The "Load Managers"

The National Basketball Association has a problem. many of its players have no respect for its regular season. They would rather "sit out" games - call it "load managing" - while basking in their pre-playoff auras. Poor Commissioner Silver does not know how to address this vainglorious sloth. (Begging the players to "suit up" - "for the fans, the fans" - does not work.)

Try this commissioner: Chang the way you appraise their regular season performances. Currently, the scoring title goes to the man who averaged the most points per game over the regular season. He can play in as few as 65 games of an 82-game schedule and still be crowned scoring champion, despite someone who has played in every game and has out-scored him by hundreds of points. Simply award the scoring title to the player who scores the most points. That way, these prima donnas will have to play in as many of the scheduled games as possible to achieve the honors they crave. 

The same goes for rebounds, assists, blocked shots, etc., just like homerun and RBI champions in baseball, and touchdown and yardage leaders in football. For the biggest awards - Most Valuable Player, and Defensive Player of the Year - base their very consideration for such awards upon their availability to play. Insist that players play 90% of the schedule or a minimum of 73 games for any chance at MVP. That way, they will not sit around "load managing." Rather, they will play in every game they possibly can, and will save those precious eight games over the minimum for when they really need a day off. 

Though they are men, these NBA players cannot be trusted to honor the game they profess to love. The work ethic that saw Michael Jordan, and many greats before him, play every scheduled game no longer exists. 

Time to revive that ethic, Adam Silver, even if it means leading your pampered stars to center court like one would lead thoroughbreds to the starting gate. Put honor back in the game... for the fans, for the fans.