Hoops

Why leave starters on late in the game?

I think it comes down to the personal preference of the coach. Some want to keep trying 100% right to the end, no matter that its a forgone conclusion 2 minutes out.
Plus, we have all seen some sensational turnarounds with less than two minutes to play.

It can also be about perception and reaction.
If you go back a few decades, in a Cricket Test Match where the result was beyond doubt with the winners batting last, it was common for the losing captain to toss the ball to non-bowlers for the last couple of overs. Often hastening the end as the got belted. Now days, I get the impression that it would be seen as disrespectful.

Interesting.
I like the analysis.

frequently is when coaches have little to no faith in their bench they rely heavily on starters, which ultimately can end up with a loss as opposed to a win if they had just utilized their bench, after all thats what they are for. Its a win win when coaches can do that, their main starters get those valuable rest mins and their non starters get a bit of experience to make their game better for following seasons. Usually poor coaching is the main reason

Paul, of course your arguments are sound, but unsurprisingly some teams (e.g. the Pans) have few options, and more respect is due them for playing beyond their reasonable physical limitations. I don’t know how they do it.
‘Mazing what determination can achieve, regularly.

Someone posted earlier in the year that head to heads don't count aren't part of the equation anymore.

From memory the standings are determined by overall record, overall percentage... then I forget - net margin of games between tied teams?

So I think coaches leave players in to finish a game in order to maximise the team's percentage.

I get where Heal is coming from: if a coach is willing to leave their best players on-court for percentage, why not to ensure the win first and foremost?

Some coaches seem to overestimate their depth too. Getting subs in early is good for managing fouls, maintaining intensity and giving players an opportunity, but the NBL coaches seem to go overboard at times.

They got rid of the season series tiebreaker, now they go by percentage over the whole season instead of just percentage versus the team you tied with. So margins are even more important now as a bigger margin against Sydney can still help New Zealand, whereas last year that wouldn't have been the case.

Are you sure for and against counts?

Last season it did, i am very very sure it was scrapped this season

Best practice you can get is against opponent and the way cairns is configured they keep going until final siren.
It's not an under 12 game and they're running a full court trap.

Don't know which one it is yet, my guess is not Jerai Grant. But Sydney have offered a spot to an American point guard who has recently played in europe. Apparently he was drafted but was not signed. I'll get more details tonight.