Analysis: Have modern basketball's physical demands exceeded players' limits in the 82-game season?

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00:00One of the biggest conversations in the NBA right now, as the in-season tournament finished

00:05up, is this growing feeling that players are getting hurt more often.

00:09Some people are pointing to schedule changes, made for that very tournament, as a possible

00:13reason.

00:14There's a report, from The Athletic, outlining how many teams feel worn down, from a faster

00:19paced schedule, to start this season.

00:21It suggested that soft tissue injuries might be up because of it, with stars missing more

00:25games.

00:26The league responded, by releasing official data, stating that the number of games, lost

00:31to injury, is actually normal for this point in the season, and that star player absences

00:36are at a recent low.

00:38But here's the other side of the data.

00:40Yahoo Sports' Tom Haberstroh, highlighted, that games missed, specifically due to calf

00:47strains, have tripled, compared to last year.

00:50A doctor, on the NBA's medical committee told him the real concern, is that a calf strain,

00:55can turn into a devastating Achilles tear, if not healed right.

00:59That doctor said, quote,

01:01The NBA is very concerned, as are all doctors, pointing to the increased pace, athleticism,

01:07and schedule demands.

01:08Commissioner Adam Silver addressed it, acknowledging the concern, but also pointing to the league's

01:14stats, showing total injuries are down.

01:16He stated he wants to be true to the data, which he says doesn't support ideas, like shortening

01:21the season.

01:22Now, the Phoenix Suns, haven't had a major calf strain issue, but they've seen other soft

01:28tissue injuries.

01:29Jalen Green has missed almost the entire year, with a hamstring strain, and Devin Booker dealt

01:34with a groin strain.

01:36Every team, is facing this.

01:39The core question is whether the sport's evolution, more pace, more athleticism, more movement,

01:44is making players break down, over the same 82-game grind.

01:50Suns guard Grayson Allen, is a perfect example of a veteran adapting.

01:54He says he came into the best shape of his career, because of what's demanded of perimeter

01:58players now.

01:59He told Arizona Sports, that in today's game, you're asked to pick up full court, guard multiple

02:04actions, rebound, push the pace, and crash the boards.

02:09All in a single possession.

02:11He said, maintaining that for a four-minute stretch, requires a completely different level

02:16of conditioning, than he needed earlier in his career.

02:19Does he think that causes these, soft tissue injuries?

02:22He said, I think it definitely plays into it.

02:25He argues it's not just the pace, but how the game is played, heavy drive and kick, constant

02:31downhill movement on offense, and guarding those actions on defense.

02:34He believes, the off-season training focus, is more critical than ever, so what's the

02:39fix?

02:40Change the schedule?

02:41Shorten it?

02:42Allen isn't sold on that.

02:43His solution, teams need to play deeper rotations.

02:47He notes, that successful teams, playing that high-speed physical style, already go deep into

02:52their bench, avoiding playing guys 40-plus minutes a night.

02:56That, he thinks, is the answer, before restructuring the entire season.

03:00That idea, sparks another thought.

03:03But, maybe rosters need to be bigger, to handle this load, to avoid teams needing hardship

03:08exemptions, due to multiple injuries.

03:11Allen thinks current roster size is fine, but even considering it, shows, the league needs

03:16to focus on this trend.

03:18The data says one thing, the doctors are worried about another, and the players are feeling

03:23it on the court.

03:24So here's my question for you.

03:26With the game faster and more demanding than ever, is it time for a fundamental change,

03:30be it deeper rotations, larger rosters or even schedule adjustments, or is this just the

03:35new normal that players and teams must adapt to?

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