Kevin Durant believes the NBA’s 65-game mandate won’t last long. Or much longer.
Could Alperen Sengun be a victim of the league’s 65-game rule?
Could the 65 rule come bite the Rockets?
(Hopefully he’s right).
The rule was implemented to prevent players from load managing their way to accolades and honors.
(See Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James, of late).
The downside is that players with legitimate injuries are also withheld from the same milestones, which was an unintended consequence.
Durant, himself, fell victim to the rule last season.
Possibly.
26.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 52.7 percent from the field, 43 percent from three, 83.9 percent from the foul line, 59.8 percent effective shooting, and 64.2 percent true shooting.
This season, Nikola Jokic could be deprived of an MVP award, due to the same mandate.
Alperen Sengun, a Jokic look-a-like by the masses, could also be affected by the rule, potentially.
Depending on how much time he misses with his latest injury and more importantly, whether he’s able to remain healthy upon returning.
Sengun has played in 28 of Houston’s 32 games thus far.
He’ll need to play in 37 more of Houston’s 50 remaining games.
10 of those games are back-to-back games.
Will the Rockets choose to rest him in those games? It wouldn’t be a bad idea, if it’ll allow him to get fully healthy for what’s expected to be a deep postseason run.
Especially since this will be his third time having to miss time this season.
And especially if you consider the Rockets’ success without him this season, as they are 3-1 when he sits (which is a small sample size, I know).
All told, Houston has 50 games remaining over the next 98 days.
That doesn’t leave a ton of wiggle room if he’s going to miss back-to-backs (which isn’t a guarantee, to be fair).
Sengun was viewed as a potential All-NBA selection, and based on his play, that shouldn’t be much of a question.
Especially at the center position (and especially if factoring in team success).
It remains to be seen how long he’ll be out of commission with his latest ankle injury, but it’s a positive that he’s considered day-to-day.
And we shouldn’t expect the Rockets to rush him back after any injury.
But any additional injuries (or extended absences) could put him at risk of missing the league’s mandate.
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