Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who has advocated in the past for shorter regular seasons, is beating that drum again this fall with soft tissue injuries on the rise around the NBA, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. Kerr said he’s “very concerned” about the increase in injuries, pointing to an increased pace of play and a relentless schedule as two factors he believes are contributing to the trend.
“The pace difference is dramatic,” Kerr said after Tuesday’s game vs. Orlando. “This team tonight has really upped their pace compared to last year. I think across the league everybody understands now it’s just easier to score now if you can beat (the other team) down the floor, get out in transition. But when everybody’s doing that, the game’s are much faster paced, and everyone has to cover out to 25 feet because everyone can shoot threes.
“… We have all the data,” Kerr continued. “Players are running faster and further than ever before, so we’re trying to do the best we can to protect them, but basically have a game every other night and it’s not an easy thing to do … (The medical staff) believe that the wear and tear, the speed, the pace, the mileage, it’s all factoring into these injuries.”
Kerr said the NBA has done a commendable job of trying to reduce back-to-backs and instances of four games in five days, but points out that it has resulted in teams rarely getting more than one day off between games, which results in little recovery time and almost no opportunities for practices.
“We literally have not had a single practice on this road trip. Not one,” Kerr said after the fifth game of a six-game trip. “We’ve gone a week, or longer, eight days, not one practice. It’s just game, game, game. So not only is there no recovery time, there’s no practice time. What was different back in the day — you did have four in five nights, which was not great, but then you’d have four days before your next game. So you’d take a day off, and you’d actually have a couple good practices and scrimmage. So there’s no easy answer here.”
Kerr isn’t alone in believing that playing fewer regular season games would benefit the players — Knicks forward Josh Hart agreed with that sentiment on Thursday, as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post relays. However, both Kerr and Hart acknowledged that it would be very difficult to actually implement that change due to the loss of revenue that would occur..
“Do I think there’s too many games? Yeah,” Hart said. “Conversely, will (team owners) and the league and players take a pay cut to not do that? I don’t know. It’s easy to sit there and say that we play too many games — which we do — but conversely, we’re also blessed to be able to benefit greatly from it.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA:
- In a pair of stories for The Athletic, Fred Katz takes a look at some of the NBA’s most improved players so far this season, while John Hollinger zeros in on several of the league’s breakout players. Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pistons center Jalen Duren show up on both lists, with Hollinger suggesting Duren appears to be on track for max or near-max money when he reaches restricted free agency next summer.
- Previewing the salary cap landscape for the 2026 offseason, Keith Smith of Spotrac projects that six teams will operate with cap room, led by the Wizards with over $80MM in space. We conducted a similar exercise earlier this month, noting that the Wizards, Jazz, Nets, and Bulls are best positioned to go under the cap, while several other teams – like the Lakers and Clippers – are in the “maybe” category depending on what happens with certain free agents and player options.
- A panel of ESPN’s NBA insiders takes an early look at potential trade-deadline needs for eight NBA teams hoping to contend this season, including the Pistons, Lakers, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Knicks. In the view of Bobby Marks, the Pistons are better positioned than any other Eastern Conference playoff team to make an in-season move, given their cap flexibility, movable contracts, and extra draft picks.
17 games in 30 days in 14 different cities shows the NBA schedule is horrible. Its not that hard with AI to come up with better schedules. So why does the NBA do such a bad jobs on schedules?
This could be solved by adding 2 weeks to the season, 1 before and 1 after.
All the injuries prove that the league is hurting the players by this scheduling stupidity.
the old baseball schedules is what they should use. Have back to back only on home games not road games. Simple fixes. Adding a week to teh start of teh season too.
I like that back to back on home games.
The Kleenex are on the way …..
i will keep the tissues out for the knick fans since they have had a very easy schedule to start the year with 1 back to back compared to 5 back to back. I wonder if a knick fan made their schedule. That is the easiest schedule in the NBA
I agree its tough. But it will feel good at end of year. When other teams have it. Its a marathon not sprint. Enjoy the ride.
Oddly, it was Steve Kerr’s teams that originated the West Coast offense of run-and-gun and zero defense. Nothing’s changed, he currently uses the same system. Now he opposes the system that he helped create says all we need to know why Kerr’s lack of contract extension and removal from Team USA may have merit.. might be time to hop off Curry’s coattails and fade away.
