Stephen A. and Max Kellerman get into a heated debate over load management in the NBA | First Take

Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman debate the impact that load management has on the NBA season.
#FirstTake #NBA
✔ Subscribe to ESPN+ plus.espn.com/
✔ Get the ESPN App: www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on KZbin: es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoKZbin
✔ Subscribe to ESPN FC on KZbin: bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoESPNFC
✔ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on KZbin: bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔ Watch ESPN on KZbin TV: es.pn/KZbinTV
Exclusive interviews with Rachel Nichols urlzs.com/jNURe
Stephen A. Smith on ESPN urlzs.com/W19Tz
ESPN on Social Media:
► Follow on Twitter: / espn
► Like on Facebook: / espn
► Follow on Instagram: fespn
Visit ESPN on KZbin to get up-to-the-minute sports news coverage, scores, highlights and commentary for NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, College Football, NCAA Basketball, soccer and more.
More on ESPN.com: www.espn.com

[@KyngFishN]

Max just missed a perfect moment to say “ You’re wrong and here’s why “ 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@SoulsDark321]

swear 💀

[@allmightoneforall1338]

Max is right tho people always confuse *real* defense with that WWE bullshit that used to go down, being able to slam someone is a *much* easier way of stopping someone from scoring than the defense that is required now

[@012gage]

Facts lol

[@kriss613]

@@allmightoneforall1338 Intesting take

[@Supafreshh]

I would’ve died 🤣

[@jeremywalton7001]

*Video LITERALLY STARTING* Max: You’re wrong 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@davids.7845]

Jeremy Walton the vid right before this is part 1😂😂

[@ethananderson6516]

I literally did the same thing haha

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

😭😭

[@ochovon8238]

Did you see Stephen A face 😭😭

[@maliquedlewis]

😂

[@CTB1106]

“Are you saying, with a straight face, on national television” 😭

[@JusRozYo]

that was amazing😂😂😂 they just weren't on the same page of what ''harder defense'' and ''more defense'' means 😪

[@acruz978]

Araz Aliyev You hit it right on the nail !

[@TonyRay919]

😂😂😂😂

[@painoftruth6593]

They used to run the court only the strongest still had a jump shot at the end of the game😛😛😛

[@Christian900]

Gotta love Em 😆

[@seancarter7954]

“That’s a lie... THATS A LIE”...😂😂😂

[@joel146]

It was a lie

[@andruha1067]

More fake news from the liberal media. What else is new.

[@toryrods]

*Click on video* Max: You're Wong... Me: Oh this is gonna be good😬

[@alixnemorin1935]

Tory Rodney 🔥🔥🔥 lol that hyped me up

[@coreybanks4943]

Tory Rodney gahahahah

[@lxnnrz]

Om 😂😂

[@anthonyg9017]

But in the end max was wrong defense was way more intense back in the day

[@dreadxplayzs7849]

Lmfao

[@sirmacray]

These two are the best thing since tom and Jerry 😂

[@jamdum2290]

Lol

[@jdaily2293]

Skip and Steve was better, shame ESPN let Skip walk

[@silversauceran]

whos the tom whos the jerry skip and shannon is great too

[@TheodoreBrosevelt]

@@silversauceran They're more like a married couple

[@BobbyGeneGrayson3]

Max: “you’re wrong” Stephen A: “wait, what?!” 😂😂

[@DwayneIsKing]

SAS: 👁👄👁"woah, woah! Chillll bro chilllll!" 😂😂😂

[@TheDifferenced]

Das illegal!

[@swsmp]

uno reverse card

[@nicolascovarrubias7915]

"could you imagine me talking to a room full of max's" hahaha

[@facelessandnameless]

Nicolas Covarrubias I died when he said that 😂

[@djcutarekord]

Don't shoot!

[@brianditto5070]

Only issue I have with load management is the star player taking off for an away game. Do it at home where they get to see you 41 times

[@kennethrivers4601]

Agreed

[@matthewr920]

Nope, road trips are when players are worn down the most. The schedule puts a lot of strain on the players when they go on a 6 game road trip and the last one is a B2B. I don't care if its on ESPN or TNT as an organization you rest and take care of your players when they are worn and exhausted, not ask them to play for a game that ultimately means little to their legacy. Like Max was saying the media has blown up the importance of the title and not enjoying the game on a day to day basis.

