Kobe would’ve balked at the term “load management,” and although so many looked at his exploits as self-serving, Vanessa made a nod to Jordan to her husband’s intentions when she used to ask him to take a game off. “Kobe didn’t want to disappoint his fans, especially the ones in the 300 sections who saved up to watch him play, the kids with the same excitement he once had,” Vanessa said, mentioning Kobe’s memories of seeing Jordan play live as a kid, bottling up that memory and making it a part of his basketball ethos once he became the standard.
More on Load Management
Gina Mizell: Booker on possibility of resting tomorrow: "It would be tough, but at the same time, we know where our focus is at: Getting to the postseason and (playing) the right way. That's been our thing throughout the whole season is doing things the right way." #Suns
Alex Schiffer: Steve Nash doesn't rule out the big three playing tomorrow. Wants to see how they feel in the morning.
Chris Kirschner: Nate McMillan said they're not resting anyone for tomorrow's game. He said there may be a guy or two with minutes restrictions but no one will sit just to sit.
Mark Murphy: Per Stevens: Neither Kemba Walker or Rob Williams made the trip. Next up for them will be the play-in.
Mark Murphy: Marcus Smart and Tristan Thompson also are not on the trip. Tatum and Fournier have expressed a desire to play in these last two games.
Andrew Greif: Sidelined since March 14, Serge Ibaka has been upgraded to *questionable* to play tonight in Houston. OUT: PG (rest), Kawhi Leonard (rest), Terance Mann (personal reasons), Pat Beverley (injury management), Amir Coffey (protocols) Doubtful: Reggie Jackson (sore left Achilles)
Michael Singer: Nikola Jokic is expected to play tonight vs. Detroit, I'm told. Aaron Gordon, Facu Campazzo and Paul Millsap are all out due to rest.
Connor Letourneau: Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins are questionable for tomorrow. Feels like their status will ride on the result of today's Memphis game.
Kerith Burke: TBD if tomorrow's game will be a rest night for some players. Kerr said Steph and Draymond did not practice today. Wiggins was limited. "We have some guys legitimately banged up," Kerr said.
Michael Singer: Monte Morris (injury management) and MPJ (rest) will be out tonight vs. Minnesota, I'm told.
Kerith Burke: On this back to back, Kerr said the Warriors don’t have enough bodies to rest anyone. He says the team is smart about getting rest where they can with fewer practices and light work this time of year. “I like where we are physically,” Kerr said.
Mark Followill: Injury updates for Mavs at Grizzlies tonight. First for Memphis - Jonas Valanciunas is doubtful (back soreness). Jaren Jackson Jr is out for injury management. He hasn't played any back to backs since returning last month from off-season meniscus surgery.
Eric Koreen: Kyle Lowry is also not playing tonight for the Raptors, as he is being rested. The Last Chance Saloon is emptying by the minute!
Connor Letourneau: Steve Kerr said he's not planning to rest anyone anytime soon.
Doug Smith: Raptors mid-day injury report for tonight in Utah reveals no surprises Lowry (rest), Boucher (knee), Watson (knee), Trent (leg) are all out
Josh Lewenberg: The Raptors are resting Kyle Lowry vs Utah tomorrow. Boucher (knee sprain), Trent (leg contusion) and Watson (knee tendinitis) remain out as well.
Kristian Winfield: Steve Nash says his preference is that Kevin Durant does not play tomorrow night in the second game of a back-to-back against Portland. The Nets will determine whether Kyrie Irving (groin) can play in the morning.
Dane Moore: Chris Finch says he has communicated to Timberwolves players that they will not be “unnecessarily resting” players down the stretch of the season. The focus is on building continuity, says Finch.
Dane Moore: All Timberwolves players (other than Malik Beasley) are active to play in tonight’s second game of a back-to-back. No rest shenanigans from the Wolves against a tanking Rockets team, who just shut down John Wall for the season and only had 8 active players in their last game.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Kawhi Leonard (foot), Patrick Beverley (hand), Serge Ibaka (back) and Luke Kennard (rest) are out tomorrow night. Rajon Rondo (wrist) is questionable.
