ORLANDO, Fla. – Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed his concern about the increase in soft tissue injuries in the NBA, attributing it to the fast pace of play and the compressed 82-game schedule.In recent days, several significant injuries have been reported.Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks suffered a groin strain.In addition, five other NBA players are also out of action due to calf strains: Anthony Davis, Ty Jerome, Dylan Harper, Ja Morant, and Jrue Holiday.The Warriors’ medical staff believes that wear and tear, speed, and mileage are influencing these injuries.According to data, the league is playing at its fastest average collective pace since the 1988-89 season. Players have covered an average of 34.3 miles per game this season, at an average speed of 4.43 mph, the longest average distance and fastest average speed since player tracking began in 2013-14.
Kerr has been a strong advocate for shortening the NBA schedule from 82 games to 72 or less, believing that a little more rest and practice time over several months would yield positive results.In the whole league, everyone understands that it’s easier to score if you outrun the opponent on the court, get out in transition. But when everyone does that, the games are at a much higher pace. Everyone has to cover up to 25 feet because everyone can shoot three-pointers. We have all the data. Players run faster and farther than before. We are trying to do the best we can, but basically we have a game every other night. It’s not easy.
Steve Kerr
The Warriors are already in their fifth back-to-back in the first month, playing in Orlando on Tuesday night and in Miami on Wednesday night to close out a six-game road trip. After the Miami game, they will have played a maximum of 17 games in 29 days in 12 cities.Kerr expressed skepticism about the possibility of the league seriously considering reducing the schedule due to the financial implications.We literally haven’t had a single practice on this trip. Not one. We’ve been gone a week or more. Eight days, not one practice. It’s just game, game, game. So not only is there no recovery time, there’s also no practice time.
Steve Kerr
The difficult part is that all the components would have to agree to accept less income.
Steve Kerr