[@gabrielwitte1259]

Why would a team decide to lower their ticket sales by having the stars take games off at home

[@214chopsticks214]

They should just figure out how much money the players are getting paid a year. Find the average of money per game. And take that money off the paycheck. That'll be fair. If you don't play, you dont get paid. And they'll lose more money than just a fine.

[@alexanderjackson8389]

@@214chopsticks214 they still get paid to practice

[@RatoyaBanks]

The pistons were beating everybody up back in the bad boys days and they weren’t taking load management days 😂😂😂😂😂

[@SKTV1991]

They only had two players who were actually good basketball players. The rest were bums who couldnt do anything but beat people up

[@christianmandigo5108]

@@SKTV1991 they were all time elite team stop it they were very good

[@kalix975]

Josh Smith they had off days when they played against the expansion teams

[@RatoyaBanks]

I was referring to the teams that played them when I said they weren’t taking load management days. If we were about to play Detroit i would’ve definitely used a load management day 😂😂😂

[@nmasijika7557]

Ratoya Banks nba players with more strength today would body the pistons no cap only a Karl Malone and and a wilt and a Russell can handle that

[@sdsumiguel5937]

Load Management is a great title for an adult film.

[@elijahr0ck730]

Now I gotta go check the hub... it has to be out there

[@brandonbates9259]

Lol funny and true

[@jayphilly1703]

Dude, you are wrong for that one 😂😂😂

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Naw because loads are being managed

[@breazybear]

Max had been told he's "wrong and here's why" more than anyone ever

[@kevothegoat9891]

Nobody peep how mad max got when molly spoke at the end 😂😂

[@kevinwilson3296]

Kevo The Goat i seen that😂😂

[@mansamusa6724]

6:25

[@officialconch]

“I heard a by the way” lol

[@WhelmedButReady]

@@officialconch Bro, what was that? Lol, just blatant disrespect

[@officialconch]

RedLightning17 Max Savageman

[@yvans.]

Stephen A Smith : Max : You’re wrong Stephen: You’re wrong and there is........ wait a minute

[@samuelacosta1059]

"Don't tell me what I'm thinking. I speak fluent English. I know what I'm saying" Stephen A. is a legend

[@ghostblack305]

lol lol lol

[@MrDrimtim]

SAS: "Can you imagine me speaking to a room full of Max's? "

[@ajswaq]

My biggest wish is for undisputed and first take to merge into one show

[@eddydede4275]

ajswaq bruh that’s PPV worth type

[@luckycarter536]

They should make it a bigger deal & do it only like every other month

[@kamalidennis5546]

Exactly what I’ve been wanting for the longest it would be crazy. Just don’t let molly come

[@chasinbacon6554]

Bro Shannon vs Stephen A would be worth paying to see

[@ajswaq]

Kamali Dennis Molly definitely is not invited

[@joeyzhang3034]

I love how Steve say: that’s not what I’m saying but go ahead 🙄😂😂

[@ankletaker2729]

He does that when he’s losing the argument. And when he realizes he’s wrong he says. “See what you said there was slick max! If that’s what we’re talking about then you’re right, but...”

[@kamalidennis5546]

AnkleTaker 2 or he will say “when you look at it from perspective”

[@nprwikeepa6082]

It's Stephen A. not Steve.. Show some respect to the goat!

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Lol

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Stephen

[@DJNaz4You]

Max: Stephen A if you divide the jewels of energy spent by the number of times they run up and down the court times the distance of the court.... Stephen A: 🤯

[@rudyviray8931]

*Joules

[@DJNaz4You]

Rudy Viray thanks bro lol

[@wombatnation1709]

“Thanks bro” *Still doesn’t edit comment

[@DJNaz4You]

Wombat Nation relax lol

[@alfonsowhite7613]

Max said a fact....players have way more diversity of skills now, WAYYYYYYY harder to defend players than it was back in the day. The only reason people say that players played harder back then is because they were allowed to do more because of the rules. It is harder to guard people now because you can’t do the stuff they were allowed to.

