How much difference does a day make?

[jiggy_55]

Obviously, it helps in the short term. The older/more mileage a player is/has, the longer they have off (within' reason) the better. But this notion that by sitting them last night or by refusing to play them more than some made up threshold, they're "putting something in the bank for later", is complete and total nonsense. Going from 35 to 30 mpg over the course of a season can do that. But once you get around 30 mpg, with the shape these guys are in, it doesn't matter whether they play 28, 29, 30, 31, it makes no difference. We've seen irrefutable evidence of this the past two playoffs.

You could argue that the big three will be at a disadvantage compared to other stars, because other stars are used to playing major minutes. So in the playoffs, when they have to go 42 or whatever in a game, it'll be just another night at the office. But when the big three have to go 36-40, it'll be foreign territory. Only Parker has occasionally played in that range this season, but not recently. Ginobili, I'm fairly certain only exceeded 30 minutes once and it was within' the first few games of the season. He's been conditioned to play 24-28. So when he has to play 35 in a game, he won't have more energy, he'll have less. It's like weight lifting. You don't suddenly go from being able to bench 150 10 times to being able to bench 250 20 times. You've got to gradually build yourself up.

100% agreed with everything you've said.

[boutons_deux]

yep, insufficient game shape for Tiago is probably why he appears winded. He just doesn't get enough minutes to go any significant distance.

[therealtruth]

From what I saw last year the Spurs didn't have enough gas in the tank against the Grizzlies. I think the iconic moment for me was Battier being wide open for 3 in game 4 I think and Ginobili not even making an effort to run out at him. They were trying to play aggressive help defense against ZBo and Gasol and they didn't have the athleticism or energy to do it. No amount of wanting to play harder could have changed that.

[Knoxxx]

Pop is a tool. No reason to rest BOTH Parker and Ginobili at Utah, and the offense showed it without top 2 playmakers. Boneheaded playing time decisions continue to be his Achilles heel.

[Legacy]

Awesome chart you got a hold of there, GSH! Thanks for sharing!

Good thread.