How do you quantify tired legs?
Short of strapping machines on muscles to determine lactic acid buildup, it’s hardly scientific. It’s mostly an eye test for things like, ‘Hey, he’s huffing and puffing,’ or ‘Hey, his hands are on his knees.’
I’ve long defended Tom Thibodeau from Minutes Police harassment, and I’ll stand by that today as it relates to injuries. The Knicks, despite their starters logging more minutes than any other NBA team, are healthy. They’re nicked up but don’t miss games. They were exceptionally healthy during Thibodeau’s first season in New York. They weren’t healthy last season because of a fluke tumble by Julius Randle and a bone spur in OG Anunoby’s elbow that probably had nothing to do with his time on the Knicks. Load management isn’t so much a proven strategy for injury prevention as it is a surefire way to lose TV ratings.
But tired legs are real and impactful.