Is NBA already losing its battle against load management?

Bradley Beal, the Suns' prize summer acquisition, is sitting out the season opener with a back ailment. The All-Star guard has played just 90 games over the last two seasons, so the Suns are being cautious with his most recent injury. But the Suns have another All-Star guard in Devin Booker, so they should be good, right?

Booker's toe is also bothering him, and Shams Charania called him "50-50" to play Tuesday night. But they've still got All-Star Kevin Durant, provided he doesn't slip in his pregame warmups.

The Suns are loaded with talent, but they're not exactly loaded with 82-game players. Durant played 47 games last season. Beal played 50. Booker, the iron man of the group, played 53. With a team going with a top-heavy approach to its roster, it's not an auspicious start to the season.

It's also a disappointment for the NBA, which has talked extensively about players having an "82-game mindset" this summer. The league added penalties for teams that rest stars without medical explanations, and the new CBA requires players to suit up for 65 games to be eligible for awards. But if opening night is any indication, it won't make a difference to the Suns' plans.

Besides, the national TV audience will still get to see the Golden State Warriors and their new-look team, right?

Draymond Green will also miss the opener with an ankle injury he suffered playing pickup in late September, though he has been cleared to play 5-on-5 with the team.

With the NBA working on what it hopes is a lucrative new TV deal, having three stars out for the opener can't be what the league wants. And it's a sign that the NBA may have limited power when it comes to actually making its star players play.