1 hour ago, bugatti said:

I'm not sure what evidence we have that "load managing" is leading to success on the court, as in leading to titles. I suppose you could argue Kawhi Leonard for his one year in Toronto? For one, they were not winning it all if KD and Klay do not go down. Secondly, he was joining a loaded team in what was an easier conference (Giannis and Embiid were not yet seasoned playoff performers, LeBron was in LA). And his load managing was in large part because he was a one year rental before going to the Clippers. At that, Leonard still played 60 games. He may not reach 50 games this year.

A lot of the old guys are frustrated because the "sacrifices" they made to play is what paved the way for this abuse of the system.

I agree. I think load management is a crock, and I think players are using it because they don't want to play as many games. 

 

I don't necessarily have a problem with them sitting out, but they shouldn't be paid for games they aren't playing in. Also, it can paint terrible optics for the fans that only go to games to see specific stars, and then those guys don't even play. if we are going to continue with this load management nonsense, they should have to announce in advance when they aren't going to play for that reason. 

As I mentioned, a big problem with it all is that the star players are the ones making a mockery of it. Your average player is not load managing... on balance they may not be playing the same amount of minutes. But starters aren't playing the same amount of minutes either as they once were. Most starters are in that 34-37 minute range. That number used to be 38-40.

Feels like things have to come to a head soon. With so much pressure/sentiment behind movement for a change, I imagine they’ll try to find some way to address it. The question is, what is the solution? 

On 3/1/2023 at 10:22 AM, DragonFire said:

Feels like things have to come to a head soon. With so much pressure/sentiment behind movement for a change, I imagine they’ll try to find some way to address it. The question is, what is the solution? 

Well when your NBA Commissioner is saying "I don't see it as a problem" when asked about load management, it isn't looking very positive. 

The first step to solving a problem is realizing that you have one. 

Gambling SGPs has me watching and paying more attention to the NBA for the first time since the Big 3 in Boston.

Hoping for a Suns title!

Not that this means anything, but I pay for league pass, and watch way too many games to have to get up and work the next day (west coast ball is the best).  But I love the NBA.  I follow it more closely than the NFL to be honest.  I used to only get deeply interested around the middle of March as the playoff push commenced.  I understand the load management part.  I also understand all the old schoolers crying foul.  Different mindset these days.  None of it will keep me from being tuned in.

Great thread.  
 

Late to the party but regarding the All Star Weekend and the most views it has ever had.  TV ratings are going to be a thing of the past in the newer future.  Gauging how popular televised events are going to be measured in social media views more so than TV ratings.  As phones continue to reshape the landscape more and more people are using social media to watch highlights and videos of these events.  These “views” are now captured as stats and recorded.  Mac McClung broke the internet that Saturday night and his dunks from that night alone are some of the most viewed sports clips on social media.   
 

So when you hear the NBA or NFL or MLB saying that a particular event was the most viewed ever that is what they are referring to.  

Load management sucks.  A causal NBA fan planning to attend an NBA game should plan to go see the team before Christmas and make sure the person you want to see is on the home team. 
 

You very well could be wasting money until they shorten the season and make load management useless.  
 

As an everyday player of FanDuel I don’t mind load management as much as I used to.  Knowing who is going to benefit from people sitting has proven to be profitable.  

As an old head I understand people’s complaints.   I have my own.  At the end of the day the NBA product is BY FAR the best basketball product on the market.  Folks can’t even say college basketball is more entertaining now that the NIL and transfer portal has given us true parity in college basketball.  College basketball is garbage nowadays.  I’ll always watch the NBA regardless of what they have going on because I want to see the best of the best play and more often than not they put on a show.  
 

Especially in the playoffs.  

I don't really pay attention to the NBA until the playoffs.  The regular season just doesn't matter as much and 82 games is a bit much (and I could say the same for the NHL).  It'd be great if the season was 50 games and started around Christmas but that won't happen because of $$$.  Same thing with my wish for the first round of the playoffs to go back to best-of-5.

21 hours ago, PurplePride92 said:

At the end of the day the NBA product is BY FAR the best basketball product on the market...I’ll always watch the NBA regardless of what they have going on because I want to see the best of the best play and more often than not they put on a show.

This is the answer and the reason why players/teams can "load manage." I understand comparing basketball players to steel mill workers and 12-hour shift folks, but with all due respect, no one is dishing out $100+ for tickets to watch them work. Does it stink for a fan to buy tickets to a game and the best player not play? Absolutely. Is there an easy fix? Not really, unless you could put together some type of "superstar designation" of a few players per team who aren't allow to sit out the same game (which seems unrealistic and perhaps even illegal in the CBA). Load management will continue because the players have the leverage. Ticket sales and TV viewership tells me that even if fans are mad about some things in the league, they are a long way from quitting going or watching.