So a quick look at league stats shows that the Blazers have 4 of their starters averaging more than 35 minutes a game (odd side note: the player that averages exactly 35 minutes a game, Klay Thompson, is the 35th most in the league). They are the only team in the league to have that many minutes on the starters.

Golden State and Philadelphia have three players each in the top 35 for minutes.

There are nine other teams with 2 starters averaging 35+ minutes.

This point is brought up a lot, and usually with a negative connotation. But is it really a bad thing? There is a question right now about whether Nic should be playing so many minutes with a gimpy wrist, but I think that is a different issue. Logically it seems that a team would be fresher for the playoffs if guys play fewer minutes through the regular season, but does anyone out there have any long-range data about this proposal?

There are 45 guys in the league that average between 30 and 35 minutes a game. What is the difference in playing 32 and 37 minutes a night?

Obviously the Blazers don't have any viable options to bring in to limit the starter minutes, but it just seems to me that the minutes issue is overstated. The Blazers record in close games seems to show that they do have the gas to finish out games, and that the losses are the result of superior competition, not player fatigue.

Where do you all fall on this?