You have the wrong coach that did run and gun with no defense. That was Nelson who did it. Kerr always been about defense. When they won they had good defense. look at Iggy who was a defense first player. Green a defense first player. Thompson a 2 way player. Nelson was the coach way before Kerr and run TMC.
He doesn’t oppose the system. It says in the interview that it’s the way to run offense. He’s advocating for a shorter season.
Kerr blames injuries on the relentless schedule but then admits the schedule isn’t as relentless as it was when we had less injuries in the NBA.
There’s former players talking about this all over podcasts and they say injuries are up because modern players aren’t practicing as much as past eras. I’ve heard many mention how modern players all have their personal trainers who say they should condition less vs what team trainers used to push these players to do.
It’s a tough situation for teams because they don’t want to make players practice or run all the time but that conditioning prevents injuries during games.
KERR’s main point was pace of speed is causing more injuries. Players are playing faster, playing much more above the rim, and having to burst out to defend a much longer court cause of the use of the three point line. They have to burst out often to get to the 3 point line to defend which puts pressure on the hamstring.
I understand the points he was making and they go against what HOF players are saying the main reason is.
Kerr admitted his players aren’t practicing as much and he’ll continue to miss how conditioning improves health.
Don’t forget Devi Avdija and Keyonte George for MIP and breakout players. Both are on teams nobody cares to remember or watch but they have been hooping since the start of the season. Very exciting to watch a NBA fan.
This is Ryan Rollins award to lose, he is the definition of an MIP
Deni was a top 10 pick btw
Devi is averaging 26/6/5. It doesn’t matter if he’s a top 10 pick, Coby was a top 10 pick and he finished 2nd for MIP a few years ago. It’s early, but there’s some nice seasons some guys are having that are being barely talked about.
No way you think Deni improved more than Ryan Rollins
Ja Morant was MIP, it is not because they got it wrong in the past that they should keep on getting it wrong
Devi’s averaging 25.9/6.7/5.2 Rollins is averaging 17.4/3.7/5.3.
Let me know when Rollins stats are better than Devi’s. It’s not even up for debate.
BTW: Devi had 32/11/11 with 2 steals and 1 block last night in 38 mins against my team.
MIP isnt about who is the best player, it is about who improved the most
Doesnt matter if Deni is averaging 26 ppg, Rollins simply improved more than him
Rollins “improvement” is really just more minutes. He’s improved his rate stats marginally, he’s just getting 16 more minutes a night than he did last season.
Deni is only playing 4 more minutes a night than he did last season, but his numbers are way up as well.
I think Rollins numbers will drop as the season goes on (I doubt he shoots almost 47% from 3 all season) but even if the season ended today, I think Deni is a better choice.
They’ll likely be 1-2 though in the voting if they keep playing like this all season.
No love for either George boys on Wizards or Jazz?
It’s not their fault but the George boys are putting up empty numbers on crappy teams. Jalen Duren should be in the discussion for MIP so far as well. He’s upped his rebounding and scoring significantly while playing on the team that so far has the best record in the East.
His name is Deni
Stupid autocorrect. Thanks for letting me know lol.
I much rather have Kyshawn George than Keyonte George. Kyshawn is the clear MIP so far to me. He’s low-key 1 of the best young players in the East rn & I might even take him over Sarr as the best player on the Wizards
Yeap. Kyshawn over Sarr any day of the week. He’s more important to what is happening and what will become of this team than Alex.
The MIP award is weird.
Sometimes it’s given to a first-time All-Star/All-NBA who gets there out of nowhere.
Sometimes, to a high pick that has a big season, starting as early as a sophomore year.
Sometimes, to a guy who just ups his averages more than others.
Personally, I had Zubac in the All-NBA team last season (Harden made it, but I thought that Zubac deserved it way more) and had him as MIP.
It used to be a different vibe, back in the day it was the Isaac Austin’s and Darrel Armstrongs that were winning it. It wa for decent players who took a step up
The Warriors schedule has been insane, there was a point they had played like 6 more games than Houston for example
Constantly seeing so many player injuries this year, I was thinking too this has to be the faster and much more athletic game these days.
So many teams focused on half court offense. The offensive forwards and centers with their backs to the rim. Slow, methodical games. Now almost no one plays the slow methodical half court game pushing the ball inside. Everyone plays at a much faster pace, and defenders having to burst out to the 3 point line (putting lots of pressure on the hamstring).
Also, lots more playing above the rim. Jaxon Hays plays 15 minutes a game and at 7 feet tall, the kid is on the floor at least 5-7 times a game cause they have him do running alley oops. Someone barely touches him and he is on the ground awkwardly.
