Michael Singer: Nikola Jokic on possibly load managing: “I think it’s a smart thing.” Said he trusts the staff and trainers and thinks it’s a good idea if it’ll help him avoid injuries. Good q, @Vinny Benedetto.
NBA Rumor: Load Management
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Thibodeau’s plan for a Walker/Derrick Rose point guard tandem will be of much intrigue since Rose, too, is injury prone after multiple knee surgeries. Thibodeau is expected to talk Tuesday and provide clues as to whether he might split the 48-minute game between the two former All-Stars. It’s unclear if Leon Rose will break his one-year media silence. Load management — an idea Thibodeau detests — may finally reign at the Garden in 2021-22. Walker didn’t play back-to-backs last season for Boston and was forced to miss the final two playoff games against the Nets because of knee pain.
Tyronn Lue on Clippers resting players: I don't give a damn what anyone else thinks
Mirjam Swanson: Ty Lue on the Clippers’ “aggressive rest” — love @Law Murray’s term — down the stretch: “I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks.” “We finally got everyone healthy.”
Tyronn Lue on resting players: I'll take health over rust any day
Ohm Youngmisuk: In addition to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard sitting out, Marcus Morris, Nic Batum and Rajon Rondo are out. Ivica Zubac will play the first minute and then rest according to Ty Lue.
Bulls resting Nikola Vucevic against Milwaukee
Jim Owczarski: The #Bucks will not see Nikola Vučević tonight in Chicago. The #Bulls center is being held of the season finale for rest before their offseason begins.
Ira Winderman: Heat injury update: Butler (back)– out Dragic (back) — out Iguodala (hip) — out Nunn (calf) — out Adebayo (rest) — out Ariza (rest) — out Oladipo (knee) — out Yurtseven (not with team) — out
James Harden out for season finale
Brian Lewis: James Harden (right hamstring – injury management) is out. #Nets
Derek Bodner: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, Seth Curry and Matisse Thybulle are all out tonight against the Magic. Furkan Korkamz is available. Shake Milton is probable.
Adam Spolane: Nate McMillan says he’s not going to play his guys a lot of minutes tonight. Bogdanovich, Huerter, Capela, and Galinari are among the guys out, Trae Young is a gametime decision
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.
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.
Hawks not resting players for season finale
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.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins questionable for Friday's game
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.
Nets resting Kevin Durant against Portland
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)
Marcus Morris a late scratch for rest
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.”
Chris Paul doesn't want to miss games for load management
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
NBA fines Spurs $25,000 for violating NBA's resting policy
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.”
Raptors fined for misrepresenting injury report issues
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.
Kevin Durant resting against Philadelphia
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.
Brad Stevens: Players health more important than Playoffs seed
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.”
JJ Redick available to make Mavericks debut, will get 10-15 minutes
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.
Clippers rest Paul George against Houston
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
Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin out vs. Knicks, James Harden in
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.”
September 23, 2021 | 4:49 am EDT Update
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to Turkey?
Donatas Urbonas: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is close to signing with Besiktas Istanbul, per sources.
The Sixers would be best served if Simmons and Paul rethink their plans, though Simmons “is clearly aware of sanctions available to the organization to fine and suspend him, including withholding of salary,” according to Wojnarowski. An NBA source said Wednesday that Simmons initially asked for a trade at the draft combine in Chicago “right after” the end of the 2020-21 season. The Game 7 home loss to the Hawks occurred on June 20, with the combine running from June 21-27.
Simmons has apparently already received $8.25 million of his 2021-22 salary, with another $8.25 million due if he’s on the roster Oct. 1. The Sixers aren’t saying what they plan to do or if they must make that payment when, barring a dramatic shift, Simmons follows through with his holdout, according to the source.
Rather than increasing Simmons’ value in a trade, the Sixers’ preference is for Simmons to report and play this season in Philadelphia, according to an NBA source. Rivers said the same thing Wednesday: “We would love to have Ben back.”
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: 76ers retiring Kobe Bryant’s Lower Merion No. 33 like Heat retired MJ’s No. 23 ‘interesting idea’ @ScottONeil tells @BallySports: “That’s something that @dmorey & @DocRivers & Elton will weigh on for sure. That’s something that Chris Heck the President of 76ers will weigh on.”
September 23, 2021 | 2:02 am EDT Update
The Warriors recently connected Wiggins with an Oakland doctor who understands issues surrounding vaccine hesitancy, sources said. The doctor explained the suffering and deaths she has witnessed in patients who contracted the coronavirus, sources said, but Wiggins remains unmoved in his decision against vaccination.
