Tuesday, March 31
Gregg Popovich started it. Mike Budenholzer has refined it and now even George Karl and his pathetic Sacramento Kings are doing it.
It being resting starters. This strategy isn't fair to fans and it's a bane to bettors.
Say you're a young fan living in New York and your father surprises you with tickets to watch Brooklyn host Atlanta on April 8. It's a chance to not only pull for the Nets but to see Atlanta All-Stars Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver.
Instead of those players, though, you get Pero Antic, Kent Bazemore, John Jenkins and Shelvin Mack because Budenholzer sits out his best players again.
How is that fair to pay full ticket price to watch the Hawks' junior varsity squad?
My condolences, too, to anyone who took 8 1/2 points with the Kings on Monday against the Grizzlies before it was announced that Karl was resting DeMarcus Cousins.
At least I can understand Budenholzer's logic. His team has earned the chance to rest having already won the Eastern Conference. He wants to keep his players fresh for the playoffs.
But the Kings? Who are they to rest anyone given their 26-47 record and total lack of talent outside of Cousins and Rudy Gay?
Calling Adam Silver. This is one of the few commissioners who gets it. Maybe he can fix this growing problem.
On the handicapping front, I am 24-13 on my last 37 college basketball plays and have cashed seven of my last nine NBA premium and free plays, including going 2-0 on Monday. My Triple Star CBB Tournament Total of the Year heads up my card today, which also includes a college sides play and NBA total. They can be found here along with my packages: /pregamepros/pro-bettor/bettor.aspx?id=7746#capper.