These guys are not important. The replacements wherent either. The fact remains I never noticed the replacements when I was watching the games though and when the regular season starts I am sure my blood pressure will go through the ref because of the bonehead phantom calls and favoritism returns with the old guys returning. The same boneheadedness that allowed Yao to get beat up game after game and ultimately get injured while they blew call after call for other players for coming near them. Some of these guys are older than some of our great grandfathers and are expected to reach snap decisions about charges and traveling. Thats after they have run up and down the floor for 2 and half hours. The league needs a change soon or a later on that front.
