this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2023
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Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Kawhi and PG have been often sidelined due to injuries and load management -- but now with both healthy, they're playing, and playing A LOT, in what looks to be a huge deviation from the Clippers' previous load management strategy.

Kawhi and PG have played in all 19 games this season (including back to backs) -- Kawhi racking up 653 total minutes so far, PG with 676. They are 13th and 26th respectively in total minutes played this season.

If they were to keep up this pace (and not miss a single game, which is unlikely) Kawhi would be on pace for 2821 total minutes and PG on pace for 2919 total minutes. Kawhi has averaged 1789 total minutes per season since joining the Clippers (not accounting for the entire season he missed in '21-'22), and PG has averaged only 1564 total minutes per year. They are on pace to blow past those minutes totals by the all-star break.

PG was an ironman in Indiana and OKC, in his age 22 season he played 2972 total minutes. He played 2600+ total minutes in 6 of his first 9 seasons. Kawhi on the other hand is playing an unprecedented amount of minutes, his most minutes played in a season was 2474 at age 25 with San Antonio.

This all coming on the heels of the NBA stating their data does not support that load management prevents injury and their new Player Participation policy. The Clippers too seem to have scrapped their load management strategy this season.

The Clippers are 9-10 after 19 games.

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[–] keepon18@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I'm trying to understand this. If Kawhi has a degenerative knee injury, then he shouldn't be playing all these games and that it could adversely affect the end of this season, if not his career. If he doesn't, then he was basically just missing games in previous seasons for rest and the NBA "not supporting" load management seems to be the correct course of action.

I feel like players should play if they are not injured. I kinda miss how it was way back when ~ players played every game and would only rest at the end of the season once their team's playoff seeding was wrapped up. It is also like a different sport now and you'd think the NBA would make it easier to showcase games by removing B2Bs or something.

[–] Surflover12@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

All the people talking shit and kawhi has played every game and is looking great

[–] dogbreathdrummer@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] blueberry_portal@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Keep in mind it’s their contract year. It’s in their best interest to drive their value up this season.

[–] Fr0_oz3n@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Tight. Hope they get a ring.

[–] SwiggySiggyDoc@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Dont jinx them bruh

[–] SafeAndSane04@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

They've been sitting back in LA for too long. They don't play through any injury and the take load management to an extreme. Probably being told to play or they'll pay the team fines and get traded to some hellscape team like the Wizards. They love being in LA too much to risk that

[–] No-Equipment-20@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The funniest timeline is if it’s true that load management straight up doesn’t work and we were pointlessly holding players out for years. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle though, NBA has a vested interest in reducing load management

[–] PsychedelicWalton@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Did we not all witness it help the Raptors win their championship?

[–] ThomasHardyHarHar@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

No. Because we only have the world where tbe used it and won.

[–] N0minal@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Kawhi probably going to go out with an injury soon and to top it all off, the LA AAU boys are mid as hell.

[–] star_nerdy@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Obviously they want to show up and play as this is a contract year.

The only thing I hate though is the idea people throw around about how Ballmer doesn’t have a choice but to give them a boatload of money during the offseason because they’re opening a new arena next year.

They may be opening a new arena, but giving money to players who have done nothing other than play close to home is idiotic. Unless those contracts are incentive based or one year with player options, the clippers would be wise to mine on this off season.

[–] fediverser@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

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[–] lets_talk_basketball@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Spooky part is that they are still only 9-10.. so when those guys start missing some games, what happens? Ewing effect?

[–] bb1432@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

LOL, OP thinks these two walking DNPs are gonna stay healthy all year!

[–] mxgicjohnson@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Bittersweet ending but i’ll always root for Kawhi.

He is still the Michael Jordan of Canada until we get a new one!

[–] ButtVader@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

It's contract year Kawhi and PG, they gonna get paid and then go back to getting injured again

[–] Intelligent_Apple280@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

If the animals along the equator were capable of flattery, Halloween and Thanksgiving would fall on the same date.

[–] hexsealedfusion@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Wild what being in a contract year does

[–] Poronga-Arenosa@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

so they will fall apart faster this year

[–] SG-2000@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

They’re all in. Then again they’ve been all-in since giving away SGA and a billion picks.

They might have the best roster in the league. I’m surprised they didn’t look better against the Warriors these past couple games.

[–] clayfu@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Pg was never a load management guy. He was just always getting random injuries.

In 2020-2021 they played Kawhi in b2b.

Kawhi missed 2021-2022 due to acl injury.

Last year they didn’t cause he was recovering from acl surgery.

[–] Putrid_Ad_2256@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I don't remember hearing so much about load management in prior eras in the NBA. Players went through full practices, played decent but limited minutes in preseason games, but never took days off when it came to playing the game they loved. The shift has gone into monetizing everything, and that includes player minutes. If a starter can't put in the minutes, then they become 6th men and come off the bench. If they can't put in bench minutes, then they need to retire. Not sure why people are "saving themselves" from actual play. Put it all out there and leave it on the floor. There will be plenty of time to rest after retirement.

[–] SilvioDantesPeak@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Good. It's become increasingly obvious that load management not only fails to keep players healthy, but actually makes them more susceptible to injuries because their bodies are not conditioned for NBA game intensity.

[–] Jonesalot@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

They need to play to get the extension next off season

[–] mattyyellowhouse@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Lets also be real, this is them not being injured.

Kawhi is now a over a full season away from his ACL tear.

Pg has not been load managed, just injured a lot.

[–] ImGonnaChubbBradley@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

They have to if they want any chance in the west this year

[–] dkdoki@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Or aka “I need a new contract so lets finally play” season

[–] Serenadingthrough@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Let’s see how long it last. I’d love to see that combo play as a fan but they’ve both had injuries leading to serious load management.

[–] GPap-@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

They’ve had a solid 2 years of load management. About time. Plus they’re both in contract years so safe to assume they want to show they still got it