This is annoying:

“I think it’s more just cardio, just getting the conditioning ready to go just so that when I do come back, I’m not subject to any injuries because I’m fatigued or tired.”

So… the knee is fine then? And we’re just waiting on Paul George to get his cardio back up? I’m sorry; was the plan to play him 48 minutes on his return? Is playoff Thibs coaching this team? Seriously what the fuck is this? Just limit the guy’s minutes. The whole point is that you come off the floor before you become fatigued or tired. He plays 12 minutes the first night, 18 the next night, 24, etc just ramp him up to full cardio. In what world does a professional athlete have to get back to 100% cardio before playing a game? Even 10 minutes of Paul George makes a difference. Shit, put him out there for 8 minutes. Have you seen what the Sixers look like right now?

Imagine if:

  • Saquon Barkley didn’t play an Eagles game because he was only conditioned for 22 snaps instead of 42 snaps
  • Matvei Michkov didn’t play a Flyers game because he was good for only 12 minutes of ice time, not 18
  • Jose Martinez didn’t play a Union game because he can only run for 65 minutes, not 90
  • Zach Wheeler sat on the bench because, well, actually cardio isn’t much of a thing in baseball, but imagine if you had him on a pitch count and said “sorry, can’t do it, I need six innings out of him or no innings“

You would take all four of those healthy players at a lower rep count or lower minute count. This is so dumb. What the hell is going on? Wasn’t Paul George running up and down the arena steps the other day? If the guy is healthy, get him on the floor.