[@tjsmith3046]

Don’t say the magic words Max, “ You’re wrong”

[@sasssports9664]

They should exercise more "Load Management" for Max n SAS. They have been talking all kinds of crazy lately. 🤣😂😎

[@LightDriveGaming]

Max gunna be gone soon Skip coming back

[@flamerjunkie1954]

@@LightDriveGaming from what sources

[@jordanworld321]

😂

[@FaceFamous]

@@flamerjunkie1954 google it. it was brought up yesterday as an idea. His contract is up next year

[@BrianLockett]

@@LightDriveGaming I doubt that'll happen. As bad as Max can be sometimes (which I think he sometimes does, just to give the show a "debate"), Skip is worse for the show. First Take's ratings are much better with SAS and Max. Max has more personality and is more likable (even when folks don't like him) than Skip is. Max also gives the show more chance to talk boxing, which is making a gradual rise again in sports.

[@Psycho_Logical_631]

Max: winning championships is like the thing now in the NBA....really so isn't that the thing in all sports? Lol you dont play sports to have a good reg season, you play for chips!!

[@MalikEKC]

They don't sell their sports on it. The best player in baseball has played in 1 playoff series and no one holds it against him

[@Kj-lg2lb]

MalikEKC u most not watch baseball if a pitcher plays every game he’ll blow his shoulder out😭😭do your research

[@kyleallen22]

Yes but the hype over the NBA trophy is insanely higher than the regular season compared to the NFL where regular season matchups are huge then comes the super bowl. The only fanbase that is hype for the finals only is the NBA the regular season isnt as talked up as much was Max's point I think

[@donnellthurmond9008]

@@Kj-lg2lb = hh

[@OfficialJHoly]

@@kyleallen22 No that is Max's point and he says that clearly. I swear a lot of people are just like Steven A sometimes. I'm not gonna lie it is hard to follow Max sometimes but the dude does state his claims clearly if your brain can't process it then that's on you. I don't get how this guy portrayed his comment like Max didn't lay out why a championship in the NBA is more hyped than Chips in the other sports.

[@ShazammtheProducer]

Max hit him with the your wrong and here’s why lol

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Noooice

[@mottz1382]

When SAS twitches his head .... He’s about to go in 🤣😂

[@TehZaydo]

G code

[@heavenizmyhome718]

😂🤣😂

[@AnthonyBrown-xd2lw]

ESPN thumbnails are hilarious 😂 I

[@Only2GendersCommonSense]

Why not incorporate load management into all jobs across America.

[@BrianLockett]

Corporate America: "Well, okay--" **introduce more AI/robots to replace our jobs**

[@NoobGamer-mh4gj]

Corporate america would love that actually. Less full time workers means less compensation and coverage. Less payment to employees too

[@crdish11]

Load management=holidays

[@CouchCit]

One thing I wanna point out: Throughout all these talks of load management I haven't heard them touch on the topic of playoff teams mostly choosing to play only 7-8 players from their full roster, on repeat, throughout their entire playoffs. The league doesn't have a problem with that, just like they don't have a problem with the current length of the NBA season....oh but they got a problem if a player says they don't feel well enough to play back2back2back games?!? They can't have it both ways...more exciting NBA games with higher scores = more stress on the star players. Something has to give...

[@marxeloworld5837]

Max Came Out Da Gate Ready( Your Wrong)😂😂🤣

[@jayphilly1703]

And he end up being wrong too.

[@jugroopshergill953]

Max: It don’t matter if Kawhi takes the whole year off and the lakers win the championship because he still beat them opening night

[@RIQ2Turnt]

Jugroop Shergill 😂😂

[@andresarroyo2025]

I look forward to every time they say “You’re wrong and here’s why”

[@arminpurificacion9147]

Max: "...you take the average unit per minute, energy expended..." Stephen A: 🤨

[@japindersidhu7557]

Max is right about defensive intensity now days you cant be physical and the games is faster so have exert more energy finding was to stop a player with out fouling then pushing them and hand checking.

