The NBA's Troubling Trends: Load Management and Three-Point Shooting
The NBA is facing two significant issues that threaten the integrity of the game - load management and the proliferation of three-point shooting. As Charles Barkley, the Turner Sports Inside the NBA analyst, eloquently expresses, these problems are deeply concerning and need to be addressed.
Load Management: An Unacceptable Trend
Barkley is adamant that the practice of load management, where star players sit out games to manage their workload, is unacceptable. He argues that these players, who are making astronomical salaries of $80-100 million per year, should be playing basketball. Barkley questions the notion of fans paying exorbitant prices to watch these players sit out due to "fatigue."
"You can't ask people out here who go out here and get their hard-earned money on like real jobs, they say I'm coming to see this great player play, and he's like, 'I'm not gonna play because I was tired,'" Barkley says. "That's not sustainable."
Barkley suggests that the solution could be to incentivize players to play more games, perhaps through a bonus system. He believes that the current situation is an "embarrassment" and that players should be grateful for the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level, especially given the advancements in sports medicine and the financial rewards.
Barkley also expresses concern over the NBA's obsession with three-point shooting, which he believes has turned the game into a "three-point shooting contest." While he acknowledges that when the shots are falling, teams will win, he argues that teams need to have a "Plan B" when the three-pointers are not falling.
Barkley suggests that the league needs to find a way to address this issue, as the game has become too reliant on the three-point shot. He believes that the league needs to find a balance between the excitement of the three-point shot and the traditional elements of the game.
Despite these concerns, Barkley recognizes that this is the greatest time to play sports, both financially and from a health and medical standpoint. He acknowledges the advancements in sports medicine, the improved safety protocols, and the lucrative salaries that players are now earning.
However, Barkley believes that players should be grateful for these opportunities and should be willing to play the game they love, rather than sitting out due to load management. He argues that the current situation is an "embarrassment" and that the league needs to find a way to address these issues to preserve the integrity of the game.
Part 1/4:
The NBA's Troubling Trends: Load Management and Three-Point Shooting
The NBA is facing two significant issues that threaten the integrity of the game - load management and the proliferation of three-point shooting. As Charles Barkley, the Turner Sports Inside the NBA analyst, eloquently expresses, these problems are deeply concerning and need to be addressed.
Load Management: An Unacceptable Trend
Barkley is adamant that the practice of load management, where star players sit out games to manage their workload, is unacceptable. He argues that these players, who are making astronomical salaries of $80-100 million per year, should be playing basketball. Barkley questions the notion of fans paying exorbitant prices to watch these players sit out due to "fatigue."
Part 2/4:
"You can't ask people out here who go out here and get their hard-earned money on like real jobs, they say I'm coming to see this great player play, and he's like, 'I'm not gonna play because I was tired,'" Barkley says. "That's not sustainable."
Barkley suggests that the solution could be to incentivize players to play more games, perhaps through a bonus system. He believes that the current situation is an "embarrassment" and that players should be grateful for the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level, especially given the advancements in sports medicine and the financial rewards.
The Three-Point Shooting Epidemic
Part 3/4:
Barkley also expresses concern over the NBA's obsession with three-point shooting, which he believes has turned the game into a "three-point shooting contest." While he acknowledges that when the shots are falling, teams will win, he argues that teams need to have a "Plan B" when the three-pointers are not falling.
Barkley suggests that the league needs to find a way to address this issue, as the game has become too reliant on the three-point shot. He believes that the league needs to find a balance between the excitement of the three-point shot and the traditional elements of the game.
The Greatest Time to Play Sports
Part 4/4:
Despite these concerns, Barkley recognizes that this is the greatest time to play sports, both financially and from a health and medical standpoint. He acknowledges the advancements in sports medicine, the improved safety protocols, and the lucrative salaries that players are now earning.
However, Barkley believes that players should be grateful for these opportunities and should be willing to play the game they love, rather than sitting out due to load management. He argues that the current situation is an "embarrassment" and that the league needs to find a way to address these issues to preserve the integrity of the game.