Mike Trudell: Frank Vogel said the plan for the final 13 games is to try and keep everybody engaged ahead of the playoffs, potentially so that he can call upon certain guys in certain matchups when needed in the playoffs. He did the same thing last season, esp. in the bubble seeding games.
Gerald Bourguet: Jae Crowder (right ankle sprain) is out tomorrow against the Nets. So is Dario Saric (left ankle injury management), Langston Galloway (personal reasons) and Abdel Nader (right knee soreness)
Ohm Youngmisuk: Marcus Morris has been ruled OUT due to rest tonight against Houston.
David Hardisty: John Wall will play tonight and sit out tomorrow's game at Denver.
Mirjam Swanson: Nic Batum getting a rest day, Ty notes: "He deserves it."
Duane Rankin: Monty Williams said they haven't talked about resting guys as of yet. Talked about Chris Paul is someone you think about when talking about resting guys, but said the 35-year old (16-year NBA veteran) doesn't want to miss games. Williams said Phoenix is relatively young. #Suns
Tom Orsborn: Pop on March 21 about the decision to give Murray and Mills the night off in Cleveland. “We have been in constant contact with the league, and they’ve been great about understanding that sort of a situation,” Pop said. “They know full well what everybody is going through."
Tom Orsborn: Pop on DeMar, Patty & Jakob resting tonight: "As the season goes on, you look at schedule and minutes played and that sort of thing, people need to take a break. We did this with Dejounte a bit in the past and these guys need it tonight. They have hit the wall."
Alex Kennedy: The Toronto Raptors were fined $25,000 by the NBA:
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets guard John Wall listed as out in Orlando tomorrow, the first game of a back-to-back, for injury management. With Brown, Augustin, Gordon, House, Nwaba also out, Rockets down to three guards, Porter Jr., Bradley, Brooks.
Anthony Chiang: Erik Spoelstra on Goran Dragic sitting out the second night of back-to-back: "This is just something we want to monitor and be smart about." Spoelstra noted that Dragic is "feeling great."
Ohm Youngmisuk: Clippers say Marcus Morris is out due to rest tonight. He was just added to the injury report.
Malika Andrews: Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin (and James Harden) are all OUT tonight against the 76ers, according to the Nets' injury report. Kyrie Irving is not listed on the injury report and could play against the Sixers.
Andrew Greif: After playing 38 minutes in last night’s win against Indiana, Clippers star Paul George is *out* tonight vs. Detroit, for rest. Kawhi Leonard (sore right foot) also remains out.
Gerald Bourguet: Monty said the Suns aren't doing anything different from other teams to manage guys' work loads in this condensed season. Mentioned giving guys full off days and keeping practices as light as he's ever seen in the NBA
Eric Walden: Quin Snyder said the decision to rest Royce O'Neale comes down to him spending the most minutes in the league guarding opponents' top scorers. As for balancing rest vs. wins vs. improvement: "In order to be your best, you have to be as fresh as you can be."
Tom Orsborn: Pop, responding after @Jeff McDonald asked him about whether he can afford to rest guys given playoff chase: "Our guys get rest when they get injured… like Lonnie has gotten a lot of rest."
Andy Larsen: Jazz say Jordan Clarkson is still doubtful for tomorrow’s game. Also, Mike Conley is out due to hamstring management, they’ll play him on Tuesday instead on the B2B.
Aaron Rose: OG Anunoby is out tonight with rest
Chase Hughes: Wizards injury updates for tonight vs the Suns: Daniel Gafford will return Beal is doubtful Bertans is OUT due to rest
Eric Walden: Mike Conley: "I felt like I could play in every back-to-back, but that's why we have a staff — to protect me from myself. … But I told [the coaches] I was planning to play [vs. Portland] even before I knew Jordan was injured."
