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A14 sports
Tuesday 21 February 2023
NBA on All-Star break, but no easy answers to rest problem

By TIM REYNOLDS 23, there were 28 players to come to one game. And pecting to see someone another week into the
AP Basketball Writer making 82 appearances. A that might be the game play and they don't get to schedule could allow for
Golden State coach Steve decade before that, it was they come to and you're see that person play," Kerr more multiday breaks.
Kerr wants a shorter NBA 46. John Stockton played sitting out. I take pride in try- said. "It's a brutal part of The NFL and NHL have bye
season. Milwaukee All-Star in 82 games 16 times for ing to play every game be- the business. That's why I'm weeks. Minnesota coach
Giannis Antetokounmpo Chris Finch wonders if the
does not. NBA Commis- NBA should do the same.
sioner Adam Silver isn't sure "I think what we need to
what the right answer is. do as a league is remove
Such is the conundrum with all the obstacles for guys
the NBA's ongoing battle not playing," Finch said.
with load management "Back-to-backs seem to be
— often the fancy way of a big one. They've done
saying resting — and find- a really good job over the
ing ways to optimize player last years of trying to limit
health, performance and back-to-backs, make them
availability. While there is a more intelligent if you will.
consensus that the league It doesn't seem to me that
has problems, there is no we're that far off of being
consensus on how to solve able to eliminate them al-
those problems. together, whether that's
Over the last week, The fewer games or, heck, the
Associated Press asked a season's so long right now
cross section of 48 players, anyway, what's another
coaches, owners and ex- week or two?"
ecutives if the NBA should The NBA and the National
abandon its 82-game, 170- Basketball Players Associa-
day blueprint of a regular tion are currently in talks
season for something with on a new collective bar-
either fewer games or more gaining agreement, with
days in the season to allow both sides hopeful that it'll
for more rest. get done by next month —
The results were as mud- which hardly guarantees
dled as the issue itself: 40% anything, but it's a reason
said they would simply go for optimism.
along with whatever the There is a strong chance
league decides is best, 35% that an in-season tourna-
said they don't want the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo lies by the basket after injuring his right wrist during the ment, something Silver has
current format changed, first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, wanted for years, could
and the remaining 25% in Chicago. be part of the NBA calen-
wants changes. Associated Press dar as early as next season.
How fans will be affected is But there is no talk of that
one concern. Money is an- changing the format for
other. the season; teams have
"I think if you want to get Utah and missed 22 games cause I don't know, it might going to continue to advo- been told that, if the tour-
the best player availability, in 19 seasons; A.C. Green be one fan that has never cate for 72-game seasons. nament is added, they'll
shortening the season may played 82 games 14 times seen me play, and I'm try- And I know that means less get an 80-game schedule
be in the best interest of in his career. Among play- ing to play." revenue, but at some point, this summer with two more
everybody involved," Den- ers currently active, no- Kerr is a proponent of a I think there just needs to be games — those matchups
ver coach Michael Malone body has logged more 72-game season, and has an awareness from every- based on how they fare in
said. "But that's also a lot than five 82-game seasons. said so this year after some body involved." the opening portion of the
of money being lost — TV Antetokounmpo doesn't games where the reigning At least one other coach is tournament — to be add-
games, money. Let's not want change: "I think 82 champion Warriors have listening to Kerr, loud and ed later.
forget: This is a business." games is perfect," he said. given their stars — the Ste- clear. "I think part of the realiza-
With the All-Star Weekend Minnesota guard Anthony phen Curry, Klay Thompson, "I do think in an ideal world tion these days in playing
in the books and regular- Edwards said seeing play- Draymond Green types that the season would be in this league is that this is
season play resuming Thurs- ers sometimes take a game — a night off because the shorter," Milwaukee's Mike a year-round pursuit now,"
day, there are still 19 play- to rest is the thing he dislikes team feels it was in the best Budenholzer said. "We Silver said. "I think part of
ers with a chance to play in most about the league. His interest of their health. would space the games injury avoidance means
82 games this season. There rationale: Somebody might He also knows a 72-game out, give the players more how players are treating
were only five who did it have bought a ticket to just season would come with a recovery time, hopefully their bodies year-round,
last season, 11 who played that one game, and feel- price. Literally, a big price. more health. And I think how teams are interacting
every game in a 72-game ings can be hurt if the play- Shaving 12% of games from one of the big points of em- with players year-round,
2020-21 season and 14 who er they want to see most the schedule would, in the- phasis is for the fans, more and using the best data to
played all possible games takes the night off. ory, shave 12% of revenue player availability. But it's a conclude what will allow
in the COVID-19-interrupt- "Just play, man. If you're opportunities. And while it's complicated equation." players to stay healthy and
ed 2019-20 season. 80%, you've got to play," not likely owners would em- One potential tweak that on the floor as long as pos-
It used to not be so un- said Edwards, 21, a first- brace making less money, some prefer is the idea of sible.
common for players to time All-Star. "I don't like all players probably wouldn't not squeezing 82 games "We think we can do a bet-
play every game, or at the sitting, missing games go for that, either. into 170 days, which basi- ter job," he added, "but we
least almost every game. and stuff. These people "I feel terrible for fans who cally means a game every don't have a specific solu-
A decade ago, in 2012- might have enough money buy tickets who are ex- other day. Building even tion yet."q