I agree, in the NFL one game is huge. If NY didn't rest up the Texans would have made it to the post season for once.
Why is this a problem? Resting players the last 2 games of the season is acceptable any more than that is questionable, depending on their situation. I understand the fans want to see what they pay for, but the ultimate goals of the organization and the fans I would hope are to win a ring. Since there is such a short break between the end of the regular season and the playoffs and the game means nothing, why risk losing a key player to injury? Why is this a concern all of the sudden? This is done in the NFL and it isn't questioned at all.
Everyone knows the last games of the season are crappy. Thats why some home teams have "fan appreciation" nights. Give 'em a t-shirt and some fast food coupons to distract them from noticing the 3rd stringers playing against each other. A coworker who is not a big basketball fan, he was getting tickets to the Clippers game the other day and asked me if the Mavericks had anything to play for. He even sensed that teams are going to play hard or ease up depending on the stakes. He WANTED Dirk and Kidd to play sure, but he didnt feel it was OBLIGATION that they better play or else. League needs to look into the competition issues during the other 97% percent the season.
I'm not sure about that. If the Colts were 14-0 and had it all wrapped up and played the Texans on game 15, I can see Manning, Wayne, and co sitting out the 2nd half.
By the end of the season, every player out there is playing through some type of injury. There is no way they would be able to enforce this, it's just talk.
i dont see why this is a problem, as a fan if my team already clinched a plaff spot i would rest my top guns as much as possible...... on the other hand if my team hasnt made the plaff offs and we play a team that already did and they are resting their top guns, the better for my team so i dont see why this is an issue
The practice of resting stars when the games don't matter really has been a travesty. Thousands of customers paid to see these guys play. I hope the league does pass a rule about this and enforces it as vigorously as they do the anti-flopping rule.
The teams should be allowed to rest any player they want. Of course, when they rest that player the fans should get a partial reimbursement or something to compensate them for the fact they just got screwed out of their money. I see it from both sides. Yes, healthy franchise players should be able to sit out games if they or the team thinks it will help them in the playoffs BUT these guys are here to entertain the fans. No fans = no money. There has to be some balance.
David Stern's "new NBA" is so lame, terrible officiating to benefit the fans desire for offensive explosions, taking all the roughness and physicality from the game, I don't want fights, but cmon who doesn't love to see a few brawls here and there, jk, or am I?
