Running faster causes more injuries. Kerr denounces the disadvantages of high pace and intensive schedule

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr recently stated that he is "very worried" that the NBA's ever-increasing game pace and intensive 82-game schedule are leading to an increasing number of soft tissue injuries among players.

In the past two days, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a groin strain, and the San Antonio Spurs announced that center Victor Vunbanyama has strained his left calf and guard Stephen Castle has strained his hip flexor. Five other NBA players are out with calf strains: Anthony Davis, Ty Jerome, Dylan Harper, Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday.

Kerr said: "The Warriors' medical team believes that players' physical wear and tear, game speed, rhythm and travel mileage are all factors that lead to these injuries."

According to ESPN research data, the league's average game pace this season has reached the fastest level since the 1988-89 season. This season, players averaged a total running distance of 34.3 miles (approximately 55.2 kilometers) per game and an average speed of 4.43 miles per hour (approximately 7.13 kilometers). Both data set the highest record since the 2013-14 season began tracking player movement.

"The whole league understands that it will be easier to score if you can quickly advance to the frontcourt to complete the transition between offense and defense. " Cole analyzed, "But when all teams adopt this strategy, the rhythm of the game will be greatly improved. Since every player can shoot three-pointers, the defensive range must be expanded to 25 feet (about 7.6 meters) away. Data shows that players run faster and further, and we basically play every other night, which is no easy task. "

Kerr has always advocated reducing the NBA schedule from 82 games to 72 games or less, believing that the increased rest and training time in the multi-month cycle will bring significant benefits.

"We didn’t even have a single practice on this road trip, " Kerr said frankly, "An eight-day journey, one game after another, with neither recovery time nor training opportunities. Although there has been a compact schedule of four games in five days in the past, there will be a four-day break after that, where you can take a day off and conduct several high-quality training. "

The Warriors have ushered in their fifth back-to-back game in the first month of this season. After playing in Orlando on Tuesday night, they will have to move to Miami on Wednesday night to end their six-game road trip. After the Miami battle, they will travel to 12 cities to complete 17 games in 29 days, creating the most intense schedule in the league.

But Kerr is skeptical about the possibility of the league reducing its schedule, believing that financial interests will be the main obstacle. "The key is that all stakeholders need to agree to reduce revenue," Cole said bluntly, "In the United States in 2025, which industry will see this happen? Imagine a large company claiming that 'we no longer care about stock prices, but more about employee stability and product optimization'? This is simply impossible to happen."