3 Takeaways from the OKC Thunder's blowout win over the Washington Wizards
By Alex Mcewen
Creating in-game rest
Much has been made about the NBA's new rule requiring players to play in a minimum of 65 games in order to qualify for season awards and All-NBA team honors. Due to this new rule player's resting has been dramatically cut down this season.
Therefore, creating in-game rest has become more valuable than ever, and the Thunder has been able to take advantage with their All-Star, Gilgeous-Alexander has appeared in 55 games this season, and has only played in 44 fourth quarters.
Because of the in-game rest the Thunder have been able to create, they have had an opportunity to reduce SGA's minutes load, he ranked 27th in minutes per game and the team has saved up to 132 minutes by keeping him on the bench in 11 fourth quarters.
Will this make a difference in the playoffs? Perhaps, minutes add up, and any that can be saved, not due to an injury is always a win. Because the Thunder have the fifth easiest schedule remaining in the West, SGA will have more opportunities to rest in the fourth during the Thunder's stretch run.
The Thunder will be back in action versus the Houston Rockets for the first half of a home-and-home set on Sunday afternoon.
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