The player management “plague”

Chris Goulding was hot last night in Cairns, and it had nothing to do with the weather. The United veteran’s shooting from deep has been nothing short of incredible this season and he has continued to light it up since returning from a calf injury – albeit on a minutes restriction.

In his last two outings 'CG43' has only played 24 and 25 minutes respectively, which has created a stir for some.

“These minute restrictions are a blight on society. It is a plague,” former Hawks’ championship winner Damon Lowery said on NBL Now.

“I don’t even know how we got here. It wasn’t 20 years ago, and I’d never heard a coach even mention it.”

Lowery questioned the sports scientists and sports medicos who are responsible for setting the time limits on players as they re-condition in games.

“These dudes ain’t players. They don’t know what it feels like to be hot. They don’t know what it feels like to be Chris Goulding and be on an unbelievable heater,” Lowery added.

“They’re looking at the clock and going, 'Hey coach, I think now - 22 minutes'.

“Based off what? They just put a bunch of numbers in a hat? Is it like a lotto? Is it like bingo?”

All eyes will be on Adelaide’s DJ Vasiljevic and his minutes on Saturday night when he is set to return to the 36ers’ lineup after a hamstring injury to take on the Perth Wildcats.