NBA Thanksgiving 2019: What each team has to be thankful for

LA Clippers

Load management

Like the Philadelphia 76ers in the East, the LA Clippers‘ lineup is so stacked they might be content with waiting until the playoffs to ride their best players. Chemistry is important with so many new pieces, of course, but when it comes to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clips have the luxury of being more selective with their superstars’ minutes.

The following two paragraphs aren’t going to solve the load management debate, so there’s no point in even trying to address it other than acknowledging that A) It is a common practice now, B) It did help Leonard win a title last year and C) With both Kawhi and George recently dealing with injuries, it makes sense to employ this strategy as they see fit.

On a night-to-night basis, it can be disappointing when one or both of those stars rest. But the Clippers’ 13-5 start should not be confused with underachieving by any means, since the Kawhi-PG-Lou Williams trio boasts an absurd Net Rating of plus-31.5 when they’ve been able to play together. If this team is healthy and well-rested come April, the rest of the NBA could be in trouble — and it’s all thanks to load management.