nelsonmuntz
Point Center
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- Aug 27, 2011
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Since when do 75 minutes a week wear down healthy, 21 year old guards? You said this in another thread and I couldn't disagree more. Maybe during the conference tourney but no way it's an issue during the regular season.
You should take 10 drives against 6'8, 240 pound forwards and see how you feel afterwards. Or maybe you want to take the ball up the court against some kid that is quicker than an SEC cornerback and see if you get a little tired afterwards.
There is a lot of science behind tracking minutes to maximize effectiveness. The NBA tracks minutes like MLB teams track pitch counts. They track them by game, by week, by month and by season. The NBA knows that if you manage minutes carefully, you can keep your top players healthy and at peak condition for a season. Oregon plays roughly 25 kids a game on defense for the same reason. Fatigue is cumulative. Playing 33 minutes vs. 30 is not 10% more minutes to the body. It pushes the body towards its limits, and increases the potential for fatigue to cause lapses which may also result in injuries.
Napier and Boatright are not big physical guards. Both have broken down over the course of a season in their careers already. The best way to keep them playing at their best is to not overplay them.