[@bonafidesagG88]

That really just equals them not playing defense at all..there's only maybe 10 good defensive players in the league or should I say that play defense.

[@elijahr0ck730]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@SoulsDark321]

I mean they pay you millions to ball so go ball 🤷‍♂️ unless you're hurt I don't see why you wouldn't play especially when these guys are supposedly the most competitive guys in the world.

[@chrismathgenius]

Exactly. Players should lose money if they don't play.

[@samuelyoung2671]

Nez Boi True dat... Be a real competitor. ur hurt, sit till ur healthy ur old, play fewer minutes. How u could decide a game vs the league mvp isnt impotant enough for u to show up is beyond me.

[@ajdaking507]

@@samuelyoung2671 well considering that kawaii is a 2 time champ, 2 time defensive player of the year, and is clearly better than the Greek freak, it probably isn't really that important to him, and it wouldn't be to me either

[@albertdb3]

Steven A’s got this one. NBA was way harder in 80’s and 90’s

[@KingofPirates92]

What is so hard about hand checking????

[@Jboooog18]

THEY SCORED MORE POINTS IN THE 80S! TEAMS WERE RELIGIOUSLY RUNNING UP THE SCORE, STOP GROUPING IN A CLOTHESLINE WITH "GOOD DEFENSE"

[@ericksantos4555]

It was more physical. Not necessarily harder.

[@Whitetooth1030]

max: "Teams have to play more defense now days" Games last night: 140 points

[@agk9276]

No score went that high last night.

[@brycebrooks8484]

Just look at literally any rockets game

[@anthonymalcolmcalan]

Malcolm Elmore this is such a lazy analysis. He didn’t say they’re better at defense, he said they have to play more of it. Which completely makes sense considering that it’s harder to play defense now than in the day. You can’t hand check, you can’t be physical, and you gotta hover them like a ghost while only touching the ball. Also the pace of play has players running more miles than ever before. Players have a much larger load more than back in the day

[@brandonlockhart5461]

Right......

[@Jdotbdots]

There are more high level scorers now than ever before.

[@marv1196]

Max has lost his mind. Defense was played with more intensity back in the day when compared to today. Max is being slick by reframing his original statement. Get him!!

[@fdhfghfgrhrrth]

But the game is much faster today and players accumulate a lot more mileage on their legs

[@albertjordangolson410]

Right

[@terrymoore4685]

@@user-gc1wj8tt2p untrue!

[@disabled4206]

You know its a good video when Stephen A Smith is involved in a heated arguement

[@theokingshango]

For the haters and sickheads at least...

[@Johnny-hn9ts]

A fake argument...

[@neilh714]

SAS: " can you imagine me giving a speech to a room full of Maxes."

[@abhimanyuyadav3831]

SAS one of those dudes who blindly believe that anything & everything related to “old school” basketball is greater than that of today’s basketball.

[@psd.3144]

Well... he's not wrong here though

[@abhimanyuyadav3831]

Al Vinn I agree with max, players on average expend more energy every play and that could very well be the reason behind the increase in number of injuries.

[@kobeforever-hokage5471]

Abhimanyu Yadav Cuz old school is way better than today’s basketball

[@zombiehashi3762]

@@abhimanyuyadav3831 It was just a far more physical game if you were around to actually watch it. No room for load management back then. Players need more cardio today though.

[@HTTC4life1981]

Sas was right tho u can't even hand check

[@MrKing8050]

That opening sentence has to be more than a coincidence 😂😂😂😂

[@gunner0479]

There has to be a reason players are getting injured more frequently with serious injuries now especially with the advancement of sports science.

[@therearenofactsonlyinterpr3780]

With the way regular season treated by NBA superstars these days, NBA must invent new rules to give incentive in the playoff for the team so that they will play regular season more seriously....such as -5-2 homecourt advantage for conference winner -In the playoff, team with worse regular season record will have the player fouled out after 5 fouls (not 6) -In the playoff, team with better regular season record will get 3 free throws if opponent commit flagrant 2; will have extra time out; have 1 right to recall player ejected during the game (due to fouling out etc.) in each series -and many more...........

