Resting Players Wins Championships?

[atlwarrior]

It's still early in the season to say but a few things have changed. After two years of successfully making it to the finals, more teams are emulating the Spurs and looking into the resting your star players during the regular season strategy. This may not be a bad idea as we'll get to see well rested and more competitive teams in the playoffs. We'll also get to see more development from the bench players. I don't know what do you guys thinks?

[Andrew]

Pretty sound strategy, given the length of the NBA season. If a player is dealing with some nagging injuries and the game isn't a crucial one in the grand scheme of things, why not?

[benji]

This actually started a few years back compared to the 90's when half the league's starters logged stupid amounts of minutes. There's diminishing returns in terms of wins in playing your stars 42-44 minutes vs. 36-38.

The Spurs didn't start the platoon model either, look at Hubie Brown's stint with the Grizzlies.

[atlwarrior]

Yeah I don't mind this strategy at all. Especially with some of these injuries we've seen the past couple years. It'd be nice to see every team at it's best during the postseason for a change. And Benji I don't remember Hubie Brown using that strategy. Then again, I didn't watch the Grizzlies that much when he was coaching them. You have a link?

[Stress Fracture]

By all means, how much minutes does a starter needs to rest?

[shadowgrin]

I don't remember Hubie Brown using that strategy. Then again, I didn't watch the Grizzlies that much when he was coaching them. You have a link?

Just watch a Grizzlies game on Youtube when Hubie Brown was coaching them. Hubie Brown had been known to regularly use 10 of his players in a game.

[bowdown]

With Spurs its a necessity as age is a huge factor for them. They know they are really good in the playoffs and can afford a lower seed that other younger teams cannot.

[Lamrock]

Yeah I don't mind this strategy at all. Especially with some of these injuries we've seen the past couple years. It'd be nice to see every team at it's best during the postseason for a change. And Benji I don't remember Hubie Brown using that strategy. Then again, I didn't watch the Grizzlies that much when he was coaching them. You have a link?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MEM/2004.html