Should the Grizzlies start load managing?

Load management and players resting has been a topic of heated debate over the last few years, but is it time for the Memphis Grizzlies to employ that strategy?

Ever since the San Antonio Spurs popularized the strategy in the late-2000’s to early-2010’s, resting healthy players has been a controversial topic that has sparked no lack of heated debate. Surely, once the allure of the All-Star break wears off and the playoffs begin to inch closer and closer, there will be endless conversations surrounding it by all in the mainstream sports media.

Still, the success of that Spurs squad shows that, no matter how controversial the strategy is, it’s effective. Which begs the question, is it time for the Memphis Grizzlies to start resting their stars?

This whole discussion is sparked by the recent injury scares of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Both of whom had to leave the court–JJJ leaving during the Grizzlies’ Nov. 2 loss to the Phoenix Suns and Ja Morant leaving during Memphis’ Nov. 25 loss to the Indiana Pacers–during the back half of double-digit loses.

Both players ended up with near injuries to their knees. Morant ended up returning later on in that game, whereas Jackson missed the next game, though that was the result of the organization being careful and not Jackson’s injury. Even then, considering that the Grizzlies are currently on one of the worst season opening stretches in franchise history, and are currently miles away from even thinking about a playoff run, would it be best if Memphis started periodically resting their stars?

Well, as is common with situations like this, the answer isn’t so simple.

On the one hand, the young and developing stars that Memphis features could use the on-court experience. You can train as hard as you want, but nothing really beats actually getting on the court and playing against the top-level opponents that you’ll find in the NBA. The on-court experience could also help the young team grow in its chemistry, which would pay dividends when the team is ready to make a playoff run.

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On the other hand, injuries to young players are a growing concern. Since the 2015 NBA draft, there have been six players picked in the top-five who sustained a serious injury at some point in their career, and that’s not counting Morant or Jackson’s injury.

Not only that, but Jackson and Morant both played on AAU teams, a trend which has become a growing concern in the NBA due to the large amount of players who came from that system and then sustained a serious lower-body injury once they were in the NBA. Including Jackson, who ended his rookie season after just 58 games due to a serious injury last season. That injury, similar to the one this season, was a leg injury, and just like this season, the Grizzlies rested him while he was healthy.

The injury to Morant has been especially essential in sparking this debate. Namely, after a baseline cameraman placement was blamed for at least playing a part in the injury, many are now asking the question whether or not those cameramen need to be moved. However, almost nobody is asking whether or not the Grizzlies need to rest their young stars, or about the dangerous of the AAU system.

In the end, whether or not they want to rest their stars sits solely on the Memphis front office. Certainly, the decision isn’t one that the organization is to take lightly, and they almost definitely won’t.

Although the decision to rest their young stars isn’t one that’s bound to sit lightly with Memphis’ fans, it may be in the best long-term interests of the organization in order to ensure that their stars are healthy and ready to make a deep playoff run once the organization is ready.