[@shoptalkconvo-mak1471]

"Speaking to a room full of Maxs" 😂😂😂😂

[@grillbillyenz]

2:50 thru 4:05 might be THEE single greatest segment in the history of ESPN television

[@michaelg362]

The thumbnail for this video is the greatest LOL

[@therealkick_as_assassin1007]

Max right I feel. It’s not more physical but players are asked to do more having to play 1 thru 5 and be able to defend 1-5, there’s a lot more big men being versatile opposed to back in the 80s,90s and early 2000’s. Back then u didn’t have to worry about the center bringing the ball up the court and shooting a 3

[@MultiCardsfan1]

Kobe’s stance on load management is the best.

[@Shadow-nj6cr]

What was his stance?

[@juanm5941]

Lakers in 5 WCF

[@stephcurry9524]

Kobe was carried by Shaq. Better hope he's not complaining about load management

[@jay_1212]

Steph Curry they needed each other equally. Shaq even admitted that he slacked off because he had kobe

[@InfamyTrip]

Steph Curry It’s stupid to put one over the other.

[@brad7566]

Max: "You're wrong" Stephen A: "Well you're wrong and here's why"

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Lol

[@donaldbelmonte2746]

I agree with load management because it prolongs the players career and lessens risks for any injury that might happen. However, they get paid millions of dollars to play, and fans want to see them play. So in my personal opinion, they should give a schedule on when they rest games and the average games they don't play will be deducted in their salary.

[@teelee468]

I'm glad you caught up him Stephen A saying to different things in one breath. Thank you sir! Still watching...

[@funbus7879]

Aww i thought i was the only one who caught max “ your wrong” moment Only to come see comments flooded with it

[@jamalrahmaan1744]

Max Kellerman sometimes don't know what he's talkin about wow

[@TheKondinho]

his point makes sense on paper. he's basically saying athletes today perform at a higher level (not necessarily more skilful) and so more injuries occur because of it.

[@jojomarso]

He knows exactly what he’s talking about. Pace of play is way higher, lateral quickness and regular quickness are valued much more than they were and the midrange is almost extinct meaning that basketball has become even more of an anaerobic activity resulting in more injuries which presents the need for load management. This statistically and scientifically is proven to be objectively true. I would suggest you may need to listen less to the lazy-even obnoxious-narratives that average fans along with the media will toss around, as often they are very inaccurate positions. I appreciate max because he thinks for himself and in this instance, I definitely believe he was right.

[@gabsanchez]

It's harder to score back then because it's easier to defend when the spacing is tighter, you can push around perimeter players and all you really had to guard was your man because of the illegal defense rules. It's harder to defend today because you have to cover more ground, make the proper reads when switching (you have to switch a lot nowadays because of the better 3 point shooting.), and you have to hold your ground in a mismatch. You can't be a one position defender nowadays. So yeah it's harder and more tiring to play defense today.

[@JakeRandall]

The “in the nba” part of the title was cut off when I clicked...very disappointed. This wasn’t what I was expecting at all

[@sg1678]

Max what were you smoking before this debate???

[@hectorcervantes4025]

Max really said they play harder today 😂

[@33Danso3x]

if you think about it he was lowkey speaking facts

[@antongregory838]

the fast paced game makes todays players run a lot more, but that doesnt compare to the beat down you would receive physically in the slower paced game.

[@joepalmer436]

Tenacity/intensity no. But they do need to defend more people than they did back then. The hunger isn't there now like there was, but the design of the defense today requires that every player be defended

[@carloregalado7751]

Man, Stephen A. doesn't look like he's in great shape. ESPN is killing him.

[@3129021jc]

My boi rich af though

[@BrolicCityFitness]

@@3129021jc 😂😂😂omm

[@cory7416]

Looks fine to me

[@LiquidChamploo]

He wouldn’t have it any other way. I wish I loved my job like that.

