OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson has been joking about ”getting my Pop on” every time he sits a key player with a nagging injury the past couple of weeks.
The reference is to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who has famously – and often successfully – rested his regulars at times during the NBA’s marathon season. After the Warriors wore down in the second round of the playoffs against the Spurs last year, Jackson isn’t taking any chances.
The third-year coach is trying to give his banged-up players breaks during the season’s stretch run in hopes of getting healthier for the most important games of the year. The strategy is one the Warriors have rarely had the luxury to consider, and Jackson knows some fans could criticize him if it backfires.
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