Jokic plays old style. Steady, using skill and manipulation to get rebounds. Hardly jumps, and he has never had a major injury and hardly out of the game.
They played at a very fast pace in the 80’s as well but for the most part the players that were playing weren’t as athletic. They also didn’t have to cover so much space. Take someone like Jaden McDaniels. The dude will cover the ball handler, get screened in the pick, fight through the pick then recover down low to give Gobert help on the weak side at then rim then rotate back out to cover a shooter if the opposing player kicks it out. He does this all in one defensive possession play after play. They didn’t do that back then, they’d just pack the paint and hack the slasher.
Jokic weighs 3x Hayes.
tHe pLaYeRs aRe tOo fAsT nOwAdAyS.
Johnny, You’re constantly posting silly stuff like this on this website. Thanks for the consistent laughs
Steve Kerr loves to use that BS quote. “We have the data” … every “big data” study in the past few years has been inconclusive at best. Common sense suggests playing less games leads to less injuries, obviously, but every time Kerr talks about it he just uses some vague notion of data.
The league isn’t going to lower the amount of games. They could maybe space out the season a little more, to give guys more rest between games, but it seems like the NBA wants the Finals the weekend it is, so that’s not happening either.
But of course, when Kerr’s team is old and injury prone, he’s going to complain about the amount of games. The Warriors could do so much better than Steve Kerr at this point.
I took Kerr’s comments as ‘my players used to play fast but now they are old, so everyone needs to slow down please’.
Queen is starting to rev up now. Great game against the Nuggets . 30mins, 30 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk
Last 5 gms he is playing more consistently. Pelicans should just let him and Missi play. They need mins together. This is their future I would think.
For MIP you have to look at last two yrs vs this year. And mostly last year really. So far Deni looks real good. His stats across the board are all up. His team is playing better cause he has helped them get better. Still early yes. Deni is definitely a top guy right now.
I’d also say Giddey is in the running. Duren should also be given some props.
link to yardbarker.com
All this is funny to me …..
“The pace difference is dramatic,” Kerr said after Tuesday’s game vs. Orlando. “This team tonight has really upped their pace compared to last year. I think across the league everybody understands now it’s just easier to score now if you can beat (the other team) down the floor, get out in transition. But when everybody’s doing that, the game’s are much faster paced, and everyone has to cover out to 25 feet because everyone can shoot threes.”
The court size hasn’t changed. You pick them up full court or half court. That’s how you slow teams down. And you are not really running out to cover threes. If you are picking up your man at three point line. The only player who needs to be back is your rim protector. And he can just wait at foul line. Spoken like a guy who never played D.
Wait….the coach with an aging roster wants a shorter season or an easier shedule…..really?
Hart nailed it! Of course it would be better for players, viewers and the quality of play if they played a reduced schedule. But there is to much money on the table, networks would lose games or get lesser quality games to broadcast on nights good teams are off, to much revenue for cities of home teams, tv, teams, players etc. I don’t see them sacrificing $$ (I don’t blame them) to improve product or even health.
Is Kerr kidding? He didn’t play in the 1970’s or early 1980’s, but you’d think that, over all the years he’s been the game, he’d have spoken with someone who did. Maybe he just wants fewer games and wants to rally the 2k’ers to his cause. The latter will buy anything.
You look at these stars from 50s, 60s, 70s. They avg over 36 mins lol. Some even over 40 mins. Unreal man
Wilt avg 45.8 mins for his career. Hard to even imagine this. Guys pull hamstrings now after 10 gms ….
link to basketball-reference.com
Those all time greats didn’t have the benefit of today’s cadre of experts who claim to know why, when and how injuries happen, and the best practices to prevent them. Without that, how could these mere ball players possibly understand how dangerous a place a basketball court really is? The fools, they just went out there and played ball. Must have been lucky.
there’s only been 15 games played so far. why the talk about the schedule’s to long? acting like it’s near the end of the season already when guys can’t even make it 20 percent of the way in.
Teams should play 82 but limit players to 75 games. Saves legs and makes coaches manage. Revenue not lost for teams players or league. Mandatory load management.
OK so we are supposed to believe that the pace now is faster than those players in the 80s. If I accept that then why wouldn’t the NBA increase the size of rosters which would encourage more substitution and less minutes at that supposedly faster pace? Especially since the league is making 10 times or more the amount of money it made in the 80s.