[@palebaldguy]

No. It’s the knicks killing him

[@lukekylestanley4072]

"The unit of energy expenditure is higher per play today than in the 80s and 90s. That's why injuries are more prevalent today and load management is necessary." @6:05 -Max Kellerman. Based on what data and which players???? How do you make a statement like this without validating a source?

[@granola9073]

I’m not agreeing with him but that was a good point injuries happen way more now a days

[@krsi2105]

You can see it with your own eyes whenever you watch an NBA game lol. All 5 positions are expected to be able to switch and close out defensively. Back in the day, you get a big man and you stick him in the paint and he doesn't leave the basket. It takes more energy to close out from the paint to the 3 point line than it does to sit under the rim doesn't it?

[@lukekylestanley4072]

@@krsi2105 I want proof. He is an analytics guy. Your eyes will lie to you about who is a criminal in a lineup or about what you saw, especially comparing 2019 to 39 years ago. That's why statistics and analytics are there. They are better than eyes most of the time. On your other point of NBA players switching defenders, NBA players did switch defenders back in the day. Also more fast breaks were run.The POINT IS ENERGY EXPENDITURE. I saw more energy expenditure from players in the 80s and 90s than today. Let's not even get into how many buses and hours of sleep players in the past did not get versus today or the 2019 medical staff and excellent technology and diets used to keep them in prime condition. I can say I've seen energy expenditure increase from 2012-2018 BUT I WANT proof. He made a statement that requires evidence.

[@lukekylestanley4072]

@@granola9073 that part I definitely agree with.

[@Stizzfoshizz]

Sport science has come a long way since back then which allows these players to play bigger stronger and faster. That said, it's night and day, two totally different styles of game that really can't be compared and shouldn't be

[@Horfenico]

Don't see hockey players on load management(other than goalies), much more physical game, yet the seasons are the same length. Weird.

[@jonathanturgeon9039]

When MJ needed load management he retired. John Stockton is the epitome of consistency in never missing a game in my mind.

[@maccheesepookamusic2chill224]

Bro mj went and played other sports dooohh those years ...literally he never just stopped playing a whole season just not to maybe the year prior to coming back and being on the wizards

[@thegreatone9850]

Load management is part of this new era SOFT AS TISSUE and their making MILLIONS!!!!!....

[@itsewood7515]

“ Your wrong “😂😂😂 right at the beginning

[@MondoBetterr]

“Id I don’t know what imma do🤷🏽‍♂️” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hauvkuabyang7467]

Max: Makes valid points SAS: YOU ARE LYING

[@Steven-wq8tx]

Stephen A smith didn’t even breath Max: You’re wrong 🙂

[@walrus1074]

Breathe*

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Lol

[@JaiRock24]

I don't understand sitting players out. If they want to do load management without the EXTRA, let them ride the pine or just play them for 15 to 20 mins.

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

Winner of the regular season in each conference should have an automatic spot in the Conference Finals. That'll make these guys play hard and every possible game during the regular season.

[@CrisJunkie]

I kinda agree that today's game requires more effort and in general, especially good teams, they play harder because of constant movement, and switching, and recovering, more close outs on shooters because they are everywhere. It's only easy when you go against a iso-heavy team. Then rest of the defenders on the court mostly stand and wait for action.

[@t99155]

Max must've got some edibles from Dion before this segment

[@nickvalentin9909]

Trey Moore LOL

[@t99155]

@@nickvalentin9909 haha

[@2000dpdpdp]

but he’s not wrong

[@2000dpdpdp]

hahahahaha

[@marquezbishop2747]

Nah Max makes a lot of sense

[@tonyzan5268]

This is either not a problem or one that will resolve itself. The NBA owners and players share revenue. Eventually when they renegotiate the tv contracts either the networks are going to hold this against them or not. If load management starts to reduce the tv contracts or even slow down the growth rate than the players themselves will want to eliminate load management to protect their money.

