The DNP-Rest issue and tank wars

It’s near the end of the eliminations and there are less than ten regular season games remaining for most teams and then the real NBA wars begin. 30 teams had travelled a lot across the US for the 82-game schedule and it is taxing for the players. Teams played as much as four times in five days including back-to-backs, and the risks of injuries due to fatigue increased. Come playoff time, there are 21 games if it goes the full distance. Another 7-game series awaits for the NBA title.

To preserve players’ health, teams opt to rest their starters and allow the reserves to go on attack mode. Resting players is not only confined to playoff-bound teams for obvious reasons but also to the rest of the league as they also need positioning to be in the running for a top ten draft pick.

For the team and players’ perspective, rest is best because come playoffs, every player must be healthy and be ready for the final push. Besides, considering the way contracts are given, players need to be in top form to maximize their earning potentials. Homecourt advantage is always a plus during the post-season but winning on the road is also important. Teams need their full complement for those road victories.

Based on reactions, a good number of fans don’t agree with the practice. There is a feeling of deprivation, of unfairness as they were denied the chance of seeing their favorite players in action, often after tickets to the games already had been purchased. Having bought choice seats, one would be asking for explanations if their preferred athlete is just sitting on the sidelines in street clothes chewing on his fingernails instead of playing.

Teams admittedly had invested a fortune for their star players but assigning two or three of them to the bench at the same time don’t do justice to the fans. They’re receiving ridiculous amounts of money for their talents and it’s just fair to see them play. Restricting their minutes is a better option instead of not letting them play to the expectant fans’ dismay. But this practice, like it or not, will be norm and we will be seeing lots of it in the seasons to come.

San Antonio coach Greg Popovich is largely responsible for the almost eternal careers of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker as he had successfully managed to limit their minutes. It can be observed that for the past several years, the Spurs went deep into the playoffs because their star players were given rest at the right time and were refreshed and ready to go when duty called. The DNP-Rest could be Coach Pop’s invention and teams, specially the contenders, are now embracing it.

Players themselves want it and LeBron James even publicly said that he deserves a day off once in a while. Most of the current stars probably were not as vocal as Bron but I suppose they would also welcome a few days’ rest.

Tanking is similar in a way but with a different purpose. Teams try to act like they’re not deliberately losing games but if you’re playing like a high school squad with a nonexistent defense and an offense where everyone shoots from behind the three-point line, then that becomes weirder than Mike having a duet with Tomas singing “Endless Love”.

Bottom-dwelling teams are also in a race for the Draft Lottery where losing games are more advantageous than winning. The LA Lakers had shut down veterans and are experimenting with different starting units every game day. Likewise, outside of Devin Booker, Phoenix declared their best player Eric Bledsoe as out for the rest of the season due to some reported knee issues. Lottery teams need to have more losses than wins to improve on their chances in landing on the top 10 selections.

Brooklyn (16-57) is the league’s doormat followed by the Lakers (21-52) and the Suns (22-52). Excluding today’s match, LA has 8 games left and if we follow their pattern of wining one and losing five in a row, they have more than 50% chance of staying at the top 3 selections. If the Suns lose moregamesthantheLakers,Phoenix’ odds on the top 3 picks gets better.

For the league’s whipping boys looking for redemption in the Rookie Draft, losing is winning, winning is losing. For the ordinary fans, losing is simply disturbing. Since when did defeat become victory?

TRIVIA – Unless some foreign-born player makes a Porzingis-type of impact, 2017-2018’s top choices could be Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, Markelle Fultz of Washington State, Duke’s Jason Tatum and the fatherpromoted Lonzo Ball of UCLA.