Denton: The NBA Nap
By John Denton
November 27, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO -- Mid-afternoon naps aren’t just for pre-schoolers and retirees anymore. They’re also a big hit with a large number of NBA players, and most deem them to be an absolutely necessity.
Considering the chaotic schedules of NBA teams, particularly those in a stretch like the one the Orlando Magic are in playing four games in four cities in five nights, finding a way to sneak in rest is a must. Hence, the ``NBA nap,’’ a mid-afternoon rest that players swear by as a way of recharging their batteries.
``I can’t function without it,’’ Magic star guard Vince Carter said of his ritual of sleeping before games. ``I just feel better that night when I get a nap in. Maybe it’s psychological, but I feel like that extra rest gives me more energy.’’
Orlando’s players need all the energy they can get these days what with the team playing the dreaded four games in five nights. This stretch started Wednesday night in Orlando with an excruciating one-point loss to the rival Miami Heat and continued Thursday in Atlanta with a win over the Hawks. On Saturday, the Magic play in Milwaukee and then close the trip on Sunday in New York City versus the Knicks.
It’s enough to leave even the most well-travelled NBA player’s head spinning.
``You really do hit that wall when you’re not used to it,’’ admitted Magic forward Ryan Anderson. ``I’ve learned you really have to get rest, eat the right foods and keeping your body healthy.’’
``I’m a big nap guy. I like an hour-and-a-half nap before every game,’’ Anderson continued. ``Last year, we’d have a back-to-back and I’d be going to last night’s hotel room number instead of the right one. Instead of room 450 I’d be going to 1204 from the night before. The travel can mess with your head sometimes.’’
And it can mess with NBA’s players bodies too, especially when they are expected to play 40 minutes a game after travelling most of the night from another city. As if playing eight preseason games and 82 regular-season games weren’t enough, many games come on back-to-back nights and sometimes teams have to play four games in five nights.
``It is a grind playing four in five nights, but this is what we do,’’ Magic superstar center Dwight Howard said. ``We have to find ways to keep our bodies in great shape by eating the right foods, making sure we stay in the weight room and getting plenty of rest. All of those little things matter.’’
Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick laughed at the notion of taking a ``NBA nap’’ when he first came into the league, but he soon realized that it’s a way for players to prepare themselves for late nights. Even though teams playing back-to-backs often arrive in cities after 2 a.m., Redick said he’s usually to amped up after games to go straight to sleep. But the mid-afternoon rest following the Magic’s morning walk-through practice is a way for him to catch his body up on sleep.
So on days of games, Redick said the cell phone is clicked off, the TV is muted and the blinds are pulled for two hours of blissful rest.
``Back-to-backs are the toughest part of the job,’’ he said. ``Four cities in five nights, that’s challenging. The important thing is getting your NBA nap in – as goofy as that sounds. The cool-down time for me is in the afternoon.’’
Carter, who has never played beyond the second round of the playoffs, has tried to prepare himself for a particularly long season in Orlando. The Magic played 114 games last season during their run to the NBA Finals. Carter said playing in the NBA for 12 seasons has taught him a trick or two about staying healthy throughout a long season.
``I’ve kind of learned that the stronger that I am the better my body feels during a long season,’’ he said. ``Taking care of yourself, getting your rest and staying in the weight room are some little things that you can do to help your body recover between games.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonNovember 27, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO -- Mid-afternoon naps aren’t just for pre-schoolers and retirees anymore. They’re also a big hit with a large number of NBA players, and most deem them to be an absolutely necessity.
Considering the chaotic schedules of NBA teams, particularly those in a stretch like the one the Orlando Magic are in playing four games in four cities in five nights, finding a way to sneak in rest is a must. Hence, the ``NBA nap,’’ a mid-afternoon rest that players swear by as a way of recharging their batteries.
``I can’t function without it,’’ Magic star guard Vince Carter said of his ritual of sleeping before games. ``I just feel better that night when I get a nap in. Maybe it’s psychological, but I feel like that extra rest gives me more energy.’’
Orlando’s players need all the energy they can get these days what with the team playing the dreaded four games in five nights. This stretch started Wednesday night in Orlando with an excruciating one-point loss to the rival Miami Heat and continued Thursday in Atlanta with a win over the Hawks. On Saturday, the Magic play in Milwaukee and then close the trip on Sunday in New York City versus the Knicks.
It’s enough to leave even the most well-travelled NBA player’s head spinning.
``You really do hit that wall when you’re not used to it,’’ admitted Magic forward Ryan Anderson. ``I’ve learned you really have to get rest, eat the right foods and keeping your body healthy.’’
``I’m a big nap guy. I like an hour-and-a-half nap before every game,’’ Anderson continued. ``Last year, we’d have a back-to-back and I’d be going to last night’s hotel room number instead of the right one. Instead of room 450 I’d be going to 1204 from the night before. The travel can mess with your head sometimes.’’
And it can mess with NBA’s players bodies too, especially when they are expected to play 40 minutes a game after travelling most of the night from another city. As if playing eight preseason games and 82 regular-season games weren’t enough, many games come on back-to-back nights and sometimes teams have to play four games in five nights.
``It is a grind playing four in five nights, but this is what we do,’’ Magic superstar center Dwight Howard said. ``We have to find ways to keep our bodies in great shape by eating the right foods, making sure we stay in the weight room and getting plenty of rest. All of those little things matter.’’
Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick laughed at the notion of taking a ``NBA nap’’ when he first came into the league, but he soon realized that it’s a way for players to prepare themselves for late nights. Even though teams playing back-to-backs often arrive in cities after 2 a.m., Redick said he’s usually to amped up after games to go straight to sleep. But the mid-afternoon rest following the Magic’s morning walk-through practice is a way for him to catch his body up on sleep.
So on days of games, Redick said the cell phone is clicked off, the TV is muted and the blinds are pulled for two hours of blissful rest.
``Back-to-backs are the toughest part of the job,’’ he said. ``Four cities in five nights, that’s challenging. The important thing is getting your NBA nap in – as goofy as that sounds. The cool-down time for me is in the afternoon.’’
Carter, who has never played beyond the second round of the playoffs, has tried to prepare himself for a particularly long season in Orlando. The Magic played 114 games last season during their run to the NBA Finals. Carter said playing in the NBA for 12 seasons has taught him a trick or two about staying healthy throughout a long season.
``I’ve kind of learned that the stronger that I am the better my body feels during a long season,’’ he said. ``Taking care of yourself, getting your rest and staying in the weight room are some little things that you can do to help your body recover between games.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