[@yupadej4361]

The game is stretched to the 3 point line and increased space to be defended so defenses need to cover more area . Hence players expend more energy. In the past you could sag off most of the players and pack the paint without moving cause most guys could'nt shoot a lick

[@Ohtani9999]

Pace is quicker, cover more ground, more possessions. Stephen A was so wrong

[@bitcoingang9743]

max crushed stephen a again

[@christianmcmahon1029]

Max hit Stephen A with a “You’re wrong”

[@hhdeng]

Will the team refund the tickets to customer if player decides to be on load management? Team should let fans know a week ahead of time for any players “scheduled” for load management.

[@TlanImass]

Even if Defenses nowadays are more intense and complicated, the great defensive players of the 80s & 90s would still be great and still play 82 games. Barring injuries of course.

[@22chad7]

Max logic makes no sense .... it’s not just about fans not getting their money worth, it’s about Kawhi being able to play 60 while everyone else plays more, then of course he’s gonna be at an advantage when the playoffs come... any other star sits 60 they’re level in playoffs is gonna he higher, it’s just not fair for the other players who don’t get to load manage, that’s the main problem

[@josefrancisco4178]

Kawhi played through an injury since the Sixers' series, how was he at an advantage? He was playing through an ankle injury when the zaza incident happened too, he's never had an advantage because of load management

[@andreialexandruparfeni7129]

@@josefrancisco4178 He load managed during the whole regular season last year, you just didn't see it unless you were a Raptors fan because ESPN doesn't care about the Raptors.

[@josefrancisco4178]

@@andreialexandruparfeni7129 I didn't deny his load management, that had plenty of coverage last year, I'm saying in the end it doesn't give you an adavantage because injuries happen in the playoffs too, and nobody is at a 100% by the 3rd round anyway. I'm a warriors fan, and we were never at a disadvantage because of Kawhi's load management, we were because of our own injuries, that had nothing to with lack of rest, Klay's ACL was because of bad landing and KD rushed back from an injury. It's fine for kawhi to rest if he doesn't feel at 100%, nobody knows his body better than himself.

[@NoName-cn3cp]

Imagine Bill Cartwright trying to stick any PG in today's NBA.

[@ronaldgibson7953]

The game of basketball is different wit more players shooting threes the more running they have to do on defense they have to play with alot more energy on defense

[@libaaxalee]

SA, I used to work with a crazy guy in undisputed now I have to work with another, ESPN I need more raise for this mayhem please!

[@lordbertron8037]

Max is pouring straight facts.. if you look at the style of play in the 80’s and 90’s the majority of players didn’t play defense and played 1 role.

[@belak1551]

Bertron Lord lol no. Way more physical, they drank alcohol at the half of game, didn’t know anything about nutrition, and still didn’t age games off.

[@HTTC4life1981]

So watching Harden while standing at the 3 point line takes real guts to defend LOL

[@lordbertron8037]

Httrs 4life what does guts have to do with anything? and yes, guarding someone who is averaging 38 points does take guts to guard lol dude is going down in the hall of fame as one of the best scorers ever

[@lordbertron8037]

Belak the ONLY thing you can say is the gameplay used to be more physical sir belak lol....and because people didn’t know about nutrition and they played all the time is exactly why the majority of players didn’t have long nba careers.

[@seanzadsalamat5167]

This guy max said “players today play harder than players in 80’s and 90’s”

[@eddydede4275]

Sean Zadsalamat bro like they played football basketball back then and he saying they play harder today 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@demodiums7216]

They actually do because they have to run around more to defend the 3. Its less physical but you need way better cardio and stamina

[@PDot-dx9ym]

@@demodiums7216 lol stop it

[@justinr1513]

More talented, but less physical than back then

[@bigty390]

P. Dot he’s not lying the game is more speed

[@damirmclean1286]

I don't load management towards the end of the season when you already locked up your playoff spot but this early in the season at just age 28 that's just ridiculous

[@brunoguedes9715]

This is simples: just show a chart proving that players now run more, the pace is higher and then you're going to prove that now players spend more energy.

