The idea of rest is getting a workout.
Gregg Popovich, the bench boss of the San Antonio Spurs, has quietly led the advance of many progressive ideas in coaching. He is credited with intentionally sitting players who he judged were fatigued. The first time he did so, as chronicled in a worthy post by Tom Haberstroh, a huge fine was levied. The NBA Commissioner at the time, David Stern, extracted a cool quarter-million for “actions contrary to the best interests of the NBA”. Maybe that’s true, because the game in question was nationally televised. Regardless, Popovich’s action in favour of inaction was the right thing for his players and his team.