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Jayson Tatum on Load Management: 'I Just Think About the Young Kid, the Kid Inside Me from St. Louis That Dreamed About Being in the NBA'
The narrative is that players are the driving force behind load management and stars sitting out. But generally speaking, organizations, which have invested more in sports science than ever, have more to do with it.
What's most responsible is a relentless 82-game regular season schedule. There are fewer back-to-backs now, and the NBA has cut down on teams playing four games in five days and three in four. But the style of play in an era emphasizing pace and spacing is more demanding than ever.
Combine a schedule that, even with less frequent flying, calls for three to four games a week, and traveling in between matchups, with today's style of play and teams of sports scientists putting workloads under a microscope and sharing their findings with their employers, an arrow often pointing toward finding games to sit out, and it's not a mystery why that's happening more than ever.
Ahead of Wednesday's matchup between the Celtics and Cavaliers, Cleveland's head coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed, "the reality is that I don’t see them changing from 82 games."
He's right about that. Who wants to leave money on the table?
Still, it's an issue the NBA needs to address. Perhaps, more rest days between matchups, even if that cuts into the offseason, would lead to a better product, players sitting out less, and ensuring stars aren't inactive for a road game that represents their one trip to that market.
But even under the grueling, relentless conditions of today's NBA, there are stars that suit up nearly every night. One of those ironmen is Jayson Tatum.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The four-time All-Star has played in 59 of the Celtics' 63 games. His 37.3 minutes per contest this season rank second in the league. He's fourth in total minutes, logging 2202.
When I asked Paul Pierce, who played at least 80 games in six seasons, including back-to-back with 82, about Tatum's dependability, he stated the following.
"He's a kid that loves to play. He doesn't like to take rest games and things of that nature; he's ready to go, he's going to play, and I respect that. Especially in a day and age guys are using load management and things of that nature, so I like what he's been able to do. Like they always say, the best ability sometimes is availability."
And on the heels of a 41-point, 11-rebound, eight-assist performance, Tatum's ninth time scoring at least 40 this season, the fifth-most such games in the NBA, and his 34th with at least 30 points, the most by a Celtics player in a season since Larry Bird in 1987-88, the man himself shared his perspective on load management.
"I totally understand, right? It's a long season. Some guys are a little bit older or managing certain injuries, right? And with all the sports science, for certain guys, it's what's best for them.
"For me, I just think about the young kid, the kid inside me from St. Louis that dreamed about being in the NBA. All I've ever wanted to do was play basketball. I love the game; I love to play. I try to never take this situation for granted. I never try to, I'm not gonna say I take it for granted, always be thankful because I truly am living out my dream. So, wake up excited, and I get an opportunity to play basketball for a living, right, and that's not really work, it's something I love to do.
"And the organization, Brad (Stevens), sometimes wants me to play a little bit less, so we have conversations. (It's) as simple as I just love being out there, I love playing, I love competing, love trying to win as much as I can."
Further Reading
Joe Mazzulla Speaks On Decision To Bench Grant Williams
Jayson Tatum Shares the Keys to His 41-Point Performance in Celtics Win vs. Cavaliers
A Top Celtics Free-Agent Target Signs Elsewhere, Where Does Boston Go from Here?