[@skip1837]

Giannis doesn't do load management why is his picture up there

[@JohnSmith-wh2ob]

skip1837 cuz he’s a star today

[@internet2055]

@@JohnSmith-wh2ob ask you lady who was a star for her last night 2am😎

[@alirezaeishahreza9508]

A room full of Maxes 😂😂😂

[@marshallpo6414]

Players in the past played harder, but today's game is faster so players expend more energy and there is more wear and tear and burnout in today's game.

[@bigrob0920]

The players should have to tell the fans what days they are going to take off before the season so we fans can choose whether we want to attend these games or not

[@chrisrenshaw8529]

Max clearly doesn’t know what he is talking about when it comes to basketball

[@Noondroid]

Or anything else besides boxing.

[@pureseduction93ce38]

Kawhi isn’t A TOP 5 player in the NBA 💯 ....... *Kawhi is aka MR Load Management* Curry never did load management ❕ Westbrook never did load management ❕ KD never did load management ❕ Harden never did load management ❕ AD never did load management ❕ & everybody know How many Mins “KinG James” played in his career 💪💪💪

[@daswolio3204]

you’re the reason why people think girls don’t know sports

[@rodwells8577]

Carolina Howard actually the term was invented last season with Lebron boo boo

[@ishwarbalakrishna9047]

Lol

[@Shadow-nj6cr]

Westbrook has missed games this season for rest lol what you mean ?

[@jlnuen]

RESERVES kawhi has been top 5 since 2016 or 2017 not 2014

[@ThePatman1980]

Landry Shamet has a grade 2 sprain. He could miss 6-8 weeks. This is why load management helps.

[@blackurustrikes2328]

Maybe they run more and shoot more 3's now, but the game was more physical, there was much more low post play, which was more man vs man.

[@rdepaul34]

Hey, Stephen A... "you're wrong and here's why..." In all honesty, "load management" is a sport issue. Not a player problem. The NBA (unlike MLB or the NFL) has MORE THAN HALF THE TEAMS make the playoffs. Not only that, the playoffs itself is essentially a season, they're a whopping TWO MONTHS LONG. If the NBA wanted to fix the load management problem, they should restructure how many playoff teams there are. If only 6 teams per conference got in, or only 5 got in (and 1 seed got a bye) then you would see load management essentially disappear because the value of the regular season increases substantially. Why fault a team or a player for exploiting a flaw in the sports playoff format? MORE THAN HALF THE TEAMS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS IS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE.

[@strifej1333]

Sells more tickets?

[@bigdog9507]

rdepaul34 The first rounds usually gets a contender warmed up for the more difficult rounds they face later on. If you introducing a bye it would have to be the top 2 teams getting a bye not one. And you'd have a problem if your top 2 teams in each conference could potentially have to wait about 2 weeks to play a game.

[@samuelyoung2671]

Dominique Robinson Thats alot of practice time... and if they cant shake off the rust in after game 1 then it aint the leagues problem

[@childofjudah7378]

rdepaul34 I kinda like that idea

[@eyds2215]

The question here should be "Are NBA players made of wafers and twigs now?"

[@theokingshango]

They have cash, education, ganja, brain, self care now, not your slaves anymore

[@strifej1333]

They worth too much to risk now.

[@eyds2215]

Who's saying they are slaves? So everyone who is working for someone is a slave?

[@yorknorthyorkeastyorketobi741]

Yes they are. The young players coming in are not even dedicated to basketball. They want to be social media influencers

[@eyds2215]

Then they are in the wrong business.

[@mr.brightside187]

players never know when they will be get hurt, even they do load management they still be chance to get injured so better you play every single night if you have a chance. players mentality now is different than before. players before is a fighter now is just a player/businessman.

[@adamc3357]

The 90s were much more intense then now. There are rules in play to decrease the intensity of basketball now vs. Then.

[@juanito4867]

I’m surprised Molly didn’t interrupt them once props to her she’s improving

[@romandavidovich754]

Lol

[@alexmotts]

Jermaine Jones now she only has to do it 10000 more times and she can break even 😂😂😂

[@juanito4867]

alex Motts yessir

[@whocares0692]

L.O.L. She's just there for "eye candy".

[@juanito4867]

frank giuliano practically