Josh Lewenberg: A few status changes for the Raptors in Cleveland tonight. Kyle Lowry, who was upgraded to questionable yesterday, is now doubtful. Pascal Siakam is OUT for rest in the first night of a back-to-back. Rodney Hood is now probable. VanVleet, Watson, Harris still out. Gillespie TBD.
Jonathan Feigen: Pat Beverley (sore left hand) and Paul George (rest) are out against the Rockets tonight. Clippers also list Rajon Rondo (sore right adductor) and Reggie Jackson (bruised right eye) as questionable.
Harrison Wind: Paul Millsap (rest) is out tonight against the Spurs. No Millsap means that JaVale McGee is likely in line for significant minutes.
Omari Sanfoka II: Dwane Casey said anytime a player misses a game because of rest, it's a decision from the medical staff. Plumlee and Ellington are out tonight due to rest, and Casey said he expects more instances of players resting down the stretch
Brian Lewis: Nash says James Harden will not be on a minutes restriction tonight vs. the #Knicks. Adds they would "love" to rest Blake Griffin on back-to-backs due to his injury history. #Nets #NBA
Josh Lewenberg: The Raptors have ruled OG Anunoby OUT for tonight's game in Houston - some load management on the 2nd night of a back-to-back.
Joe Mussatto: Lu Dort (left toe soreness) and Al Horford (rest) are listed as out tonight at Minnesota. Darius Bazley, George Hill and Josh Hall remain out with long-term injuries.
Tom Orsborn: Pop on resting Murray & Mills at end of a 5-game, 7-day road trip: "As you can imagine, it takes its toll. We just decided with this increased density in the schedule since the All-Star break we needed to help them stay in good shape."
Tom Orsborn: More from Pop on resting players: "We have been in constant contact with the league, and they've been great about understanding that sort of a situation. They know full well what everybody is going through. All in all, the decision to do this seemed like the right way to go."
Joe Mussatto: Darius Bazley (left shoulder contusion), Al Horford (rest), George Hill (right thumb surgery) and Josh Hall (left knee soreness) are out tonight at Chicago. Lu Dort (left toe sprain) is questionable. First time Horford will rest in consecutive games.
Kellan Olson: No Justise Winslow for the Grizzlies tonight against the Suns as they gradually work him back. He played yesterday in OKC. Cam Johnson (health and safety protocols) still out for the Suns.
Alykhan Bijani: #Rockets Injury/Status: Dante Exum (NWT-R Calf Strain) Eric Gordon (Out-R Groin Strain) Danuel House (Out-R Knee Contusion) Rodions Kurucs (NWT–L Oblique Strain) Davis Nwaba (Questionable–R Wrist Strain) Victor Oladipo (Out–R Quad; Injury Maintenance) PJ Tucker (NWT) John Wall (Out–L Knee Contusion) Christian Wood (Out–R Ankle Sprain)
Eddie Sefko: Rick Carlisle said that intermittent rest games will be a fact of life going forward. "There will be more of these in the second half of the season. This is certainly no disrespect to Oklahoma." He added that none of the rest games will be pre-announced.
Brad Townsend: Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic are listed as out for tonight's game against OKC. Doncic with right ankle "injury recovery" and Porzingis with left knee "injury recovery."
Connor Letourneau: Steve Kerr on sitting Draymond Green and Stephen Curry tonight: "Very easy. Draymond, we definitely didn't want to play a back to back on the ankle from the other night, and Steph just needs a rest."
Kendra Andrews: Steph Curry (rest) and Draymond Green (left ankle injury management) have officially been ruled out of tonight’s game at Phoenix. @Anthony Slater first reported earlier today. Kelly Oubre Jr. is listed as questionable with a left wrist sprain.
Joe Mussatto: Al Horford (rest) is out tonight. "It really comes down to our medical team," Horford said on deciding which night to sit on a back-to-back. "I just really lean on them and prepare when I need to go, and when I need to sit I'm there to support the guys."
