The Wizards will likely hold Russell Westbrook out of either the first or second game of the team’s back-to-back sets this season, head coach Scott Brooks said on Sunday, as Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington details.
Before sending John Wall to Houston in exchange for Westbrook, the Wizards had been planning to employ a similar strategy with Wall as he returned from his torn Achilles. Westbrook is believed to be fully healthy, but Washington still wants to play it safe with its star point guard during a season that will be more condensed than usual.
“This is going to be a grind,” Brooks said. “He’s not a youngster anymore even though he still has as much energy as anybody as I’ve seen.”
As Hughes notes, the Wizards have seven back-to-back sets on tap during the first half of the 2020/21 schedule. The NBA has yet to release the second-half schedule.
Teams have been strongly discouraged from resting healthy players during nationally televised games, even if they’re part of back-to-backs. However, that shouldn’t be a problem for the Wizards, who aren’t scheduled to appear on ESPN, TNT, or ABC at all during the first half.
This is really going to help team chemistry. Russ will be no leader for Washington doing this
It’s Beal’s team anyway. Not really looking for Russ to be a leader in the first place.
They would miss the playoffs
Hawks are healthy
This shows how unfair the NBA policy is. I get that Washington isn’t on the national TV schedule because they’re not a serious force to be reckoned with… but because of that, it’s essentially okay for them to rest their star and not necessarily ok for a contending team to do so…
Seems like the NBA would have an interest in having the marquee names in the playoffs as healthy and effective as possible.
Not a bad idea to look out for your stars. He will play when most needed. Westbrook is fiercest competitor of his generation. Wouldn’t read much into that. Load management is part of all sports today. They are the investment. Take care of it. Wizards are a playoff team. They and Hawks will make biggest leaps this yr.
Harden knew this was coming…trade makes more sense now
Wall has a much brighter future than Westbrook, who is now 32.
K Sillyman always the troll.
Defending at the same time that Durant’s career is over and Wall’s future is bright certainly requires some nerve.
Who said KD’s career is over? All I said was he is no longer an MVP-caliber player and the Nets are the worst team he has played for. Both of these seem quite accurate. Sure Durant will still make the All-Star team in the east, which isn’t very difficult anymore. But he’s not reaching the Finals as a Net, especially with Kyrie around to screw things up.
houston has been backtracking.
You want the stars to play during the regular season? Then cut the playoffs back to division winners and 1 wild card team per conference. Then you’ll start seeing these lazy fools playing back to back games all the time.
Lazy they are not. I’m not into this “load management” strategy but guys are trying to avoid injury and stay available.
The back to back game rule should be similar to a 7-10 day baseball disabled list. If they have to rest one they are on the list for 7 days unable to play and you call up one of your 2way players.