Managing Minutes - short term vs long term or short sightedness vs vision?

[SkywalkerAC]

I guess the thing is this, you gotta be in position to rest guys. Toronto isn't an elite force just yet, their record reflects the minutes their top level talent players have been playing. I wonder then if the question needs to be raised.... are they looking at a big run this year, or are they looking to establish serious cohesion with their key players.

I can't see the point in arguing our individual opinions of how many minutes is too many for a player. i think it varies. But there is wisdom in tapering a little as you approach the playoffs. A professional athlete needs about two weeks to bounce back from fatigue.... you can actually accomplish this pretty easily over the period of a month if you sit guys. Who's to say this isn't coming as the days wear on.

For now, at mid season, I have zero problem playing elite athletes for 40 mins, 3 times a week....truth is, they play more in the offseason.

Yeah, it's still early days, and we're building up a nice little cushion over Chicago. Kyle will get his rest when he needs it - in the build up to the playoffs. Hopefully by then we'll have 2nd/1st sown up, so if Delon costs us a game or two it's no big deal.

Kyle's looking good, and I think Casey will shift towards his depth as the marathon grinds through its second half. Not worried much.

[Scraptor]

Yeah, it's still early days, and we're building up a nice little cushion over Chicago. Kyle will get his rest when he needs it - in the build up to the playoffs. Hopefully by then we'll have 2nd/1st sown up, so if Delon costs us a game or two it's no big deal.

Kyle's looking good, and I think Casey will shift towards his depth as the marathon grinds through its second half. Not worried much.

The problem with this, and the reason why elite coaches proactively rest guys throughout the season, is that fatigue is a huge contributor to injury. You're much more likely to get injured when your body has been under a heavy workload. So while everything looks fine and dandy now, and may even work out fine if Casey does in fact downshift later, the fact is that you are taking an unnecessary risk.

Carlisle has been proactive about resting guys and they're fighting for a playoff spot. It's long-term thinking.

[KeonClark]

The problem with this, and the reason why elite coaches proactively rest guys throughout the season, is that fatigue is a huge contributor to injury. You're much more likely to get injured when your body has been under a heavy workload. So while everything looks fine and dandy now, and may even work out fine if Casey does in fact downshift later, the fact is that you are taking an unnecessary risk.

Carlisle has been proactive about resting guys and they're fighting for a playoff spot. It's long-term thinking.

Completely different situation in Dallas. The guys they rest are either banged up and fragile (Williams), recently came off very serious injuries or surgeries (matthews, parsons), or 90 years old (dirk)

There simply isn't examples of healthy all stars in their 20s resting midseason

[Scraptor]

Completely different situation in Dallas. The guys they rest are either banged up and fragile (Williams), recently came off very serious injuries or surgeries (matthews, parsons), or 90 years old (dirk)

There simply isn't examples of healthy all stars in their 20s resting midseason

Draymond Green http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ba...212533945.html
Kawhi Leonard http://nba.nbcsports.com/2015/12/07/...day-vs-sixers/

Kawhi also coincidentally had an "upper respiratory infection" vs the 76ers earlier in the season.

I'm not saying Kyle and DD need full games off. But the only other all-stars playing more minutes per game are Harden and Butler, both playing under rookie coaches and neither with any real injury history.

It's less of a concern for DD than it is for Kyle, who is turning 30 and has a history of injuries. Kyle has played 9-10% more minutes than other All-Stars in his age range.

It's the difference between sitting in blowouts and being out there unnecessarily. That 10% might be the difference in a playoff series a couple months from now.

[Axel]

Completely different situation in Dallas. The guys they rest are either banged up and fragile (Williams), recently came off very serious injuries or surgeries (matthews, parsons), or 90 years old (dirk)

There simply isn't examples of healthy all stars in their 20s resting midseason

Lowry has history and is banged up (certainly was last year too). Carroll coming off a significant injury immediately logged heavy minutes again.

DD is the only one without real concern. So I have less issue with his minutes compared to Lowry and Carroll.

Then we have a young stud C who has only hit 30 mins 3 times in the last 10 games.

#CaseyLogic

[Axel]

Seems relevant:

"Gregg Popovich has no hesitation about throwing Jonathon Simmons into a "trial by fire" situation. "We’re giving [Simmons] and Kyle [Anderson] minutes to try and prepare them to become real pros and real contributors in the league," Popovich said."

[Just Is]

Lowry has history and is banged up (certainly was last year too). Carroll coming off a significant injury immediately logged heavy minutes again.

DD is the only one without real concern. So I have less issue with his minutes compared to Lowry and Carroll.

Then we have a young stud C who has only hit 30 mins 3 times in the last 10 games.

#CaseyLogic

Something worth noticing during this winning streak: Lowry's averaging almost 40 minutes a game.

Anyone remember that time Casey said something about watching Lowry's minutes? And somehow, immediately after that comment, Lowry's (already high) minutes actually went up?

Good times.

[KeonClark]

The funny part about caseys interview re minutes is him pondering "maybe more minutes to ross, to Joseph. ." Those guys are already taxed. Easiest answer: give 5 minutes a game to Delon wright with cojo alongside. Done.

[Barolt]

I still have no idea what the point of drafting a 22 year old point guard was if we weren't going to play him.

[JWash]

He was drafted before we signed Cory Joseph, why do people keep ignoring this?

And you don't draft based on position. You draft talent.

[KeonClark]

Still, he looks ready for 5 minutes a game. He's not some raw supernova style like Russell.

[Barolt]

He was drafted before we signed Cory Joseph, why do people keep ignoring this?

And you don't draft based on position. You draft talent.

The fact that we didn't have Cory at the time makes it more egregious we aren't playing him, not less. Because at the time we drafted him, we would've had to be prepared for the possibility that he would end up being our backup point guard. So having Cory should mean that we can cut Lowry's minutes more, not keep Delon completely off the court.

[Barolt]

Get blown out in a game that wasn't close past the halfway mark of the 2nd quarter on the first night of a back-to-back, Lowry still plays 32 minutes. Good thing Casey's watching his minutes, right?

[JWash]

Casey done lost his mind

[MixxAOR]

Get blown out in a game that wasn't close past the halfway mark of the 2nd quarter on the first night of a back-to-back, Lowry still plays 32 minutes. Good thing Casey's watching his minutes, right?

Lowry gave half of the effort tonight. So it was 16 minutes lmao