Is it faking injuries if teams are admitting it's rest/load management? Also, it's weird that you called out the Nets considering the Jazz literally load managed yesterday which absolutely cost them the game. And it was a road game so they absolutely should be fined per the rules.
1. To answer your question, no. It isn't faking injuries if the teams admit it's resting/load management.
2. It's weird that you think calling me out on the Jazz using it is a gotcha. I don't remember ever saying I approved of players not showing up to do their jobs, and you and I have bickered about the use of load management for years. I've been very consistent about not liking it.
3. However, since you seem to want me to defend the Jazz using it lately, I will:
- Favors isn't faking an injury. He really does have a bad back as a result of an injury he suffered last year with the Pelicans that had him out most of the season. His back has never been the same since.
- Conley also isn't faking an injury. He injured his hamstring earlier this season just like he did last season. Management, as a result, is very wary about re-aggravating that hamstring again since he's already proven twice vulnerable to it.
- I'm not sure if Gobert is just a rest case or not, since it's unclear when he got his "right knee contusion" they cited for the Lakers game. From everything I've been able to gather, it sounds legit since Gobert has actually been remarkably consistent in playing this year.
4. Even with the Jazz using "injury recovery"/ "load management" this season, they've only used it for the occasional player a handful of times this season, and there's been a recent injury to back that up. That's nothing compared to the other teams in the league, in particular the Nets. I don't think the Clippers have even used it as much as the Nets have with Irving and Harden since acquiring them. I don't for a moment believe that Harden's actually injured, especially with the way he closed out his tenure in Houston.
5. Yes, fine everyone if that's the rule. If we're going to have a rule against load management, it should be applied equally to everyone. Otherwise, that just lends credence to conspiracy theories that the League plays favorites, which it absolutely does and always has.