physically and mentally, and for legitimate title contenders, it makes sense to preserve as much energy as you can on both fronts for the postseason. So when key players get a night off against a team that poses little threat to them in the standings and playoff picture, it is just a good business decision to give a player a rest if it means they can give more in the postseason.
The truth is that this “resting players” policy goes a little deeper than the handful of players Durant rattled off, and it extends beyond just playoff contenders. For example, in Philadelphia, fans have been buying into the whole “Trust The Process” plan to rebuild the franchise. This season saw Sixers fans finally witness what Joel Embiid could do on the court, and it was wonderful… when he played. Before having his season come to a premature end, there would be some nights when Embiid would be given the night off.
With No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons already out for the season, Embiid was the reason to buy a ticket in Philly unless LeBron James or Steph Curry were coming to town. So when Embiid got a night off to avoid playing in back-to-back games, fans got a little upset.
Other cities and fans have experienced the same issue at times, which adds to the concern the league would have as it attempts to promote its game. The problem is certainly magnified when a player like LeBron or Durant get the night off, but the problem does dig a little deeper than Durant is letting on.
Regardless of who is right and who is wrong, one thing is for sure. There will be no patience for any excuses about tired players in the postseason.
[ESPN]
