Fewer distractions, more rest
The Golden State Warriors, as a franchise, have been to five straight Finals. We are only going to be able to say that for a few more months, but for now, it’s still true. That said, this team, although they’ve had a few months off, is likely still gassed.
It’s not about the Warriors being rested as it is about the rest of the league being overly exhausted if the league were to resume in the winter. Calling the Warriors winners in the league’s plan to resume, here’s a quote from CBS Sports Sam Quinn.
“With only around one month between the end of the 2020 NBA Finals and the projected opening of training camps for the following campaign, the 2020-21 season is going to be a war of attrition. Teams that make deep playoff runs in Orlando are going to be exhausted when next season arrives, and even those that don’t face injury risks at Disney because of all of the time off they’ve already had without proper gym access,” Quinn wrote.
Quinn’s right, too.
Think about a dominant player like LeBron James. He’ll be fatigued after so many games, most with only a day in between. Even Kawhi Leonard, a player that’s dealt with nagging injuries throughout his career, may struggle to carry his high level of play into the 2020-2021 season.
Despite Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson being the crux of the roster for the past half a decade, the entire Warriors’ roster will likely benefit from the additional time to rest and recover.