Charlotte Hornets: Steve Clifford Isn’t Going to Rest Players
Regardless of if the Charlotte Hornets are out of the playoffs or secure a seed, Steve Clifford isn’t likely to rest players considering the team’s culture.
With Michael Jordan at the helm and Patrick Ewing as the associate head coach, the Charlotte Hornets have core personnel that oppose resting players. With the current climate in the NBA, a recent topic has been resting players and if more teams should do it. While the science backs up sitting guys on some nights to avoid fatigue or injury, a small number of teams actually participate in this activity.
Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs and LeBron James‘ Cleveland Cavaliers teams have been the most notable to “rest” players this season. The act seems normal enough upon occasion but recently, fans and NBA commissioner Adam Silver are demanding that something be done for this to stop. The fact of the matter is, only a few teams can actually afford the luxury of resting players.
Most teams, like Charlotte, must play their best guys every night just to have a fighting chance at a playoff spot. That is the problem though because the national audience only cares if the best teams and players rest which is what is happening. Sure Hornets’ fans would be upset if Kemba Walker missed a game but the whole league wouldn’t be up in arms over him resting.
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Thankfully, fans of Buzz City don’t have to worry about resting players. Maybe to a fault, MJ and Ewing are rigid and stuck in their ways. The ways of the old school NBA where players played hurt, were tough and got through an 82-game season without complaining because they were being paid to do so (less money than the players make today I might add). Jordan and Ewing have somewhat built a culture of not resting players in Charlotte.
When asked about the topic, Hornets’ head coach Steve Clifford said ““It’s easy for me because I’m working for an owner who doesn’t believe in (resting healthy players),’’ Clifford said of Jordan. “I also have an associate head coach who would kill me if I started doing that.” (NBA.com)
Coach Clifford also added, “I’ve had two or three dinners and conversations with (Jordan) and Patrick and they start talking about (resting players) and (Jordan) doesn’t understand it. Nor does Patrick,’’ Clifford added. “Their thing is, that’s why you play.”
It’s clear to see that the Hornets aren’t going to be resting players anytime soon. Good or bad, that is how it’s going to be for them. Not that they can even afford to do that with their current roster but even if they were a top team, I think MJ would still expect Kemba and company to play all 82 games in a season.
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This isn’t to say that resting players is wrong because science backs up the notion that it can add to the longevity of a players’ career. Although, there are a few ways to fix the epidemic in the league as many experts have noted. Nothing is going to be perfect and make everyone happy but if this is the biggest problem facing the NBA, then I think the league is doing pretty dang well.