Players thought skill development was equivalent to preparing for that 82-game marathon. Playing full-court, game-speed basketball gets you ready, and they have paid a price for skipping the toughest part. You can’t run a marathon and not prepare by running a race. Let’s just be honest: NBA training camps were torturous before 2011, and the intense running had you sore as heck, but it got you ready and prepared. I ran for a living to get open on the basketball court and not one time in a 17-year career suffered a hamstring or groin injury. I suffered a calf strain for the first time in my eighth year because of a tight back, and I missed one training camp because I was a free agent. I never suffered a soft-tissue injury in 16 training camps because I was in optimal shape.HoopsHypeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Players thought skill development was equivalent to …